The Tycoon's Odyssey
Chapter 30: 30:A Tug War

Henna turned around and spotted a black haired young boy. A look of surprise washed over her expression followed by a mix of frustration and anger.

However, all this faded immediately.

Seeing Evan, her expression took a sudden turn.

"Evan, sweetheart, we didn't mean for you to replace out like this. But we've been struggling financially, and we borrowed money from the business to make ends meet."Henna made a saddened expression and pinched Migol who spoke out with a flustered expression.

"We thought we could pay it back once things improved, but..." He trailed off, unable to meet Evan's eyes.

Evan snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the two.

Evan felt a surge of conflicting emotions and anger at this pair of hypocrites for jeopardizing his business.

"You see, people are uncomfortable here.. Let's go somewhere else.."

"Okay, but why are you wearing this mask? Take it out.."Henna ordered with a sweet smile and extended her hand but Evan gasped it tightly startling her.

"YOU..."

Her sweet smiling expression cracked..

Cause she never expected him to hold her hand and that though this fiercely...

From childhood, she had made sure to make him aware of who was the boss and engrave fear in Evan to the point that every time she raised her hand, he would tremble.

It was like training and taming a pet which she made sure to engrave deep inside his heart

So how?

It was not only him but even Evan himself was surprised.

He knew his condition better than anyone else.

He won't be fazed when someone puts a knife to his throat but his body would react to Henna due to brutal abuse.

From sticks, kitchen wares, belts, and steel...There wasn't anything that he hadn't beaten with.

Sometimes, Henna didn't like his cooking and would throw the bowl on his face.

Taking a deep breath, he glared, "I have the flu so I have to wear it. I am pretty sick now, you know?"

'I know what she is doing. She wanted to expose my true face and hope that someone was recording it. However, it doesn't matter as everything will be exposed since they appeared here.'

Saying this, he immediately pulled the two to a secluded area.

Staff members nodded, relieved to see Evan taking charge of the situation.

The staff members exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of frustration and fear.

Maria sighed and looked at the staff, "Everyone hurry quickly to take charge now and deal with the customer. Sam quickly begins the operation."

.....

Meanwhile, Evan's heart sank as he approached the spare room.

After they reached the area where he spoke coldly.

"What's going on here?" Evan demanded, his voice cold with anger as he faced his adoptive parents.

His calm demeanor changed abruptly and he stared at two with his hollow dark eyes.

Henna shot him a disdainful look. "Oh, look who decided to question us and put up a front.

Moreover, if you have so much money then why are you pretending to be poor and hungry at that time."

Henna decides to tear the disguise.

Migol scoffed. "You think you're better than us just because you own this place? We raised you, Evan. We deserve a cut of the profits. Also, we are in debt?"

Evan's fists clenched at his sides, as his patience was wearing off.

"You didn't raise me, you exploited me. And this isn't your business, it's mine. Moreover, what business are you talking about? I never knew you two had business."

"What does it have to do with you? How dare you ask me and how dare you raise your voice when you are running this by stealing our money?" screaming, Henna raised her hands to slap Evan but he grabbed her wrist and spoke in a cold voice.

"It doesn't matter where I got the money to start this but remember one thing, I have never stolen anything or used your money and you all won't be getting a single penny from me."

"You...How dare you hold my hands?"

Migol looked at the two and glared at Evan.

"Beast, is that how you treat your parents who gave you a new life? Your mother had the right to teach you a lesson by family rules."

Evan's breathing became ragged. He found it hard to reason with this kind of person.

What was more frustrating, he couldn't just slap them away…

However, just then he got an idea.

"Mother, Father….you are being too much? Stop shouting...You are making a bad impression and scaring people...You are going to ruin this place, "Evan spoke back and smiled evilly as he let go of Henna's hands.

"You surely don't want me to go bankrupt right? If I fail, I will hide and leave this country and it's you who will be paying off the debt of mine.."

The moment he said this, Henna and Migol's expressions stiffened.

Henna looked at Evan from head to toe wondering what made him change so much.

This brat who couldn't even lift his head in front of her was not threatening him.

"You're a disappointment, Evan," Henna spat. "We took you in when no one else wanted you, and this is how you repay us?"

Evan's voice was ice-cold as he met their gaze. "You didn't take me in out of the kindness of your hearts. You did it for the money."

Evan's parents recoiled as if struck, their faces contorted with rage and shame.

A trace of panic flashed in Henna's expression which didn't go unnoticed in Evan's eyes.

'It seems I stepped on the tail.'

"I am telling you to leave quietly now. From now on I won't be listening to you. You can kick me out and you better hurry to leave, otherwise who knows if there are Suri fans in the mob."

"You don't want to experience the previous beating, do you?"

Henna and Migol's expressions paled on hearing this.

After all, how can Henna forget the time when a group of women pulled her hair and slapped her in public? It was humiliating…

"You…"

Henna's face flushed in anger and she pointed at Evan with trembling fingers…

"I will see you, Evan…You will regret this bastard…."

Migol, noticing the situation getting out of hand, held his wife and pulled her away.

"Migol, what are you doing?"

"Henna, let's leave. You already make a huge mess and we might be in trouble so let's leave.."Migol shouted, pulling her away forcefully.

"Beast….You will regret this.."Henna shouted.

With these parting words, the two sneaked away leaving a mess behind.

Evan just stood there watching them leave, afraid of the upcoming storm

And sure enough, the next thing he wanted to avoid finally happened as a couple of viral videos started circulating with headlines.

Videos of Maria and Henna fighting went viral.

[The troublemaker resurfaced again. Spotted creating a scene in front of Teabox cafe that had been in the limelight recently.]

[The perpetrators of Suri's accident seemed to address the owner as a son. So is it their shop?]

Videos with various descriptions popped up that began another round of cyberbullying.

[@KimJongunOppa:It's them….I heard the couple confirming it and also crying that their son was a selfish greedy man who refused to give anything.]

[@LovelyNoona:I thought this place was good as several bloggers spoke well of it but now…]

[@FoodieForever: Can't believe Teabox Cafe is linked to such a scandal! I trusted their reviews, but now I'm shocked.]

[@AlwaysOnHigh: This is outrageous! If the owners of Teabox Cafe are involved in criminal activities like blackmail, they deserve to be shut down]

[@MaturewomanSeeker123:I always had my doubts about that place. Now it's clear why their service was so bad.]

[@Iamhotshot:Time to uncover the truth behind Teabox Cafe. Who else are they scamming?]

[@AustrianPainter: Disgusting behavior from Teabox Cafe owners. Shame on them for exploiting others!]

These comments reflect a mix of shock and disappointment.

And at the end of all, came the common weapon used by groups of netizens who always replace fun in bullying socially.

[#Boycott Teabox Cafe…]