296-297

Chapter 296: Scandals and Mother-Daughter Ties

“Tsk tsk, what an eyesore.”

New York City, Manhattan.

Inside the office at the Rockefeller Center’s International Building.

Milo flipped through a few photographs repeatedly before finally tossing them onto the desk.

Even by American standards, the content of the photos was scandalous.

They were enough to make anyone’s imagination run wild.

What made it even more sensational were the prominent figures featured in the images.

Milo couldn’t help but comment, “The public has a right to know. Publish them as they are, Chris.”

Chris Corey, CEO of Paladin Newspaper Group, a subsidiary of Paladin Media Group, hesitated. “Boss, I’m worried the Democrats won’t be happy about this. Plus, Will Smith and P. Diddy are working on damage control everywhere, and Leonardo’s company is doing the same.”

“I’m not afraid of them,” Milo said with a shake of his head. “And their offers are too low. Maybe others are satisfied, but I’m not. Let’s do this: start by releasing a few of the subtler ones. Let’s see how they respond. If they satisfy us, we’ll stop here. If not…” Milo grinned mischievously, “we’ll let the fun escalate.”

Chris nodded, a slightly excited expression on his face.

As a newspaperman at heart, Chris had wanted to release all the photos from the start.

This was about justice!

Fairness was a fundamental quality of a journalist.

With most other media outlets, especially newspapers, already compromised,

Publishing the story under Paladin’s banner would be akin to an exclusive report.

It would significantly boost both the paper’s sales and its credibility.

However, Chris knew some stories were fair game.

Some could be partially reported.

And some, well, were better left untouched.

This particular tip-off left Chris uncertain about where to draw the line.

So he turned to his boss for guidance.

And after seeing the material, Milo suggested turning up the heat.

This aligned perfectly with Chris’s instincts.

As long as they could withstand the pressure that would follow,

This could usher in a golden age for Paladin’s newspapers.

But what kind of news and tips had Chris so worked up that he went straight to his boss?

It all stemmed from a report initially published by Paladin’s Boston Globe.

The Boston Globe is no minor tabloid.

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, once dubbed the “center of the universe,”

The Globe was once the most influential newspaper in the United States.

As New York rose and economic priorities shifted elsewhere,

The Boston Globe and the Boston financial elite saw their national influence wane.

By 1993, the Globe was sold to The New York Times Company for $1.1 billion.

The Times financed the deal with loans, planning to use the Globe as collateral

And its profits to repay the debt.

This approach was common in the business world.

In Asia, one of the most notable and successful cases was Hong Kong’s Liu Luanxiong.

In theory, as long as the acquired company was profitable,

This strategy worked remarkably well.

Liu Luanxiong’s rise as a tycoon was built on this very tactic.

However, as the U.S. newspaper industry hit hard times,

The Boston Globe, like many others, struggled.

With its 137-year history, the Globe lost $50 million two years ago and $85 million last year.

Not only could it no longer service the debt,

It was on the brink of collapse.

The decline in readership, as more Americans turned to the internet for news,

Led to an 11% drop in the Globe’s circulation.

Adding to the woes, its parent company, The New York Times Company,

Was also in poor financial health.

They initially planned to cut costs through layoffs.

But the Globe’s 13 unions stood firm, refusing to budge over a $20 million dispute.

Faced with no alternatives, the company decided to close the paper.

The decision sparked outrage among Boston Globe employees, union representatives,

And even some members of the public, who protested outside the paper’s Boston headquarters.

Some extremists even took their protests to Times Square in New York,

Outside the headquarters of The New York Times.

Under pressure, The New York Times relented, stating it wouldn’t close the paper.

However, they quickly sold it to Paladin Newspaper Group for $1.

Why such a low price?

The Boston Globe still had $300 million in liabilities,

And The New York Times had yet to repay the original loan used to buy it.

For the Times, offloading it as a bad asset was a way to cut losses.

Of course, it was no secret that Paladin Newspaper Group likely struck a deal with Boston locals.

After all, the owner of Paladin Newspaper Group was a Bostonian himself.

But back to the topic at hand.

The Boston Globe is no small-time paper.

So, when the entertainment section published news about Hollywood megastar Will Smith, hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, and rising Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio spending the night together at a California celebrity's house, it caused a sensation.

There were even photos.

Hollywood was instantly swept into a massive scandal.

