Chapter 002: Turning Against Each Other

Ryan perfectly concealed the shock within him, slowly removed his headphones, and then calmly said to the person next to him, "Call the security over." As if Lance, surrounded by fury, were merely an insignificant nobody, he handled the unexpected situation with composure, demonstrating his commanding presence.

Outside the office, Ryan Cavallaro sat in front of a desk, wearing a lake blue shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, embodying a blend of formality and comfortable ease. He was fiddling with his computer, his head adorned with a large pair of headphones that effectively blocked out all external noise and commotion, as if he were the true master of this place—the genuine master. What an ironic scene it was.

Ryan remained seated in the boss's chair, comfortably leaning against the backrest, with his hands crossed in front of him, exuding an air of calm confidence that was evidently unaffected. Although Lance stood tall, appearing to have the upper hand, the stark contrast made it seem as if Lance were an employee, while Ryan was the one giving orders.

Is that so? Lance turned to look at Tucker, a smile forming on his face. In that instant, the burst of charm and ferocity left Tucker momentarily stunned, causing him to pause with the coffee cup raised in mid-air. However, Tucker still pretended to be calm as he lifted the coffee cup, concealing the turmoil within him. He looked down at Lance from a superior position and took a small, composed sip of coffee. Yet, the scalding hot coffee burned the mucous membrane in his mouth. Nevertheless, Tucker maintained his facade of calmness, lifting the coffee cup again to mask his inner chaos, looking down at Lance with an air of composure as he took another small sip of coffee. Once more, the scalding coffee burned his oral mucosa.

Anger, besides anger, is still anger

In an instant, fragments flew everywhere, and a computer screen shattered into three pieces. Countless shards erupted forth, and the previously silent and oppressive office was thrown into chaos. Everyone screamed and retreated, while Tucker, standing at the epicenter of the attack, became a densely affected area, with sharp fragments striking him all over. The coffee cup in his hand was flung away as he jumped around in a panic, trying to avoid the debris, his comical movements resembling a monkey performing acrobatics.

"Do you know all of this?" Lance stopped in his tracks, staring intently at Jason—Jason was his friend, the one he had invited to become a partner in Western Mirror Film Industry. He had always believed that Jason stood on the same side as him, that Jason was always his supporter

Silence, a silence as dead as the grave

Tucker let out a soft scoff, "Not anymore."

"Lance! Calm down, you need to calm down..." Jason Berkeley rushed in from the side, trying to stop Lance, but before he could even get close, he saw Lance turn his head and glare fiercely at him. That sharp gaze was like a blade piercing through without any obstruction, causing Jason's steps to involuntarily slow down

You set a trap for me!" Lance looked incredulously at Ryan, who remained calm before him

Lance's eyes were veiled with a thin layer of mist, and his lips, stained a vivid red from overwhelming excitement, resembled blood—seductive and resplendent. He stared motionlessly at Ryan through that hazy vision, "I will not give up."

"But you have already signed it." Tuck's incessant voice echoed in his ears like a clucking hen, yet Lance was stingy even with a glance, merely staring at the silent Ryan before him. He captured a fleeting thought in his mind and questioned, "Tell me, this is not because of 'Harry Potter'!"

"So you want me to give up my shares?" Lance's anger had dissipated into the despair and pain of betrayal. He could not even clearly distinguish whether it was more terrifying that the company he had built with his own hands had changed ownership overnight, or whether it was more painful to be stabbed in the back by a close friend, or perhaps it was the shameless calm and composure of the betrayer that was even more disgusting! "Tell me, how many shares have you given up? How many shares has Tucker given up? And how many shares has Jason given up!"

Ryan fell silent for about half a second before responding, "You personally signed those documents." His tone was calm and composed, as if everything were perfectly natural, devoid of any guilt, regret, surprise, or even any ripple of emotion

The raging fire of anger has completely burned away all of Lance's emotions, to the point where his eardrums began to buzz, as if countless noises were ringing in his ears. That feeling of irritation could not be controlled, even with clenched teeth, tightened fists, and tensed muscles. He was like a volcano suppressed to its limits, destined either to erupt or to self-destruct

Tucker's incessant chatter once again triggered an eruption within Lance's heart. He turned his head, roaring angrily at Tucker like a wounded lion, "I apologize! My damn Prada is still at the dry cleaner!" Tucker took a half step back in fright, but Lance paid him no mind and turned back to Ryan, "Along with my trench coat and those damn flip-flops! You hypocritical cowards!"

