Lord Protector Novel

Chapter 8

Of course, it wasn't only Lacey who was astounded, but also Hannah and Emily.

The men, now curled up in a ball, were paralyzed on the ground, groaning.

But the weak and lanky wimp, Zeke, stood upright, unscathed.

At this moment, the three of them were sharing the same doubts.

This wimp can fight?

Why did he hold back for the past five years if he can fight so well?

Is he the same Zeke Williams I've known for five years?

Emily was trembling the most.

She had mistreated Zeke many times in the past, and he never once retaliated.

Emily had always believed that the reason he didn't was because he couldn't defeat her.

But now it seemed like that wasn't it. He was just reluctant to hit her because one slap from him would have been lethal.

A slight feeling of regret flitted by in her heart. He endured five years of humiliation because of love. Just how deep was his love?

Too bad I lost it with my bare hands.

Zeke drew out a dagger, hurling it in front of the men.

“Who hit my mother-in-law and which hand did it? Chop it off yourself. It won't be just a hand if you force me to do it.”

Hannah jerked her head up, tears glistening in her eyes.

She couldn't remember how long it had been since someone protected her like this.

Not even her closest family member, her husband Daniel, had ever shown her such dominance.

But now, the useless 'son-in-law' whom she looked down on the most was going to chop off the other party's hand just because they slapped her.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't touched.

At Zeke's murderous intent, the ten men cast a glance at Emily for help with terror coursing through their veins.

Emily drew in a deep breath, trying hard to quell her thumping heartbeat.

“So what if you can fight, Zeke Williams? Can you fight against the law? I'm warning you; this steel mill owes my company money. It's either you pay us every single penny or expect a prison sentence.”

At the mention of the law, Lacey and Hannah once again fell into despair.

No matter how good his combat ability was, it was useless if he had no authority.

Not only would Lacey end up in jail, but Zeke also wouldn't be able to avoid that fate.

Only then did Zeke shift his focus from the men to Emily.

He casually threw a briefcase containing five million advance payment to her.

“I can pay you, but I'm afraid you won't dare take it. In fact, you’ll beg us to provide you with supplies instead.”

Emily couldn't help but laugh out loud.

“Pfft, what a joke. Me, begging you to supply us? Unless every steel mill in Oakheart City has shut down, you can keep on dreaming! Are you sure it's cash and not bricks in this briefcase? You couldn't even come up with a dowry of three hundred thousand. Like hell, you can pay us back a million.”

Lacey and Hannah regarded Zeke with a squirrelly look.

What is this guy doing? Making a fool of himself on purpose?

Asking someone to beg us for supplies? Is this some kind of joke?

He can't even afford three hundred thousand. So how could he get a million for the goods?

Just then, Emily's phone rang. It was a call from Hamilton Construction's project manager.

“Dawson, what's up?” Emily answered the call.

“I'm not sure what's going on with the Schneider family. They just sent us a lawyer's letter,” Dawson said in exasperation.

“The Schneider family wants us to finish the project today, or they'll meet us in court. I need a large amount of steel urgently, so hurry up and purchase a batch. Send it to us.”

“No problem,” Emily promptly replied.

After hanging up the phone, Emily immediately called the steel supplier.

“Hunt, quickly send us a batch of steel... What? Your steel mill was acquired? Okay, I'm hanging up.”

Emily hung up and called another supplier.

“Floyd, I'm giving you a chance to be rich. I'm planning to purchase steels from you... What? Too late? Your steel mill has been acquired too? What the hell?”

Thereafter, she made another three to four calls to other steel mills.

However, she received the same answer. 'Our steel mill was acquired last night' was all she got in return.

This made Emily anxious. She quickly asked someone to investigate the person behind these acquisitions.

But the answer she received drove her to the brink of a mental breakdown.

“The other party sent an intermediary to discuss the acquisition. No one knows who the buyer is!”

Where else can I buy steel if I can't contact the real owner of these steel mills?

Just then, the project manager called again.

“Clemons, where are the steels we need? I'm warning you, if we can't finish the Schneider family's project today, our construction company will be finished. You'll be accountable for this if the Schneider family questions us!”

Emily blanched, her breathing stagnant.

“Calm down, Dawson. I'll think of something.”

After hanging up the phone, Emily's gaze fell on Lacey.

“Was your steel mill acquired?”

Lacey shook her head. “Someone wanted to acquire it two days ago, but I didn't agree.”

“Well, lucky for you,” Emily snorted. “Let's continue our collaboration. Send me a batch of steel immediately.”

Lacey felt a sudden flare of joy, not expecting to weather the storm like this.

“Did you forget what I said just now?” Zeke suddenly spoke when Lacey was about to agree. “Let me give you a hint. I said I'd make you beg us for the supplies.”

As soon as he spoke, Lacey and Emily immediately realized that the situation wasn't right.

Zeke was speaking conceited nonsense about Emily begging them to continue with the collaboration.

And the next moment, every steel mill in the city was acquired, and her company was deprived of supplies.

Did Zeke do this?

That's impossible. How could he acquire every steel mill in the city when he couldn't even come up with three hundred thousand?Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Could it be a mere coincidence? But this coincidence is just... hard to explain.

Emily calmed her mind and gave a snort of disgust. “You want to control the court? Dream on! Don't forget that if you refuse to collaborate, you guys have to give us a refund. As far as I know, the steel mill has been operating in debt. So how are you going to pay us back? Just rot in jail if you can't.”

Zeke glanced at the briefcase. “Open the briefcase.”

Emily looked at the briefcase, then at Zeke, suddenly becoming a little disheartened.

This trash couldn't have possibly gotten a million, could he?

She opened the briefcase with trepidation.

Money!

The briefcase is filled with notes of every color!

There should be at least five million inside!

What's going on?

Lacey was dumbfounded as Emily was trembling down to the soles of her shoes.

He actually got five million!

Emily was on the verge of a meltdown.

If this five million really belongs to Zeke, does that mean I've just lost a treasure with my own hands?

And this treasure was picked up by Lacey...

She had never regretted anything so much.

“Take the money and get out,” Zeke said coldly.

Hannah, who was shocked, came back to her senses as she rushed toward that briefcase. “No, you can't take it away. We only owe her one million, and there's at least five million here.”

“Go away!” Emily clutched the briefcase tightly in her arms. “None of you are qualified to touch this money besides me.”

Zeke looked stunned.

This woman wouldn't be so brazen to try and get back together for five million, would she?