At the center of the scandal was a photo featuring the two Black superstars and the fresh-faced Leonardo.

In the picture, all three were beaming with bright smiles.

The report went on to suggest that young Leonardo had "deep connections" with the two Black celebrities.

As soon as the story broke, it caused an uproar.

After all, these three were at the peak of their fame.

Last year, Leonardo had become a global sensation thanks to Titanic.

Will Smith was already a household name among Black megastars.

And Sean "Diddy" Combs, once a renowned music producer and owner of Bad Boy Records, had released his debut studio album, No Way Out, which won the Grammy for Best Rap Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards. Both sales and critical acclaim were stellar.

Any one of them alone could generate headlines. Together, their combined star power sent the media frenzy through the roof.

Add in scandalous photos, and the story wasn’t just a headline—it was stratospheric.

This Hollywood super-scandal quickly overshadowed the news that Milo Blackburn hadn’t made it onto this year’s Forbes Rich List—a story that otherwise might have been significant.

As the explosive buzz spread, other newspapers and media outlets, like hounds catching the scent of blood, rushed in to cover the story.

The scandal was fully ignited.

However, all three men had powerful allies.

The two Black celebrities were prominent figures, strategically propped up as representatives of success within the upper echelons of Black America. They were already forces to be reckoned with.

Leonardo, on the other hand, was well-connected through both influential men and women.

Soon, these allies began working tirelessly to suppress the news.

Even the host of the party, who had no desire to be dragged into the mess, lent their support to contain the scandal.

Eventually, they approached Chris Corey, the instigator who published the story in The Paladin. They pleaded for the paper to show some restraint.

In truth, Chris had published the story at the behest of his boss.

So naturally, he went to the boss.

Ultimately, Milo issued a vague instruction to hold off and see how things developed.

After Chris left, Milo glanced down at the photo on his desk.

Leonardo looked far too delicate—such a pretty boy, yet another of those pale men with hairy chests.

And there were even rumors of something more absurd: hulking Black men dressed in Barbie doll outfits.

“F**k,” Milo muttered, shuddering at the mere thought. His skin crawled.

He concluded that some people in this circle were truly depraved—freaks among freaks.

Compared to them, he thought, he was practically a saint.

That afternoon, the “saint” paid another visit to Liu Li’s house.

---

From the day Liu Li lost her innocence, she knew there was no turning back.

She was gambling—not with chips but with her and her daughter’s future. If she failed, she would plunge into an abyss.

But she believed it was worth it.

Especially after spending a few months with him and seeing tens of thousands of dollars deposited weekly into her account, she became convinced.

What’s more, Milo had arranged for them to live in a luxurious Manhattan apartment in an affluent neighborhood.

He even got Liu Yufei enrolled in St. Paul’s Church Girls’ School.

Elegant, glamorous, and comfortable, this was the most carefree and enjoyable period of her life since leaving her home country.

No, it was more relaxed than anything she’d experienced back home.

Over the years she had spent in New York, she had honed some skills and social acumen.

While serving as Milo’s personal maid, she had met many influential "friends" and earned a reputation among the social circles of Manhattan's elite wives.

When they spoke of her, they would respectfully address her as “Madame Liu.”

The more she savored the sweetness of this life, the more she feared losing it.

Liu Li knew all too well what her newfound status was built upon.

And she has a weak temperament and obeys her words, although this matter is not so glorious, as long as she pleads softly, her daughter will definitely agree.

Once such a thought comes up, it is difficult to press it down.

The last time Milo came to visit, she began to do her daughter's ideological work.

The daughter cried for a long time, but her personality was weak and she did not object at all.

Coupled with the comfortable life now, her determination is even stronger.

There are some things that are difficult to ignore and comfort yourself with once they are compared.

And Liu Li has another idea, she hopes that her daughter can become famous in Hollywood, become an international star, and have countless fans.

After being able to become famous, he can return to China and take a bad breath in front of his family.

At least, Milo is still a gentleman, considerate and not forced, and his daughter follows him...... There won't be too many grievances.

Liu Li can only think like this now.

But what surprised her a little was that she had already done her daughter's ideological work.

But he really didn't do anything in the end, and after eating, he went into the room with his daughter for about an hour and then came out.

Sending him away with low eyebrows, Liu Li came back in a panic and asked her daughter.

