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Mia, too, watched the unfolding spectacle before her.
She had expected Ralph’s arrival to bring about some unexpected turn of events during the signing ceremony, but everything seemed to proceed without any unforeseen incidents.
As long as Timothy stepped forward and declared the partnership termination, Ralph’s actions wouldn’t alter the outcome.
Nonetheless, Mia hadn’t anticipated Ralph accepting numerous favors from the Bowen family. The urgency with which they demanded their return suggested substantial benefits were involved.
Mia couldn’t shake the memory of Ralph’s expulsion from the Barrett Group for corruption and bribery.
It was Sharon who had to use her own funds to conceal his misconduct, ultimately sparing him from imprisonment.
After all these years, it was astonishing to see that Ralph hadn’t changed his ways.
If Timothy hadn’t coincidentally come across the Bowen family boasting about their partnership with the Barrett Group in Nord City, Ralph might have managed to secure the contract.
Even if Timothy were to intervene later, it would likely still lead to some losses.
Indeed, having such an uncle felt like inheriting generations of misfortune.
Thankfully, Ginger and Sage had six uncles, each of whom was exceptionally capable, unlike Ralph.
Meanwhile, the bodyguards quickly subdued Ralph, leaving him unable to fight back.
With visible bruises marking Ralph’s body, Lewis delivered a final blow toward him. “How dare you hold onto my possessions and refuse to let golf you don’t hand them over, you won’t live to see another sunrise!” he threatened.
Observing the altercation, Mia stole a glance at Timothy beside her. Shouldn’t he step in and put an end to this situation?
At that moment, Ralph reached out toward Timothy, pleading, “Help me! Are you just going to stand by and watch your uncle get beaten to death?”
Timothy’s response was cold and unwavering. “I warned you earlier.”
“Timothy Barrett, you are a heartless monster!”
Mia raised an eyebrow, turning to Ralph. “Why not just return what rightfully belongs to him? Lewis only wants his belongings back. If you hand them over, there won’t be any need for further violence.”
Initially, Lewis had feared incurring Timothy’s resentment. However, witnessing Timothy’s evident disdain for his supposed uncle dispelled those concerns.
Ralph’s face contorted into a sneer as he glared at Mia. “What right do you have to speak here? You’re just a woman who was ousted from the Barrett family! Are you even worthy?”
Mia’s expression turned cold upon hearing his words. “Despite the passage of time, it seems that the Barretts remain unchanged.”
In a flash, Peyton strode forward and delivered a resounding slap to Ralph’s cheek. “Who do you think you are to criticize Ms. Mia? Take a good look at yourself before passing judgment on others. Do you even have the right?”
Stunned by the slap, Ralph turned to Mia. “Aren’t you just a lowly orphan? How dare you call yourself an heiress?”
A nearby journalist interjected, “Ms. Lane is not an orphan. She is the long-lost heiress of the Lane family, the foremost aristocratic household in Nord City.”
Ralph’s face turned pale. “What? She’s the missing heiress of the Lane family?”
Ralph gazed at Mia in disbelief, struggling to comprehend the situation.
While he had heard rumors about the long-lost heiress of the Lane family being discovered after many years, she had always maintained a low profile and seldom made public appearances.
Consequently, Ralph had no idea what the supposed heiress looked like.
Besides, his social standing in Nord City was far from that of the Lane family, and he had never crossed paths with the rumored heiress.
To Ralph, Mia was merely a woman who had been expelled from the Barrett family.
Now, she had suddenly risen to the position of heiress in the influential Lane family of Nord City!
This sudden transformation left Ralph feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Unable to swallow his pride, Ralph attempted to assert himself, addressing Mia, “Even if you’re the heiress of the Lane family, what does it matter? You’re still a daughter-in-law in the Barrett family. You should show me some resp—“
Before Ralph could complete his sentence, Peyton swiftly delivered another resounding slap, cutting him off.
“For individuals such as yourself, a slap represents the utmost respect you’ll ever receive. And if that’s not enough for you, I’m more than willing to oblige with a few additional strikes,” Peyton quipped.
Ralph found himself utterly defenseless against the barrage of slaps. He continued to mutter curses and threats toward Mia, attempting to salvage his dignity.
However, Mia had no interest in engaging with Ralph any further.
At that moment, several men in suits entered and approached Connie and Lewis. “We are representatives of the Lane Law Firm, and our purpose here is to address the recent incidents involving your family.
“Your actions have severely damaged the reputation of the Lanes, leading us to file a lawsuit against you.
“Also, the Lane Group’s acquisition team has already commenced the acquisition process of the Bowen Group. They will assume control of your company by tomorrow.
