Chapter 1697: The Hughes family will eventually be ruined by you all.

Chapter 1697: Chapter 1697: The Hughes family will eventually be ruined by you all.

"Jeffrey!" Ruby Russell shouted, "How’s the Hughes Group doing? Xaviera still refuses to step in?"

Jeffrey Hughes feigned surprise: "Grandma, are you still worried about the Hughes Group? Haven’t you and Lisa already given up on the company?"

"Why are you being sarcastic? What’s so good about Xaviera that you’d rather watch the Hughes Group fall into a crisis than beg her for mercy, and still mock me and Lisa?" Ruby Russell exploded in fury.

Jeffrey Hughes scoffed, casting an indifferent glance at Lisa Hughes before going upstairs.

Ruby Russell’s face turned fierce, and she shouted with defiance, "Why should I apologize? If the Hughes Group is in trouble, it’s all Xaviera’s fault. Everyone should be going after her!"

Lisa smirked arrogantly, sure that her grandmother would grow to hate Xaviera more and more, blaming her for all their humiliations and losses and eventually driving Xaviera out of the family.

Just as Lisa revelled in her triumph, Nanny Bruce’s voice came from outside: "Madam! The offshoot... The offshoot of the Hughes family is here!"

Ruby Russell stood up abruptly; the offshoot of the Hughes family typically wouldn’t visit unless it was their annual gathering. Their sudden arrival – was it about the company?

"Let them in, and get Jeffrey downstairs."

As her words fell, the villa’s doors burst open. Before Ruby Russell could react, an angry voice came from the entrance: "Sister-in-law! What are you waiting for? Why haven’t you taken Lisa to apologize yet?"

This man was Mr. Zack Hughes of the Hughes family, Ruby Russell’s husband’s younger brother; ever since she took control of the family, he had always treated her with great respect and never questioned her like this.

Upon hearing those words, tears instantly streaked down Lisa’s face; she clung to Ruby Russell in fear.

Ruby Russell spoke with displeasure: "What do you want, Second Brother? Are you trying to interrogate me and Lisa with this intrusion?"

Thinking of the sorry state of his own store, Zack Hughes showed no kindness, "You’re clearly aware of what’s going on with the Hughes Group. If this continues, we’re going to go bankrupt. All you have to do is apologize, and Miss Evans will let us go."

"Impossible!" Ruby Russell angrily refused.

"For your pride, you’d rather let the Hughes Group go bankrupt?" Zack Hughes fumed, glaring viciously at Lisa before lunging at her and grabbing her arm, "Lisa Hughes! Come with me to apologize!"

With her face turning pale, Lisa sobbed and clung tightly to Ruby Russell’s sleeve, refusing to let go as she wailed, "Grandma! Save me! Help me!"

Ruby Russell, burning with rage, scolded, "Let go! Who do you think you are, laying a hand on Lisa?"

Zack Hughes yelled, "Do you know that the restaurants under the Hughes Group are going bankrupt?"

"So what if they go bankrupt? We have big businesses and don’t care about a few restaurants. Dream on if you want Lisa and me to apologize! All of you, get out!" Ruby Russell shouted, pointing at the door.

Zack Hughes’s eyes widened in disbelief, his face full of disappointment, "Ruby Russell, you’re utterly confused! For the sake of Lisa, you’re willing to sacrifice all of us? The Hughes family will be ruined by you!"

At that moment, someone received a phone call, their voice frantic, "What? Even the supermarkets are closed? The three great families are out for blood!"

"The Mamet Corporation has cut off all cooperation with us? It’s over!"

Furious, the man turned to glare at Lisa after hanging up, "You jinx, it’s all because of you! The Hughes Group’s supermarkets are being seized, are you happy now?"

Lisa’s face turned pale with fear, hiding behind Ruby Russell.

"How can you blame Lisa? It’s all that woman Xaviera’s doing! Why don’t you go after her?!" Ruby Russell retorted loudly.

Lisa cried, "Grandma, why won’t sister Xaviera let me go? I haven’t done anything wrong!"

"Exactly! What has Lisa done wrong? Instead of going after Xaviera, you all come to blame Lisa - isn’t that too much?" Ruby Russell screamed.

"I don’t care who’s wrong or right; all I know is that the Hughes Group’s stocks are plummeting," said Zack Hughes, his face cold.

"Grandma," Jeffrey Hughes descended the staircase, his tone faint, "It’s not just the stocks. The four major families’ joint development zone project has already removed the Hughes family from participation, meaning the three billion dollars invested by the Hughes Group will be locked up for now. The restaurants, supermarkets, and entertainment venues under the Hughes Group are all closing down, suffering massive losses and unable to cover the company’s regular operations."

Ruby Russell’s face went pale as she took the document Jeffrey handed her. Almost staggering, she nearly fell to the ground: Was Xaviera going to destroy the Hughes family just because they didn’t apologize?