Chapter 70: A Tumult in the South of New York

This was Paul's priority!

He must gain the King of Horizon's forgiveness at all costs.

Otherwise, the Holland family would never rise again.

Paul immediately called for a family meeting, his voice firm as he ordered, "Smash the New York Newspaper Office!"

The command hit the room like an explosion, leaving everyone stunned.

The north of New York was vastly different from the south. While the south was home to numerous influential clans, led by Duke Leo Glenn, the north was dominated by the Russell family. Their position was unassailable.

In essence, the Russell family's power in the north was akin to Leo Glenn's authority in the south.

And more than that…

The Russell family controlled virtually every industry in the north—real estate, catering, clothing, and even the New York Newspaper Office. To attack it was to challenge their absolute dominance. What a reckless idea!

If they followed through, what terrible consequences awaited them?

The Holland family members, terrified of the repercussions, tried to dissuade Paul, but he was resolute. In fact, he went so far as to say, "Anyone who doesn't want to follow me can resign."

Their confusion deepened as they asked, "Why provoke the Russell family?"

The Holland family had already suffered since their falling out with Queenie. Challenging the Russell family at this point seemed like a suicidal move!

Was Paul truly so desperate that he was willing to sacrifice everything?

Seeing the bewilderment in their eyes, Paul sneered. "You ask why? Because the Russell family has provoked someone who could shake the entire United States—the King of Horizon."

The King of Horizon?!

The mention of the King's name sent shockwaves through the room. Everyone's face flushed with a mix of fear and reverence. Some even felt an overwhelming urge to kneel in respect.

The King of Horizon was a legendary figure, revered as the guardian of the U.S. How could he possibly be connected to Queenie?

"Do you mean… the King of Horizon knows Queenie?" someone asked, voice trembling.

Paul had already made up his mind to attack the New York Newspaper Office after they published articles discrediting Queenie. By now, everyone was starting to connect the dots. Could it be that Queenie had a special relationship with the King of Horizon?

Their guess was close, if not exactly on point.

Paul nodded, confirming the unthinkable.

In an instant, everyone was stunned.

That explained everything!

Now, it made sense why Paul had beaten Karl so severely when he had once offended Queenie. It wasn't just about Queenie herself—it was about the powerful figure behind her, the King of Horizon.

The family finally understood Paul's drastic decision. It was all about atonement.

"We'll follow you to the north. We won't retreat!" they declared in unison, their fear now replaced by excitement.

This was it. The Holland family's rare opportunity to rise again was within their grasp.

Karl stepped forward and said, "Dad, I'll go with you. I want to atone for what I've done."

Paul shook his head. He placed a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.

"No. Stay home. If I'm not back in three days, go to Queenie Group and kneel there. Tell her everything I've done."

The Russell family was an untouchable force in the north. Paul could not guarantee his safety with this bold move. He was willing to sacrifice himself in order to give the Holland family a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reclaim their former glory.

His words made everyone around him break down in tears.

Paul was giving everything he had for this fight.

Meanwhile, in a summer cram school in New York, students were packed into classrooms, preparing for the upcoming high school junior year. In order to do well on their college entrance exams, they knew they had to start studying seriously.

Many students, however, had been forced by their parents to attend the cram school, Zara included.

Zara hated studying.

As the teacher lectured, she scrolled through her phone, hoping to escape the boring lesson. Suddenly, an alarming news article popped up on her screen, catching her attention. She accidentally tapped on it and found herself staring at the content.

Mr. Lopez... A kept man?

Her heart stopped. How could that be true?

She couldn't believe it. She picked up her schoolbag, left the classroom without informing the teacher, and raced straight to the Remar family's house.

Stratton, surprised by her sudden return, asked, "Zara, shouldn't you be in class right now?"

Zara, her eyes red with emotion, showed him the phone. "Grandpa, this article says that Mr. Lopez is a kept man. Is it true?"

"Rubbish!" Stratton barked, his face darkening. "These newspaper offices are nothing but slander machines. Don't believe a word they say."

Stratton had already read the article, but he didn't believe a single word of it. How could a man like Mr. Lopez be involved in such scandalous behavior? These newspapers were infamous for spreading lies.

Maxwell also chimed in, "Zara, what you saw may not be the truth. You're young, and it's easy to get caught up in these stories. Don't believe everything you read."

Zara nodded, still visibly upset. "I know! I don't believe it either. But I'm just so angry at how they're treating him."

Maxwell smiled gently, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry. The bad people will be punished soon enough."

He left the house, heading straight for Duke Leo Glenn's villa. When he arrived, other clan leaders were already gathered. The air was thick with tension.

Lep spoke first, his voice heavy with resolve. "The Russell family is finished this time. But before we can take them down, we need to go north and teach them a lesson."

"Count me in!" another leader said, his tone resolute.

"Absolutely! We have to show them the price of their actions."

All the leaders present expressed their willingness to march north. This was their moment. If the Russell family was indeed on the brink of collapse, they would be there to take advantage of it, carving up its vast empire for themselves.

And so, with a united front, they prepared to descend on the Russell family, determined to force their downfall and claim a new era of power in New York.