Chapter 234 The Gray Family Crisis

Chapter 234 The Gray Family Crisis

"You sure?" Thomas's voice was calm, but anyone who knew him could tell he was pissed.

Brent stood ramrod straight and nodded. "The evidence is solid. Bank transfers, surveillance footage, and confessions from those thugs—it all checks out. Rose used her supplementary card to transfer a hundred grand directly to them."

Thomas let out a cold laugh, though his eyes remained completely flat.

"Get legal and investment on the line. Meeting in ten minutes."

Brent froze. "Mr. Stuart, what are you planning to do?"

"Cut all cooperation between Ascend Global Holdings and the Gray Family. Immediately." Thomas's tone was eerily even. "Tip off the major banks in Harmony City to tighten the Gray Family's credit lines. Also, contact the main suppliers for the Gray Family's ongoing construction projects. Tell them to demand payment now."

Brent's heart skipped a beat.

These three moves combined would drive the Gray Family straight into the ground.

"Mr. Stuart, the Gray Family has been close to Mr. Wesley Stuart for generations," Brent said carefully. "If you do this, Mr. Wesley Stuart might not be pleased."

Thomas paused.

"So what?" He turned to look at Brent. "Who runs the Stuart Family now?"

Brent immediately lowered his head. "You do."

"Grandpa can't control me." Thomas picked up the lighter on his desk and lit a cigarette—something he hadn't done in ages. "The Gray Family needs to pay the price."

Brent said nothing more.

He knew Thomas's temper too well. This time, the Gray Family had truly crossed the line.

In less than half a day, Harmony City's business world was in chaos.

Three of the Gray Family's core real estate projects were abruptly halted, with partners pulling out under various pretexts.

Banks called nonstop demanding loan repayments. The Gray Group's cash flow dried up overnight.

Inside the Maybach, Thomas sat in the back seat as his phone rang.

Ethan's name flashed on the screen.

Thomas hit the speaker button and tossed the phone onto the seat beside him.

"Thomas! Are you serious?" Ethan's voice came through, chaotic background noise bleeding into the call. "Several of my family's major projects just got shut down! The banks are demanding repayment! Was this you?"

"Yes."

Silence on the other end, broken only by Ethan's heavy breathing.

"Are you out of your mind?" Ethan exploded. "All this for Matilda? We've been friends for years, and you're going to destroy the Gray Family? Is it really worth it?"

"Worth it?" Thomas's lips curved into a humorless smile. "Rose hired thugs to break Daniel's leg and set me up. That's not reason enough?"

Ethan sputtered, finally managing, "She made a mistake! She was just—she loves you too much! Do you really need to go scorched earth over this?"

"When you screw up, you pay the price." Thomas ended the call without another word.

Two minutes later, his phone buzzed again.

Adrian this time.

Thomas answered.

"Thomas, Ethan just called me." Adrian sounded resigned.

"Did he send you to plead his case?"

"If you're about to tell me to let it go," Thomas cut him off, "you know me. If you try to talk me down, we're done being friends."

Adrian sighed on the other end.

"Rose definitely went too far, but Ethan grew up with us. Teach him a lesson if you want, but don't actually bankrupt the Gray Family."

Thomas said nothing.

"Fine, I get it. You're in protective mode now." Adrian gave up. "Do what you want. I'm staying out of this mess. Ethan deserves it anyway for enabling that train wreck of a sister."

The car pulled up outside Ascend Global Holdings as another call came in.

Wesley.

Thomas's hand froze on the door handle. He answered.

"You little bastard! Have you lost your mind?" Wesley's voice boomed through the phone. "Mr. Gray just called me in tears! What the hell are you doing? Why are you going after the Gray Family for no reason?"

Thomas tapped his fingers twice on the steering wheel.

"Grandpa."

"Don't 'Grandpa' me! Tell your people to back off! The Gray Family has been close to us for decades. You're making me look like a fool."

"This involves Matilda," Thomas said evenly.

The tirade stopped cold.

Several seconds passed before Wesley spoke again. "Matilda? What did the Gray Family do to Matilda?"

"Rose hired people to break Matilda's cousin's leg." Thomas kept it brief. "She also drugged me."

"What?" Wesley's voice shot up. "Rose did all that?"

"So the Gray Family needs to pay the price."

"Fine. You young people handle your own business." Wesley seemed at a loss. "I'm too old. Can't control you anymore anyway."

He hung up.

At the Gray Family mansion.

Rose stared at the news showing the Gray Family's plummeting stock prices, pacing frantically around the living room.

Ethan sat slumped on the sofa, hands gripping his hair, looking utterly defeated.

The ashtray on the table overflowed with cigarette butts.

"Ethan, what do we do now? Thomas is serious this time!" Rose burst into tears.

"How should I know?" Ethan snapped his head up, eyes bloodshot. "If you hadn't pulled those stupid stunts, would the Gray Family be in this mess?"

Rose flinched, biting her lower lip.

She grabbed her car keys and headed straight for the Stuart Family estate.

Lorna was sitting in the garden drinking coffee, her expression already sour.

She'd had a huge fight with Thomas over the Skyview City incident just days ago. Their relationship had hit rock bottom.

"Mrs. Stuart!" Rose rushed over, eyes red.

Lorna nearly dropped her teacup in surprise.

"Rose, what's wrong?"

"Mrs. Stuart, please, I'm begging you to save my family!" Rose sobbed, clutching desperately at Lorna's sleeve. "Thomas is going to destroy us! My father's in the hospital from the stress!"

Lorna's brow furrowed.

Of course she'd heard the rumors.

"Rose, it's not that I won't help you." Lorna sighed, pulling Rose to her feet. "You know Thomas's temper. Once he's made up his mind, no one can talk him down."

"But this affects you too!" Rose said urgently. "Thomas is doing this for Matilda! He doesn't even respect you anymore. If they get married, where will you stand in the Stuart Family?"

Lorna's expression darkened.

Rose had hit a nerve.

"Mrs. Stuart, please just talk to Thomas. If you ask him, he'll definitely listen."

Lorna looked away.

Talk to him? With what leverage?

They'd just had that massive fight. Thomas wasn't even taking her calls.

If she pushed him now, God only knew how much worse their relationship would get.