Only when his figure completely disappeared from view did the suffocating tension in the air finally ease.
The guests who had come to attend the funeral let out quiet sighs of relief, and as the fear that had gripped them began to fade, murmurs of discussion broke out among them.
“I thought the Kleinberg Family had climbed up the social ladder… but it turns out, it was just Sera Kleinberg who secured a powerful backer.”
“No doubt about it.”
“Say what you will, but Logan is absolutely shameless. If it were me, I could never bring myself to kneel and beg like that.”
“Hah. When your life’s on the line, do you think anyone still cares about pride?”
“…”
The people attending the funeral weren’t ordinary guests. Everyone present was a person of status in The City, and having witnessed this scene, they were already piecing together the implications.
What would become of the Kleinberg Family now that they had offended Reid Industries CEO? Would continuing to do business with the Kleinberg Industries put them in danger?
The weight of that thought sent a chill down the spines of those who still had active partnerships with the Kleinberg Family.
A few of them couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Haha Logan, just how did you manage to offend Alex?! If you want to dig your own grave, that’s your business, but don’t drag me down with you! I think I’ll need to reconsider our contract!”
“Logan, the only reason our family worked with the Kleinberg Family for so many years was out of respect for your father and my grandfather’s long-standing relationship. But now… that he is gone. And my grandfather has passed away too. I suppose… our collaboration should die along with them.”
“Have you completely lost your mind, Logan?! Did you really think that just because you inherited the Kleinberg Family’s assets, you could do whatever the hell you wanted?! Do you have any idea what it means to cross him? Have you forgotten what happened to the Winters family? The Winters family was far stronger than the Kleinberg Family ever was because of Alex, but in just a few days, they were utterly annihilated because of Alex. Do you even remember what happened to them? You’re as good as dead.”
“Logan, please, have mercy on me! I have family to support and children to raise—I can’t afford to take this risk! You’ve offended Reid Industries, how could I possibly continue working with you? I’ll pay every cent of the penalty fee, no complaints! In fact… I will just transferred it to you. Our partnership ends here!”
“…”
When a wall collapses, everyone rushes to push it down.
The funeral wasn’t even over. The food on the tables was still steaming hot. And yet, Logan felt nothing but a bone-chilling cold.
It wasn’t that these people wanted to kick him while he was down. It was just that the fall of an even mightier family—the Winters family—had happened right before their eyes.
They knew exactly what kind of power they were dealing with.
“You… You bastards!” Logan’s hands trembled as he stared at the so-called business partners who, just days ago, had practically begged to collaborate with the Kleinberg Industries. Yet now, they couldn’t cut ties fast enough, their expressions filled with fear and contempt.
Logan had been completely abandoned. And the terrifying part? Alex hadn’t even done anything yet.
He had merely implied that he intended to help Sera deal with her family. And that alone had left them utterly isolated.
If Alex actually made a move against them… the Kleinberg Family wouldn’t stand a chance. At that moment, every member of the Kleinberg Family panicked.
No one even had the time to properly grieve the now deceased old man anymore.
Guests left in droves. Some slinked away quietly, while others hurried out with barely concealed relief. In mere moments, the once-crowded funeral hall was nearly deserted—leaving only the Kleinberg Family members behind.
Even the chefs had fled, carrying their pots and pans as they ran. A suffocating silence settled over the ruined funeral. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire
“It has to be that just… bitch Sera!” Logan sister snapped, fury twisting her features. “She must have been whispering poison into Alex’s ear, slandering us, making him turn against us! Otherwise, why would he suddenly treat the Kleinberg Family like this?!”
The collapse of the Kleinberg Family wouldn’t just ruin Logan. It would destroy all of them, everyone in the family except Sera.
They might not have been able to get control of Kleinberg Industries from Logan, but every single one of them owned businesses that relied on Kleinberg Industries’ support to survive.
If the Kleinberg Industries fell… so would they. If Kleinberg Industries collapsed, everything they enjoyed, all their wealth, their luxurious lifestyles, their influence, would vanish like smoke.
They were all tied to the same sinking ship.
“What do we do now? Alex wouldn’t actually go through with destroying us… would he?”
“Our Kleinberg Industries is worth at least in billions of dollars. Would he really ruin such a big company just like that? Compared to that bitch Sera, our family is far more useful to him. She’s just a woman.”
“Exactly!”
“Yess… you’re right.”
The Kleinberg Family members huddled together, desperately scheming, voices rising in chaotic discussion.
Only Logan remained silent, his face dark as a storm. Seeing his silence, his sisters moved closer, their voices urgent.
“Brother, say something! You’re the head of the family now… what should we do?”
‘Now they remembered I’m their brother?’ Logan let out a cold laugh.
“When you mocked and ridiculed Sera, did you ever stop to think I was your brother then? Didn’t I warn you? Didn’t I tell you all to stop provoking her and treat her with respect? Did you listen?”
A tense silence fell over them. Then, Logan’s Sister scoffed.
“Oh, so it’s my fault now? Why does Sera hate us so much? Isn’t it because of her parents’ deaths? And tell me, Oh’ Big Brother of mine, who knows better than you what really happened to them?”
Logan’s expression changed instantly. His sharp gaze snapped toward her, filled with undisguised fury and warning.
“What did you just say?” His voice was dangerously low. “Say it again.”