Many people were shocked.
Back then, the matter ended with the Kingstons succumbing. Lance felt that it was extremely embarrassing, so he had immediately ordered everyone to keep their lips sealed about what had happened that day or face death.
Thus, apart from a very small number of local families in San Francisco, who had secretly found some clues after snooping around, the others weren’t aware of this matter at all.
It was the first time that the big shots of the other cities heard about this matter.
In their opinion, the Kingstons were a top family in San Francisco, and they were definitely among the top three in California in terms of prehensive strength. Besides, the Hales were just a top-tier family in Orange County and far inferior to the Kingstons.
Is Bruce Hale out of his mind? How dare he bring people with him to create trouble at the Kingstons’?
Despite being called out in public all of a sudden, Bruce remained sitting posedly with a straight face.
“Mr. Kingston, your words are too biased. Your family kidnapped someone from Orange County, and all I did was go to your place to ask you to hand her over. Why are you twisting facts and making it sound as if we’re the ones who started the trouble?
“Are you trying to bully us just because you’re powerful?
“I only have one thing to say. The Hales have never been afraid of anyone or been at the mercy of anyone!”
Bruce spoke in a righteous manner, without any fear of the powerful oppressiveness that Lance was exuding.
Lance narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly with a threatening look on his face. “Mr. Hale, you’re really eloquent. But it’s an irrefutable fact that you brought people to my place and even injured many of my family’s bodyguards! The Hales must give the Kingstons an explanation!
“I can give you two choices. One, immediately surrender and submit yourselves to the Kingstons. From now on, everything belonging to the Hales will belong to the Kingstons! Two, immediately break your arm and pensate my family with half of your family’s assets!”
As soon as Lance stated his conditions, it instantly sparked an uproar.
These two choices were actually both very tyrannical and unreasonable.
If he chose the first, it would be equivalent to giving the Hales’ empire away to the Kingstons. The Kingstons would be considered kind enough if they allowed the Hales to continue managing these businesses. But the Kingstons would more likely than not take away the Hales’ businesses and then make them leave with nothing, which was very toxic.
The second condition was not much different. The Hales would suffer immense damage if they gave half of their assets to the Kingstons. Not only would they lose their status as one of the four major families in Orange County, but their remaining assets might be divided up by other forces before they could even make a eback.
The condition of asking Bruce to break his arm was just as bad. Bruce was in his seventies, and the heavy blow would leave him suffering for the rest of his life.
The Kingstons’ demands were indeed rather overboard.
Many people thought so, but due to the Kingstons’ power and status, no one questioned their sinister intentions.
Bruce sneered. “Hah, the Kingstons are obviously out to encroach on my family’s assets. You’re really shameless.”
Lance was extremely adamant about it. “You should have thought about the consequences before taking people to my home, shouldn’t you? I said it before. This is the price you have to pay for offending my family! Mr. Hale, have you thought about which option to choose?”
Bruce gritted his teeth and thought about it for a while before finally saying, “I choose…”
Everyone stared at Bruce with bated breath, wondering which choice he would make.
“To hell with that!” Bruce suddenly hollered. “Do you really think you’re the king and you can do whatever you want? If you have what it takes, e at us. We will never give you our empire for nothing!”
Bruce seldom lost his temper easily, but he actually just cursed at the overbearing Lance, and he was even more aggressive than the Kingstons!
Since the Kingstons were coveting the Hales’ assets, he might as well fall out with them!
Bruce’s vigor and spirit made many of the attendees extremely surprised.
Someone even felt some admiration and respect for Bruce.
But there were even more people who felt that Bruce was shooting himself in the foot by challenging someone way above his league.
After all, the Hales’ strength was worlds apart from the Kingstons’!
Lance’s face turned sullen. He didn’t expect Bruce to have the guts to confront him aggressively.
“Okay, since you don’t know any better and have a death wish, I’ll fulfill your wish!” Lance said coldly and then ordered the people behind him, “Bring Bruce Hale and his family out of here!”
With his mand, around thirty tall bodyguards swarmed out from all around the venue and charged toward the Hales to surround them.
Many bursts of exclamations erupted in the venue.
No one had expected that the Kingstons would suddenly attack the Hales and send so many people to exact violence on the Hales.
Although they claimed that it was to ensure people’s safety, most families could only bring a few bodyguards with them to the venue. How could they possibly defeat thirty people?
Vince and Wendy, who had been sitting in the master seat at the front, were nonchalant about it. They seemed to be leaving it entirely to the Kingstons to deal with while supporting them from behind.
Many people who felt that the Kingstons were being too arrogant and tyrannical or those who had friendly ties with the Hales suppressed their urge to stand up for the Hales and remained seated when they saw Vince and Wendy.
They would be in deep trouble if they offended the Kingstons and the Smiths.
But just as the Hales were about to be dragged away, a majestic and stern voice suddenly sounded. “Mr. Kingston, aren’t you going overboard with this?”
The person who stood forth was Damon, the helmsman of the Parkers.
Lance frowned. “Damon Parker, do you plan to get involved in this mess?”
“This mess?” Damon sneered. “Since you remember that the Hales went to your place to cause a stir, I’m sure you haven’t forgotten that the Parkers were present that day too, right, Mr. Kingston? I’m definitely getting involved in this mess!
“I doubt you’d let the Parkers off after dealing with the Hales! Am I right, Mr. Kingston?”
He stared at Lance blatantly with his glistening eyes.
Tension suddenly arose in the venue!
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