Chapter 37

Bruce waved his hand and yelled at the bodyguards, "What are you waiting for? Get this jerk out of here!"

Anna was taken aback. She quickly grabbed Louis's hand, her eyes full of worry. "You need to leave now, it's too dangerous!"

But Louis didn't seem bothered at all. He patted Anna's hand and said calmly, "Don't worry, it's just a few bodyguards. They don't scare me."

The bodyguards rushed at Louis, but before they could even get close, Louis stepped forward. With a casual flick of his wrist and a few effortless kicks, he had them all on the ground, groaning in pain.

Everyone was in shock, some even exclaimed.

"Oh my God, is this really that useless son-in-law?"

"How can he fight like that? It doesn't make any sense!"

"Looks like we totally underestimated him!"

They couldn't believe that Louis, who always seemed so weak and bookish, could be such a badass in a fight!

Anna was also stunned. She stared at Louis, filled with confusion and shock. Was this really the Louis she knew?

Bruce was shaking with anger. He grabbed his phone, dialed a number, and shouted, "Get some men over here and take this bastard Louis down!"

Just then, a group of unexpected guests walked into the banquet hall.

Leading the newcomers was Albert, the owner of the Azure Palace Hotel.

A stylishly dressed guest nearby whispered, "Even Mr. Stone is here. Everyone knows this place belongs to the Stone family. Who'd be crazy enough to cause trouble here?"

"Mr. Stone? You mean Albert Stone, the guy who can make the whole Sunshine City tremble?" The person next to him gasped.

"In all of Sunshine City, who else has such a grand presence?" Another person looked at the tall figure ahead, speaking with a hint of awe, "Look at that, a whole group of black-clad bodyguards, just like in the movies."

"Isn't that Douglas Stone? He's the head of the Stone family. I heard he's been sick lately. Why is he here in person?" someone in the crowd with sharp eyes exclaimed.

"And there's Zara Stone, Albert's sister. The two of them together are practically the face of Sunshine City. Their family's genes are incredibly strong!"

"The Stone family must be planning something big!"

The crowd buzzed with speculation and gossip.

"The Stone family are here too. This is going to be interesting!" A middle-aged man with glasses pushed them up, speaking with a hint of schadenfreude.

At this moment, one of Harper's confidants spoke up. Her voice was low, and her eyes were like knives directed at the Stone family as if she wanted to devour them. "Do you think the recent troubles in the family might be Louis's doing, in collusion with the Stone family?"

"I think it's very likely! This Louis usually seems so submissive, but turns out to be so cunning behind our backs!" Harold agreed, his voice filled with anger.

Bruce's eyes lit up when he saw Albert. He thought Albert had come at just the right time!

He quickly put on a fawning smile and hurried over, saying obsequiously, "Mr. Stone! What brings you here?"

Bruce rubbed his hands together, continuing to nod and bow, "You came at the perfect time. I was just about to discuss a collaboration with you! If we join forces, it would be a powerful alliance!"

He had already made plans, thinking of using the Stone family's influence to deal with Louis.

In his view, having the Stone family step in was much better than handling it himself and would make Louis suffer more.

However, Albert didn't even bat an eye at him, leaving Bruce so embarrassed that he wished he could disappear.

His smile froze on his face, and he was furious inside, but he didn't dare to show it.

At this moment, Douglas, the head of the Stone family, showed great respect towards Louis.

He quickly approached Louis, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Mr. Windsor, it is an honor to have a divine doctor like you attend an event at one of our Stone family hotels. Would you like to join us at our family banquet?"

This sudden scene left everyone present dumbfounded. Their mouths hung open, eyes wide, and their jaws nearly dropped to the floor.

When did Louis, the Brown family's useless son-in-law, become a divine doctor? They couldn't believe their ears or eyes. Was this still the high and mighty Stone family? Why would Douglas show such respect to a son-in-law?

Louis responded calmly, "Thanks but no thanks."

Louis's refusal erupted the entire banquet hall!

"Louis is refusing the Stone family's invitation?"

"Is he crazy?"

"This is an opportunity that many people dream of! And he said no?"

Seeing this, Bruce thought it was a good opportunity. He quickly moved next to Albert, pointed at Louis, and said, "Mr. Stone, you have to stand up for me! He just beat up my men!"

But Albert interrupted him coldly, "Shut up!"

Bruce was startled, swallowing the rest of his words.

Albert turned around, staring at Bruce, and said word by word, "I'm telling you, Mr. Windsor is the most honored guest of the Stone family! Offending him is offending the Stone family!"

Hearing this, Bruce panicked. He quickly waved his hands and explained, "No, no, no, Mr. Stone, this is all a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding! How could I dare to offend Mr. Windsor? I..."

"Misunderstanding?" Albert sneered, "Let me tell you, this is not over! Your real estate project in the East District, prepare for it to be shut down! And I will send people to your construction site to show you what the rules are!"

