"Don't come any closer!" Tessa called out, placing herself firmly between Adam and the advancing bodyguards. She glanced back at him, worry etched across her face. "They’re all highly trained. Adam, you can’t take them on. Just go, I'll try to hold them off."Adam’s eyes softened, but before he could respond, Henry sneered. "He's not going anywhere. Move in, and if she tries to interfere, feel free to rough her up as well."The guards exchanged a look before moving forward, their reluctance gone. Tessa paled but held her ground, blocking their path.Adam felt a surge of determination as he watched her standing up for him. He leaned in and whispered, "Tessa, I’m not leaving you here with them. Trust me."One of the bodyguards sneered, reaching out to shove Tessa aside. "Step out of the way, lady—"Before he could finish, Adam’s hand shot out, grabbing the guard’s wrist in a vice grip. A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes as he twisted the man's wrist until a sickening crack echoed t
Tessa stared at Adam, recalling how he’d known about Wilfred’s injury. It had happened so recently—how could he have known?She finally asked, "Adam, how did you hear about Wilfred being in the hospital?"He met her gaze calmly. "I got the news when I was working at Bulgart Industries. Word travels fast in those circles.""What did you just say? Mr. Wilfred’s in the hospital?" Richard cut in, eyes wide with alarm. "What happened to him?""Apparently, he lost control and ended up cutting off his own hand," Tessa replied quietly."What?" Richard’s face turned pale, mirroring the shock spreading through the Armand family. Even the most reckless person wouldn’t go so far as to sever their own hand.Adam smirked, glancing from one stunned face to the next. "So, don’t expect Mr. Wilfred to show up and ‘teach me a lesson’ anytime soon."Henry clenched his jaw, frustrated but unable to retort. They had brought in every backup they could, but none had managed to stand up to Adam. He looked lik
"Grandpa, please don’t cut ties with me," Tessa pleaded, tears streaming down her face as she knelt on the floor. The sight of her, vulnerable and desperate, tugged at the corners of her grandfather's heart, but he remained resolute.Gerald’s expression hardened. "You made your choice, Tessa. You wanted to defy this family, and now you must face the consequences.""That’s right, Dad. Tessa just got a bit confused. She didn’t mean any of this," Eleanor interjected, her voice trembling with desperation as she stepped forward. "Give me some time to talk to her. I can help her see reason."Richard, who had been quietly observing, finally piped up, anxiety written all over his face. "Tessa, think about what you’re doing! You’re our only daughter! If you’re cut off from the family, you’ll lose everything. We can’t let that happen."Gerald shook his head, his voice cold and unwavering. "It’s useless for you to beg. She chose this path herself, so don’t blame me for it. If you don’t want her
Adam was stunned. "Do you regret doing it?"Tessa smiled bitterly. "I don't regret anything as I didn't do anything wrong. Even if I were to get a divorce with you, I wouldn't go back and admit I was wrong.""Since you didn't regret it, why do you still want to get a divorce with me?" Adam asked in confusion."I'm no longer the Armand family's daughter or a CEO. I'm just a normal woman, so you won't benefit from getting together with me. Thus, we should just get a divorce.""Do you think I married you just to benefit myself?""What else? I can't think of any reason other than that," Tessa replied."Have you considered the possibility that I don't like you for your status or money, but for you?" Adam answered with a grin."No way!" Tessa shook her head in disbelief."Why not?"Tessa replied with a smile, "You had a chance to sleep with me, but you didn't. That's why I think you're not interested in me.""Why would you think that? You're the most beautiful woman in Storm City. If I'm no
The Armand residence was filled with laughter, but the source of the family’s joy was a bitter one. Tessa was gone. She had been officially expelled by Gerald, and now, David’s son, Henry, had assumed her role as CEO. David and his family looked triumphant, their eyes shining with satisfaction as they reveled in their victory.Richard and Eleanor, however, sat at the edge of the room, expressions clouded with worry and frustration. For them, this was no celebration. It felt like a final blow to the family they’d known, as Tessa, despite her mistakes, was still their only daughter.Adding to their joy, Wendy, David and Brenda's daughter, had just returned from studying abroad. She’d even brought back her boyfriend, Mark Woods, the heir to one of Storm City’s elite families.Though Mark had a bit of a notorious reputation, his standing as the sole heir of the Woods family made him a valuable connection. Gerald was elated.Richard and Eleanor, on the other hand, were completely ignored b
