Adrian was livid at his eldest son's blatant defiance. He gritted his teeth, his blood boiling.
"You little rebellious brat, you think your wings are fully grown? You dare curse at your father? Let me tell you something—the power, the glory, I gave it all to you! You're the CEO because I say you are. I can strip you of everything in an instant! Don't bother going tomorrow. Bring the documents back; I'll go myself."
"Haha, Dad, if you want to go to the bidding, draft your own proposal. My team and I worked day and night on this one. I'd rather burn it than hand it over to you."
Did his father really think he was still the obedient son who could be easily manipulated?
Fuming, Adrian grabbed his glass and hurled it across the room as if he were throwing it at Ethan. He never expected the son he had painstakingly groomed and placed such high hopes in to rebel so fiercely.
He panted heavily. "You ungrateful bastard! I'm not dead yet, and you're already trying to seize power? As of tomorrow, you're fired!"
"Fired? Dad, take a good look around. Who do you think the entire executive board answers to now?"
It was highly debatable who would be doing the firing. Ethan was no longer a pawn waiting to be sacrificed.
Shortly after Mira had severed ties with the family, Ethan realized the sheer toxicity of his parents' blatant favoritism. It wasn't just unfair; it was twisted. If he continued to be their obedient puppet, the company would collapse, and he would end up discarded just like Mira.
He refused to let them ruin his life. With his years of authority and intimate knowledge of the company's secrets, he wasn't about to let Adrian control his fate. For his brothers' sake, and his own, Ethan had quietly begun securing his absolute dominance over the Mercer Group.
Adrian gasped for air, nearly collapsing from a stroke. Panicked, Lacey frantically dialed the family doctor while Mara helped rub his chest to soothe him.
Then, Mara was sent to jail over the EcoRide incident. So what if she made a little mistake out of anger? Family was supposed to stick together. Mira could have easily secured a letter of forgiveness, but she let her sister suffer instead. Her heart was made of stone.
Then came Julian's accident. Mara had only gone to cheer him on, so how did it turn into such a disaster? Lacey strongly suspected someone had framed her daughter.
After that, Damon and Julian both cut ties with the family.
And now, her most capable, obedient eldest son was openly warring with his father. Her family was cursed. How was she supposed to live like this? Was God punishing her?
"Mom, please stop crying. It's all my fault," Mara sobbed, clinging to her. "I won't go to the bidding. I'll never go again. Just please don't cry. I'll do whatever you want."

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