Ultimate Tycoon: Building the Richest Empire with System and Heroines
Chapter 39: The Muscle Mommy & Mafia Welcome

Chapter 39: The Muscle Mommy & Mafia Welcome

The ride was quiet... well, mostly.

Mina was fast asleep, curled up in Ethan’s lap like a kitten, her little teddy bear squished between them. Every few seconds, she murmured something about cake or cartoons. Her tiny hands clutched his shirt like she was afraid he’d vanish.

Ethan looked down at her, unsure whether to feel warm or terrified.

"She’s really taken a liking to you, Ethan," said Old Hayes, sitting beside him in the luxury car’s back seat. His voice was calm, gentle even, like a kindly grandpa reading bedtime stories. But Ethan couldn’t ignore the black cane resting across the old man’s lap—with a snake-head handle.

Ethan gave a stiff smile and lightly patted Mina’s head. "She’s adorable."

But inside?

Chaos.

What the hell, what the hell, what the actual hell? Ethan’s brain was on fire. I barely survived an assassin ambush on a moving bus, and now I’m heading straight into the home of the mafia kingpin, and a surprise, a literal policewoman who lives there? What kind of paradox family is this?

He could still hear Nate’s voice echoing in his skull.

"Bro, that’s the Hayes family. Underworld legends. They make people disappear like it’s their breakfast, but before you disappear give us our investment."

Ethan smiled blankly out the window.

As the car rolled to a stop, Ethan’s jaw dropped.

The mansion gates were so massive, they looked like they belonged in a fantasy RPG. Black steel, engraved with lion emblems, flanked by marble pillars topped with golden eagles. They hissed open smoothly, revealing a driveway that could fit a small airport runway.

Beyond the gates, the estate stretched out like a king’s domain.

No. Scratch that. Like a villain’s lair with a luxury interior designer.

Fountains on both sides sprayed crystal-clear water in spirals. The garden was perfectly manicured, trees trimmed in spiral patterns, and flowers arranged in the shape of a phoenix. Statues of past generations, probably mafia bosses, lined the path like ancient guardians.

And the mansion?

White walls, black tile roofing, glass balconies, and gold trim. It looked like someone fused a European royal palace with a modern billionaire’s summer home. His Elowen Crest villa suddenly felt like a cardboard apartment in comparison.

Ethan gulped. "This place is... insane."

As they approached the front of the house, he noticed the guards.

At least a dozen men, all dressed in sleek black suits, standing perfectly still. Each of them had earpieces, and he didn’t need a system prompt to tell him those lumps in their jackets weren’t muffins.

Guns. All of them were packing heat.

Above them, security cameras swiveled silently. At the far corners of the property, Ethan even spotted sniper nests.

Yep. Definitely not overkill at all.

"This level of protection..." he muttered. "Makes sense, I guess. When you’re at the top, someone’s always trying to take your place."

They parked in front of the mansion steps. The grand double doors opened, and a butler appeared, bowing slightly.

"Welcome back, Master Hayes. Lady Mina. And our honored guest."

Ethan slowly slid out of the car, careful not to wake Mina. But the moment he moved, her grip tightened on his shirt.

"Mmm... Big bro... don’t go..." she mumbled.

Old Hayes chuckled again. "You’ll find it hard to leave now. She’s got her claws in you."

Ethan stood there, a sleepy girl latched to him, body aching under fresh bandages, and surrounded by armed guards at a literal mafia mansion.

The grand doors of the mansion swung open with theatrical elegance, revealing a couple standing side by side as if they’d stepped off a movie set.

The woman was the first to catch Ethan’s attention.

Tall. Towering, even. Built like she benched elephants before breakfast.

She had a sleeveless red blouse that exposed her muscular arms,biceps that looked like they could snap tree trunks. Her dark hair was tied into a high ponytail, and she wore fitted cargo pants with combat boots. Despite her strong build, there was a warmth in her wide smile and eyes full of affection.

Beside her stood a tall, lean man in a pale gray dress shirt tucked neatly into dark trousers. His features were handsome in a calm, elegant way—jet-black hair swept back, light stubble along his jawline, and a pair of thin glasses resting on his nose.

The woman’s voice boomed with joy. "WELCOME HOME!"

Ethan flinched. The windows might’ve vibrated from the volume.

Mina, who had been half asleep, jerked awake like she’d heard a grenade go off.

"Huh—mama?"

The muscular woman instantly lunged forward and scooped up the groggy girl, cuddling her like a human plushie. She rubbed their cheeks together with a passion that defied laws of physics.

"My princess! My darling! My honeybun is here!" she squealed.

Ethan stood there, blinking.

Muscle mommy alert.

His inner thoughts were already spiraling.

The lean man stepped forward with a polite smile and extended his hand.

"You must be Ethan. I’m Mina’s father—Damien Hayes. And this," he gestured toward the human bear-hugging machine beside him, "is my wife, Clarissa."

Clarissa gave Ethan a firm nod before shifting her attention to him fully.

Then—swoop.

She wrapped Ethan in a massive hug, one arm still holding Mina.

"Thank you for saving my baby girl!" she declared, squeezing the life out of him.

Ethan winced, eyes twitching.

Everything hurts... Internal organs collapsing... Spine? Optional.

But outwardly, he forced a smile. "I-It was nothing, ma’am."

Clarissa finally pulled back, still grinning. Mina had now comfortably latched herself onto her mom’s broad shoulder.

Both mother and daughter have a hugging addiction. Is this genetic?

And as he stared at Clarissa’s arms again, Ethan thought quietly to himself:

If Natalie hugged me like that, I wouldn’t complain. I’m absolutely shameless.

Damien cleared his throat gently. "Honey, he’s injured. Let the boy breathe."

Clarissa blinked. "Oh! Right! Sorry! You must be exhausted."

She stepped back, then gestured toward the staircase. "Come on, I’ll show you your room—"

"No!" Mina interrupted suddenly, her hand shooting up like a student in class.

Everyone looked at her.

"I’ll show him his room!" she said proudly.

Damien and Clarissa exchanged a quick glance. Mr. Hayes let out a tiny amused chuckle.

Mina’s smile had turned... mischievous.

Like she had a mission. A purpose. A plan.

Clarissa leaned down, squinting at her daughter. "Mina... what are you up to?"

"I just want to help!" she said with a too-sweet smile.

Damien folded his arms. "You’re not planning anything... are you?"

"Of course not, Daddy! Let’s go, big brother!" Mina grabbed Ethan’s hand.

As she began dragging him inside like a miniature tour guide, the rest of the family just stood there, watching her with a shared expression:

This child is definitely up to something.

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