Chapter 350: Chapter 350 - Headlines Everywhere
Yet her words struck others as rather ridiculous.
"Miss Sean, are you being serious right now?" Mr. Billy shook his head dismissively.
"What do you think?" Mabel Sean shot back.
Mr. Billy released a weary laugh. "Miss Sean, I get it if the Sean family wants to nurture fresh blood."
"But claiming he’ll reach the top of Capital City? What kind of position are we talking about here? Jerry Sean’s current standing?"
Mabel Sean paused, considering. "No, he’ll go beyond my grandfather."
"Pfft!" Mr. Billy lost his composure completely.
"Miss Sean, how many people in all of Capital City rank above Jerry Sean?"
Mr. Billy then turned his gaze toward me. "Looking at his age, he’s got to be thirty, right? A thirty-year-old who’s accomplished nothing. How much potential for growth could he possibly have?"
Mabel Sean seemed done arguing with Mr. Billy. She grabbed my arm with a smile. "Let’s head over there."
"Sure." I nodded.
Mr. Billy stood there dismissed, though he showed no signs of irritation.
After hearing their exchange, I felt a bitter taste in my heart.
Back in Chuzzle, my accomplishments had earned me the title King of Chuzzle.
But stepping into Capital City, I was suddenly someone who’d achieved nothing.
The contrast was brutal to swallow.
"Don’t worry about what people say. They just can’t see the bigger picture." Mabel Sean smiled warmly.
I shook my head. "I’ve never worried about that. Your opinion is the only one that matters to me."
I paused briefly. "Who exactly is this Mr. Billy?"
"He holds a senior position in the Capital City Martial Arts Association. His standing in the martial arts community is pretty significant," Mabel Sean explained.
That made sense now.
No wonder his strength felt so overwhelming—even his presence alone created immense pressure for me.
This gathering, just like Mabel Sean had mentioned, appeared to be about networking, but really it was about building personal circles and strengthening positions in the business world.
I looked around and noticed plenty of martial arts masters here tonight, though none came from martial arts families.
Instead, these masters worked as private security for the businessmen.
Their status wasn’t low, but it wasn’t exactly high either.
Many attendees approached the gathering hoping to build connections with Mabel Sean.
Some also focused their attention on me, offering drinks and business cards.
Naturally, many others stayed neutral.
After all, everyone knew Vance Johansson from the Johansson family had always shown interest in Mabel Sean.
Marriage in powerful families, though, wasn’t about personal choice.
The gathering wrapped up past ten that night. When Mabel Sean and I got back, Jerry Sean had already turned in for the night.
The Sean family had prepared a room for me ahead of time. Following the servants’ directions, I made my way to my quarters.
Lying in bed, I tossed and turned, sleep eluding me completely.
"Going to this gathering might have stirred up serious trouble," I thought to myself.
——
The following morning.
News of Mabel Sean and my attendance at the gathering dominated newspaper headlines everywhere!
The Martial Arts Forum, local papers, even financial publications—they all covered the story.
"Last night, the Sean family’s young heiress attended a gathering with a mysterious man, introducing him as her boyfriend."
"Sources report that a mysterious man spent the night at the Sean residence—has Miss Sean discovered her soulmate?"
Seeing the flood of coverage, I felt a pounding headache coming on.
I’d anticipated some buzz, but nothing like this magnitude!
——
Jerry Sean chuckled when he spotted the news.
"Sir, Mason Raymond’s name will spread throughout Capital City very soon," the steward remarked with a strained smile.
Jerry Sean leaned back, hands clasped behind him. "That’s exactly what I’m aiming for. Every coin has two sides. There are benefits, and naturally, there are drawbacks."
"Still, aren’t we disrespecting the Johansson family by handling things this way?" the steward ventured.
Jerry Sean snorted dismissively. "Why should I show them respect? What, do I need the Johansson family’s permission for every move I make?"
"True, the Johansson family wouldn’t dare cross you, but Mason Raymond... that’s another story," the steward mumbled.
Jerry Sean replied coolly, "That’s not my concern. People need to develop through challenges."
Jerry Sean glanced at the steward. "Go investigate the Johansson family’s reaction."
"Yes, sir." The steward bowed before making his exit.
——
At the Johansson residence, Vance Johansson shook with rage after reading the news.
Multiple newspapers labeled Mason Raymond as Mabel Sean’s boyfriend, with some even calling him outright "son-in-law of the Sean family."
How could Vance stomach this!
He ripped the newspaper before him to pieces, teeth grinding. "Son-in-law of the Sean family? Does Mason Raymond deserve that title?"
"Contact whoever runs these newspapers immediately! Make them pull the stories now!" Vance barked furiously.
The steward beside him didn’t dare speak, just nodded frantically. "Yes, Mr. Tenny, I’ll handle it right away..."
Just then, Klein Johansson walked through the door.
Seeing Klein Johansson, Vance Johansson jumped to his feet and bowed. "Dad, Mabel Sean actually brought Mason Raymond to a public event. It’s like a direct slap to our family!"
Klein Johansson raised his hand and struck Vance Johansson across the face, saying icily, "If you’d eliminated him sooner, would any of this drama exist!"
"Because of your failure, we’re now trapped—we can’t act, but we can’t stay idle either. You’ve brought shame to the Johansson family!"
Vance Johansson wished he’d killed Mason Raymond back then, which would have prevented all this mess.
"Dad, should our family make some kind of statement? Otherwise... won’t people mock us?" Vance Johansson asked quietly.
Klein Johansson lit a cigarette, exhaled slowly, and shook his head. "No. The Sean family’s business should stay with the Sean family."
"I’ve reached out to Logan Sean, and he’ll arrive shortly."
Vance Johansson straightened up quickly. "Dad, I understand!"
While they spoke, a servant called from downstairs.
"Sir, Mr. Logan Sean has arrived."
