Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 236

CHAPTER 169 PART 1

Stanislaus Potter’s hands shook as he held Miguel’s phone, the frozen frame still displayed on the conference room’s projector. Elijah Lancaster, standing in the background of the Azure Water Entertainment City footage, watching his brother’s humiliation without intervention.

“Play the rest,” Stanislaus demanded, his voice tight with barely controlled fury. “I want everyone in this room to see exactly what I just saw.”

“There’s more?” Cesar Pendleton asked, confusion evident. “The video’s been circulating for hours. We’ve all seen

“Not all of it,” Miguel Abbott interrupted calmly. “The viral version was edited. What you’re about to see is the complete recording. Including the parts that were deliberately cut out before being posted online.”

Richard Lancaster’s face remained impassive, but his son Thomas had gone pale. Several of their family members exchanged nervous glances-a tell that didn’t escape the other magnates’ notice.

Stanislaus rewound the video to the beginning and pressed play.

The familiar footage unfolded on the massive screen. Ocean Park in Grayson City. Marcus Steel standing calm and dominant while Quentin Potter-Stanislaus’s second son-knelt on the ground, forced into humiliating submission. The scene that had already spread across Five-River Province’s social networks, destroying the Potter family’s reputation.

Stanislaus watched his son’s degradation again, his jaw clenched so tightly the muscles in his face stood out in sharp relief. Every magnate in the room had seen this video before, had discussed it, had used it as evidence of Marcus Steel’s dangerous audacity.

But this time, the video didn’t end where it usually did.

The footage continued.

The camera angle shifted slightly-revealing that this wasn’t the viral version at all, but a longer recording from a different perspective. The timestamp showed it was filmed just minutes after the main humiliation.

Atlas Lancaster appeared on screen, standing away from the main group, speaking quietly into his phone. The audio quality was poor-clearly recorded from a distance-but advanced enhancement technology had cleaned it up enough to make the words audible.

“-exactly as planned,” Atlas’s voice came through the speakers. “The Potter boy is thoroughly humiliated. Video is already spreading. By tomorrow, Stanislaus will be foaming at the mouth for revenge.”

A pause while the person on the other end spoke.

“Of course I’m sure,” Atlas continued, irritation creeping into his tone. “The Potters have been itching for an excuse to move against someone. Now they have it. They’ll commit everything to destroying Marcus Steel, and we just sit back and watch.”

Another pause.

“It’s called strategy, father,” Atlas said, a smile visible on his face even from the distant camera angle. “Let the Potter Family and Marcus Steel tear each other apart. We maintain neutrality, offer support to both sides to keep the conflict going, and when they’ve exhausted themselves fighting-we step in and dominate. The fisherman’s benefit. You taught me that.”

The room had gone absolutely silent. Every magnate leaned forward, straining to catch every word.

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“Three Blade Group won’t be an issue,” Atlas continued. “Maurice is a coward-he’ll stay neutral like always. Honestly, the man’s a tortoise hiding in his shell. But his caution tells us something important-Marcus Steel must have backing we haven’t identified yet. Otherwise, Maurice would have crushed him already.”

Stanislaus’s knuckles had gone white around Miguel’s phone.

“The important thing,” Atlas’s voice carried smug satisfaction, “is that the Potters blame Marcus, not us. They’re perfect pawns-wealthy enough to be useful, arrogant enough to be manipulated, and stupid enough not to realize they’re being used until it’s too late.”

The video ended.

The silence that followed was absolute and suffocating.

Then Stanislaus Potter slammed his fist onto the conference table with enough force to crack the expensive wood. The sound echoed like a gunshot.

“You USED me!” His roar shook the room. “You used my family! You orchestrated my son’s humiliation as bait! You manipulated us into attacking Marcus Steel so you could profit from our conflict!”

“That video is fake,” Richard Lancaster said immediately, his voice hard. “Fabricated. Edited to create discord-”

“Bullshit!” Stanislaus cut him off. “That’s Atlas’s voice! His face! His phone number showing on the screen! You expect me to believe this is fabricated?”

“Technology can create-” Thomas started.

“Don’t,” Stanislaus’s voice dropped to something dangerous and quiet. “Don’t insult my intelligence. I’ve spent forty years in business identifying deception. That video is real. Your family orchestrated my son’s humiliation to weaponize my rage. You turned the Potter Family into pawns in your game.”

He looked around the conference room at the assembled magnates, many of whom were now watching the Lancaster Family with suspicion and calculation.

“You all heard it,” Stanislaus continued, his voice gaining volume. “The Lancaster Family planned this from the beginning. Sacrificed their own heir-” he paused, a bitter laugh escaping, “—and you know what? I’m glad Marcus Steel broke Atlas’s leg. I’m glad that manipulative bastard is crippled. Because now he can’t orchestrate any more schemes that destroy innocent families!”

“How dare you!” Richard Lancaster stood, his aged body trembling with fury. “My grandson is in a hospital bed with his leg amputated! And you’re celebrating?”

“Your grandson is a snake who got exactly what he deserved!” Stanislaus shot back. “He used my family. He destroyed my son’s reputation as part of a calculated plan. He called me stupid. Called my family pawns. And you expect me to feel sympathy?”

Maurice Yarrow, who’d been silent since Miguel’s arrival, finally spoke. “He also called me a coward. A tortoise. Said I was hiding in my shell.” His voice was deceptively calm, but everyone present recognized the dangerous edge beneath. “The Lancaster Family has been quite busy insulting everyone in this province, haven’t they?”

“That video is fabricated slander!” Thomas insisted desperately. “Miguel Abbott obviously created it to divide us! To protect Marcus Steel by turning us against each other!”

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