Chapter 1016

Jett led Jack and Elias into the study, where a striking woman stood waiting. It was Yolanda Gould, whom Jack had met once before.

Yolanda was more than just beautiful. Born into an elite family, she exuded natural confidence and pride. Once she formed an opinion about someone, it rarely changed.

She met Jack once at a banquet. Due to his lack of familiarity with yachts, horse racing, luxury cars, or designer brands, Yolanda was left thoroughly unimpressed. Just associating with him felt like an insult.

Hence, Yolanda was furious to learn that Jack was here to persuade Jett to abandon the Roes and Trevells and support the Carpenter family. That was akin to becoming the enemy of the entire upper class. Yolanda saw that as a dangerous move for the Gould family.

Patrick was a rising star known as the "Prince of Tarthy City". He was favored by Winona Cadwallader, the daughter of the soon-to-be mayor, and also admired by the daughter of the Dwarven Sea Clan, the most powerful clan in Tarthy City's underground world.

With backing from both the city's political elite and its criminal underworld, Patrick had effectively bridged both sides of the power structure. The Trevells and Roes also followed his lead. Other prominent families and influential figures in Tarthy City gradually aligned themselves with his faction.

If the Gould family went against Patrick, that would mean opposing the social and political order of the city. The consequences would be disastrous.

Yolanda saw the situation with absolute clarity. She hoped Jett would side with the Trevells and Roes.

It wasn't just about assessing the Carpenter and Lycan families' influence. It was personal, too.

As the daughter of an elite family, Yolanda had long admired Patrick. She'd always wished she could do something for him, even if he never knew.

So, when Jack arrived with Elias to ask Jett to side with the Carpenters and take a stand against the rising tide of the Trevells and Carpenters, Yolanda was the first to protest.

"Are you two crazy? You want our

family to help you and get into

trouble?

You decided to go up against Patrick and now that you're losing you expect us to follow you into the abyss? We're not stupid. The Gould family isn't interested; we don't welcome you."

Yolanda had never been one to soften her words, and her tone was biting. However, Jack and Elias remained calm. Both men were seasoned enough not to take offense at the blunt words of a headstrong young woman.

Jett turned to Yolanda and reprimanded, "That's enough."

She shot him a disgruntled glare but said no more, settling into her seat with a pointed look still fixed on their guests.

Jett then turned his gaze toward Jack. He didn't know him personally, but he'd

noticed how Elias always stayed half a step behind the younger man—an unspoken gesture that said Jack was not to be underestimated.

Seeing Jett fatt silent, Jack paused

for a moment before offering a faint smile. "I believe you're a man of reason. The Gould and Carpenter families have been allies for years, standing together against the Roes and Trevells If you were to suddenly abandon that alliance and make a deal with the tiger, I'm afraid you'd end up like a hunting dog discarded once the prey is gone."

His words were direct, but they hit the mark. This was precisely why the Gould family had hesitated to side with the Roes and Trevells.

While the Carpenters were currently under siege and aligning with them might bring risk, the Gould family's longstanding feuds with the other two families were no less serious—perhaps even deeper.

Jett knew full well that once the Roes and Trevells finished taking over the Carpenters and Lycans, they would turn on the Goulds next. And when that happened, the Gould family would be in an even worse situation than the Carpenters.

However, Patrick was behind the Roes and Trevells. Jett had crossed paths with Patrick before and understood just how formidable he was. Moreover, both the mayor's daughter and the underworld boss' daughter were infatuated with Patrick.

Hence, Jett felt deeply uneasy about opposing him.