“You’ll have to ask Father about that,” Joseph said with a fierce smile, his grip so tight that the faint sound of Vilem’s wrist bones cracking could be heard.


    Just as Joseph was about to violently break Vilem’s hand bones, jos arrived just in time, along with Simpson, and separated the two brothers who were at a standoff.


    jos warned them, “Today is my aunt, Lady Yazmin’s birthday. Are you nning to ruin the friendship between Houston and Los Angeles by fighting at her party?” Although he had just shot someone, it didn’t mean he would allow others to brawl at his aunt’s ce.


    Joseph broke free from jos’s grip on his hand, straightened out the creases in his suit jacket that Vilem had pulled, and said, “This is unfair, jos. It’s clear that he struck first.”


    “You…”


    “Vilem!” jos halted Vilem, who still wanted to argue. “We can all understand your urgent search for your mother, but fighting won’t solve the problem.”Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    “You are all esteemed guests of Houston, and the whereabouts of Lady Tasneem are private matters of Los Angeles, but…” jos looked at Joseph, expressing his intention not to offend him, “Vilem is our strong and capable warrior of Houston. He has helped Houston through many difficult times, and we regard him as a dear friend.”


    “At the same time, Lady Tasneem is also Vivian’s mother. As Vivian’s husband and Vilem’s close friend, I believe I am qualified to inquire on behalf of them, where is Lady Tasneem now?”


    jos didn’t give Joseph a chance to retort, and asked directly, “Los Angeles? New York? Phdelphia?”


    “If it’s in Europe, may I ask specifically where? Norway? Nethends? France?”


    “Or should I ask, is Lady Tasneem still alive?”


    Joseph looked horrified. He was thrown off by jos’s bold questioning. “jos!”


    Unafraid of Joseph’s anger, jos continued to press, “Answer me, Joseph!”


    Their dispute was not discreet, and jos and Joseph were already the focus of everyone’s attention. As jos’s questions grew sharper, the respectful, admiring gazes gradually turned into covert suspicion.


    Joseph couldn’t ept this turn. He was Bryson’s heir, the future Capo of Los Angeles. He had grown up under the envious gazes of the people, stepping on Vilem, and had never, until now, be a joke in the eyes of the public. This made Joseph feel ashamed.


    And this shame was bestowed upon him by jos and Vilem, whom he had always scorned and belittled!


    Joseph clenched his fists, the muscles of his biceps bulging under his suit, as if he might lose control of his anger in the next moment and punch jos in the face.


    “My mother is naturally alive!” Joseph’s gaze was sinister as he reprimanded jos, “I don’t know why you would think otherwise, but jos, your baseless suspicions constitute defamation. It not only damages the bond between us brothers, but also causes irreparable harm to the alliance between the two cities!”


    jos responded calmly, “I understand your anger, Joseph. Please also understand Vilem and Vivian’s feelings. They can’t reach your mother, and Bryson’s exnations are vague. It’s normal for them to worry.”


    Joseph snorted, “Their fragile mentalitypletely fits the behavior of the weak.”


    “Alright, I apologize to you. Houston will always be the best friend of Los Angeles.” jos asked a waiter for wine, “Respected Mr. Joseph, please cherish yourpassion and tell these two poor children, where their mother is now?”


    If Joseph continued to evade revealing his mother’s whereabouts in public, tomorrow, rumors of Joseph killing his own mother would spread through Houston’s high society, even reaching Los Angeles and other cities.


    Joseph was never afraid to show his brutality to people. The Mafia had no mercy. Only enough violence could silence opposition, which was a symbol of his strength and a guarantee that he could be the heir.


    And the image he had in the minds of these Houston elites would determine whether, if he pushed down jos, they would be obstacles to his rule over Houston.


    “Compassion?” Joseph found itughable, “Does the Mafia need such a thing?”


    “There’s always a little bit,” jos said with a smile, “like an asional stroke of insight.”


    Joseph chuckled mockingly, “Don’t evade my question.”


    jos’s smile faded a bit, his patience wearing thin, “Don’t evade my question, Joseph!”


    Joseph’s reluctance to answer jos’s question directly aroused more suspicion among the spectators, who began to whisper and gossip amongthemselves, casting more doubt. Joseph had to restrain his fierce gaze, focusing it solely on jos, “Our mother has always been soft-hearted. Her sensitivity has been her downfall.”


    Facing the public’s scrutiny, Joseph continued, “She longs for Vivian and Vilem too much. Her longing has made her seriously ill. The environment in Los Angeles is not suitable for her recovery, so Father sent her to the Nethends.”


    “Lies!” Vilem red with bloodshot eyes, staring intensely at Joseph, trying to detect any trace of deceit on his face. “I searched every estate in the Nethends, and Mother is not there!”


    Vilem’s conviction sparked another round of murmurs and discussions among the crowd, and an infuriated Joseph had to control the urge to reach for his gun.


    “Your stupidity disgusts me!” Joseph’s tone towards Vilem was far from friendly as he rebuked, “Our enemies are everywhere, and the Bratva’s surveince is omnipresent. Mother left Father, losing the protection of Los Angeles. If Father doesn’t hide her away, is he going to expose her to the Bratva’s guns?”


    “Why can’t I reach Mother on the phone?” Vivian pushed through the crowd, questioning, “You haven’t told me her new contact information.”


    “I haven’t either,” Joseph ground his teeth, looking at Vivian’s lovely face, “Why don’t you go ask Father?”


    If asking Bryson was effective, they wouldn’t have publicly pressured Joseph at Lady Yazmin’s birthday party.


    Joseph was certain that they wouldn’t dare to use the same methods to press Bryson, so he shifted all the questions onto Bryson. He spread his hands to show the crowd the empty palms, his face, which usually epitomized a violent thug, now disyed an innocent expression, as if to say, ‘See, I’m the one who’s being kept in the dark.’


    Vilem’s hatred made him grind his teeth, but he was held back by Simpson and Mare, unable to get close to Joseph.


    “Although the process ofmunication was not very pleasant, please believe that we have no ill intentions,” jos said. “Come, my friend, let’s raise our sses and forget this moment’s troubles.”


    jos handed a ss of wine to Joseph, “As an apology to you, I’ve arranged a celebration at the club.”