Chapter 17: He’s Got His Brothers, and His Brothers Play Mind Games

"All the planning, and yet, she never anticipated that AW.Inc. would be this unreliable."

When AW.Inc. was mentioned, Daniel couldn't help but think of Ethan. His gaze turned cold for a moment. "Get to the point."

Men often engage in silent competitions.

Even though Daniel didn't say it, Lawrence knew exactly why. He snapped his fingers and scrolled through his iPad, pulling up some files. "Dan, look at this. Over the past couple of years, the chairman of AW.Inc. and your father..."

Before Lawrence could finish, Daniel's eyes shot him a warning glance.

He chuckled and quickly changed course. "I mean, Vincent and AW.Inc.'s boss, Ethan's father, have been spotted frequently entering and leaving Las Vegas casinos, and mostly... losing."

The screen was filled with clear, high-definition photos of Vincent entering casinos. Neon lights in reds and greens illuminated the pictures—impossible to ignore.

"But here's the interesting part."

Lawrence's smile turned sarcastic. He reached for a paper bag on the couch and poured out a bunch of photos.

Daniel casually picked up one and squinted at it.

"There's a clear, no-angle-shot of the poker table, with stacks of chips in the foreground."

He flicked through several others, with Lawrence helpfully narrating. "You can tell by the chips that this isn't just casual gambling. The winnings and losses are in the eight-figure range."

With a grin, Lawrence continued, "The people around them are all blurred, but Mr. Smith's face? Crystal clear."

"Getting such a high-quality shot only happens in one case. That is, inside collusion. Seems like they knew exactly who to target," Daniel commented coldly, his face blank.

Lawrence gave him a thumbs up.

"He and the AW.Inc. chairman, Ethan's father, are in this together. AW.Inc. stays hidden while they use Vincent as a decoy."

Lawrence sighed. "They're like brothers, playing mind games together. These photos? Vincent's brother probably didn't think for a second that he was the one who leaked them."

"This is what we call getting sold out, and still helping others count the money," Lawrence added with a laugh.

Daniel knew a bit about the relationship between Vincent and his father. There were plenty of ways to bring down Smith Jewelery, but Daniel chose the most ruthless, most heart-wrenching method.

If these photos were to be released, along with the abysmal financial reports of Smith Jewelery, Smith Family wouldn't have an easy time ahead.

Even worse, Daniel was a Ling. His actions, while seemingly targeted at others, could backfire badly, and it could even harm UX.Inc.'s stock price overseas.

The potential loss was enough to make Lawrence feel a sting.

"Let's keep these photos for now. A gambler like him won't stop here," Daniel muttered, his tone still calm but tinged with a sense of foreboding.

The atmosphere in the room grew colder as Daniel's icy presence filled the space. The anger in his eyes was barely concealed.

Lawrence, knowing Daniel's intentions, hesitated for a moment before offering his advice. "Dan, are you sure you want to play this game?"

As Daniel's long-time friend and business partner, Lawrence understood his methods all too well. A calculated move, Daniel was playing for the kill.

"You'll need to hit them where it hurts," Daniel said darkly, his voice low. "They've been bullying Vivi, and now I'm going to return the favor."

"How Jadeite Lane ended up in their hands is how I'll make them return it."

The image of Vivian in his arms, holding back tears, lingered in his mind. Every time he thought of it, his heart shattered.

Why did he make so much money? To protect the people he cared about, to let them live freely and without fear. Losing some money was nothing if it meant Vivi's happiness.

Lawrence knew Daniel had made up his mind, and so, he stopped pressing the issue.

Since Daniel had spoken, there was no turning back.

"Jadeite Lane is now supposedly in the hands of AW.Inc., but I don't think they even have the money to tear it down." Lawrence mused, shaking his head.

Plus, there's the connection to gambling.

Whatever the excuses about bad market conditions or poor investment decisions, it was all nonsense. Once someone got involved in gambling, even the gods couldn't save them.

Especially people like Vincent. Their little bets were nothing compared to the joy of throwing money around.

They win and want more, they lose and try to recoup it, but in the end, they just spiral deeper into their losses, with no way out.

No wonder the families could end up connected. It was like two brothers-in-arms, bound by their gambling habits.

"Jadeite Lane being sold to AW.Inc. was just a smoke screen. AW.Inc. is on the verge of collapse. They couldn't afford the cost of demolishing it even if they wanted to," Lawrence said with a smirk.

He paused for a second, then added, "It's all about debt trading, selling themselves as high-end, then finding a buyer to take the fall."

As they spoke, half a bottle of wine had already been finished, and Daniel's handsome face was tinged with a hint of pink.

"Let them keep dancing for a few more days."

Gloria had schemed for a lifetime, never expecting that the Jadeite Lane she thought she'd sold for billions would be used by her gambling husband as collateral for debts.

Lawrence agreed.

"But Vivian's timing was spot on. She made it seem like Smith Family had sold something valuable, saving us quite a bit on advertising."

Lawrence's tongue slipped, and he now casually referred to Vivian by her first name, getting more comfortable with it.

Daniel's lips curled up slightly before he quickly suppressed the smile. "Don't get too comfortable."

"Not yet. It's not the right time."

Having known Daniel for so long, Lawrence could tell what he was thinking. He made a motion with his hand, signaling for him to relax. "Don't worry, Dan."

It was almost 10 pm when they finished their conversation.

The wine bottle was nearly empty, and Daniel was stumbling a little as he walked.

The rain was pouring down heavily, and the occasional rumble of thunder seemed to echo through the room.

It didn't look like it would stop anytime soon.

"You haven't had any alcohol. Take me back to Xi-Mansion," Daniel slurred slightly. Today's drink had hit him hard, and his head felt heavy.

"You just said you weren't going back." Lawrence remarked, raising an eyebrow.

There was another one of Daniel's properties nearby, but it was a hassle to drive in this weather.

Daniel, feeling the alcohol's effect more than usual, shook his head. "Vivi's afraid of the thunder. I need to go back and keep her company."