Chapter 757

Chapter 757:

Slater’s outburst hit Stephen like a slap to the face, leaving him utterly stunned.

He had come here hoping to recruit allies but instead stumbled upon one of Ashton’s allies in the unlikeliest of places. The sheer absurdity of it made him feel like the universe was mocking him.

As Slater’s rage simmered, Stephen thought better than to probe further. The very idea of Ashton commanding someone like Slater felt surreal, but Stephen wasn’t about to risk pushing his luck.

Feeling the weight of defeat settle on his shoulders, Stephen dropped his gaze, hiding his embarrassment behind his hand. Without another word, he turned on his heel and hurried out of the nightclub. He didn’t dare glance back, fearing who or what might be watching.

Once he stepped out of their territory, his legs carried him almost on autopilot back to his car. He collapsed into the driver’s seat, trembling hands fumbling for his pack of cigarettes. One after another, he lit them, taking long, desperate drags until the knots in his chest began to loosen.

But no amount of smoke could cloud the growing realization in his mind. Fear had steadied his thoughts, forcing clarity where arrogance once ruled.

As he replayed recent events, one truth became glaringly obvious: Ashton was no ordinary adversary. Beneath his mild-mannered demeanor lurked someone far more cunning, someone who never failed to stay a step ahead.

First, Ashton turned the culinary competition into a personal triumph, seizing victory and humiliating Stephen in front of his peers. Then, as if that weren’t enough, he poached four of Stephen’s best chefs, leaving a gaping hole in his business.

When Stephen tried to retaliate by halting the ingredient supplies to Skyline Restaurant, Ashton quickly responded, securing deals with powerful suppliers in neighboring cities and even luring Staville’s top officials to his restaurants.

And now, as Stephen learned tonight, Ashton had somehow gained control over the Axe Gang.

𝙎𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞 at 𝔤𝖆𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀．𝗰𝗼𝗺

It all clicked into place. Ashton’s brazen confidence wasn’t a facade; it was earned. He had mastered the art of maneuvering both high society and the underworld, making him an opponent Stephen had grossly underestimated.

Stephen’s mind raced back to Ashton’s parting words about “preparation.” Was this what he had meant? Was the Axe Gang his trump card?

The longer Stephen dwelled on it, the more unnerved he became. He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he was outmatched. For the first time, he seriously considered the advice of Leonardo and Hamlin. His failure to properly investigate Ashton’s background had left him vulnerable, and now he was paying the price.

Continuing to oppose Ashton in this way wasn’t just futile, it was dangerous. Stephen knew he needed to rethink his strategy before everything he’d built came crashing down.

Just as Stephen sank deeper into doubt, contemplating whether to surrender, the sound of his car door opening snapped him out of his thoughts. A figure slipped into the passenger seat with unsettling ease, the door closing softly behind them.

Stephen bolted upright, his pulse spiking. “Who the hell are you? Get out of my car, or I’ll call the police!”

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