RICHARD’S POV Breakfast was usually my time to zone out. I had the news on in the background, just to drown out the quiet. But this morning, as I shoveled scrambled eggs into my mouth, the news anchor's voice cut through my haze.“Today, we’re covering the ongoing challenge from the city’s most famous chess prodigy, Victor Tusk. Tusk has remained unbeaten for five years, and now, there’s a chance for anyone who thinks they can outplay him to make history.”I nearly choked on my coffee. “Victor Tusk? Seriously?” I muttered, staring at the screen.The camera zoomed in on Tusk, a smug grin plastered across his face as he accepted a trophy. He looked like he was one short step away from claiming he was the messiah of chess. The whole thing was a spectacle, but something clicked in my mind. This was the challenge I needed.“Damn, that’s interesting,” I said, setting my coffee cup down with a decisive clink. My mind raced. This was exactly the kind of public challenge I needed. A chess pr

RICHARD’S POV The day of the chess challenge had arrived, and it felt like the city had turned out for the spectacle. As I approached the venue, a swarm of reporters descended on me like bees on honey. Cameras flashed, microphones were shoved in my face, and questions came at me from all directions.“Richard, what’s your strategy for today?” one reporter asked, trying to look past the crowd to get a better shot.“Just keeping it cool,” I replied, trying to avoid tripping over cables and people. “Any last-minute preparations?” another voice chimed in.“Not really. I’ve done what I can,” I said, waving a hand dismissively.Finally, I managed to escape the throng and make my way to the challenge arena. It was a huge hall, buzzing with the low hum of anticipation. As I scanned the room, my gaze fell on the chess prodigy himself, Victor Tusk. He was seated at the chessboard, looking every bit the part of an unassailable genius.But what really threw me off was the sight of my stepbrother

RICHARD’S POV “I expected $1 million, and I got $1.5 million from Richard,” my father said, leaning back in his chair and flashing a proud smile. I leaned back in my own chair, soaking in the moment. The tension in the room was almost palpable. My brothers, Jonathan and William, looked like they were about to explode. They were frowning and tapping their feet impatiently, their faces a mix of frustration and resentment.“Looks like someone’s ahead of the game,” my father continued, glancing at me with approval. “Richard, you’ve outdone yourself. You’re miles ahead of your brothers.”Jonathan, clearly not happy about the situation, leaned forward with a sarcastic edge in his voice. “So, now that Richard’s way ahead, do we still need to bother with this task? Is there even a point?”My father’s eyes narrowed, and he shot Jonathan a sharp look. “Only losers give up. Just because Richard’s made progress doesn’t mean you get to slack off. The task is the task, and you all need to keep pu

RICHARD’S POV As soon as Gilbert had slammed the door behind him, the room seemed to exhale a collective sigh of relief. But it wasn’t long before Amelia’s grandmother turned her attention to me, her eyes blazing with fury.“Richard! How dare you talk to Mr. Gilbert like that?” she scolded, her voice dripping with disapproval.I crossed my arms, trying to keep my cool. “I’ve already expressed my interest in Amelia. It’s disrespectful to encourage another man to pursue her when I’ve made my intentions clear.”Amelia’s grandmother sniffed, her expression a mix of anger and disdain. “Disrespectful? The only disrespectful thing here is you talking back to someone like Mr. Gilbert. He’s a powerful man, and you—well, you’re nothing compared to him.”My jaw tightened. “So, what, I’m supposed to just stand by and let him steamroll over everyone? I don’t think so.”She didn’t miss a beat. “And since Amelia’s grandfather is ill, I’m the one who will decide who will marry Amelia. Not you, not G

RICHARD’S POV The next morning, my phone buzzed with a text from my father, summoning us to his place. As expected, I was the last to arrive. Jonathan and William were already lounging on the leather couches in the living room, exchanging smirks like they’d just won the lottery. I plastered on a neutral expression, giving them nothing. They’d get no satisfaction from me today.“Glad you could join us, Richard,” my father said, his voice cold and clipped as usual. He didn’t bother with pleasantries.“Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied, matching his tone. I took a seat across from my brothers, who were now sporting identical smug grins.My father wasted no time. “I have a new task for you all. It’s crucial. You’ll need to get a letter of approval from my favorite relative. Without it, you can’t proceed.”I leaned back, trying to play it cool. “And who exactly is this favorite relative?”His lips curled into a tight smile. “That’s for you to figure out.”I glanced at Jonathan and William, who