Chapter 870
Seeing Lauren in Andrew’s arms, crying tears of joy – watching as everyone rushed forward to congratulate them – Michael knew it was over, and the tide had turned against him.
However, he had not lost yet because he had prepared a backup plan long ago. If he could not win fair and square, he would take power by force.
“Mr. Rhodes, what the hell are you doing?”
“Did you just say you’ll kill anyone who moves? What a joke.”
“You can’t win, so now you’re throwing a tantrum? Mr. Rhodes, I never thought you’d stoop this low.”
Disgusted by Michael’s behavior, several senior executives finally spoke up, openly reprimanding him.
Lauren stepped out of Andrew’s embrace, her voice sharp. “Michael, I strongly suggest you don’t do something stupid.”
Michael’s face twisted with pure hatred. He pointed a shaking finger first at Lauren, then at Andrew.
“You two… you two bastards,” he snarled. “I swear, I’ve wanted to get rid of you for so long. Everything… everything is because of you! Andrew, you might think you’re invincible, but today, I’m going to prove that you’re just as mortal as the rest of us!”
As soon as his words fell, the conference room doors slammed open. Bane, his face dark and menacing, stormed in with a squad of men right behind him.
A senior executive’s face contorted with rage. “Mr. Rhodes, what are you doing?”
Michael immediately slapped the old man across the face, sending him flying backward.
“Shut the hell up, you old bastard!” Michael sneered. “I already brought my people in, and you still have the nerve to ask me what I’m doing? Are you stupid?”
The entire room froze. No one had expected Michael to actually lay hands on someone. One by one, the executives instinctively took a step back, distancing themselves from him.
Michael ignored them all. He turned his attention to Tiana, his voice dark with warning. “Aunt Tiana, you have two choices. Either hand over the CEO position to me right now… Or don’t blame me for what happens next.”
Tiana’s fury erupted. “Michael, think about what you’re doing right now!”
Michael let out a cold, sinister laugh. “Originally, I didn’t want things to get ugly, but that was under the assumption that you would be smart enough to hand over the position without a fight. Clearly, Aunt Tiana, you’ve failed to meet my expectations. So now? Now, I have to take what’s mine!”
Lauren was shocked and furious. She was about to speak when Andrew caught her wrist and shook his head. He wanted to see how far Michael really planned to take this. With Tiana here, there was no way Michael would succeed.
Tiana’s voice turned ice cold. “So, you’re telling me that you’re really going to turn against me just for the sake of a title? Use force against your own family?”
Michael’s smile twisted into something unhinged. “And what if I am? I’m done pretending to respect you. Everyone else might fear you, but my father and I don’t.”
Tiana’s gaze turned murderous. “Even Kenny wouldn’t dare speak to me like this, Michael. Are you really so unafraid of death? Do you actually think that just because you brought in a low-level thug like Bane, you can overthrow me?”
Seeing Tiana’s unwavering stance, the rest of the executives felt a surge of confidence. One by one, they started shouting.
“Mr. Rhodes, you’re a disgrace! How dare you defy Mrs. Rhodes? You’re finished!”
“Do you think bringing in some hired muscle makes a difference? Mrs. Rhodes is still in charge here! You will fail!”
“Mrs. Rhodes, why waste time arguing? Just have him arrested and let the authorities handle it!”
Yet, Michael just laughed – a deep, guttural laugh – like he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
Bane and his men smirked along with him, their expressions full of scorn. Not a single one of them seemed the least bit concerned.