Repairing A Broken Home With My Patriarch System

Joe stood up in alarm. His heart tightened, and he couldn’t help but fear that Ethan had actually come to kill him.

”You paid her to take my gun? Ethan, who the fuck are you?”

”It’s a misunderstanding. For real, a misunderstanding.”

The young man denied, raising his hands in surrender.

”You see, I don’t have the energy to play word games with you right now. Agree to my proposal, or I’ll expose you.”

Joe’s expression darkened further and he growled. ”Expose me? You have no evidence other than your word. You’re just talking nonsense.”

Ethan blinked, then smiled gently.

”You’re not afraid of the police, I know.” His smile widened. ”However, you do know someone who will get you killed the moment they know about it, right?”

Joe involuntarily took a step back and muttered, ”Gary.”

”Bingo! You’re so smart.” Ethan chuckled. ”I already sent all the evidence I could gather to him, and he’ll come crashing down on you in about ten minutes.”

He checked his wristwatch, nodding to affirm his words.

”What? Why the hell did you come here, then?!” Joe shouted, desperate.

He knew how scary Gary had become. After being manipulated into killing two women who were important to him and spending several years in jail because of it, he was almost completely insane.

’Besides, his brother can really get me locked up. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!’

”Now, now, no need to rush; we still have about five minutes.” Ethan replied calmly, even gesturing for him to sit.

”Five minutes? Didn’t you say ten?”

”Did I?” He blinked, then chuckled. ”Ah, my bad. I meant five minutes.”

At this point, Joe was already sweating buckets, overwhelmed by irrational fear. He could already feel the suffocating pressure of judgment around his neck.

”Stop! You called him, right? Tell him it’s a lie or a joke and I’ll give you anything!”

Before he knew it, he was already on his knees, begging Ethan.

’He’s really that scared of Gary? This makes me more curious about that man.’

Ethan’s eyes narrowed, and he waved his hand. ”80% now. We can still negotiate for some time, though. Maybe I’ll reduce my charges?”

Joe’s expression tightened, and he hurriedly took out his phone.

”I’ll send it to you now. I’ll send everything. Just don’t let him get here.”

Ethan listened to his desperate plea with disgust. These kinds of men were easy to deal with, especially when their judgement had been clouded.

After confirming that the transaction was completed, Ethan took out his phone which was already ringing.

”Oh, he’s calling me already.”

Hearing that, Joe’s face paled. ”I’ve paid you! Now find a way to stop him from coming here!”

Ethan rolled his eyes and nodded. Then, he turned off the alarm ringing on his phone.

”There. The alarm is no longer ringing.”

Joe blinked, confused and perplexed. ”Alarm? What alarm?”

”Gary isn’t coming,” Ethan said flatly. ”He’s still in jail, remember? They didn’t release him yet.”

Joe’s expression cleared, and he looked at Ethan with wide eyes. ”You bastard!”

Just as he prepared to throw himself at Ethan and pummel him, the office door was kicked open, and FBI agents rushed inside, their guns pointed at the two men.

”Freeze! Don’t make a single move!”

Unfazed, Ethan muttered, ”That woman was a little late. And here I thought she was going to be faster.”

He glanced at the agents and saw the same woman that had crawled out from under Joe’s desk standing with them.

”Wha...?” Joe also looked at the woman with a surprised expression.

Yes, she had taken his gun. However, he didn’t think she’d be affiliated with the FBI. Was she actually an undercover agent?

”Vivian. What are you doing?” He asked, pulling back from Ethan as he stood up with his hands raised.

The woman ignored him entirely and looked at Ethan. ”Did you know we were coming?”

He picked up the glass of whiskey and took a sip. ”No. At least not until this idiot revealed that you had stolen his gun.”

”A coincidence?” Vivian’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

”A coincidence,” Ethan nodded with a faint smile. ”Well then, I’ll get going. You guys do your thing.”

Vivian immediately stepped forward to block him. ”You’re coming with us. Now.”

”Not unless you want me to tell your colleagues how you got the gun.” Ethan smiled.

The other agents looked confused, while Vivian’s face turned red with shame. Without saying another word, Ethan walked past her and left the office.

......

As soon as he stepped outside, Ethan picked up a call from Cole.

”Where are you? Are you ready? Should I come pick you up?”

Hearing his brother-in-law’s nervous voice, Ethan sighed.

”Alright, alright. You can come pick me up at the McDonald’s.”

”I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Cole said and immediately ended the call.

After ending the call, Ethan began making his way towards the place while also calling Evelyn. It took a while for her to pick up, but she eventually did.

”Ethan! Are you done... there?”

”Yes,” He answered with a faint smile. ”I’m currently heading out to meet your brother and follow him to his company.”

”Ohh! Alright, then.” Evelyn sounded enthusiastic. ”I’m also at the shop, selling with my friend. You should come over when you’re done.”

Ethan smiled and nodded. ”Alright.”

After dropping the call, he pocketed his phone and paused at the junction. He could already see Cole’s car speeding towards him.

’So slow with traffic... I miss my flying vehicles.’

Lamenting inwardly about the technological degradation, he watched Cole park before him.

”Brother-in-law, I’m here. Let’s go, let’s go.” Cole immediately opened the door and beckoned to him.

Ethan calmly slipped into the car with grace. ”Good morning, Cole.”

The older man returned the greeting and smiled. ”I’m glad that you came. Still, there are a few things I should tell you about my boss.”

His expression turned serious.

”Mr Stark is a highly influential individual, and he values respect a lot. Please respect him and answer his questions truthfully. He’s very good at knowing when someone is lying to him. Ethan... please. Do not screw this up.”