The Hand of Death

Chapter 10

“What did you say?”

Aaron tightened his grip on his phone and snapped his head toward the duo again.

Roman stood rooted to the spot, just as he had a minute ago, the same wicked grin dancing across his lips.

Aaron turned to storm toward them but stopped when everyone’s phone lit up with notifications.

Those who didn’t check their phones immediately were shown what was happening online by someone nearby.

The moment they saw the news, their eyes snapped toward Aaron before they hurriedly looked away and subtly took a few steps back.

The usually composed man snatched the phone from the person standing closest to him.

The headline was firm and straight to the point.

Aaron Hale, Chairman of Hale Group, Impeached!

Then came the online warriors’ accusations. Row after row of comments accused him of embezzling company funds.

Sure, he had done it. But what was wrong with taking a few hundred million to buy a lake and a private jet?

Hadn’t he worked hard enough to deserve such gifts?

Following the announcement, several guests began to take their leave.

“I knew his rise to the top wasn’t genuine. Who becomes the second-richest family in less than two decades?”

“I almost made a proposal to him.”

“Aaron Hale, you fraud! I almost stabbed the Donalds in the back for you, and this is how you repay me?”

Aaron stood proudly as he watched them leave.

Leland and Maren had also seen the news. Like everyone else who had come to curry favor with Aaron, they hurried away, afraid that the Donalds and the other top families would find out they’d attended his party.

Soon, only the Hale family’s supporters remained. They couldn’t afford to leave, or their own positions would be at risk.

“All of you, get lost!” Aaron barked, his angry voice echoing through the now-quiet building.

As the last guest closed the door behind her, Aaron began pacing around the room, hissing as he massaged the side of his neck.

“At some point, it may have been you. But now? It’s me. It’s my turn. Me, Aaron Hale. I’m the new Hand of Death!”

He jabbed a finger toward Roman.

“Coming here was foolish. I have thousands of men at my disposal. I could end you right now! If I were you, I’d start running. But rest assured, I’ll find you, and I’ll kill you!”

Roman’s jaw ticked as his eyes followed Aaron pacing around and screaming, the veins on the sides of his neck bulging.

Roman briefly turned to glance behind him.

On the way here, they had picked up a pair of earbuds and a tablet. Now strapped securely to the chair, Baby was playing with the tablet in fascination, her ears covered by the earbuds.

After a quiet breath, Roman turned back to Aaron and clicked his tongue.

“I taught you everything except how to be a coward. How did you end up like this?”

“H-how did I…?” Aaron spun around. “Roman Moretti, hold your fucking tongue!”

He quickly closed the distance between them.

“I am no longer the young and defenseless little boy from fifteen years ago. I’m old enough to think for myself. I’m strong enough to defend myself. I don’t owe you anything!”

Roman didn’t budge. He stared Aaron dead in the eyes and replied flatly, “I never said you did.”

But something about Roman’s refusal to even flinch made Aaron grit his teeth in anger.

It was just like back then.

It didn’t matter who Aaron was. Even when Roman was nothing more than a disgraced ex-convict accused of being a sexual predator, he still looked down on him.

Aaron was even more determined to teach him a lesson.

He pulled out his phone and began dialing a number.

Suddenly, a hand came out of nowhere and snatched it away.

Aaron followed the movement with his eyes. His expression darkened when he saw the middle-aged man standing before him.

The man wore a burgundy suit, his gray hair slicked back. An air of authority surrounded him.

He tossed Aaron’s phone to the ground and slowly crushed it beneath his shoe.

“Angelo, have you lost your mind?”

Angelo Hale lifted his head but said nothing. Instead, he reached behind him and took a golf club from a member of the Hale family standing there.

The moment Aaron saw the familiar weapon, a trace of fear flickered through his eyes as memories of his childhood flashed through his mind.

But the feeling quickly passed.

What was he thinking? He was still the previous chairman of Hale Group. Unless the old man was courting death, he wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him.

So he straightened his shoulders and sneered.

“If you wanted to play golf a little longer, you should’ve just set up a bed at the golf club and-”

Wham!

The golf club slammed into his head.

Aaron hadn’t expected the attack and had left himself unprotected. The sharp end struck his scalp, the tip digging in. Angelo pulled it away without hesitation.

Blood splattered across Angelo’s white shirt.

Seeing the blood on his clothes only made the middle-aged man angrier.

“Getting your dirty blood all over me? I should just kill you now!”

He raised the club again, but this time, Aaron caught it in midair.

“Old man, stop acting out, or I’ll kill you!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth did four male members of the Hale family rushed forward and restrained him. Each grabbed a limb, holding him firmly in place.

“What are you doing? I’m the helmsman of this family! Let go of me this instant, or I’ll have your names removed from the family register!”

“Helmsman of the Hale family? Hah! Don’t make me laugh!” Angelo laughed mockingly, striking him in the abdomen with the golf club.

Aaron spat out a mouthful of blood.

From the corner of his eye, Roman noticed Baby looking up from her tablet.

He immediately stepped forward and stopped Angelo just as he was about to strike Aaron again.

“That’s enough.”

Angelo stopped, breathing heavily as he pointed the golf club at Aaron’s face. “You’re lucky Mr. Moretti wants you alive. Otherwise, I’d kill you right here.”

Aaron looked up, confusion flashing across his face. Then he finally understood what was happening.

This was about the shares. The one Angelo gambled away years ago.

Feeling amused, he threw head back and cackled.

“Oh, so that’s how you did it. You went to my father and got him to gather the majority shareholders to impeach me.”

“Stupid bastard. What does it matter if you remove me as chairman? I still own my shares. I still make money from them. I’m still the most powerful man in A City!”

Angelo’s brows furrowed at the words. He looked back at Roman, but the man showed no expression. He simply stared at Aaron.

“You did what?”

Seeing the disbelief on Angelo’s face, Aaron grew smug, realizing he had them right where he wanted them.

“That’s right. Did you really think I’d have no backup plan and let that little document he gave me years ago be the foundation of everything I built?”

“Of course not! The very next year, I had it torn up and a similar one drawn up. Except this time, I changed the terms of the agreement and simply copied your signatures onto it.”

“You fool. As if the document were the only thing Boss had to keep himself safe.” Before the silence could linger, Jonas chuckled and walked to the front.

“Boss created a special software just for himself, where he uploads every signed document for safekeeping. It records everything, including audit trails, edits, and the rest. Whenever he needs a document for his lawyers, he can pull it straight from there.”

Relieved and awestruck, Angelo turned to Roman and bowed his head slightly.

“Mr. Moretti, if not for your wisdom and foresight, this wicked boy might have gotten the better of you. Please, let my Hale family handle this matter.”

Roman had no intention of getting his hands dirty anyway, so he nodded.

He still had the Elwood family to deal with before putting his other affairs in order. There was no reason to waste more time here.

“You’ll be made chairman again. Run the company as you see fit, as long as it remains profitable.”

Angelo’s face lit up and he bowed to him again.

Roman paused, a wicked smile spreading across his face.

“In the meantime, your current project needs a construction company. Extend the same offer to both the Pierce and Elwood families.” His smile widened. “Tell them… we’ll only work with the best.”