Wilfred's words left the Armand family stunned. They’d expected a confrontation, but his tone was almost… polite.Mark took the chance to step forward, trying to mask his unease. "Mr. Wilfred, you remember me, don’t you? Mark Woods." He forced a confident smile, but inside, he felt a flicker of doubt.Wilfred gave him a nod, though his expression remained unreadable. "Ah, yes. Mr. Woods. I heard you went abroad for your studies. Just returned?"Mark's face lit up, relieved at the warm response. "Yes, I arrived today."Wilfred’s gaze sharpened as he glanced between Mark and the others. "So, are you close to the Armand family now?"Before Mark could answer, Brenda interjected eagerly, “Oh, yes! Mark is my daughter’s boyfriend, and we’re planning an engagement soon.”Brenda could barely contain her excitement, certain now that Wilfred’s polite behavior was due to Mark’s presence. After all, having the heir of one of Storm City's elite families as a son-in-law was something she’d dreamed
The Armand family was left in stunned silence, trying to make sense of Wilfred’s sudden turn. Just moments ago, he’d been courteous, but now he seemed unhinged.“Mr. Wilfred, you’ve lost it!” Wendy snapped, furious after watching him strike Mark. “How could you hit Mr. Woods?”Wilfred’s gaze sharpened as he backhanded Wendy, sending her stumbling back. “Silence! Mark is nothing to me—a privileged nobody. Who do you think you are, telling me how to act?”Wendy, holding her cheek, glared back. “A moment ago, you were chatting with him like you were friends!”“As if,” Wilfred scoffed, the disgust evident in his voice. “I was only tolerating your presence out of respect for Ms. Tessa.” He paused, casting a steely gaze over each of them. “But now I see this family has made the fatal mistake of crossing her.”Brenda, still aching from her own beating, managed to gasp out, “We thought… we thought we were doing you a favor. Tessa humiliated your son, and you lost your hand because of her. We
Wendy sneered, "Took you long enough to open the door. I’m going easy on you with just a slap."“You’re crossing the line, Wendy.” Tessa’s voice trembled with anger.“Oh, I’m not even close to done. Pack your trash and get out. This villa belongs to me now,” Wendy said coldly. “You have an hour.”“This is my home. What gives you the right to order me around?” Tessa’s patience was wearing thin. Just because she was kind-hearted didn’t mean she’d let Wendy walk all over her.Meeting Wendy had already been an unpleasant shock. But now, hearing that her cousin was trying to take her home? It was beyond infuriating.Wendy ignored her and clung to Mark’s arm. “Before I explain, let me introduce you to someone. You remember him, don’t you?”“Hello, Ms. Tessa, long time no see,” Mark said with a smirk, eyeing her from head to toe.It had been years since he last saw Tessa, and she looked more stunning than ever. He’d pursued her back then, but she had rejected every advance. Going abroad hadn
“I’ll take it then,” Reeves said, his expression lighting up with satisfaction. In fact, he looked almost gleeful as he turned to the staff and asked, “How do you feel after I’ve bought your dog for five million?” “Mr. Reeves, are you serious?” the staff member stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief. Reeves nodded confidently and wrote a check for five million dollars right away. When the staff took the check from his hand, she still seemed stunned, unable to process what was happening. Clement was so elated that he turned to Stacey and said, “Ms. Gold, can you do me a favor? Tell your hotel staff to have the dog killed and retrieve the pill from its stomach.” Stacey hesitated for a moment but then nodded. She quickly called two hotel employees over to take the pug away. It was only then that everyone in the room seemed to grasp what was going on. The initial fight between Clinton and Reeves over the dog hadn’t been about the animal at all. Instead, it was about the pill the pu
“I’ll take it then,” Reeves said, his expression lighting up with satisfaction. In fact, he looked almost gleeful as he turned to the staff and asked, “How do you feel after I’ve bought your dog for five million?”“Mr. Reeves, are you serious?” the staff member stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief.Reeves nodded confidently and wrote a check for five million dollars right away. When the staff took the check from his hand, she still seemed stunned, unable to process what was happening.Clement was so elated that he turned to Stacey and said, “Ms. Gold, can you do me a favor? Tell your hotel staff to have the dog killed and retrieve the pill from its stomach.”Stacey hesitated for a moment but then nodded. She quickly called two hotel employees over to take the pug away.It was only then that everyone in the room seemed to grasp what was going on. The initial fight between Clinton and Reeves over the dog hadn’t been about the animal at all. Instead, it was about the pill the pug had
