Chapter 674
Chapter 674:
As he turned to flee, he shouted back, “Your name’s Ashton Baldwin, right? I won’t forget this! When you come begging for mercy, remember what you did today!” Without waiting for a response, Marc hurriedly retreated, his pride shattered.
The moment he left, a wave of applause swept through the employees, many offering praise for Ashton’s boldness, some even offering flattery in the heat of the moment.
Despite the relief that followed, Abrial’s expression remained troubled.
Ashton noticed her concern and immediately approached her. “Abrial, who exactly is he? Why are you so worried about him?”
With a small, anxious smile, Abrial replied, “Ashton, we might be in deep trouble this time. That Marc is from one of the three most powerful families in Staville!”
Major Families Of Staville
Ashton had been in Staville for a while, but his focus on Fraser’s conspiracy had kept him from learning much about the city’s powerful families. This was the first time he’d heard of the so-called three major families. Yet, from the serious look on Abrial’s face, Ashton could tell these families weren’t to be underestimated.
Now that Ennis had lifted the family ban on Ashton, he no longer saw the threat from these so-called major families as a serious issue. After all, even in Tacland, few families could rival the Baldwin family in power and influence.
Ashton gave Abrial a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing to worry about. With me here, they wouldn’t dare make a move.”
Abrial, however, didn’t look convinced. As a member of the Baldwin family, Ashton might underestimate the influence of the local powers. She looked at him seriously. “The situation with these three families is more complicated than it seems. These three families are the real overlords of Staville. They may not be intimidated by your background.”
Intrigued, Ashton followed Abrial back to the office. As she prepared coffee, she began explaining the dynamics of Staville’s powerful families.
“Staville’s families are divided into three tiers,” Abrial began. “Take the Marquez family, for example—they controlled Sup Group and had assets over a billion dollars. That put them in the third tier. Then there’s the Carter family, with assets of around five billion, considered a second-tier family. But first-tier families—those are the giants, with assets exceeding ten billion dollars. The Crawford family is one of them.”
Ashton leaned back, absorbing the information. “Ah, so that explains why that guy was so full of himself. His confidence comes from his family’s influence.”
“It’s even more complex than that,” Abrial continued. “Apart from the Crawford family, two other families in Staville have assets over ten billion dollars: the Miller family and the Nash family. While there may be others with similar wealth, only these three are officially recognized as the major families. They lead their respective industries, operating distinct family businesses. Mysteriously, despite having no apparent reasons to align, they have formed a coalition. This alliance has allowed them to monopolize their markets effectively. So, while it might appear that you’ve merely crossed the Crawfords, in reality, you’ve antagonized all three families: the Crawfords, the Millers, and the Nashes, each holding fortunes over ten billion dollars.”
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