However, this is the best answer. Even without needing to verify one by one, Lance already knows that his three best friends and his three best partners joined forces to dig this trap and then made him jump into it

"What you say makes it sound as if I am not a part of the Western Mirror Film Company." A warm sensation welled up in Lance's eyes, as he and Ryan had jointly established the Western Mirror Film Company. Tucker and Jason were later additions, and it was even he who proposed the idea and framework for the company.

Ryan watched Lance, who was venting his anger with great fervor, and couldn't help but clench his fists. Then, in a flurry, he relaxed them and patted the nonexistent dust on the hem of his clothes, concealing the turmoil within him. Beside him, Tucker spoke up again, saying, "The security is coming; you better leave here."

"So, as the CEO of the company, you have been stripped of your management rights, and now you come to blame me for it?" Ryan's assertive tone was beyond Lance's imagination... He had once thought he knew Ryan well enough, he had once believed he was Ryan's best friend...

The absurd and ridiculous sense of irony made Lance laugh in anger; he even began to feel that all of this was like an excellent black comedy, the surreal and unrestrained absurdity truly made one unable to suppress a smile. Lance chuckled softly and shouted again, "Ryan!" However, his footsteps grew faster and faster, weaving through the onlookers in the office, advancing towards Ryan without any obstruction.

"It is not that it seems, you are indeed not a part of Western Mirror Productions." Standing beside them, Tucker finally regained his composure after calming his own embarrassment, standing calmly to the side and interrupting the argument between Lance and Ryan. Lance did not turn around to acknowledge Tucker at all, his eyes fixed intently on Ryan as he said, "I am the Chief Executive Officer here"

Ha. Lance let out a sneer, and Jason's silence was the best response. This best response was the most ruthless weapon, stabbing fiercely into his chest once more. Yet, even with wounds all over his body and blood gushing, Lance seemed to have become completely numb, gently shaking his head, saying nothing to Jason—because he was not worth it. He took another step forward.

Ryan wore an expression of indifference, lightly shrugging his shoulders, "I told you before, if we are to expand our investment, we must bring in new investors"

Lance, however, completely ignored Tucker's elegance and composure, turning his head to look at Ryan, who was close at hand yet still indifferent. He raised his voice, pouring out a mix of sarcasm and anger, "Is that so?" Lance then lifted the computer in front of Ryan and smashed it forcefully onto Tucker's feet.

Ryan was also taken aback, turning around in the boss's chair, and then he saw Lance's eyes filled with flames of anger, almost gritting his teeth as he questioned, "So what now, are you still busy?"

Standing to the side, Tucker took the initiative to take over the conversation, alleviating Ryan's awkward situation, "Do you think we would let you parade around in that ridiculous suit, pretending that you are running this company?"

Silence, a profound silence

Tucker Ture stood in the adjacent cubicle, holding a cup of coffee, leisurely enjoying the pleasant moment of afternoon tea. As he observed the furious Lance, Tucker remained indifferent. When Lance approached, he calmly raised his voice and said, "He is busy working"

"Ryan!" Lance shouted again, and the entire office fell silent, all eyes focused on Lance's tragic figure, yet no one could make a sound, not even the sound of breathing vanished into the air. Even so, Ryan still did not turn around; he remained focused on his computer, as if that screen were the center of the world.

"Ryan!" Lance shouted, his lungs working like a bellows.

It simply and directly points out a fact, a cruel and bloody fact. Lance shook his head gently, unable to believe this fact, nor willing to accept it. He looked at Ryan with despair, "This is all because of 'Pirates of the Caribbean', isn't it?"

Lance looked incredulously at Ryan before him, almost unable to believe that the person standing in front of him was the one he had known for ten years. He was already furious to the extreme, yet Ryan still appeared nonchalant, as if everything was perfectly natural, without even a hint of guilt. The words squeezed out from between his teeth, "I was just informed that my shares have been completely liquidated!"

The breathtaking intensity of those azure eyes was so shocking, as if one could clearly see the grandeur and magnificence of the entire world collapsing, the lethal pain and fragility struck Ryan hard, unexpectedly bringing forth a trace of sorrow deep within him. He awkwardly turned his head, avoiding Lance's gaze.

In Jason's eyes, he saw a glimmer of light flickering in those deep blue irises, a fragility that seemed as if it could shatter with the slightest touch, which thoroughly dismantled all of Jason's defenses. He lacked the courage to answer the question, to face Lance, and he even lacked the courage to endure Lance's gaze. He could only awkwardly avert his eyes, standing there in embarrassment, at a loss. Because he was also a part of this conspiracy. He lacked the courage to answer the question, to face Lance, and he even lacked the courage to endure Lance's gaze. He could only awkwardly avert his eyes, standing there in embarrassment, at a loss. Because he was also a part of this conspiracy