“…… He、He said,I'm still too young.。 He said he would kill me, and wanted me to eat well and grow up well......"

"That's all?" Liu Li breathed a sigh of relief, it's not that she's not interested.

The daughter is indeed still young.

And the development is relatively slow.

There is no comparison with the white race in the United States.

"He, he also kissed me, saying that I was very fragrant. He, also, touched me...... And let me kiss him, kiss him......" Her daughter blushed so badly that her voice was very small.

Liu Li was finally relieved.

I thought that Milo might want to play and cultivate?

As long as it's not uninterested.

"That's right, Mom." The daughter plucked up the courage to raise her head and looked at Liu Li, "He said that he would find a few acting teachers to teach me, and he said that he would let me make a movie next year......"

(End of chapter)

Chapter 297: Unexpected Events

With the arrival of July, temperatures in San Francisco began climbing toward the yearly peak.

Even so, the highest temperatures only reached about 83°F, still considered quite pleasant.

Apart from the midday heat, the weather was generally comfortable at other times.

It must be said that the weather in the cities around the San Francisco Bay Area is indeed delightful.

The key is that mosquitoes are scarce. If you live slightly higher up or away from residential areas, you might not encounter any mosquitoes at all.

Moreover, July also signals the start of various peak seasons.

Tourism, fashion, entertainment—businesspeople were all putting their utmost effort into promoting their ventures, hoping to attract more attention.

However, after stepping into July, fluctuations in international crude oil prices suddenly became intense.

Many financial giants around the world had already caught wind of certain information.

On July 5, the day after American Independence Day,

King Tessa abruptly announced an expansion in oil production capacity. Oil was to be sold at low prices to encourage consumption, aiming to stimulate global industrial and economic growth.

While the message sounded appealing, it alarmed every oil-producing country outside of OPEC. They cried, "The wolf is coming!" and were visibly tense.

OPEC's intentions were as clear as daylight—known to everyone.

OPEC planned to flood the market with low-priced oil, abandoning its production-limiting and price-stabilizing policies to secure a fair share of the market.

With the lowest oil extraction costs globally, OPEC's strategy was evidently to depress oil prices, adopt a high-volume, low-margin approach, and force higher-cost oil producers to cut production.

As soon as the policy was announced, global crude oil prices began to drop.

The previous year had already seen international oil prices hit hard by Venezuela's production increase.

With OPEC's latest move, crude oil prices were like someone who had taken a laxative—plummeting uncontrollably.

By July 10, the price of international crude oil had fallen to $25.58 per barrel.

Such an opportunity was hard to resist.

Logically, financial magnates from major American conglomerates should have jumped on this chance, launching large-scale short selling on international crude oil prices.

And indeed, they did.

Wall Street was back to working tirelessly through the night.

However, it was only the lower-tier financial operatives who were busy.

As for the upper echelons and controllers of the major conglomerates—the key members of the world's most powerful hundred-plus families—their attention was drawn elsewhere by a sudden piece of news.

The "King of California," Schneider Wilson, who had managed to hold the California consortium together and preserve its core enterprises, was reportedly in critical condition.

He had been admitted to the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center—one of the most renowned hospitals in the San Francisco area.

Schneider's poor health had long been an open secret.

At his age, it was rare to find someone in as robust health as David Rockefeller.

It was more common for people like Schneider, who was plagued by illnesses, or like Arthur Adams of Boston, who had passed away last year.

When Milo arrived in person, he saw many members of the Wilson family.

Among Schneider's direct relatives, his wife and his older peers had already passed away.

The one stabilizing the situation at the scene was his cousin Paul Wilson, who was also Edward's great-uncle, a 77-year-old man.

In addition to him, there were Edward's other siblings.

Edward, as the eldest brother, was present alongside his two cousins, Timothy and George Wilson. These two, however, were more interested in art and computers than family business affairs.

Milo had only met them a handful of times.

As for Edward's biological father, who was also Milo's uncle by blood, he had passed away before Schneider.

His cause of death was also cancer.

Perhaps the Wilson family had poor genes in this regard.

Despite having access to the world's best medical resources, they still couldn't completely cure such conditions.

Well, the same was true for the Paladins.

There were also other members of the Wilson family present, including Edward's two sisters and some more distant younger relatives.

At this moment, nearly all the younger members of the Wilson family appeared lost and unsure of what to do.

Milo could understand this.

