Chapter 1664 - 1602: Duncan Family’s Leverage

The Duncan Family had long since discussed exactly how much money they wanted. Their thinking was crude and simple: the grace of raising a child is greater than the sky; no matter what, Marcus Quinn is the eldest son and must take care of his younger siblings. So if he didn’t give them a house, fine—he’d give them cash. And they opened their lion’s mouth and asked for ten million.

Logan Duncan opened his mouth and straight-up asked for ten million.

"Marcus, you’re doing well now. Just give us ten million as taking care of your younger brother and sister. For you, this money is just a drop in the bucket." Logan said earnestly, "We’re family. Bones may break but blood still binds. A person mustn’t forget where he came from."

Marcus didn’t say anything. Inside, Aria let out a cold laugh and said, "You’re the elder, I used to respect you a little. But hearing this, I’m really not having it. Marcus took his mother’s surname; from the start he’s been a Quinn, nothing to do with the Duncan Family. To put it bluntly, back then you married into the Quinn Family, and then when Marcus was two, you abandoned the elders and the child and went off to remarry. So this ’a person mustn’t forget where he came from’—you’re not wrong about that part at all."

The moment Aria’s words fell, everyone’s gaze toward Logan turned strange. Even Elowen Duncan felt mortified beyond belief; her face went green, then white. Logan was practically shaking with rage over this old scandal being dragged out, and he roared, "You wretched brat, what nonsense are you spouting?"

As he spoke, Logan raised his hand, about to hit Aria, but was stopped by the police officer on the side whose eyes were shining from listening to all this gossip.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I had no idea there was something like this. No wonder Marcus took Old Quinn’s surname the moment he was born." Yeats Howard fanned the flames from the side.

The Zamora Family’s faces changed as they looked at the Duncan Family now—so he turned out to be some matrilocal nobody. No wonder people kept saying Logan Duncan made his fortune off women. At first he relied on his ex-wife, using the Quinn Family connections to become an official. Once the ex-wife died, he latched onto his second wife from the Yannick Family, and he’d been living high and mighty these years. Who would have thought there was this kind of dirt underneath it all?

Aria had stated the facts—naturally Marcus had told her these things. She hadn’t originally wanted everyone to rip off the masks and make things ugly, but the Duncan Family really didn’t know when to stop.

"You, some woman with shady origins, spouting nonsense here—I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart." Elowen Duncan was beside herself with rage and lunged forward to claw at her.

"My ancestral home is in Seacoast. My family’s been clean for generations. My grandfather was the principal of Seacoast University before he passed away, and my father is one of Seacoast’s outstanding entrepreneurs. The Chase Family is a well-known name. I’m not worthy of being called ’shady’ by Miss Duncan." Aria’s little face was calm and composed, and she spoke each word clearly, one by one.

Now that the true culprit who harmed her was clear, she could finally state her identity and background openly.

Elowen was choked speechless, realizing she and her father both couldn’t win an argument against Aria. She almost dropped dead from fury, while at this moment the Zamora Family and her uncle’s side of the family all instinctively avoided her gaze—this whole bunch of heartless people.

"Back to the main point. The matter of you marrying in is already ancient history. Old Quinn doesn’t even pursue it anymore, so we juniors won’t keep bringing it up." Aria had completely seized the initiative in this negotiation and said coolly, "The Duncan Family wants ten million for their own son and daughter—Marcus can give it. But that ten million will also sever the only bit of blood relation between Marcus and your family. Do you still want this ten million?"

The situation suddenly reversed. Seeing that she actually agreed to give ten million, the Duncan Family all stared, eyes wide.

"Dad, we’d be idiots not to take ten million." Elowen had no sibling bond with Marcus. She hurriedly tugged on Logan’s sleeve, saying, "Marcus doesn’t treat us like family at all."

Logan saw that his eldest son had already slipped completely out of his control. For something this big, Marcus hadn’t said a word and was letting a woman call the shots. This was probably the only chance they’d ever have to get money out of him. In the future, once all of Marcus’s assets went to this woman, Logan wouldn’t get a single cent. He immediately started cursing Marcus: "You good-for-nothing, how can you let a woman run the household and make decisions?"

"Marcus’s assets are all going to me. I’m the one paying out this ten million. My patience is limited—you have five minutes to make up your minds." Aria cut him off impatiently.

Hearing that, Logan’s heart settled. Since Aria could make the call, of course they’d take the money.

"We’ll take it." Logan didn’t even need five minutes; he agreed in one breath.

"Mm." Aria responded lightly, then looked at Yeats Howard and Captain Fang. "You two be the witnesses. From now on, Marcus Quinn and the Duncan Family have not the slightest bit of relationship left. This was proposed by the Duncan Family themselves."

"Relax, I’ve got the whole thing recorded. With this many people here as witnesses, this isn’t going anywhere." Yeats Howard laughed wildly.