Paul Ashworth and his brother also rose to their feet, making it clear they stood with their father.
"It seems Mr. Ashworth is determined to blur the lines between public and private affairs?" Cecil Winters asked relentlessly, his words tinged with a threat.
Mr. Ashworth glanced at him coolly. "Elder Winters would do well to be careful with such words."
"Mr. Blackwood, what is your opinion?" Cecil Winters asked, putting him on the spot.
At his words, all eyes turned in unison to the man seated in the place of honor. Mr. Ashworth shot him a faint look, but his eyes held a palpable threat, clearly saying, 'You'd better figure this out. If I'm not satisfied, no one here is going to have an easy time.'
Mr. Blackwood, who had been playing dumb, now had no choice but to speak. Catching the grim stares from the Ashworth men, he was inwardly speechless. 'It's not my fault, so why are they looking at me like that? Honestly…'