"Edward, how is Schneider's condition?"

Edward, who was hosting Milo, wore a somber expression. "Fortunately, he hasn't passed away yet."

"But the doctors said his vital signs are weak, and the chances of him waking up again are almost zero."

Milo frowned and sighed.

This is why the Sima family ultimately unified the Three Kingdoms—because Sima Yi simply outlived everyone else!

At such a high level of competition, the ultimate decider could often be who lived the longest.

It was true for Arthur Adams, and now Schneider seemed to be following in his footsteps.

"Where is the esteemed Schneider now? I'd like to see him."

"Grandfather is in this ward. Come in."

Edward pushed open the slightly ajar door of the hospital room and led Milo inside.

It was a top-tier hospital suite, fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities.

Old Wilson lay on the sole hospital bed, his body connected to numerous tubes and monitors.

A doctor and two nurses stood nearby, closely observing his condition in real time.

“Grandfather, Milo is here. Please open your eyes and take a look, will you?”

“Grandfather, can you say something, please…”

No matter how Edward called out to him, the man lying on the bed remained unresponsive. The only sound in the room was the steady beeping of the heart monitor by his side.

Milo felt a heaviness in his heart. Watching Schneider lying there, frail and helpless, he couldn't help but think of his own grandfather.

Even though he had been reborn, he still carried all the emotions of his original self.

The tears he shed at Paladin’s funeral were not a performance. They were the result of a profound bond of brotherhood.

His feelings for his grandfather and parents were just as deep.

Looking around, Milo noticed the grief on everyone’s faces. The more sensitive women in the family were already dabbing at their tears.

Given the scene before him and the close connection between the Blackburn and Wilson families, Milo finally broke the silence:

“Everyone, even in this misfortune, there’s still a glimmer of hope. The doctors may have given a pessimistic prognosis, but they haven’t officially declared him beyond saving. Miracles do exist in this world, don’t they?”

“At the very least, there’s still hope!”

“Yes, a miracle will definitely happen for Grandfather. He’s the strongest person I know; he’ll pull through,” Edward murmured. His face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes—a clear sign that he hadn’t been resting well.

Milo remained silent.

Unlike everyone else in the room, he could hear the voice of God.

Just moments ago, he had attempted to listen to Schneider’s future.

Schneider had only a few months left to live, and even then, his existence would merely hang by a thread, akin to being in a vegetative state.

Whether he passed away in a few months or spent those months as a comatose patient, it made little difference.

For the Wilson family and the California consortium, it was as if he were already gone.

The brilliant and wise fourth-generation head of the Wilson family was no more.

The current Wilson family desperately needed a new leader at its core; otherwise, both the family and the California consortium would face a massive crisis.

Reflecting on the state of the Wilson family, Milo quickly realized that they were in utter disarray.

Paul Wilson, the most senior member and holder of the largest share of the family’s assets, was not only old but lacked the ability to take charge.

As the grandson of the second-generation leader, Sachs Wilson, and Schneider’s cousin, Paul had chosen a life of charity and collecting artifacts in his youth. He lacked the necessary experience and skill to navigate business or power struggles.

Paul’s branch of the family, including his descendants, largely shared his inclinations.

Though many of them were accomplished elites, their expertise lay in fields other than business, and they showed little interest in the family’s enterprises.

Among the few who did show interest, their talents were limited, making them unfit for leadership.

Beyond Paul and Schneider’s branches, the Wilson family had other members. While they inherited smaller shares of the family’s assets, some held key positions within various companies.

These individuals included many capable elites, but none were close to meeting the requirements to lead the family or dominate the consortium.

Most of them were Edward’s uncles or senior relatives. Regardless of whether they were interested in the family headship, one thing was certain: they would never fully support Edward as they had supported Schneider.

From their perspective, they might prefer a professional manager or even themselves over fully entrusting Edward with the family’s legacy.

In a family this large, stability was the top priority, and the word “gamble” was entirely off the table.

Paul Wilson, while alive, could still use his seniority and wealth to unify the family to a certain extent.

If Edward were to gain Paul’s full support, things would remain manageable.

But should Paul pass away or harbor ulterior motives, the Wilson family would inevitably fall apart.

Factionalism would ensue, and the family would gradually lose its grip on the consortium’s companies, along with its influence.

This only covered the internal strife within the Wilson family, not to mention the ambitions of the other families within the California consortium.

