Sophia Sullivan didn't respond immediately.
Her icy gaze settled on Frederick Blanchet like winter frost.
"I've never tolerated impurities in my sight." Her voice remained calm. "I trust Mr. Blanchet will send him far away."
Frederick held his breath.
Sophia's eyes shifted slightly. "As for you, you've managed Deer Mountain well these years. Darren was merely a bully hiding behind authority. A demotion will suffice."
"Yes." Frederick blinked, his eyes reddening slightly.
He hadn't expected to remain at Deer Mountain.
Bowing immediately, he vowed, "You have my word, Ms. Sullivan. I'll have him permanently banished. From this day forward, he'll never set foot in A-City again!"
Frederick's sharp glare then turned to Darren Crosier.
"Get out! Don't disgrace yourself before Ms. Sullivan!" His voice turned glacial. "And consider your legs forfeit!"
Darren collapsed to his knees again.
"Uncle Fred! Please let me explain!" His voice trembled.
Though strict, Frederick had never dealt him lethal blows before.
His past misdeeds had always been carefully concealed.
Who knew today would bring such catastrophe?
Frederick cut off his pleas. "Ms. Sullivan sparing your life is mercy enough!"
Realizing his doom, Darren desperately crawled toward Sophia on all fours.
"Ms. Sullivan, please show mercy! I admit my wrongs..." He scrabbled at her trousers like a dog.
Before his fingers could touch the fabric, Ethan Sullivan seized his wrist.
"Shall I remove this hand?" The man's voice dripped with menace.
Darren recoiled from the murderous aura, shuddering violently.
He withdrew his hand but kept pleading. "Spare me, Ms. Sullivan! I'll serve you faithfully!"
Frederick terrified him most.
Not just permanent exile, but brutal punishment awaited.
"If I return like this, Uncle Fred will break my legs!"
Sophia couldn't even spare him a glance.
"Leave."
That single word drained all color from Darren's face.
He knew—there would be no reprieve.
Isabella Robinson applauded nearby.
"Don't waste your breath, Sophia." She shook her head regretfully. "Some people only learn when groveling in the dirt."
Darren's face alternated between green and white.
This humiliation was all Chloe Evans' fault!
Remembering the crowd's mockery, he redirected blame.
"It wasn't me! Those two bitches played the victim and manipulated me!" Darren grasped at straws, shifting all guilt onto Chloe and Mrs. Winston.
"I was deceived! Ms. Sullivan, we've no quarrel! They tricked me into targeting you!"
As he tried distancing himself, Chloe retaliated.
"Mr. Crosier, how can you say that?" Her eyes welled with crocodile tears. "You offered to help us repay the debt."
"Mrs. Winston and I just wanted to rescue Liam quickly."
Having been duped repeatedly, Darren saw through Chloe's act.
He spat viciously. "Stop your damned acting! Wasn't it you who fake-cried for sympathy?"
Mrs. Winston immediately countered. "When did we ever pretend? Don't slander us!"
Aligned with Chloe, she joined the defense.
"Darren, you were the one who insisted on violence! And you kept harassing Chloe!"
Stung by their disdain, Darren's rage flared.
"Bullshit! She seduced me!"
"Who seduced you?!"
The trio's shouting match erupted.
Frederick understood everything.
His worthless nephew had fallen for feminine wiles, becoming their pawn!
Now disaster struck—Frederick felt secondhand shame.
"Enough!" Frederick snapped, his patience gone. "Guards! Throw him out! And keep those legs!"
Black-suited bodyguards swarmed in, trussing Darren like cargo for removal.
The burly man's weight made dragging difficult.
"Uncle Fred! I was wrong... AHHH!!!"
His pleas dissolved into agonized screams.
The crowd glimpsed Darren's legs being shattered.
Blood splattered grotesquely.
Soon, Darren vanished from sight.
Clearly banished from A-City.
The brutality made Chloe's blood run cold.
Turning, she met Frederick's arctic stare.
"I wasn't aware you and my nephew had such... history." He cut off her attempted defense.
"Interesting how you tour scenic spots while Mr. Winston remains detained in the Underground City."
His meaningful tone turned glacial.
"Rather than sightseeing, perhaps focus on raising funds. The Underground City doesn't extend credit."
Mrs. Winston's face darkened.
This was an unmistakable dismissal!