Most of the guests around us were hostile, their eyes flickering between us.

"A CEO can't be fired for no reason. That must be a crime, needless to say?"

"Jonathan Gardner always acts so noble, but who knows how many immoral things he's done behind the scenes!"

"It must be something serious, but I don't know what it is!"

A large group of people pointed fingers at us, especially my dad. I was so angry, I just wanted to tear them apart.

"What nonsense are you talking about? My dad took his own retirement. He's innocent and hasn't done anything wrong!"

"If he had, would he still be standing here?"

"Jason Cole, you had a mistress behind my back, and you're spreading rumors everywhere!?"

Jason Cole sneered.

"What do you mean by 'I had a mistress behind your back?' What do you mean by 'spreading rumors?'"

"Don't be so harsh. Susan is my true love. She's my spiritual support!"

"Back then, you relied on your father's influence to force me to marry you. I endured humiliation and hardship for so many years. If it weren't for her, I would have been depressed long ago!" "As for spreading rumors, you know for sure whether they're true or not."

This is so outrageous, it almost made me laugh.

"Back then, you begged my dad on your knees to marry me, and now that he's retired, you're immediately throwing in the towel!"

"Besides, we've been married for so many years. If you really can't stand me and our entire family, then just file for a divorce!"

"For so many years, you've enjoyed the benefits my family has provided you, helping your career soar!"

"Now that my dad has just retired, you're flaunting your mistress around. Are you even human?"

Jason Cole was furious upon hearing this. He slapped me in the face.

"Jillian Gardner, watch your mouth! Do you still think you're a rich girl?"

"I, Jason Cole, am where I am today thanks to my own abilities!"

"Your dad has nothing to do with it!"

This slap left me stunned.

I never imagined that after all these years, he would actually hit me. Seeing me being beaten, my father couldn't stand it any longer and punched Jason Cole in the face.

"Whether I committed a crime or not is up to the Internal Affairs Commission. It's none of your business!"

"Who do you think you are! How dare you hit my daughter?"

Susan Quinn immediately stepped forward and blew into Jason Cole's nose.

"Brother, does it hurt?"

Two lines of blood flowed from Jason Cole's nose.

Jason Cole might have felt the warm liquid flowing from his nostrils. He wiped his nose and found it was covered in blood. He was furious.

He shouted angrily,

"If you don't accept my toast, you'll have to drink the forfeit!"

"I'm telling you, you're going to jail!"

"Didn't you just say I knelt and kowtowed to you back then?"

"Things change. If you kneel down and kowtow to me three times, I'll consider letting you go!"

Jason Cole snapped his fingers, and a large group surrounded us. My dad sneered.

"Go to jail? Why are you so sure I'll go to jail?"

"I've been an executive officer for so many years, with a clean record. How could I end up in jail?"

"Even if I retire, my connections are still there. Are you sure you're going to mess with me?"

Those people were Jason Cole's lackeys.

When they heard my dad's words, everyone looked at each other in surprise, no one daring to be the first to take the plunge.

Jason Cole rushed over and slapped me to the ground.

Then, his slap was fast and fierce, as if he wanted to vent all the resentment he'd been holding back for years!

My eyes were brimming with anger from the slap, but luckily, my dad arrived just in time.

He kicked Jason Cole hard, grabbed one of his arms, and threw him out with a powerful force.

He had been a soldier in his youth, so he was very agile and had maintained his martial training for many years. He lifted me up from the ground and yelled at the group,

"Anyone who wants to touch my daughter, get past me first!"

I took the opportunity to quickly call my brother.

"Hey, brother, something's happening here, come quickly..."

Before I could finish my words, Susan Quinn snatched my phone away.

"Hmph! How dare you tip me off!"

Jason Cole, deeply hurt, lay on the ground, clutching his waist, his eyes filled with rage. He turned and shouted at the mob, "There's a saying: 'When a man leaves, the tea gets cold.' Do you understand?!"

"With that old man out of commission, New York City will immediately be mine!"

"Hurry up, it's time to show your loyalty!"

My dad sneered.

"Jason Cole, Jason Cole! You're so arrogant!"

"I've been the Chief Executive of New York City for so many years, and I didn't even know it could be owned by one person!"

"I called the police before I came. You'd better not act rashly!"

Unexpectedly, Jason Cole scoffed.

"Police? What the hell are they?"

"Besides, even if the police come, there's no telling who they'll arrest first!"

"I, Jason Cole, am making this clear today. Go ahead and do it. I'll take full responsibility for anything that happens!"

People die for money, birds die for food.

The crowd, who had been ready to make a move, swarmed over, each wanting to show their loyalty to Jason Cole.

My dad had always protected me, but two fists were no match for four. Two attacked him head-on, distracting him, while the other two attacked him from behind.

My dad quickly collapsed.

I was furious, wishing I could tear them apart.

I grabbed a nearby chair and smashed it against the attackers' backs.

They screamed and fell to the ground.

I then raised the chair, smashing it down on each one, then on the next two.

Unexpectedly, Susan Quinn seized my guard and grabbed my hair.

"Ah!"

Several strands of hair were yanked out, causing me to scream in pain.

She exclaimed excitedly,

"Listen! A lady from a noble family, like Jillian Gardner, can actually make pig noises!"

"Hahaha!"

I swung the chair back with all my might, landing completely on top of her.

Susan Quinn was caught completely off guard and fell heavily to the ground.

"Ah! It hurts! My stomach!"

I hurriedly stood up, only to discover that Susan Quinn's belly was slightly bulging. She was pregnant. I thought I didn't care, but my scalp instantly went numb, and my fingers trembled uncontrollably with anger.

The next second, Jason Cole kicked me away with a fierce kick.

"Bitch! If anything happens to my son, I will never let you go!"

Jason Cole used all his strength in that kick, and I spat out a mouthful of blood.

My dad, seeing me injured, quickly shook off the people who were pestering me and tried to come to my aid.

Unexpectedly, Susan Quinn picked up a steel pipe and smashed it directly into my dad's knee.

My dad's face turned pale as he fell to the ground, and he immediately broke into a cold sweat.

"Dad!"

My heart ached. In all his life, my dad had never suffered such humiliation before. Seeing both father and daughter collapse, Jason Cole scoffed.

"Jonathan Gardner! Jonathan Gardner! I never thought you'd end up like this!"

"Do you know why I was so sure you'd be fired and go to jail?"

"Because I was the one who hid all the stolen money in your house, and I was the one who called the police line!"

My heart ached as if it were being torn apart. I couldn't believe Jason Cole's ruthless ambition, and I hated myself for not judging him well.

I asked, puzzled, "Jason Cole, why did you do this?"

Jason Cole's eyes were filled with madness and pride.

"Because I have a son! I can't let him live the same humiliation I have!"

"Teach them a lesson, and vent all my anger for the past few years!"

"Then send their entire family to prison!"

Just then, there was a commotion at the door, and several police officers suddenly appeared.