Jason glanced over the Larson family without emotion.
"Are you done?" he asked calmly.
Edward Larson nearly tripped over his own words. "N-No more settling accounts. It's all our fault."
Jason lifted a hand, cutting him off. "Good. Now it's my turn."
The Larsons froze like prey caught in a spotlight.
Jason's First Strike
"First," Jason said, his voice steady and almost casual, "the recycling plant partnership arranged for the Larson family—canceled. Effective immediately."
Edward's face went white. That project alone had been projected to double their revenue. Now it was gone.
His mouth trembled. "S-Sir, we didn't know you arranged that. We didn't turn our backs on the deal—Graham still managed it. We just—"
Jason gave him a blank look. "We continue."
Second Strike
"The rare-earth separation contract? That was given for Holly's sake." Jason's tone sharpened. "You didn't value what she brought, so that too is canceled."
Even Evelyn sucked in a breath. That single contract was worth more than all the Larson family's assets combined.
Edward staggered, his knees nearly buckling. He'd been bragging that he secured it himself, and the entire time Jason Carter had been the one keeping the doors open.
Graham Larson finally understood everything. He'd thought he was finally proving himself, but all his gains were actually Holly's. His daughter, who had suffered in silence for so many years.
Graham's eyes stung. Evelyn squeezed his hand, and Holly held both their hands in hers while gripping Jason's with the other. A family, finally united.
Third and Final Strike
Jason looked back at Edward. "As for the other four rare-earth contracts..." He smiled coldly. "You think the Larsons earned those?"
He leaned forward, his eyes like blades. "You recycle old magnets. You don't even produce magnets yet. On what basis would five separation plants line up to work with you?"
Edward's throat tightened. He didn't dare answer.
Jason finished: "You wanted Holly out of the family. Very well. All four remaining contracts—terminated."
The room fell into dead silence. It felt as though the ground had collapsed beneath the Larsons' feet.
First cut—profit gone. Second cut—future gone. Third cut—survival gone.
Their business empire didn't just shrink. It evaporated.
All because they dared bully the wrong girl—the girl who now sat protected at the right hand of the man who controlled their entire industrial chain.
Edward Larson looked like he might faint. Melanie, Rick, and the other young cousins turned pale, their knees shaking harder than ever. If their family collapsed, they'd lose their wealth, their future, everything—all over the girl they used to force to kneel and cry.
And Jason wasn't even finished yet.
He turned to Holly, his voice softening. "This is only the beginning. No one gets to hurt you again."
Holly's eyes shimmered with astonishment and warmth. Just one final step remained.
And with the Larsons trembling before him, Jason was about to take it.
Edward Larson's voice trembled, cracking under fear. "Graham, I'm sorry. Greed blinded me. I was wrong."
"From now on, you'll sit right beside Father at every family meeting. You'll be in charge of the Larson Group. You shouldn't earn just a salary—your compensation should be shares. The biggest share. And the new magnet production facility? You'll be running it."
He turned desperately toward Holly. "Holly, I owe you the greatest apology. I failed to raise my son right. Those kids bullied you—that's on me."
Finally, he faced Evelyn, eyes full of panic. "Evelyn, please. Talk to them. We're still a family. Please, just this once—let us make it right. The Larson Group was already struggling. Now with the rare-earth discovery, big investors are coming. Competition will be brutal. If we lose those partnerships, the Larson name might not survive."
Evelyn's expression turned cold—colder than Edward had ever seen. "Oh? You still remember the Larson Group was failing? Then why, when Graham secured those miracle partnerships, did you strip away his achievements the moment your own status felt safe again? And earlier, you were set on kicking Holly out of the family. You tell me—what position do I have to persuade them now?"
Edward fell silent.
Graham exhaled slowly, years of suppressed humiliation rising in his chest. "Edward, I tried. I really tried. I thought once things got better, we could finally live peacefully as family. Turns out that was naïve."
He looked toward his daughter—the one who had suffered most. "Holly endured your bullying all her life, and yet she was still willing to forgive and coexist. But what did you do? So I'm sorry, but it's too late. We'd rather live modestly as a real family than remain in the Larson Group's shadow."
Holly squeezed her parents' hands, her voice firm. "From today on, we are not Larsons. We are not being expelled. We're walking away."
Edward spiraled into panic, losing his composure entirely. "H-Holly, please! I was wrong! You're smart, kind—a leader. You can run the Larson Group. No one will ever dare look down on you again! Don't leave, please!"
The younger cousins, faces pale and sweating, collapsed in fear. "Sorry—Holly—we're sorry! Please don't go—please!"
But Holly no longer flinched before them. They had their chance to change. They chose cruelty. Now they would face consequences.
Jason Carter finally spoke, looking toward Graham and Evelyn. "Uncle, Aunt, since you're leaving the Larson Group, all partnerships I secured earlier will transfer directly to you. If you want to start your own magnet production company, I'll invest personally."
Graham and Evelyn stared in disbelief. They'd thought Jason aimed only to punish the Larsons—never that he'd lift them up in their place. They stood and bowed deeply to Jason, overwhelmed.
Blue City, a prominent US businessman in attendance, immediately seized the moment. "Mr. Larson, looking forward to working closely together."
The other CEOs and factory owners instantly followed suit. "Yes, Mr. Larson—let's cooperate fully." "Whatever resources you need, we will provide."
They weren't just being polite. This was the smartest bet of their careers: one side was a declining family, the other was the future father-in-law of the man who controlled the entire rare-earth downstream ecosystem in the region. The choice was obvious.
Edward Larson took one look at the forming alliance across the room, and everything inside him collapsed. His vision spun. Gravity vanished beneath his feet.
BAM!
He fainted on the spot.
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