“It would be wise for you to sign the documents and depart discreetly. Otherwise, you’ll receive no compensation, and you’ll face investigations and legal repercussions.”
Upon hearing this, Connie and Lewis’ faces turned pale with dread.
On the other hand, Mia didn’t find the situation surprising in the slightest. She had long been aware of Dominic’s intentions to bring down the Bowen family. The imminent collapse of the Bowen Group was precisely as she had foreseen.
Meanwhile, Connie struggled to maintain her composure, her legs quivering beneath her. “Lewis, Lewis! What are we going to do? Is our family truly facing bankruptcy?”
In a state of defeat, Lewis slumped to the ground. “It’s over. Everything is gone.”
In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation, Connie hastily implored, “Lewis, do you think it’s still possible for us to offer an apology?”
However, Lewis remained silent, lost in his despair.
In a last-ditch effort, Connie rushed toward Mia and pleaded, “Ms. Lane, this is entirely our fault! Please, don’t stoop to our level. I beg for your forgiveness. I’m even willing to kneel if necessary!”
Observing Connie kneel before her, Mia abruptly stepped aside. “Don’t try this stunt with me. I’m not falling for it,” she said firmly.
“Ms. Lane, what do you require from us to spare the Bowen family? We’re a family of orphans and widows, dependent on the Bowen Group for our livelihood. If our company collapses, we’ll have nothing left!” Connie pleaded desperately.
Mia regarded Connie with a cold stare. “When Lewis’ three former wives were destroyed by your family’s exploitation, where was your compassion then? Why didn’t you show pity to their families when they were left with nothing?”
Connie’s guilt was evident in her eyes, but she hastily responded with feigned confidence, “Then I’ll simply return the money to them. Wouldn’t that resolve the issue?”
“It’s too late for that! Once the Bowen Group goes bankrupt and its assets are liquidated, they’ll be distributed directly to them anyway.”
Mia didn’t trust a word that came from Connie’s mouth. Someone with such a lack of integrity held no credibility in her eyes.
Connie was furious, her lips turning pale. “You… you’re driving our entire family to ruin! How can a woman like you be so heartless?”
The rest of the Bowen family members joined in, echoing Connie’s plea, “Exactly. Ms. Lane, you’re a prominent figure. Please, don’t lower yourself to our level.”
“Ms. Lane, if you drive our entire family to ruin, it will tarnish the Lane family’s reputation as well.”
Mia observed as the Bowen family’s members gathered on the ground, tears streaming down their faces in an attempt to sway her emotionally.
However, Mia remained unmoved, finding their actions somewhat amusing.
She turned to Peyton and inquired, “Are they here?”
Peyton respectfully confirmed, “Yes, they’ve arrived.”
Facing the hotel lobby, Mia spotted three women striding in with determination.
A faint smile tugged at Mia’s lips as she remarked, “Ah, the debt collectors have arrived. Every action has consequences, and accountability must be taken. Don’t come looking for sympathy from me.”
Recognizing the trio, Connie’s face turned pale. “What… what are you doing here? You’re not even qualified to attend an event of this caliber.”
Ignoring Connie’s protests, the three women advanced toward her, delivering a barrage of slaps to her face.
“You clueless old hag, do you honestly believe the Bowen family still holds any power? You’re headed straight for bankruptcy!”
“That’s right. Now that you’ve angered not only the Lane family but also the foremost powerhouse in Nord City—the Barrett family, do you think there’s any prospect left for the Bowen family?”
“You old hag, you’re the reason my family’s business went under! My father couldn’t bear the burden and ended up taking his own life by jumping off a building. I’ll never forget what you’ve done!”
Connie found herself surrounded and confronted by the three women, with Mia observing from the sidelines. It was like a drama playing out before her eyes.
Addressing the nearby journalists, Mia instructed, “There’s no need to divulge all these details. Stick to the relevant information.”
The reporters watched in astonishment as the dramatic scene unfolded before them; it was truly riveting.
Beside Mia, Peyton offered a reassuring smile, saying, “We’ll review all your statements beforehand. I’ve already informed your superiors about this.”
The reporters nodded in agreement.
This was truly a nerve-wracking experience.
Lewis rushed to Connie’s defense upon witnessing her being attacked. However, the three women had also brought their respective family members along.
Overpowered, Connie and Lewis were quickly subdued, subjected to a relentless onslaught of blows that left them battered and bruised.
Having observed the Bowens’ predicament, Mia turned away, slipping on her sunglasses. “Alright, the show’s over. Let’s go.”
With her brother’s attorneys already on-site, Mia knew she had to leave promptly.