The doctor, still resembling a beached whale more than a medical professional, stared up at me with desperate, pleading eyes. "Mr. Thorne, please, enlighten me! What exactly transpired here? Did…did Brenda offer you a complimentary cup of shut-the-hell-up with your medical consultation?""Doctor…" I paused, letting the word hang in the air. Sometimes, a little dramatic timing works wonders. "I've been standing here, politely asking for a doctor's appointment for my mother, who, as you can see, is not exactly the picture of robust health."The doctor's gaze darted to my mother, still clutching my arm like it was a life raft. He winced. Clearly, 'robust' wasn't a word that sprang to mind. "And yet," I continued, letting a hint of my annoyance creep into my voice, "Nurse Brenda here decided that making snide remarks about my mother's life expectancy was more important than, you know, actually doing her job."The doctor sucked in a breath, his eyes widening with horror. He shot a l

RICHARD’S POV I pulled into the driveway, my head spinning. The Jade Plate fiasco had left me feeling like a total loser. I needed to regroup. As I walked through the front door, my mind raced with a hundred things at once. Mom’s surgery was coming up, and I needed to make sure everything at home was taken care of. The idea of hiring some housekeepers floated in my mind. I could use the help, and Mom would appreciate it.Just as I was about to call an agency, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Amelia. What did she want now?“Hey, Richard. I need some help. Can you meet me?”Curious, I texted back. “Sure. What’s up?”Her reply was quick but vague. “I’ll explain when you get here. It’s important.”I frowned. Amelia was usually more straightforward. I grabbed my keys and headed out, her cryptic message playing on my mind. When I arrived at the address she gave me, I was surprised to find myself in front of a company building. Why here?I walked in, scanning the lobby until I spotted Am

RICHARD'S POV I was in the middle of a workout when my phone buzzed. It was a message from my father, summoning me to the house. I had no idea what he wanted, but knowing him, it couldn't be anything good. I grabbed my stuff and headed over, my mind racing with possibilities.I pulled up to my father’s house, already dreading whatever nonsense he had in store for me this time. Jonathan and William were just coming back from wherever rich idiots go to kill time. In fact when I arrived, they were just getting out of their car, smirking like they'd won the lottery, and I knew that look. It never meant anything good for me.“Well, if it isn’t the big shot,” Jonathan sneered, waving a newspaper at me.“Looks like someone’s been playing cowboy,” William added, his tone dripping with sarcasm.“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, genuinely confused.“You really haven’t seen it?” Jonathan laughed. “You’re all over the news, big brother. Challenging the reigning horse-riding champio

RICHARD’S POV Fury bubbled inside me. I couldn't shake off the horseman's hateful words. I turned back, my fists clenched. I wasn't about to let him walk away scot-free. I charged at him, my fist connecting with his face in a satisfying crack. The man's head snapped back, and for a moment, I felt a surge of primal satisfaction. But before I could land another punch, I felt a pair of strong arms grab me from behind, I struggled, my rage making me fight harder, but his bodyguards weren't holding back. They pummeled me with hard punches. I tried to block and throw a few of my own, but it felt like I was fighting a losing battle. "Get off me!" I yelled, spitting out blood and sweat. Some people started to gather, their phones out, and recording the spectacle. I could hear murmurs and gasps from the crowd, and the horse rider's smug laugh cut through the chaos. "Let him go," he ordered his goons. "I want him to remember this." They released me, and I stumbled backward, my

RICHARD’S POVAs I sat in the waiting room, I couldn’t help but notice Amelia’s intense scowl directed at Cathy. It was like she’d just spotted an old rival. Before I could say anything, Amelia marched over to me with a determined stride.Cathy, catching the change in atmosphere, frowned and glanced at me. “Do you know her?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.Amelia wasted no time. “Oh, Richard not only knows her, but he plans to marry her,” she said with a dramatic flourish.Cathy’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open, but she quickly shut it, looking between us with a mix of surprise and confusion. I cleared my throat, trying to diffuse the awkwardness. “Uh, Cathy, is everything alright?”Cathy gave me a polite but puzzled wink. “Yes, everything’s fine,” She gave a tight-lipped smile. “Just... surprised.”I nodded, trying to keep things civil. “Yeah, and Amelia and I are still figuring out the whole marriage thing. Nothing’s set in stone yet,” I added, shooting Amelia