Hearing this, Bruce felt like he had been struck by a bolt of lightning, his face turning as pale as a sheet.

The real estate project in the East District was the most important project for their family! If the project was halted, the losses would be enormous!

Moreover, Albert said he would send people to visit the construction site, which clearly meant trouble.

Albert's gaze swept over the other attendees, and he said coldly, "And all of you, every single one of you here today, the Stone family will be taking good care of your businesses as well!"

Hearing this, the guests who were initially enjoying the spectacle were scared out of their wits. They scrambled to distance themselves from the Collins family.

"Mr. Stone, this has nothing to do with us!"

"Yes, yes, we haven't had any dealings with the Collins family for a long time!"

"We're victims too!"

The banquet hall became chaotic, with everyone wishing they could beat up the Collins family members.

Most of the guests were business partners of the Collins Group, well-known entrepreneurs in Sunshine City. They usually enjoyed socializing and networking.

But now, faced with the formidable Stone family, they were eager to dissociate themselves from the Collins family.

"Mr. Stone, why damage the harmony between our families over a useless person like Louis? Our family has been your partner for many years, and this gathering alone involves transactions worth millions of dollars." Bruce, with no other options, tried to use financial ties to persuade Albert.

He was in a difficult position, with no easy way out. Mishandling this situation could destroy his family's long-standing business.

Bruce racked his brain but couldn't understand how Louis, an unremarkable young man, could be connected to Albert.

Had he known, he wouldn't have chosen Albert's hotel for the gathering, seeking to leverage the connection.

"Millions of dollars in transactions?" Albert raised an eyebrow, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "Mr. Collins, do you think the Stone family cares about such petty profits? I'll give you one more chance. Apologize to Mr. Windsor right now!"

Bruce's face turned pale. Facing Albert's calm yet oppressive gaze, he knew he had no room to negotiate.

"I'm sorry." Bruce gritted his teeth, forcing out an apology through clenched teeth, his voice barely audible.

Louis's expression was cold, his eyes icy.

To him, a mere apology from someone who dared to covet his wife was insincere.

"Is that how you apologize?" Before Louis could speak, Albert stepped in, his voice suddenly louder.

Though Albert usually appeared gentlemanly, those who knew him understood he was ruthless at heart.

Louis had not only saved Zara's life but was also Douglas's savior. In Albert's eyes, Louis held a significant position.

Now, someone had disrespected Louis on his turf, challenging his bottom line. How could he let it slide?

"Mr. Stone, how do you want me to apologize?" Bruce's voice trembled. He could sense that Albert was genuinely angry this time.

"I don't know which way Mr. Windsor will prefer," Albert said, slowly walking up to Bruce, speaking each word deliberately, "but I think you're smart enough to figure it out."

With that, he took out his phone and dialed a number, "Aaron, you have thirty minutes to get to the Azure Palace Hotel."

On the other end, Aaron, already overwhelmed by issues with the Dragon Group, was rushing to Sunshine City. He didn't expect a call from the Stone family.

The call came so quickly that he felt a chill run from his feet to his head, his hair standing on end.

"The Collins family is doomed today!" Hearing that Aaron was on his way back, a guest in a suit whispered to the person next to him.

Another person quietly agreed, "The Stone family doesn't seem to be joking this time."

"But seriously, what did Louis do to make the Stone family protect him so fiercely?" A scholarly-looking man with gold-rimmed glasses stroked his chin, deep in thought.

The crowd buzzed with speculation, their eyes darting between Louis, Bruce, and Albert.

Anna was bewildered. She clutched her dress tightly, her palms sweaty.

She knew Louis had some connection with Albert, but she didn't expect Albert to break ties with the Collins family to support Louis.

"What... what is going on? Could he really have medical skills? But Ms. Stone had late-stage stomach cancer, a terminal illness! How could he cure that?" Anna muttered to herself, her eyes on Louis, filled with doubt.

Other members of the Brown family were even more anxious, their faces dark.

Harper gripped her cane tightly, the veins on her hand bulging like worms.

"Looks like our Brown family is going to suffer too!"

"Yes, who would have thought that the powerful Stone family came here! This is a devastating blow!"

"What did Louis offer the Stone family?"

Soon, a figure stumbled into the banquet hall, looking particularly flustered.

It was Aaron, the chairman of the Collins Group and Bruce's father.

Aaron, dressed in a wrinkled tracksuit, was sweating profusely and panting heavily. He had been playing golf with his secretary when the call came, making him look like a refugee. He no longer had the demeanor of a chairman.

As soon as Aaron entered, he knelt in front of Albert, swiftly and decisively, as if he had practiced it countless times.

Bruce, who had been so arrogant, was stunned.

"Mr. Stone, I'm really sorry. It's my fault for not raising my son better and letting him offend you. I... I apologize!" Aaron's forehead hit the floor with a thud, the sound of his kowtowing echoing through the hall.