Chapter 117 CHAPTER 117
The Man Behind the Curtain
“Mom, what do you mean the Tokyo branch isn’t ours anymore?”
Ares’s voice cut through the thick air of the suite like a knife. Papers lay scattered across the mahogany table, the laptop screen still open with documents flashing in red, Ownership Transfer Successful.
Lady Bianca stood frozen, her trembling hand gripping the back of the chair for balance. She had been staring at the screen for the past two minutes, unable to process what she was reading.
“It’s gone,” she whispered finally, her voice breaking. “The Tokyo properties, the warehouse in Osaka, even the accounts connected to them,” she swallowed hard, blinking through her tears, “Your father took everything. Everything in America too. Every single thing. All our accounts are frozen.”
Ares stared at her, the muscle in his jaw twitching. “That’s impossible. He can’t just…”
“He can.” Bianca’s eyes lifted to meet his. They were red, hollow, almost empty. “They were under his name, Ares. He transferred them quietly days ago. I didn’t even notice until now. My God…”
She sank into the nearest chair, the robe around her shoulders slipping as she pressed both hands to her temples. “He’s been planning this. Every signature, every document, he moved things out of our reach.”
Ares raked a hand through his hair, pacing across the room. “You’re saying he took the Japanese properties, the ones I built? The boutiques? The hotels?”
“All of it,” she said. “Even the new development in Shibuya yiu started.”
Her voice cracked, the weight of it landing like a blow between them.
Ares stopped pacing and turned to face her. “And you’re just finding out now?”
Bianca’s lips parted, but no words came.
He exhaled sharply, biting down on his anger. “Jesus, Mom. How did he even—”
She lifted her phone weakly, scrolling through messages. “I’ve been trying to reach him since last night. He won’t answer. Not one call. He—”
The phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a dull thud.
Ares moved quickly, crouching to pick it up, but she caught his wrist. Her fingers were cold.
“I think… I think he’s trying to take everything before I can react.” Her voice trembled. “He’s already changed the account access. I can’t log in to anything anymore. The passwords don’t work.”
Ares rose, jaw clenched tight. “That bastard.”
He moved to the laptop, fingers flying across the keys. The cursor blinked as he tried to access another file, but the screen flashed red again — Restricted Access.
He slammed the lid shut. “He’s shut you out completely.”
Bianca nodded faintly, staring at nothing. “Do you know what this means, Ares? He’s taking back control. He wants me to crawl to him. He wants us to lick his feet. After everything.”
Her voice was small but sharp, filled with disbelief and something like betrayal that had been waiting years to bleed.
“He wouldn’t do that to us,” Ares said, though even he didn’t sound convinced.
“Oh, he would,” she whispered. “He’s been waiting for this chance ever since I stopped letting him dictate every business decision. He’s punishing me.”
Ares turned away, fists tightening at his sides. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the steady rhythm of Bianca’s shallow breathing.
Then the laptop pinged, a new email notification.
They both turned.
Ares stepped closer, tapping the touchpad. The subject line was short, almost cruel in its simplicity: Reallocation Notice – The Langford Enterprise Holdings.
He opened it.
Bianca’s breath hitched as she read over his shoulder. The email detailed the full asset transfer — boutiques, properties, offshore accounts. Every one of them now under Marcus Langford, with a final clause noting that “remaining assets in Japan are under review for consolidation.”
Bianca swayed, grabbing the table to steady herself.
“He’s… taking over Japan too,” she whispered, voice almost inaudible.
Ares’s hands curled into fists. “I’ll call him.”
He pulled out his phone, dialing his father’s number. The line rang once, twice, three times, then cut to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
“Pick up the damn phone!” Ares roared, his voice echoing through the room.
Bianca flinched.
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down, then turned to her. “Mom, listen to me. I’ll get in touch with him. Maybe there’s a reason—”
“There’s no reason,” she cut in, her tone sharp with despair. “This is Marcus. This is who he’s always been.”
She pushed herself up from the chair, pacing unsteadily. “He told me once that if I ever tried to live without him, he’d make sure I’d regret it.”
Her words hung in the air like a curse.
Ares stared at her, his throat tightening. “When did he say that?”
“Doesn’t matter.” She stopped walking and turned toward him. “We need to do something.”
Ares’s face hardened. “I see.”
Bianca’s expression twisted, pain flashing across her features. “He’s your father.”
“Barely.”
Before either of them could say another word, the door to the suite burst open.
Tessa stood there, half dressed, her hair tied loosely, Chloe right behind her. “We heard shouting,” Tessa said breathlessly. “What happened?”
Bianca turned toward them, eyes wild. “Marcus happened. He’s taken everything!”
Chloe blinked. “Everything?”
Ares gestured to the laptop. “Properties, accounts, even Japan.”
Chloe crossed the room quickly, scanning the screen. “He’s been rerouting transfers through dummy companies for weeks. I saw the name Haruki Holdings pop up in one of the financial reports yesterday?”
Bianca’s lips trembled. “Shut up and get out.”
“I,” Chloe said quickly. “I didn’t think…”
Bianca’s knees buckled.
Ares caught her before she hit the floor, his arms wrapping around her trembling frame.
“Mom!”
Her head fell against his chest. “I can’t… I can’t breathe.”
Tessa rushed forward. “She’s going into shock—Ares, lay her down!”
Ares guided her gently to the floor. Her eyes fluttered open and closed, unfocused.
“Stay with me,” he said, his voice breaking for the first time. “Mom, stay with me.”
Tessa grabbed her phone. “I’m calling for help.”
Chloe knelt beside them, clutching Bianca’s cold hand. “Bianca, listen to me. You’ll be fine. Just hold on.”
Bianca’s breathing came in shallow gasps. “He took… everything,” she murmured.
Ares brushed the hair from her face. “Don’t talk. Save your strength.”
Tessa’s voice shook as she spoke into the phone. “We need an ambulance. Grand Plaza Hotel, Suite 1209. She’s not responding well—”
Bianca’s eyes rolled slightly, her head tilting back.
“No, no, no, stay with me!” Ares shouted, pressing his hand against her cheek. “Mom!”
“Paramedics are on the way,” Tessa said, tears in her voice.
Ares lifted her in his arms as if she weighed nothing. “We’re not waiting.”
He carried her out into the corridor, his steps fast and heavy. Chloe and Tessa followed close behind.
Guests turned to stare as they passed, a woman limp in her son’s arms, her hair falling over her face, the silk of her robe dragging against the polished floor.
The elevator was too slow. Ares took the stairs.
By the time they reached the lobby, the hotel staff had already noticed the commotion. Someone ran ahead to open the doors.
A car screeched to a halt outside. Tessa jumped into the front seat, shouting, “Hospital — now!”
Ares climbed in with Bianca in the back. Chloe followed, slamming the door shut behind them.
The car sped off into the night, tires screeching against the pavement.
Ares held his mother close, her pulse weak under his fingers. He looked out the window, the city lights flashing.