From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 380

Chapter 380: The Dead Beat (Part 1)

Darno sat stiff in his chair, his mind spinning as he tried to piece together what he had just learned. None of it made sense to him.

Until today, what he knew about Max was simple: Max was a representative of the Billion Bloodline group, a rising venture capital firm with deep pockets and growing influence. Sanna had invited him tonight as part of this celebratory dinner, that much was clear. Everyone else seemed convinced Max was just an intern, but Darno had never believed that. The way Max carried himself, the way others deferred to him, it didn’t add up.

And now, on top of that, Anton had blurted out in front of everyone that Max was from the Stern family.

So that girl, Bobo, and Max... they’re related? Darno thought, his frown deepening. It must be true if no one denies it, not with her sitting right here. But then why is Max working for the Billion Bloodline group at all? The Sterns have their own investment empire. Why would one of them crawl into another firm, especially as an intern? And more importantly, why does a Stern know how to fight?

Darno clenched his jaw, remembering the sparring matches and the way Max had handled himself. He fights like someone who’s had to survive. That’s not the upbringing of a pampered heir with a diamond spoon in his mouth. Unless... maybe Anton was right. Maybe Max really is the outcast. Cast aside by his own family, forced to prove himself through the Bloodline. That would explain everything.

Darno nodded faintly to himself, almost as if he’d solved a puzzle, though in truth he was only weaving a story that felt neat enough to satisfy his confusion.

Meanwhile, tension crackled across the table. Sheri, who had been sitting quietly until now, finally spoke up.

"How could you say something like that to our guest?" she snapped at Anton, her voice firm despite her polite tone. "Max just graduated. He’s already working for a reputable company. If you’re calling him a deadbeat, then what does that make me? I want an internship there too. Are you saying you’d see me the same way?"

Anton tugged uncomfortably at his collar, realizing too late how his insult might have sounded to Sheri. He opened his mouth to backpedal, but Bobo’s voice cut across the room like a knife.

"Well... it’s true."

Every eye turned toward her as she lifted her glass, took a delicate sip of wine, and then swirled the liquid slowly, watching the crimson swirl.

"Max hasn’t done anything worthy of the Stern family name," she continued. "No one expects anything from him. He has no support, no recognition, no weight behind his name. The expectations within the Stern family are extremely high, and Max meets none of them."

Her words carried no hesitation, no softness. They were sharp, direct, and delivered without the courtesy of sugar-coating.

The reason was clear enough. Bobo had come tonight hoping to meet someone with actual decision-making power within the Billion Bloodline group, someone who could listen to her proposals and carry them forward to the Chairman. Instead, she had been seated across from Max, the last person she wanted to deal with. An "intern," and worse, one who bore a family name she felt he didn’t deserve.

To Bobo, asking him for help was pointless. She might as well march into the Bloodline offices herself and speak to a secretary. At least that would feel more official.

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