The Tycoon's Odyssey

Arnold tried to mask his panic, forcing a calm expression. "I don't understand, sir. What do you mean?"

Evan's face turned icy, his gaze cutting toward Nathaniel. "So much has gone wrong, and you're completely clueless? It seems you can't control your own people, Mr. Barret."

Nathaniel's expression hardened, his pride stung by the criticism. But before Arnold could stammer out a defense, Evan stepped forward—swift as a gust of wind.
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In an instant, he appeared before Arnold, startling Nathaniel and seized him by the neck before slamming him against the table.

"You're truly worthless," Evan growled angrily, his grip tightening around Arnold's neck as he gasped and choked, his face twisting in agony.

At Evan's nod, his men stepped forward and dropped a stack of documents and records onto the table in front of Nathaniel. "Take a look," Evan said, releasing Arnold, who had collapsed to the floor and was clutching his throat, gasping for air. "These files contain all the call logs, records—proof of everything your staff has been hiding."

Nathaniel snatched the papers, his eyes narrowing as he examined the evidence. With each page he read, his face darkened, a hard, dangerous look overtaking his features.

"Do you realize your own son has put Suri's life at risk?" Evan's voice was laced with disgust.

"You're not just negligent; you've failed her as a father." He leaned back, casting a dismissive glance toward Arnold, who still trembled on the floor.

Nathaniel looked down at Arnold, his voice sharp with fury. "Leave. We'll discuss this later."

"Sir…I…"

"Leave…"

Arnold tried to open his mouth but Nathaniel's glare silenced him.

He finally stumbled out of the room, his head bowed, as Nathaniel turned to Evan.

For a long moment, the tension crackled in the air as the two stared into each other's eyes. Finally, Nathaniel broke the silence, his voice simmering with barely controlled anger. "You've made your point, Evan. Suri's safety is paramount to me, and I will handle this. But don't think you can walk into my home, tear apart my staff, and lecture me. Suri is my daughter, and I'll protect her."

"Protect my ass…Do you have a shred of shame?" Evan spat in disgust, infuriating Nathaniel but what could he expect to accept the situation?

Nathaniel's fists clenched, his fury bubbling under the surface, but Evan pressed on, his lips curling into a slight, mocking smirk. "Then prove it," he said, his voice calm but daring.

"Show me that you'll take action. Silence those who have spread these lies—or I will."

Another charged pause stretched between both the unyielding men. At last, Nathaniel gave a curt nod, his face hard, and a reluctant acceptance flickering in his eyes.

Evan's gaze remained steady, his eyes glinting with a steely confidence as he leaned closer, his voice low and laced with authority.

"Also, what exactly could you do if I forced my way into this place? Compared to me, you're just a powerless man." His gaze didn't waver, each word a deliberate taunt. "Don't mistake my patience for mercy. I'm choosing to handle this delicately because that's what Suri wanted."

Nathaniel's jaw tightened, the insult settling heavily on his shoulders, but Evan continued, unperturbed. "Paul and Rena are still around not because they deserve to be, but because Suri didn't want the fallout. She knew that if they were removed, everything would fall onto her. And then, you'd be set on making her the Barret heir, wouldn't you? But she has no interest in this legacy—not with all the elders waiting to hound her with their expectations and demands."

Nathaniel looked down, absorbing Evan's words in silence.

"Besides," Evan added, his voice softer but sharper, "my corporation is already vast. Soon, I'll have a foothold in every industry imaginable. If Suri wants a company to run, she will have the entire Next Gen at her fingertips. She doesn't need this burden you call a family legacy—and it's exactly why she's so frustrated with all of this."

Evan straightened, looking down at Nathaniel, a trace of finality in his stance. "One day," he said firmly. "I'll give you one day to clean up this mess. If you don't…"

He narrowed his eyes, a dangerous edge hardening his expression. "The world will first-hand witness the power of the man behind Next Gen."

He took a step toward the door but stopped to glance back, his voice dropping to a deadly tone. "And keep your dogs in line, dear father-in-law. I don't appreciate having to handle your business when it threatens my wife's peace."

After Evan's departure, a heavy silence filled the room, leaving Nathaniel alone with his thoughts. The weight of Evan's ultimatum lingered, a clear reminder of both his own failings and the shifting power dynamics within his family. He knew that Evan's influence wasn't a bluff; Next Gen's reach was immense, and Evan had both the resources and the will to follow through on his threats.

After taking a deep breath, Nathaniel steadied himself and turned toward the door, his mind churning with conflicting emotions.

Evan had exposed flaws he couldn't ignore any longer. He had trusted Arnold, thereby allowing Paul and Rena to remain close despite their growing ambitions and disruptive presence. Now, the cracks in his control over his household and legacy were painfully evident.

He summoned a butler, his tone cold and unyielding. "Bring Arnold to me immediately. And get the family council on the line. They need to hear about… recent developments."

A short while later, Arnold entered the room, visibly shaken, his face pale from the earlier encounter. He tried to stammer out an apology, but Nathaniel cut him off with a sharp glare. "Enough, Arnold. You have failed me—and worse, you've put Suri's safety at risk. Do you even have an idea of what you've done?"

Arnold lowered his head, his excuses dying in his throat.

"From this moment, consider yourself relieved of your duties," Nathaniel said, his voice cold and measured. The patience he was known for was replaced with a barely restrained fury. "Leave now, before I lose what little composure I have left."

Without a word, Arnold turned and left, his shoulders slumped as he realized the magnitude of his dismissal.

As the door clicked shut, Nathaniel turned his attention to the looming matter of Paul and Rena. The burden of obligation, family loyalty, and a burning frustration tugged his being. Evan's words echoed in his mind—harsh but undeniable. He had let his family's internal conflicts fester, assuming he could keep them under control, but in doing so, he had failed Suri.

Nathaniel's jaw clenched as he silently vowed to restore order.

Pulling out his phone, he began making a series of quick, calculated calls. Within hours, arrangements were underway to confront Paul and Rena. They would be questioned, their recent actions scrutinized, and they would face the full consequences of their betrayals without any mercy. For once, Nathaniel would not tolerate weakness or manipulation.

As the night wore on, he felt the weight of his decisions settle heavily on his shoulders. He had always been the master of his own house, but tonight, Evan's warning had struck deep. One way or another, change was inevitable. Either he would restore the Barret family to its former strength or risk watching Evan take over entirely, reshaping it in his own image.

And though Nathaniel's pride resisted the idea, he understood that his position was not unassailable. Evan had proven that much beyond a doubt.