Chapter 675

Richard Evans frowned deeply.

"Is that really true?"

"Absolutely true."

"Good!" Richard snorted coldly.

"Then let that mother and son suffer outside until they come crawling back to beg me!"

He turned his back, refusing to look at Julian Evans and Margaret Evans any longer.

He would wait.

Wait until they were utterly desperate, kneeling before him, begging for mercy!

...

Evelyn Ross watched the farce unfold with cold detachment.

Cecilia Evans's methods were indeed clever.

To have Richard so thoroughly deceived.

But Richard himself was no saint; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so easily blinded.

Evelyn knew Julian somewhat.

He was capable, intelligent.

In university, he had been the student council president, the center of attention.

A pity his entire life had been tightly controlled by his parents, like a puppet on strings.

Now that he had finally broken free, he might just carve out his own path.

As she pondered this, Cecilia spoke softly, "But Julian is, after all, a graduate of a prestigious university, with outstanding abilities. If he really finds a decent job, I'm afraid... he won't be coming back to apologize anytime soon."

Richard's face darkened upon hearing this.

"Without my permission, I'd like to see who dares hire him!"

He strode out.

"I'll go notify all our partner companies right now—anyone who dares employ Julian Evans is making an enemy of the Vance Group!"

After Richard and Cecilia left, the dining room fell quiet.

Evelyn glanced at Alexander Vance, giving him a meaningful look.

Alexander understood and spoke calmly, "Dad, does your daughter-in-law still want those shares now? Oh, wait... Julian doesn't have a wife anymore. No, no, it seems the eldest branch doesn't even have a son now..."

Robert Vance trembled with rage.

He flung his sleeve and turned to leave.

The dining room was finally, completely silent.

Eleanor Vance looked at Evelyn, her eyes full of affection.

"You clever girl, that move of cutting the ground from under their feet was swift and decisive. Forcing Julian out of the family and getting rid of that nuisance Victoria Lawrence in one go."

Evelyn offered a faint smile.

But Eleanor looked toward the door and sighed.

"Actually, that boy Julian has always been very filial to me. His heart isn't bad... he just took a wrong turn before. Sigh, how can Richard be so indifferent to his own son?"

Evelyn lowered her gaze.

"Because the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

Eleanor was taken aback.

After a long moment, she nodded slowly.

"Yes... the squeaky wheel gets the grease. With Cecilia crying and making a scene, Richard's heart leans her way."

...

Julian left the Vance family home with Margaret.

He intended to find a hotel to stay in first.

But when he tried to pay by card, he discovered—all his bank cards had been frozen.

Margaret's cards were the same.

They stood at the hotel front desk, embarrassed and humiliated.

Not far away, Richard watched the scene with a cold sneer.

Cecilia held his arm, speaking softly with a smile.

"That was a brilliant move, Dad. With no money, Julian and Aunt Margaret definitely won't last long before they come home."

Richard scoffed.

"Fight me? They're still too green!"

Margaret panicked.

"If only I'd brought more jewelry when we left..."

But Julian silently took out his wallet.

Inside was just over a thousand dollars in cash.

He took a deep breath.

"Mom, let's rent a short-term apartment first."

This thousand dollars wasn't even enough for one night in a decent hotel.

Margaret wanted to say more, but seeing the determination in her son's eyes, she finally nodded.

Led by a real estate agent, they rented a basement apartment.

Monthly rent: eight hundred dollars.

The remaining money would only cover a few days of meals.

Julian began looking for a job.

He sent out countless resumes, but they all sank without a trace.

Occasionally, a few companies called him for interviews, but the moment he walked in, they politely declined.

"Young Master Evans, your father has already given the word... if we hired you, our future cooperation with the Vance Group would be in jeopardy."

Only then did Julian understand.

All mid-sized to large enterprises had blacklisted him.

He walked home, dejected and lost.

For the first time, he felt so utterly defeated.

He didn't even have the money to leave this city.

He could only take on odd jobs at a supermarket.

Moving stock, organizing shelves, earning a meager living.

One day, he had just finished moving a barrel of water and stepped out of the supermarket.

A black luxury car was parked at the entrance.

Richard stood beside the car, looking at him with a dark expression.

"Do you regret it now? As long as you admit your mistake, come home with me, and obediently marry Victoria Lawrence—I'll restore your previous life immediately!"

Julian lowered his head.

He gave a bitter laugh.

"Dad, do you know what my biggest gain has been these past three days?"

"What?"

"I finally learned I can support myself with my own two hands. Even if I can't afford bread, at least I won't starve. For the first time, I felt... what freedom is."

He raised his head, his gaze firm.

"So, I won't go back with you."

Richard was so angry he nearly jumped.

"Fine! Fine! I'll buy out this supermarket right now! Let's see how you work here then!"

Julian hadn't expected him to go this far.

He silently took off his gloves.

"It doesn't matter. I can still go work on a construction site."

"You think you can still find work like that?" Richard was hysterical.

"Before, I thought a little hardship would make you come back. Now I see you're actually enjoying it! Then I'll let you taste what it means to have no way out!"

Julian stiffened all over.

"You won't leave me... any path to survive?"

"Ungrateful wretch!" Richard looked down on him from his superior position, his tone icy.

"This is the consequence of disobeying me! No one will give you a job! You and your mother can just wait to starve to death!"

As soon as the words left his mouth.

A cool, clear female voice came from behind.

"Who says no one will give him a job?"