Chapter 021 Hidden Dangers

Dorothy realized that Ethan had completely ignored her words, and she became annoyed, rolling her eyes at him before moving her chair to the side.

Ethan had long been lost in his thoughts, paying no attention to Dorothy's actions.

"I've never been so disregarded by a man before!" Dorothy grumbled and vented her frustration by playing with the food on the table.

The conversation between Diana and Cara had already ended, and it was only now that Ethan snapped back to reality.

Since Cara was planning to go after Ella and Diana was willing to help, Ethan decided to make sure this arrogant woman suffered a major setback.

This would also serve to honor Anthony's request. Given the unpredictability of life, he could pass away at any given moment, not to mention that their relationship was quite friendly.

As Ethan caught sight of Dorothy, he noticed that Dorothy was taken aback by the sight of Ethan devouring his food like a hungry wolf, which contrasted sharply with her usual delicate and ladylike demeanor. She noticed his surprised look and coughed embarrassingly before swallowing her food.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought. What did you say earlier?" Ethan asked.

Dorothy didn't expect him to twist her words around so boldly, causing her to grit her teeth and sneer with narrowed eyes, "Never mind!"

Ethan picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. The taste of the homemade dishes was excellent, explaining why the waitlist for reservations stretched for a month.

Dorothy's invitation for him to dine here was sincere indeed. It seemed she genuinely wanted to express her gratitude rather than set him up as she had done during their previous encounter.

"What is Tiger Gang?" Ethan glanced at Dorothy and asked.

"Tiger Gang? It's the largest organization in the whole J country. Don't you know?" Dorothy was astonished, observing Ethan as if he were an alien.

Shaking his head, Ethan shared that he had spent his whole life confined within the small space of Sydney Prison, and his knowledge mostly came from the words of the inmates.

Dorothy explained, "This gang is a massive organization composed of J country's people. It has a global presence with millions of members worldwide. In every province of our country, there is a Tiger Gang branch, overseen by a minister of that division. Each minister possesses extraordinary power and connections."

She couldn't help but ask, "You didn't offend Tiger Gang, did you?!"

"Not yet, but maybe in the future." Ethan calmly continued to eat, his words devoid of worry.

After finishing his last bite of food, he put down his chopsticks and said, "I am done, I'll head back now. Thank you for your hospitality!"

With that, Ethan left swiftly, not even giving Dorothy a chance to bid him farewell. Dorothy was left dumbfounded, feeling a mix of anger and fear.

‘Who exactly was this, Ethan? From the way he spoke, it seemed like he was planning to provoke Tiger Gang!’

"This scenario seems hard to grasp,” Dorothy thought, feeling a slight headache coming on.

Shortly after Ethan's departure, Robert summoned him directly to the Smith family.

Handing Ethan a stock transfer worth three million US dollars, Robert said, "This is Uncle's help. Hold onto them well, and when the Jones Group goes public, you'll receive dividends every year."

Ethan was surprised but then heard Jane's laughter beside him. "Now our relatives are all thanking us. It's all thanks to Mr. Jones. If he hadn't leaked this information, we wouldn't have had the chance to benefit like this."

"Bonuses? Uncle, how much money did you all contribute?" Ethan couldn't help but ask.

"...We have a total of around 30 million US dollars here, plus some persuaded relatives who have contributed random amounts, totaling nearly 20 to 30 million US dollars," Robert smiled and replied.

Ethan immediately felt overwhelmed. If the Jones Group ran off with the money, then in the end, the blame would probably fall on Robert's head!

Robert patted Ethan's shoulder and said, "I know everything that happened today. You fear no one, stood up for Bernice, and displayed great courage and responsibility. I admire that!"

Ethan touched his nose, receiving praise from the Smith family was rare.

"However, don't take Norton's opinions too seriously. He might be interested in Bernice, but you are her husband! Besides, Bernice has always treated him as just a friend. Her words to you were out of frustration, hoping for you to mature sooner. Don't take it to heart. I think you should come to work at our Smith Group, and start from an entry-level position to accumulate experience. I believe in your potential."

Ethan quickly waved his hand and said, "Uncle, that's not necessary. I have my own plans."

Jane sneered and said, "You've come seeking refuge, yet are still being stubborn here? If you're truly capable, then arrange some incentives for us as Mr. Jones did! I must say, people like Mr. Jones know how to save our family's honor! Our relatives praised us for having foresight when they invested today!"

Robert interjected, "Ethan stepped up to defend Bernice today, showing that he is someone capable of accomplishing great things. You don't need to blabber here."

Seeing Robert’s firm stance, Jane could only grind her teeth and hold back. However, she still gave Ethan a fierce glare, clearly dissatisfied with him.

Ethan initially wanted to discuss the situation with the Jones Group with Robert. But seeing their attitude towards Norton, he decided it was better not to speak up and avoid unnecessary trouble.

By the time it was lunchtime, Bernice returned fatigued.

"Mom, Dad, I wasn't able to settle things with Boston Bank," Bernice sighed and spoke.

"What happened? Haven’t you already settled with the Dragon Chamber of Commerce? Why wouldn't the bank approve the loan?" Jane exclaimed in annoyance.

Bernice pressed her lips together and glanced at her, subtly shaking her head. It was evident that there was something difficult to explain.

Ethan understood it clearly. Most likely, the bank was intentionally making things difficult, just like what Jacob did, proposing something...

"The offer proposal has arrived!"

"I'll handle it. I know the president of Boston Bank, John. If I ask him, he probably won't refuse," Ethan said.

"You're quite confident. You must have spent a lot of money to brag like that, huh? No wonder you've been idle these past few days, rejecting the offer for you to work at the Smith Group. I bet you've been privately inquiring about the reputation of these influential figures in Boston, so you can boast about it, right?" Jane said sarcastically.

Robert coughed helplessly and patted Ethan's shoulder, saying seriously, "A man should stay humble!"

Of course, Robert couldn't believe that Ethan, who had already been driven out of the McKellen family and had been a penniless prison guard in a small place for so many years, could have such connections.