Chapter 367
The security guard rushed over, twisted Joel’s hands behind his back, and forced him to his knees, shouting, “Assaulting someone in public is illegal! Anyone else causing a disturbance will be escorted to the police station.”
Joel continued hurling insults, his mouth full of crude words that were impossible to ignore.
Gavin’s wife sat on the floor and sobbed. She pointed at him, exclaiming, “Everyone, please listen to me.
“My husband is the eldest, while he’s the second son. My husband has always supported his parents and grandparents. The agreement was that the relocation house would go to him, and Joel had no objection. But then he stole our identity documents to block our transfer process…”
Seeing her husband blamed and now restrained, while they smeared his reputation, Isla’s anger and resentment reached a boiling point.
She suddenly grabbed the property deed from the floor and tore it into pieces. She screamed hysterically, “If we can’t get the house because of you, you won’t get it either! If we’re going down, you’re coming with us!”
Hiding in the back of the crowd with a mask on, Maria almost wanted to applaud. She exclaimed silently, ‘Well done!‘
The two brothers tore each other apart over a relocation house with an uncertain date. They probably would not be a family again afterward.
But this outcome was hardly a surprise to Maria.
From all she’d seen and heard of human nature, it wasn’t just a house in a first–tier city. Even several thousand dollars or a broken–down farmhouse in the countryside could drive families or relatives into bitter, physical fights.
Athena knew exactly how to exploit these human weaknesses. Reflecting on this, Maria continued to enjoy the spectacle.
Just after being publicly beaten by Joel, Gavin’s wife now watched in horror as the property deed she’d worked so hard to retrieve was torn to shreds by Isla. With her pride and hopes shattered, she lost control entirely.
She launched herself at Isla, clawing and striking wildly. “You bitch, you stole our deed and tore it up! I’ll kill you!”
Ronan and Quentin saw the women brawling and rushed in to separate them.
When women resorted to physical fights, it meant they had reached the breaking point, their reason gone.
The result of two elderly men trying to intervene was that the enraged women pushed them aside.
Ronan, in his seventies, wasn’t gravely ill but had his share of ailment. He had rheumatism, calcium deficiency, and the like. Being suddenly shoved, he staggered back and fell to the ground, clutching his knee and groaning, “It hurts! My leg’s broken…”
At that moment, security guards finally managed to pull the two frenzied women apart and restrained them securely.
The women continued to shout at each other, prompting one of the officials to shake his head and say, “Take them all to the police station and let them sort this out.”
Maria finally stepped forward, helping the guards lift Ronan and turning to Quentin. “Uncle Quentin, I’ll take Grandpa to the hospital. You go with them to the station and keep an eye on things.”
Quentin, eager to avoid any medical bills, seized the opportunity to leave. “Thanks for that. I’ll head to the station.”
As the Stevens family departed, the property office finally found some peace as closing time approached.
14:58 Tue, Nov 12 Buu
Chapter 367
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Meanwhile, Athena, who orchestrated this entire disaster for the Stevens family, was sitting comfortably in a movie theater, watching “The King of Military Dogs” with Matthew.
Just like any other week, Matthew had quietly come down to Kitmore City to meet her. They didn’t do much, usually just had a meal together and talked about what they’d been up to or any amusing stories they’d encountered recently.
Unlike their usual meetups, Zayn’s movie, “The King of Military Dogs,” just premiered yesterday with strong reviews and a solid box office start. So, after meeting up, Athena and Matthew decided to watch it together.
At the end of last year, the production had switched directors and replaced the explosive scenes involving the military dogs with special effects. Only then did Zayn agree to return and finish shooting.
However, the production team had been uncertain about the film’s release date and its profitability, delaying the premiere.
But just last weekend, Zayn’s TV series, “Lockwood’s Detective Diary,” had an explosive debut, catapulting him to one of the most talked–about stars of the summer. His popularity skyrocketed, drawing massive attention.
The production team sensed the opportunity, and with no major blockbusters scheduled, they decided to fast–track “The King of Military Dogs” to theaters.
The result was surprisingly good. The first day raked in over ten million dollars at the box office, and today it even surged upward, showing potential to become this summer’s dark horse in ticket sales.
“Zayn’s performance was impressive,” Matthew said thoughtfully after watching the film. “Even though he plays to his strengths, the depth he brings to the role is natural and genuine. It moved me.”
He made a mental note to discreetly suggest to Louis and Harold to organize company screenings to bolster Zayn’s box
office numbers.
Objectively, Matthew also felt Zayn deserved a nomination for a reputable film award in the Best Newcomer category. He’d leave the task to Louis.
Athena nodded proudly. “I think so too.”
The two of them, masked, continued their conversation as they walked into the upscale restaurant they’d reserved in advance. Seated in a discreet corner, they ordered a spread of delicious dishes.
While waiting, Athena kept glancing at her phone, chuckling to herself.
Matthew raised an eyebrow. “Miss Donovan, did something good happen? You look especially pleased.”
