For a full five meters around them, there wasn't a single sound.
It wasn't just people like Wanda or Charlotte.It wasn't even someone like Hank, a self-made tycoon with real assets.
Even Ethan and Kevin, the two acknowledged young elites of Riverport City, felt their scalps go numb.
They had known Jason Carter was rich.They had known he had been acquiring companies at an astonishing speed.
But subconsciously, everyone assumed those acquisitions were the result of long-term planning, professional evaluations, and careful consideration of future growth.
No one had imagined this.
No negotiations.No board meetings.No hesitation.
Three hundred and fifty million dollars—spent as casually as ordering a glass of wine.
And it wasn't even for business.
It was to protect a woman's dignity.
What made it even more terrifying was that Jason didn't look proud, excited, or indulgent.
He looked… indifferent.
As if money itself carried no weight for him.
The banquet hall wasn't large, and Jason made no effort to keep things quiet. Within minutes, everyone present knew what had just happened.
Lewis, Paul, Richard, Blue, and the other business owners were shaken all over again.
Jason's wealth was already unfathomable—but now what frightened them more was this:
Even now, no one knew his true background.
After a long pause, Ethan finally came back to his senses. He took a breath and spoke carefully.
"Brother Jason, aside from congratulating you, I was also entrusted to pass along an invitation."
He slid a dark, understated invitation across the table.
"The South Lake Bay Summit will be opening soon. The chairman has long admired your reputation and hopes you'll attend. If you're willing, you can become a member directly."
The moment Hank saw the invitation, his pupils shrank violently.
Ethan and Kevin were top-tier VIPs—but there, they were only ordinary members.
And that was already considered impressive.
Despite its leisurely name, the South Lake Bay Summit wasn't about cars, yachts, or luxury tourism.
It was the most exclusive private business summit in the entire state.
A so-called "billionaire summer camp."
Attendance required assets in the multi-billion-dollar range, minimum.
Golf, sailing, rafting—those were just the surface. Behind closed doors, billion-dollar deals were made with casual conversations.
Companies changed hands. Industries reshaped.
For Hank, it was a world he had only ever heard of.Even the richest people he knew weren't qualified to step inside.
And yet—
They had proactively sent Jason an invitation.
Not just to attend.
But to join directly.
The gap between them was no longer a matter of effort or luck.
It was a difference in dimensions.
Jason picked up the invitation, glanced at it once, then handed it to Olivia to keep.
He smiled faintly.
"Ethan, there's no need to add 'Mr.' I'm younger than you—just call me 'Brother.'"
Then he added casually,
"You're going too, right? Let's go together."
Ethan felt a wave of relief and excitement. Their relationship had clearly moved another step closer.
But he didn't dare push it.
Instead of calling Jason "little brother," he laughed and said,
"Brother Jason is easy to talk to. My sister and Kevin will both be attending as well. Let's go together."
Nearby, Hank stood in silence.
At that moment, he finally understood—
This wasn't just about wealth.
This was a world he would never truly enter.
Jason Carter nodded calmly."Alright. Then come with me on my private jet."
The moment those words fell, Ethan and Kevin couldn't help but feel a stab of envy.
They had long heard that Jason owned a Gulfstream G550—a true long-range business jet reserved for the absolute elite.
People often assumed that having family assets in the ten-billion range meant private jets were a given. In reality, that wasn't the case at all.
A private jet wasn't just about the purchase price—it was about hangar fees, flight crews, maintenance, routes, and annual operating costs that burned money nonstop. Even among billionaires, most preferred chartering or cost-sharing arrangements.
Some ultra-wealthy families even jointly owned jets.
Their family, despite their status, had always rejected the idea. Spending that kind of money just for convenience wasn't considered "efficient." And as heirs who weren't yet in control, Ethan and Kevin knew very well—if they acted recklessly, their elders wouldn't hesitate to kick them out.
Jason, on the other hand, bought things entirely on impulse.
He didn't think about cost-effectiveness.He didn't think about "value for money."
If he wanted it, he bought it.If it annoyed him, he solved it—no matter the price.
After chatting for a while longer, Jason stood up and prepared to leave. He knew that once he was gone, the atmosphere would loosen and everyone would relax.
Mia, Grace, and Ellie naturally followed him without question.Charlotte hesitated for half a second—then obediently walked along as well.
Watching this, Hank and the other men finally accepted reality.
Charlotte was no longer someone they could even think about.
In the livestream, they had been donors.Here, they were spectators.
Envy surged—but no one dared let it show.
Some of the younger men wanted to rush to their group chats and explode with gossip, to let other fans know what had happened tonight. But after a moment's thought, they swallowed the urge.
Jason didn't hide anything—but that didn't mean they had the right to talk.
If he were offended, none of them would be able to bear the consequences.
So they stayed silent.
On the other side of the hall, Wanda was in turmoil.
She had discarded Rick the moment Jason became her focus. Rick wasn't blind—he noticed her avoidance, but he couldn't understand why.
She had been all smiles when she first arrived, calling him "Brother Rick" this and that, practically radiating interest.
And then—nothing.
After hesitating for a long time, Rick finally gathered the courage to approach her again, convinced he must have said something wrong.
But before he could speak, Wanda suddenly stood up.
She rushed toward a tall figure walking away.
Rick's expression darkened with jealousy. He rose angrily—only to freeze when he clearly saw who that person was.
Jason Carter.
The four women beside him made it impossible to mistake.
All the anger drained out of Rick instantly. He collapsed back onto his chair, letting out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
Losing to Jason Carter wasn't shameful.It was inevitable.
Wanda followed closely, heart pounding.
All night long, she had used every trick she knew—glances, posture, timing, controlled vulnerability.
None of it worked.
Jason's casual acquisition earlier had shaken her to the core. Hundreds of millions, spent without blinking. She could barely contain the excitement coursing through her veins.
She couldn't wait anymore.
As Jason was about to leave the hall, Wanda quickened her steps, overtook him, then suddenly stumbled.
"Ah—!"
She leaned against the wall, letting out a soft, delicate cry—perfectly measured, fragile enough to awaken anyone's protective instincts.
In her mind, the next scene had already played out.
Jason would pause.He would turn.He would reach out.
She would apologize softly.A conversation would begin.
But—
A breeze passed by.
Jason walked straight past her without slowing down, without even glancing sideways.
Not a single pause.
Wanda stood frozen, eyes wide, her mind completely blank.
…Did he not see her?
Or—
Was her performance simply not worth noticing at all?
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