Oliver pulled up to the driveway of his dad’s house, unsure of what to expect. He had come a long way in repairing the damaged relationship he had with his father’s family, but there was still a long way to go. The last time he had seen his stepmother Aleisha, she had made it very clear that she did not want him there. But he had promised his father he would make an effort, and he wasn’t one to break promises.As he stepped out of his car, he could already see Carter, his stepbrother, sitting on the front porch. Oliver took a deep breath and made his way up to the house, trying his best to appear calm.“Hey, Carter,” Oliver said, trying to keep the nervousness out of his voice.Carter didn’t respond, simply staring straight ahead. Oliver could feel the tension in the air, and he knew that this wasn’t going to be easy.They had been stepbrothers for years, but they had never really connected. Oliver’s father had cheated on Aleisha with his mother, and as a result, he was seen as a const

Oliver sat nervously on the plush leather sofa, his eyes darting nervously towards the door every few seconds. He had been summoned to his father's mansion for a meeting with his step-brother Carter, and he was feeling anxious about the whole situation. The two of them had never been close, and he had a feeling that this meeting wasn't going to end well.As he fidgeted with his hands, the door suddenly opened, and in walked Carter, looking every bit the arrogant and entitled man that he was. He took one look at Oliver and sneered."So, you finally decided to show up," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.Oliver bit his lip, trying to stay calm. "Yes, I'm here. What is this about?"Carter rolled his eyes. "Don't play dumb, Oliver. You know why we're here."Oliver felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had a feeling he knew what this was about, and he wasn't looking forward to it.Their father entered the room, looking stern. "Boys, please take a seat," he said, gesturing toward

Oliver had promised Adamson that he would drop by his bakery shop that afternoon. They had not met for a week, and he was looking forward to hearing all about his friend's new recipes and baked goods. As he hurriedly stepped into the bakery shop, he looked around and could not find Adamson. He inquired from one of the shop attendants, and she informed him that Adamson had gone to attend to some urgent matters.Feeling disappointed, Oliver headed outside to see if he could find anyone he knew. That was when he remembered that one of his acquaintances, Julie, had recently moved into the area. He had not visited her yet, and so he set off to her house, hoping to catch her at home.He walked along the street, and soon he reached Julie's house. It was a small but well-kept establishment, with a beautiful little garden in the front yard. As he reached the gate, he saw Julie tending to her plants. She turned around and noticed him, and immediately her face lit up with a smile."Oliver! It's

Oliver was in deep trouble. He had been told by his step-brother, Carter, that he was to marry a woman he had never met. The thought of an arranged marriage made Oliver feel nauseous, but he knew he had no choice in the matter.As he dressed for the evening gathering, Carter barged into the dressing room.“Oliver, you look like a vagrant. You cannot go to the investor’s gathering dressed like that,” Rafe scolded.Oliver sighed, knowing that Carter was right. He quickly changed into his best suit and followed Carter to the private restaurant where the gathering was taking place.As they entered the room, Oliver felt out of place. Everyone was dressed in expensive suits and dresses, and he felt like a fish out of water.“Ah, there you are, Oliver,”Carter exclaimed, grabbing his arm and leading him over to a group of investors. “This is my step-brother, Oliver. He’ll be joining us in the deal.”The investors all turned to look at Oliver, sizing him up as if he was a piece of meat. Oliver

Oliver stepped out of the carriage and into the grand entrance of his father's mansion. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. Today was the day he had been dreading for weeks - the day he would officially begin preparing for his arranged marriage to Samantha.As he made his way to the sitting room, he saw his step-brother Carter lounging on the couch. "Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up." Oliver's skin crawled at the sound of his step-brother's voice.Carter continued, "What's the matter, Oliver? Don't want to marry someone who was picked for you?" Carter snickered as he spoke, and Oliver clenched his fists, trying to control his anger.Samantha stepped forward, coming to Oliver's rescue. "Please excuse Carter, Oliver. He doesn't mean any harm." Samantha smiled at Oliver, trying to make him feel at ease.Oliver couldn't help but notice that Samantha seemed to be studying him closely. He could feel her eyes on him, and he wondered what she was thinking.A