Chapter 746
Chapter 746:
And now, Ashton had delivered the final blow. Not only had he escaped unscathed, but he had also gained glory from the championship win, and as if that weren’t enough, he had stolen Stephen’s four best chefs in the process.
Seething with rage, Stephen wasted no time summoning his allies, Leonardo and Hamlin, to his estate.
Leonardo and Hamlin arrived quickly, their loyalty compelling them to drop their work.
As they entered Stephen’s study and saw the stormy look on his face, they exchanged knowing glances.
“Stephen, did Skyline Group give you trouble again?” Leonardo asked cautiously.
Stephen didn’t bother with preambles. “That boy from Skyline Group has gone too far! The losses I’ve suffered are one thing, but I can’t stand his smugness anymore. I need him taken down immediately. And I need your help.”
Leonardo and Hamlin exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the volatility in Stephen’s demeanor. Despite their loyalty, they didn’t rush to agree as they typically would.
Leonardo hesitated, carefully choosing his words. “Stephen, I think you need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Haven’t you noticed there’s something unusual about Ashton?” Hamlin nodded in agreement, adding, “Exactly. Take Sup Group, for example. It was one of the fastest-growing companies in Staville, but after clashing with Ashton for less than two months, Skyline Group swallowed it whole. Your Pavilion Foods Group is already taking significant hits, and you’ve barely started opposing him.”
“It’s too much to chalk up to coincidence. I think we should dig into Ashton’s background thoroughly before making any hasty moves.”
Stephen’s lips curled into a bitter sneer. Normally, he might have considered their words.
𝓥𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓯𝓲𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓼𝓲𝓽𝓮: 𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹒ⅽ𝗈𝗺
But his simmering fury blinded him to reason. Ashton’s victory in the cooking competition and the loss of his chefs were fresh wounds that demanded immediate action.
“I didn’t summon you here for lectures or hesitation. I called you to stand by me and help!” Stephen snapped, his voice sharp with frustration.
Hamlin frowned, keeping his tone calm despite Stephen’s outburst. “We’re not refusing to help; we’re urging caution. Look at the pattern, Sup Group, now Pavilion Foods Group. These setbacks aren’t random. Ashton is clearly playing a long game, and rushing in could backfire.”
Stephen’s sneer deepened, his pride stung by their perceived lack of urgency. “It’s easy for you to be rational when it’s not your reputation or your business on the line! Do you have any idea how infuriating this is? He stole my championship. My best chefs defected to him. If I don’t retaliate now, the entire city will think the Crawford family is nothing but a toothless beast!”
Hamlin sighed, trying one last time to reason with him. “Stephen, you’ve faced difficult opponents before and prevailed. Why are you so impatient now? Maybe this is exactly what Ashton wants, for you to act recklessly.”
But Stephen was beyond listening. His gaze turned icy, and his voice dropped to a cold, dismissive tone. “I see it clearly now; you two don’t intend to help me at all. Fine. I’ll do this myself. I don’t need your support to bring that boy down. I refuse to believe Ashton is invincible!”
.
.
.