A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 581:

Yesterday, you were dressed in formal attire.

You looked like quite the big shot.

Today, however, you're dressed very casually.

A T-shirt on top and shorts on the bottom.

Maintaining your style, yet adding a touch of leisure.

Yara Hughes exudes the charm of a mature woman.

Not to mention, her looks aren't inferior to Nora Hughes, perhaps even surpass her.

To the average man, a woman like Yara Hughes is untouchable; after all, her aloof and high-class aura keeps most men at a respectful distance.

Dirk Carter had just sat down.

Yara Hughes asked, "Would you like a drink or some red wine?"

"Red wine, I'll try what you rich folks usually drink,"

Dirk Carter replied.

Yara Hughes picked up the decanter on the table and poured a glass for Dirk Carter.

At that moment,

the yacht slowly started, heading towards the depths of Clear-sky Lake.

The sun was nice today, a gentle breeze blowing, the sparkling lake surface felt quite pleasant.

Dirk Carter took one gulp of the red wine in his glass, smacked his lips, and said, "Not bad, quite tasty."

Yara Hughes chuckled disdainfully and said, "Executive Carter, this kind of red wine should be savored, tasting it with the tip of your tongue. Drinking it like that is simply a waste."

"Is that so? Shouldn't we do what feels comfortable? Must we be limited by rules and frameworks to be considered not wasteful? I always thought Chairman Hughes was a symbol of being unconventional, but now it seems otherwise."

Upon Dirk Carter finishing his words,

anger flashed across Yara Hughes' face.

She snapped, "What you're talking about is different from drinking wine."

"How is it different? It's the same core, isn't it just an attitude towards life? Chairman Hughes, you broke free from the Hughes Family back then seeking freedom. Why should we act within set frameworks?"

Dirk Carter's words startled Yara Hughes.

She raised her head and once again scrutinized the man in front of her.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "After returning last night, Nora explained things to me. I asked you here today to apologize for what happened last night."

"I accept!"

Dirk Carter said with a grin.

Yara Hughes paused and said, "I have a question I want to ask you, Executive Carter."

"Ask away."

Dirk Carter straightened up and asked.

"You rejected the goodwill of the Hughes Family and the Donovan Family, which is tantamount to rubbing their faces in the dirt. Have you considered the consequences of this action?"

"Are you saying that the Hughes Family and Donovan Family might retaliate against me due to losing face?"

Dirk Carter inquired.

Yara Hughes nodded, looking intently at Dirk Carter.

Dirk Carter chuckled and said, "If the leaders of the Hughes and Donovan Families are smart enough, they wouldn't do that."

"Why?"

Yara Hughes asked.

After all, in her view, the reputation of prominent families is most important, sometimes even above profit.

Dirk Carter explained, "First, let's talk about the Hughes Family, which you're most familiar with. The incident with Teresa Thorne dealt a heavy blow to the Hughes Family, and the mastermind behind it was the Houseman Family. I was the one who thwarted the Houseman Family's plan. Of course, Mr. Hughes would not appreciate my effort, but if he retaliates against me over face issues, it would actually play into the Houseman Family's hands. People might mistakenly assume that the Hughes Family dares not offend the Houseman Family and therefore eliminated me to ease the situation. Isn't that even more humiliating than me refusing to become their son-in-law?"

"What about the Donovan Family? They don't have such concerns."

Yara Hughes asked.

"The Donovan Family is even less likely to do it. Among the three major families, the Donovan Family is the weakest. The Houseman Family doesn't take them seriously, and their only route is to ally with the Hughes Family. Besides, I have, in a way, embarrassed the Hughes Family. Previously it was merely a disagreement, but turning it into opposition is no benefit to them. If that happens, the Donovan Family would find themselves restrained at every step, with no chance of rising."

After Dirk Carter finished speaking.

Yara Hughes inhaled deeply.

Last night, she had a long conversation with Nora.

Nora told Yara that Dirk Carter was very smart, which was why both families wanted to recruit him, something she didn't believe initially.

After today's brief conversation.

She realized that Dirk Carter dared to make such decisions due to his keen understanding of the situation.

He positioned himself as a balancing point among several forces.

This way, he becomes the safest himself.

"Nora wasn't wrong; you truly are clever."

Yara Hughes said.

Dirk Carter smiled and replied, "Thank you for the compliment, Chairman Hughes."

"There were two things I wanted to address by meeting you today. The first was to apologize, and the second... I hope..."

At this point,

Yara Hughes appeared somewhat hesitant.

Dirk Carter said, "Please go ahead, Chairman Hughes."

As if summoning courage,

Yara Hughes said, "The second matter, if one day you're at odds with the Hughes Family, I hope you would show mercy and spare the Hughes Family."

"Chairman Hughes, you're joking. What level am I at compared to the Hughes Family? Even if we find ourselves on opposing sides one day, it's certain that it would be I, Dirk Carter, who would be obliterated."

Dirk Carter said with an awkward smile.

Yara Hughes became serious.

She said, "No one knows what the future holds. I'm just hoping you'll promise me. If you agree, I can grant you a request, as long as it's within my power. Such a deal must be quite worthwhile."

Indeed.

With Dirk Carter's current level, this deal with Yara Hughes would be nothing but gain.

With a slight smile, he nodded and said, "It seems even though you've severed ties with the Hughes Family, you still have a thought for that home."

Yara Hughes didn't respond to Dirk Carter's words.

Instead, she raised her glass and said, "Then I'll take it that Executive Carter has agreed."

Dirk Carter was just about to raise his glass.

At that moment.

A young man in a suit rushed over and said, "Chairman, we might need to return now."

Yara Hughes frowned.

Asked, "What's going on?"

The young man pointed at the lake and said, "You'd better see for yourselves."

Dirk Carter and Yara Hughes both stood up in confusion, walked to the side of the deck, and looked out at the lake, and both were stunned.

They saw that the originally clear surface of Clear-sky Lake was now covered with a large amount of black, murky liquid, which looked quite disgusting.

Taking a deep breath,

they could catch a nauseating stench.

Looking out, the polluted surface wasn't just a small area; a vast water surface was like this.

Even in the filthy water, they could see floating dead fish, which was a shocking sight.

This was already in the deep-water area of Clear-sky Lake.

Due to being undeveloped,

this part of the lake is normally off-limits to tourists.

If it weren't for this visit on Yara Hughes' yacht, Dirk Carter wouldn't have known that the pollution in Clear-sky Lake had reached such a severe level.

Yara Hughes looked at Dirk Carter.

Playfully said, "Executive Carter, it seems you, as the Executive Deputy Mayor, have a heavy burden ahead..."