Chapter 397: Chapter 397

An eerie hush filled the air of another luxury lounge despite the deafening music reverberating from beyond its walls.

Dressed in black from head to toe, Landon had left his silk shirt partly unbuttoned, exposing a glinting silver necklace that swayed in rhythm with his breath.

Landon took a languid sip from his red wine and crossed his slender legs.

He casually brushed away a drop of red wine in the corner of his lip with his fingertip. He looked leisurely and even insolent, but his eyes were an icy, unfathomable depth.

A row of men stood in the lounge. Landon downed the red wine and snapped his fingers. His bodyguards split into two lines and revealed a badly beaten man on the floor who was tied up.

“M-Mr. Harper, it’s my fault. Please.” After losing a few teeth to the beating, the man spoke with a lisp.

Drool mixed with blood fell from his mouth.

‘Tsk. Your blood is all over the floor.” Landon shot him a disdainful look and arched a brow, questioning,” Do you know how expensive is the carpet in this room? You can’t even pay for it with the money from selling your organs.”

“Mr. Harper! The man crawled up to Landon but was kicked away. He professed, “I’ve served you loyally for many years. I messed up this time because Preston blackmailed me!

“Well, he didn’t ask me to do anything much. He just wanted me to monitor and report your v Preston Harper was Landon’s uncle and the only brother of Landon’s late father. When Lando he lost his father in a plane crash.

abouts.”

Fortunately, his father had transferred shares and all assets under Landon and Penelope’s names, span them from a precarious life.

Landon’s grandfather, Cornelius Harper, held the reins of the Harper Group. The CEO position that belonged to Landon’s late father was handed over to Preston, even though Landon was the eldest grandson in the family.

Preston, who cried his heart out in front of his brother’s grave, turned out to be a snake. He appeared to take good care of Landon’s family, only to put up his guard against Landon.

The weak Penelope and the innocent Zoe wouldn’t know about that. As the man of the family, Landon carried the weight of it all, never once complaining, even to his closest friend, Jasper.

“You’re pretty good at making a case, aren’t you? You’re well aware of your seniority, and you wanted to woo both Preston and me to get some extra money. What good is that, though? You might not have the years to enjoy your wealth.”

Landon let go of the glass, and it shattered on the floor. The dangerous look in his eyes sent a chill down one’s spine.

The man repeatedly bowed to Landon. His forehead made many loud thuds against the plush carpet.

“I’m fine with the lying. Any successful businessman is bound to run into a traitor or two-that’s the hallmark of success,” Landon remarked as he leaned forward, casting an elegant shadow.

The man seemed to have glimpsed the Grim Reaper lurking behind Landon.

Landon lowered his gaze with a sneer and added, “But you made a mistake by not keeping it a lie forever. You should have kept me happy so that you’ll live more days.”

“M-Mr. Harper… Please.” The man trembled like a leaf and almost peed himself.

“I haven’t visited Uncle Preston for a while. I ought to show some courtesy. Angelina, Landon called out to his assistant and squinted.

A cold beauty in a low-back evening dress emerged from the shadows. She was Landon’s ever-present assistant.

“Mr. Harper,” she greeted him politely.

Landon’s smile faded. “Cut his little rat tongue off.”

“Sure.”

“No, no! No, please! Argh! Mmph.

Angelina Brands stoically severed the man’s tongue with decisiveness and accuracy that could rival a market butcher.

Landon rose slowly with his left hand in the pocket. He ran his right hand through his dark hair and issued his final directive, “Wrap that thing up and deliver it to Uncle Preston. It will make a good drinking snack.”

An outrageous scene unfolded in a different lounge. Zoe had instructed the staff to connect all the ACE surveillance cameras to the lounge’s TV screen.

The camera footage would switch according to Lauren’s location, all for their entertainment.

Lauren was as helpless and nervous as a deer caught in the headlights while Zoe and her friends watched on with a thrill.