Chapter 553 Jasmine Is Good at Acting Now
Ethan had thoroughly outmaneuvered Howard.
If Howard knew that the benefits he conceded ended up with Ethan, he might just die of anger.
Brandon looked at Howard with a smile, waiting for his response.
Howard originally wouldn't have agreed, but he was furious now. Ethan had just embarrassed him in public, and he was eager to teach Ethan a lesson.
"Mr. Russell, I've given you such a big concession. Shouldn't you give me something in return?" Howard asked with a smile.
"Mr. Douglas, what do you want?" Brandon asked calmly, tapping his fingers on the table.
Howard was silent for a long time before speaking, "Then Ethan can't stay at Raymond anymore. You have to fire him and inform all your friends in Silverlight City not to hire him."
This was to block Ethan's path completely.
Brandon thought for a moment. "Mr. Douglas, isn't that a bit too much?"
Brandon's expression was a picture of deliberation as he haggled with Howard.
This was his strategy to allay Howard's concerns and secure the deal. Once the contract was signed, there would be no backing out—breaching it would come with astronomical penalties.
"Mr. Douglas," Brandon said with a sigh, "Ethan is your son and a talented one at that. I can't agree to this. We're friends, after all. Dismissing him is one thing, but sabotaging him behind the scenes—that's a different price."
Howard fell silent, narrowing his eyes. "Mr. Russell, in business, there are no friends—only permanent interests. You'd better think this through."
Brandon sighed again. "We're very interested in the Grand Ventures project in the Western Suburbs…"
Howard's fists clenched with frustration. "If you want the deal, then tonight at the dinner, everyone should know that Ethan's been expelled from Raymond."
Howard was intent on publicly humiliating Ethan.
Brandon sighed. "Well, if that's the case, it looks like our friendship is over. You're putting me in a tough spot, Mr. Douglas," Brandon said as he instructed his secretary to draft the contract.
Howard hesitated, visibly torn as he considered the contract.
"What's the matter? Changed your mind, Mr. Douglas? Once you decide, there's no turning back. If you back out now, I…" Brandon said with a smile.
Howard frowned, gritted his teeth, and eventually signed the document.
Brandon looked over the signed contract with a grin and affixed his seal. "Thank you, Mr. Douglas."
He thought, 'With Ethan and his father at odds, Raymond is poised to gain. Not bad at all.'
"Ethan, sorry about this, but it's all about the bottom line," Brandon said with a smirk, handing the contract to his secretary.
The secretary, adjusting his glasses, looked somewhat resigned, thinking, 'Mr. Russell seems to be enjoying his role as the opportunistic villain.'
At the chamber of commerce event, Ethan was seated at the back with Jasmine.
"Ethan, looks like Mr. Russell and our chairman are having a great time," Branson sneered, glancing at Ethan with a hint of scorn. "When the Douglas family partners with Raymond, what's going to happen to you? Will he end up a lost soul, homeless?"
Branson saw Howard and Brandon laughing and shaking hands as they exited, knowing the deal was sealed.
With the deal done, Ethan's days at Raymond were numbered. Without Raymond, Ethan had little leverage.
Everyone watched Ethan and Jasmine, eagerly anticipating their downfall.
"You're just Howard's lapdog," Jasmine snapped, protecting Ethan. "No wonder you can't talk like a civilized person."
"Jasmine, don't think just because you're the Cunningham family's golden girl that I'm scared of you. You're nothing but a…" Branson began, but Ethan's icy glare cut him off, making him snap his mouth shut.
Branson, taken aback by Ethan's intense stare, started to retort but was interrupted as Jasmine shouted toward the door.
"Nolan! He's bullying me!"
Nolan was already seething when he entered the banquet hall, and hearing his precious sister's distressed cry only made his anger boil over. His face darkened instantly as he strode over to Branson.
"What kind of lowlife do you think you are, picking on my sister?" Nolan's voice was icy, his demeanor suggesting he was ready to explode at any moment.
Branson, clearly intimidated by Nolan, who was the president of the Cunningham Group, began to shrink back. Nolan's cold gaze shifted from Branson to Howard.
"Chairman Douglas, why is your lackey shouting at my sister? She's scared easily, and if your dog has frightened her, I won't hesitate to put him down."
Jasmine, playing the damsel in distress, huddled behind Nolan and said, "Nolan, he insulted me and Ethan. Ethan is my husband and a son-in-law of the Cunningham family. He even called us 'stray dogs.'"
Jasmine's complaint was as dramatic as it was effective, leaving everyone unsure how to respond. Ethan, suppressing a smile, watched Jasmine's performance with amusement.
Nolan, ever the protective brother, was now even more incensed. "Who do you think you are?"
Without further ado, Nolan kicked Branson with a sharp, decisive motion, sending him sprawling to the ground. Branson, looking disheveled, tried to get up and retaliate but was quickly stopped by Howard.
"Hold on, Nolan," Howard said with a strained smile. "There must be some misunderstanding here."
"Misunderstanding? Are you implying my sister is lying?" Nolan's sneer was chilling. "If you can't even control your own lackeys, how can you expect anyone in the business world to respect you? Maybe the Cunningham Group doesn't need to collaborate with the Douglas family after all."
Howard's face darkened immediately. He turned his cold gaze on Branson. "Apologize to Ms. Cunningham. Now."
Branson, gritting his teeth, stepped forward. "Ms. Cunningham, I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry."
"What?" Jasmine feigned confusion, pointing to her ear as if she couldn't hear clearly. "Speak up!"
Frustrated and flustered, Branson raised his voice. "I'm sorry!"
Jasmine's dramatic gesture, though intended to mock, only fueled Nolan and Ethan's anger. They were more concerned about Jasmine's feelings than the public setting.
"An apology is one thing, but this attitude is unacceptable," Nolan growled as he yanked Branson by the collar and shoved him, sending him crashing to the floor again.
He thought, 'If it weren't illegal, I'd give him a few more punches.' Nolan seethed, his anger palpable.
Ethan, equally serious, added, "Chairman Douglas, if you don't get rid of people like this, you might find yourself in hot water soon."
Howard remained unruffled, a forced smile on his face. "Ethan, Nolan, you're both too young and hot-headed. Youth often comes with rashness and emotional outbursts."
Nolan's sneer was cold. "Chairman Douglas, you may be calm, but you're clearly willing to sacrifice his own son. Allowing such insults to go unchallenged—calling us 'stray dogs'—it's not just a bad choice of words. It's a reflection of your own downfall."
Nolan's words were a direct insult to Howard and, by extension, to Ethan as well.
Ethan, rubbing his temples in frustration, chose to hold back his anger, considering Nolan's defense of Jasmine.
Onlookers around them were stunned, unsure of how to process the unfolding drama.
Howard's expression darkened as he spoke with cold resolve, "Ethan, I've just been informed that Raymond's president has decided to terminate your position. You're fired. You'd better head home tonight and have a word with us father-to-son."
Howard's attempt to change the subject had effectively thrown Ethan into the spotlight.
The news of Ethan's sudden dismissal sent shockwaves through the entire party, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
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