Those words successfully stirred up a wave of sympathy within everyone of the Gray family. Zac had already been beaten so badly, yet he was blaming himself for failing to protect his hand just because he couldn't sign the stock transfer papers. John couldn't hold it in anymore. A deep sense of guilt overwhelmed him for ever doubting Zac just moments ago. He quickly softened his tone, gently reassuring Zac, "Zac, don't worry about anything. Just focus on recovering. Leave everything else to me. I'll handle it." The others remained silent, but their expressions noticeably softened. Catching their reactions, a glint of satisfaction flashed in Zac's eyes. What a bunch of fools. One simple move, and they're right where I want them. Unlike the rest, Julie frowned slightly. If this had been before, she would've reacted the same way, guilt-ridden for ever doubting him, immediately letting down her guard. But after everything that had happened, something about Zac felt off. With just a few words, he had softened the hearts of the entire family. The stock transfer issue was swept aside before John could even finish comforting Zac. Just then, a noisy commotion erupted as a crowd barged into the hospital room. It was Gray Corporation's long-time business partners. Leading the group was none other than the Xander family, their most loyal collaborators over the years. David, with his round belly, strode in and slammed a contract onto the bedside table. "Mr. John, we've known each other for years, so I'll cut to the chase. Your family's mental state is seriously concerning, and frankly, it's got me worried. From this point on, our companies are done doing business together." John almost blew a gasket right then and there. Our mental state is seriously concerning? Is he calling us lunatics? Is this just a roundabout way of insulting me? His face turned red with fury, but when he glanced at the grim-faced group behind David, he swallowed his rage and forced a smile."David, we've been partners for years. You can't just cut ties over something this trivial. That wouldn't be right." His words weren't just for David, they were aimed at the entire group. But David remained unmoved. "Spare me the sentimental talk. We're running businesses, not charities. I have employees waiting for their paycheck. I won't sit around and watch my hard work go down the drain. I came here today to make it clear that our partnership is over." As soon as he finished speaking, the others followed suit, tossing their contracts onto the table. "I'm canceling the order I placed yesterday. We won't be doing business with you anymore." "Our partnership ends here." "With the way your family operates, we'd be fools to continue working with you." "Here's an invoice. The payment is due within a month. If we don't receive it on time, I'll have your accounts frozen." "Never thought I'd see the day. After all these years, you turned out to be this kind of person." "You were always trying to take advantage of our deals. Now I see why." "Exactly. I've been wanting to cut ties for a while. Every deal with Gray Corporation came with hidden costs." "Your delayed payments nearly ran my company into the ground." "Thankfully, Arthur did us all a favor. I heard Cloudia Corporation never delays payments or shipments. They honor every deal." "My company has a project with Cloudia Corporation right now. They're trustworthy and value integrity. We've already made a good profit! Hahaha!" "As long as we stay in Cloudia Corporation's good graces, we'll have a shot at expanding beyond South City too." The murmurs of agreement were like daggers piercing the hearts of the Gray family members. No matter their personal thoughts, Gray Corporation was their foundation. It was the very thing that upheld their lavish lifestyles. John desperately tried to salvage the situation, offering enticing deals, but it was futile. Their resolve was firm. One by one, they left, leaving behind nothing but a pile of contracts.John stared at the scattered papers, his heart sinking into utter despair. Because of a single sentence from Arthur, Gray Corporation was ruined. His composure snapped. He let out a furious roar, "Arthur! What kind of monster did I raise?" Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Raelynn standing nearby. In an instant, he found the perfect scapegoat for his rage. Eyes bloodshot, he turned on her, seething with rage. "This is all your fault! You ignorant woman! You gave birth to that ungrateful traitor! You destroyed the Gray family!"