Chapter 24: Struggling to Survive

"Henry, can you help the Miller family?" Sofia gritted her teeth and asked.

The Miller family was just a normal business family. The best protection they could find would be retired veterans, but they were no match for Evil Shadow.

"Have your subordinates and friends, all stay at the old mansion. As long as we can get through this crisis, I will plead with Grandfather and uncle to put you back in the Miller family's registry. They can’t refuse," Sofia proposed.

Henry raised an eyebrow. "They kicked me out before, and now they want me back? Is that your idea or Simone's? Tell him he's dreaming! Even if they all die, it has nothing to do with me."

The Miller family's enemies would be avenged someday, and Henry was only waiting for Isabella to wake up and personally decide how to destroy this despicable family.

"Henry, don't underestimate the value of this opportunity to return to the Miller family!" Sofia exclaimed angrily. Her beautiful face filled with fury.

"Without the Miller family, do you think you can live peacefully with this group of ordinary soldiers? Returning to the Miller family is what you need the most right now, job security, and money. Don't cling on to your foolish pride!" Henry looked at her coldly.

"If you weren't my uncle’s daughter, you wouldn't even be standing here. Go back and tell Simone that the entire Miller family is worthless in my eyes!"

Sofia was silenced by Henry's icy stare, unable to respond.

At that moment, one of their subordinates approached Henry. "General, we found suspicious individuals near the hospital. According to our scout's observation, this person has been loitering here four times already, but only outside the hospital before leaving."

"They must be with the assassin’s organization! You may be able to withstand one attack, but you will eventually die if they attack constantly! Henry, you have people, the Miller family has money and power. Only by uniting can we truly confront Evil Shadow!" Sofia couldn't help but interject.

"Shut up!" Henry coldly cut her off, then turned to his subordinate. "Take me to see the surveillance footage."

In the surveillance room, Henry's expression grew complex as he watched the video. He never expected that the person loitering at the hospital would be the exact person he was looking for.

"Well, there are a few things I need to clarify," Henry said.

"It's him?" Sofia recognized the person in the surveillance footage and was slightly surprised.

Henry turned away, and Sofia hastily exclaimed, "Where are you going?"

Without receiving an answer, she hesitated for a moment before quickly catching up.

Having been frightened by Evil Shadow's assassins, Sofia now felt a sense of security following Henry.

At least his subordinates were able to stop the assassin, which was stronger than the Miller family.

Half an hour later, based on the tracking information from his subordinates, Henry arrived at a secluded street, facing a poorly decorated noodle shop.

Walking into the shop, which was about ten square meters in size, it had four small tables and was quite busy, with several people already seated.

"What kind of noodles would you like?" a woman with a beautiful face and wearing an apron greeted.

Henry casually ordered a bowl, while Sofia, with a disgusted expression, shook her head.

Through the glass, Henry's gaze fell on the man in the kitchen who was busy working.

A distant relative of the Miller family and Henry's best friend seven years ago. It was after drinking a glass of wine given to him by Mark that he fell unconscious.

These past seven years, Henry had been wondering whether Mark knew about the spiked glass of wine, whether he knew that it would harm his best friend!

Suddenly, heavy and chaotic footsteps echoed. Just as they entered, a loud voice rang out, "Hey, beautiful; I've come to see you again!"

The woman in the apron was clearing empty bowls and was so frightened by the voice that she trembled and dropped a bowl, shattering it on the floor.

This man had a full face, stout and muscular, standing at about six feet in height, like a half-iron tower. His leering eyes fell on the woman's chest, and he smirked, "You knew I was coming, such a surprise, huh?"

The woman in the apron turned pale, and in the kitchen, Mark heard the commotion and rushed out with a kitchen knife in hand. "James, what are you here for again? We've already paid the protection fee for this month!"

Following the burly man were seven or eight young people with brightly dyed hair, each with a fierce expression, holding iron rods in their hands.

James laughed, "You may have paid the protection fee, but what about the sanitation fee, miscellaneous fees, and shop rent? Let me tell you, as long as I want it, you have to give it, otherwise, your shop won't survive under me! Unless, of course, you let your wife and my brothers have some fun for a couple of days."

Mark's eyes erupted in anger, gripping the kitchen knife tighter until his knuckles turned white.

The woman in the apron trembled with fear, hiding behind him. The customers present, seeing this scene, quickly lowered their heads to finish their meals and prepared to leave.

James wasn't in a hurry to deal with Mark. His gaze swept across the shop and paused when he saw Henry, who remained calm. He was astounded that someone didn't fear him. Then, in the next second, he saw...

Sofia sat across from Henry.

With delicate features, fair skin, a well-tailored long dress, and an air of elegance between her eyebrows, she was a rare beauty from a wealthy family. The one seldom sees in this kind of place!

James swallowed hard and strained his neck to look. At that moment, he also noticed a bespectacled man hiding in the corner, engrossed in eating noodles.

"You owe me money and yet you have money to eat noodles here?" James marched over and slapped the bespectacled man, leaving his face bloodied.

The bespectacled man pleaded bitterly, "James, I didn't know the interest would be so high. I only borrowed five thousand dollars, and in just a week, it turned into fifty thousand. Please spare me!"

"Debts must be repaid! If you don't repay, how can I hold my head high?" James shouted, then smirked, "I'm a reasonable guy. You said the interest is high, right?"

James tilted his head, paused, and spat a mouthful of phlegm right onto the bespectacled man's face. "Like noodles? Eat this bowl, and I'll waive ten thousand dollars for you! Will you eat it? If you don't, I'll double it!"

The bespectacled man, clutching his swollen cheek, looked at the bowl of phlegm and thought about James’s methods. Gritting his teeth, he lowered his head to eat the noodles.

"James, you've gone too far!" At this moment, Mark couldn't stand by anymore and waved the kitchen knife in his hand, rebuking loudly.

James turned to look at him and laughed, "You can't even protect yourself, and you still want to meddle in someone else’s affairs?"

"Do you think you are, the young master of the Miller family? You're just a stray dog kicked out! Let me tell you, I've already had my way with your wife today!"