With Schneider in charge, the Wilsons were the kings of California.

But if Paul or Edward were to take the helm, would the other families accept it?

For Milo, maintaining the unity and power of the Wilson family was paramount.

He needed a strong and cohesive Wilson family to serve as his foundation in California.

This idea had been brewing in his mind for quite some time.

Unfortunately, Edward's abilities were indeed inadequate, and Schneider's actions were so abrupt.

Previously, due to concerns about monitoring him, the Wilson family hadn't allowed Milo to interact with other members of the California consortium.

As a result, Milo felt completely in the dark.

It was a tough situation.

He sighed inwardly.

At this moment, it had been over eighteen hours since Old Wilson was hospitalized.

With so many people at the hospital and members of the Wilson family gathering there, it was impossible to keep the news contained.

The various family conglomerates reacted differently upon learning the news.

This included entities like Rockefeller and Morgan, which had deep collaborations with the Wilson family.

No, to be precise, Rockefeller and Morgan had deep relationships with almost every family consortium.

They were like the American version of Cthulhu, with tentacles reaching nearly every corner of the country.

Across the United States, when you count all the consortiums, nearly all of them have connections with Rockefeller and Morgan.

The Rockefeller consortium, like Morgan, had many partner families.

However, the core had always been the Rockefeller family.

Thus, when it came to secret deliberations, only two people were involved:

David Rockefeller, the head of the family, and Lawrence Rockefeller, the family's second-most influential figure and David's elder brother.

These two were the pillars of the Rockefeller family. The former's influence was unparalleled; even foreign countries received him with the honors accorded to a head of state.

The latter was an even more brilliant financial genius than David Rockefeller, pioneering the field of venture capital and earning the title "Father of Venture Capital." He also presided over the New York Stock Exchange, which his grandfather had purchased.

Because of his presence, the Rockefeller family repeatedly challenged the late Henry Morgan, the fourth-generation head of the Morgan family and the "King of Wall Street," breaking Morgan Stanley's thirty-year dominance.

Today, the only Morgan who can rival him is John Chris Morgan, the fifth-generation head of the family, celebrated as a "financial prodigy" and the most outstanding son of Henry Morgan, the founder of Morgan Stanley.

This rivalry eventually evolved into an alliance, resulting in the current partnership between Morgan and Rockefeller.

However, Lawrence had a deep-seated dislike for Bostonians.

According to rumors, his former lover was forced to marry Arthur Adams, the leader of Boston's power circle.

As a Bostonian and Rockefeller's son-in-law, Milo had never met him.

"David, how do you plan to deal with the California consortium this time?"

Lawrence Rockefeller rested his left hand on the couch, crossed his legs, and, after taking a few puffs of his Cuban cigar, asked David Rockefeller.

"At the very least, Chevron must be brought back under our control. We had an opportunity before, but Old Wilson managed to calm the storm by liquidating overseas assets to raise funds."

"But this time, Chevron needs to bear our family’s mark again!"

David Rockefeller spoke with a calm gaze.

As the head of the Rockefeller family, who had led it to new heights, David Rockefeller had maintained the Rockefeller consortium's position as the top conglomerate in the U.S. and the world for over thirty years.

While wealth was his lifelong pursuit, restoring the family’s glory was another goal he sought to achieve.

No matter how vast the Rockefeller consortium grew, the Rockefeller family’s emblem could never be separated from Standard Oil.

Eighty years ago, the Rockefeller family couldn’t monopolize the industry.

Under pressure from Roosevelt and a coalition of other families, Standard Oil was broken up into 34 separate companies.

Over the past seventy years, however, the efforts of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and David Rockefeller had rebuilt ExxonMobil as a flagship company.

Through shrewd management and continuous mergers, ExxonMobil grew to become the largest oil company in the world once again.

Although it couldn’t dominate the oil industry as Standard Oil once did, it was still remarkable.

By the early 1990s, ExxonMobil became the first oil company in the world to surpass $200 billion in annual sales, with net profits exceeding $10 billion.

Still, it wasn’t complete.

In the dreams of these brothers—or, rather, the entire Rockefeller family—reuniting Standard Oil was the ultimate goal.

This was the Rockefeller family’s obsession, just as Morgan had always aspired to revive Morgan Stanley, which led to the creation of JPMorgan Chase.

(End of Chapter)