From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 95

**Chapter 9**

“Rhett, it’s not that your father and I are against you going abroad; it’s just…” Mrs. Butler’s voice faltered, her brow furrowing as she searched for the right words. “The company is in dire straits. We’re facing severe downsizing, and if luck isn’t on our side, our entire family could be swept away by this crisis.”

Rhett’s heart raced, anxiety gripping him tightly. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. “But I gave Dad those tips, and I thought they would help…”

Mr. Butler’s complexion turned ghostly pale, his eyes wide with the weight of reality. “I didn’t cooperate with that person, but their scheme evolved. I was foolish enough to overlook it.”

Rhett clenched his jaw, a wave of frustration washing over him. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the storm of emotions swirling within. When he finally opened them, he gazed longingly at the distant horizon, feeling an overwhelming sense of defeat before he turned away, trailing behind his parents as they made their way home.

No matter how hard Rhett fought against the tide, the Butler family seemed destined for bankruptcy, much like in his previous life.

Yet even a fallen giant retains some remnants of power.

After completing his university education, Rhett harnessed the startup funds from his family and the insights gleaned from his past experiences to embark on yet another entrepreneurial journey.

Today marked the international commercial trade conference, a grand event orchestrated by a coalition of global organizations and the government.

Attendees arrived for various reasons: some eager to network, others in search of business prospects, and many hoping to seize opportunities and gather valuable information.

This time, Rhett found himself alone.

Gone was the unwavering presence of that one person who had always walked beside him, offering shelter and protection.

The struggles he had sidestepped in his previous life while attempting to rebuild the Butler family now weighed heavily on his shoulders, each challenge magnified in this reality.

Through countless sleepless nights, each filled with their own unique burdens, Rhett gradually came to comprehend the immense weight he had borne for another, and the sacrifices he had made on their behalf.

In the stillness of the night, when the darkness threatened to swallow him whole, Rhett often found solace in the sweet memories of the past, whispering to himself to keep pushing forward.

“Scarlett, you’ve returned,” he would murmur in the solitude of midnight.

But upon awakening from those dreams, he was met with only the stark emptiness of reality and the sound of his own disappointed breaths echoing in the silence.

As Rhett navigated the trade conference, his heart raced with anticipation upon overhearing snippets of conversation.

“I heard the heir of IRS Corporation is making an appearance today?”

“Are you referring to that prodigious girl who amassed a hundred million at such a young age?”

Before Rhett could fully process the situation, they were encircled by a group of imposing figures.

At the forefront stood a hefty woman, likely in her fifties or sixties, radiating a menacing aura akin to that of a landlady ready to unleash her wrath.

“Grab this little vixen who seduced my man! I’ll personally make sure she pays for her deceit!”

“No, you can’t do this!” Ashley cried, her grip tightening on Rhett’s clothing. “Rhett, please! Save me! I’m begging you!”

The woman raised an eyebrow, a smirk curling her lips. “Ah, so you’re this little vixen’s brother! I took pity on her and even arranged a decent job for her, yet she repays my kindness by seducing both my man and my son. What a disgrace!”

Rhett stood frozen, shock coursing through him as he pulled Ashley closer.

“Ashley Wilkes, you need to explain yourself! Haven’t I been sending you money every month all these years? You told me you were in graduate school! Why are you involved in such disgraceful activities?”

The woman scoffed, exposing Ashley’s true nature without hesitation. “Bah! Graduate school, my foot! This little vixen is an expert liar; you’ve fallen for her tricks too.”

“She dropped out of high school to work as a hostess in nightclubs, sleeping with countless men. She’s completely fallen from grace. But she’s so skilled at pretending that she even deceived me at first!”