They pointed at Landon Lockwood.
"Who are you? On what grounds are you barging into our Lowell Family! This is a private residence, and you're trespassing without permission; it's sheer lawlessness!"
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.
Hayden Croft squinted his eyes, his gaze darkening.
The smile on his face was neither warm nor friendly.
Instead, it resembled the feigned obedience of a snake before it strikes.
As soon as he opened his mouth, he added fuel to the fire.
"Coming in so familiar with the place, you must have scoped it out before, right? Could it be that you're here for Miss Lowell?"
He glanced meaningfully at Cora Lowell, his eyes shrouded in darkness.
"A man and a woman, alone in a room, especially in such a private floral room..."
He continued leisurely.
"Truly not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of one day suffering a loss without anyone knowing."
He remembered clearly.
Ever since Landon Lockwood appeared at the Lowell Family residence, Cora Lowell's attitude had quietly changed.
No longer submissive and obedient as before.
She started to hold her own ground.
Such a change is definitely not without cause.
Cora Lowell shrank back, hiding behind Landon Lockwood.
Her fingers clutched tightly at the hem of her clothes.
Her lips trembled slightly, drained of color.
This scene, Hayden Croft took in completely, his internal sneer intensifying.
Her dependent look resembled a sheep bewitched.
He had already made a guess in his heart.
From the beginning, she had no choice; from the moment she first laid eyes on this man, she had already fallen into someone else's trap.
"Mr. Croft was the one who injured people with a knife, and it was him who stepped in to stop it."
Cora Lowell finally spoke.
She slightly turned her head, revealing the scar on her cheek.
A thin line of blood stretched across her fair skin.
The blood line had cracked for too long; the edges were already red and swollen.
The originally spotless face, now forcibly marred.
The smile on Hayden Croft's face instantly vanished.
He frowned deeply, his eyes becoming more sinister, his mouth twitching slightly.
Landon Lockwood gave a light smile, his lips curving slightly, yet lacking any warmth.
"Mr. Croft isn't always bragging about being incredibly charming, with women throwing themselves at him? So now, needing to rely on scaring people with knives to make a girl's heart 'flutter'?"
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze contemptuously sweeping over Hayden Croft.
"A man who ends up like you, lacking grace and ability, getting women's favor through threats and violence... truly no one else. You're the shame of the industry."
At this time, Ethan Nash, who was secretly listening in the car, twitched his mouth.
Leaning back in the seat, he gently tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
Chief, feeling good is one thing...
But shouldn't you ensure Miss Lowell's safety first before playing it cool?
Now you're clashing head-on so stubbornly.
If the Lowell Family really turns hostile, we won't even have a chance to explain!
Cora Lowell stood behind, quietly watching the confrontation between the two in front of her.
Though silent, her mind surged like a tidal wave.
These two clearly know each other.
And their relationship is extremely strained.
Their verbal exchanges were full of hidden daggers and swords, far beyond ordinary conflicts.
The Croft Family, in the field of artificial intelligence, claims to be at the forefront.
But boasting aside, their actual capabilities are undeniable.
Chip self-development, leading algorithms, multi-billion-dollar financing, who in the industry would dare underestimate them?
Even military projects have seen their involvement.
To confront Hayden Croft head-on without being at a disadvantage,
Landon Lockwood's background is far from simple.
In the business world, Hayden Croft, who can manipulate the situation, is only polite to those of equal status.
Yet Landon Lockwood didn't concede at all, even seemingly suppressing the other's arrogance.
This deeper meaning made people reassess him.
She squinted her eyes, pondering thoughtfully.
Cora Lowell's gaze roved between Landon Lockwood and Hayden Croft.
She originally thought today was just a storm, but didn't expect the situation to quickly spiral out of control.
Who exactly is this suddenly appearing stranger before her?
Why is he standing up for her?
The surrounding security guards shifted their focus, all staring at Hayden Croft.
Originally, they were ordered to control the scene.
Especially preventing any outsiders from interfering in the Lowell Family's internal matters.
But at this moment, faced with the powerful aura of Mr. Croft, they hesitated.
The pressure emanating from Hayden Croft was too obvious.
The lead security guard, holding a stun baton, stepped forward, ready to search him for any weapons.
But just as his fingertip was about to touch Hayden Croft's lapel.
The air seemed to solidify.
The stun baton hovered in mid-air, unable to land.
Just as someone was about to approach, Tristan Lowell received the news and rushed out from the living room.
He sprinted the entire way.
The phone in his hand was clenched tightly.
He had been handling an urgent acquisition case but suddenly received a report from his subordinate.
That Hayden Croft was causing trouble at his doorstep, even involving his daughter, Cora Lowell.
"Who dares to touch Mr. Croft?!"
His gaze darkened as he swept over everyone.
Pausing when he saw the injury on Cora Lowell's face, then quickly looked away.
In that instant, an emotion flickered in his eyes.
Like guilt, yet like disgust.
But it was only an instant, forcibly suppressed by him.
At this moment, the priority wasn't to feel sorry for his daughter.
But to stabilize the situation, preventing Hayden Croft from storming off.
Hayden Croft almost laughed out of anger.
Originally, he had a sliver of hope for Tristan Lowell.
But now it seems, just a coward swayed by the winds.
Nowhere to be seen when he was besieged just now.
Yet now stepping out to act like an elder, feigning authority?
This ambivalence only made him more contemptuous.
True cooperation is founded on equality and respect.
The warmth vanished from his face.
"Mr. Lowell, it seems you don't actually wish to resolve the Lowell Family's issue?"
His voice wasn't loud.
Coldness spread from him.
"The money I make in a minute is enough to feed the Lowell Family for ten years. I didn't come here to be mocked."
This was ruthlessly direct, striking at Tristan Lowell's weakest point.
The Lowell Family might be considered a prominent family locally.
But in Hayden Croft's circle, just a marginal player.
His personal appearance today was already extending due respect, yet being treated this way was an absolute humiliation.
After speaking, he intended to leave.
He had already given an opportunity, but the Lowell Family clearly didn't value it.
In that case, let it all end here.
Tristan Lowell got anxious, glaring fiercely at Cora Lowell.
He knew that if he allowed Hayden Croft to leave like this.
The broken engagement was minor, but the withdrawal of capital behind it was the fatal blow.
The Lowell Family's expansion in recent years relied entirely on this marriage alliance.
Now on the brink of collapse, how could he tolerate it?
His voice exploded, leaving no room for objection.
"Get over here now!"
At this moment, fatherly affection had long been crushed by interests.
Hayden Croft chuckled lightly, crossing his legs with an indifferent look.
He leaned against the car door, hands tucked into his suit pants pockets.
The farce before him appeared to him merely a comedic play.
And he himself, the only clear-headed spectator.
"Mr. Lowell, don't rush. I injured Miss Lowell, and there's a hero who saved the beauty. Your interference now really disrupts the scene."
His tone was mocking, deliberately emphasizing the words "hero who saved the beauty".
Tristan Lowell's face remained expressionless.
Only a vein on his temple throbbed slightly.
But at this point, he could only make the best of a bad situation.
He weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
Though Cora Lowell had been affected, as long as she still belonged to the Lowell Family, she remained useful.