Clinton looked utterly heartbroken, his shoulders sagging as disappointment swept over his face. Stacey, standing nearby, mirrored his dismay, her lips pressed into a thin line.“Ms. Gold, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Reeves—what are you doing?” Gerald asked, his confusion evident.Clinton sighed deeply, his expression darkening. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, his eyes lit up with urgency. He turned toward the pug sitting innocently nearby and pointed at it. “Whose dog is this?”A staff member hesitantly stepped forward, her face pale with nervousness. “It’s mine, sir. I… I’m terribly sorry for bringing him here. It was unprofessional of me.”Stacey shot her a sharp look but quickly softened her tone. “Let this be the only time. Don’t let it happen again.”“Yes, Ms. Gold. Thank you!” The staff member bowed repeatedly in relief, but just as she began to leave with the pug, Clinton raised his voice.“Wait! Hold on!” he called out urgently.The staff froze mid-step, her heart racing. “Y
“Enough with the nonsense. You just got lucky with your guess. Don’t think you’re all that,” Henry said, rolling his eyes. Despite his dismissive tone, his fidgeting fingers betrayed his growing panic. David, sensing the tension, stepped forward with a scoff. “Even if Mr. Diamond’s painting is fake, it doesn’t change anything. He was deceived! He spent over ten million dollars on it—that’s worth far more than whatever trash you’re calling a gift.” Adam chuckled, his voice tinged with sarcasm. “Trash, you say? You’re calling the pill trash?” David snatched the small bottle from Adam’s hand, shaking it aggressively before pouring out a single black pill into his palm. “Look at this!” David held it up for everyone to see. “Who in their right mind would dare eat something like this? It’s nothing but a scam!” “Dad, look at this nonsense,” he added, handing the pill to Gerald. “Why should I waste my time looking at trash?” Gerald replied coldly, his face twisting in disgust as he
Stacey quickly understood Adam's intention and turned to an elderly man seated not far away. “Mr. Spark, you’re an expert in paintings. Could you help us authenticate this piece?”The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Charles Spark. Known as a renowned art expert, his opinion carried significant weight.One guest chimed in, “Mr. Charles Spark is a leading authority in the art world. If anyone can authenticate this painting, it’s him.”Another nodded in agreement. “But do we even need to go that far? Mr. Diamond wouldn’t dare gift a fake painting. He has a reputation to uphold!”“Exactly,” someone else added. “Ten million dollars is nothing to someone like him. Why would he risk his name over a counterfeit?”The murmurs of agreement spread through the room. Brian, however, felt a bead of sweat forming on his temple. His confidence wavered as he realized the scrutiny was about to intensify.Feigning nonchalance, Brian scoffed, “Authenticate it? That’s rich. But the painting has alr
Brian sneered with an air of superiority. “Well, brat, did you notice anything? Or are you just bluffing again?” Adam didn’t respond immediately. Instead, a playful smile danced across his lips as he picked up a glass of water from the table. He swirled the water in his mouth, as if savoring it, but he didn’t swallow. In a sudden, unexpected move, Adam sprayed the water directly onto the painting. “What are you doing?!” “How dare you?!” The room erupted in chaos. Wendy’s face turned beet red as she jumped to her feet, her finger shaking as she pointed at Adam. Brian was equally furious, his fists clenched tightly. Even Brenda, Gerald, and several other guests stared at Adam in disbelief. “You lunatic!” Wendy’s voice trembled with rage. “That painting is worth millions! How dare you destroy it? You must pay for this, or I swear you won’t leave here alive!” Tessa’s expression shifted from shock to anger as she shouted, “Adam, what are you doing? Are you out of your mind?” She gr
“Adam, I’m begging you. Please, just stop spreading these rumors.” Tessa’s voice trembled with a mix of frustration and disbelief, her gaze fixed on Adam with evident disappointment.She had always thought Adam had a tendency to boast, but this was different. This wasn’t mere exaggeration; it was crossing a line. Her chest tightened as the reality sank in—she was beginning to lose faith in him.Adam, however, remained calm. His sharp gaze locked onto Brian as he asked, “If you’re so confident it’s not a fake, would you allow me to inspect it?”Wendy, unable to hide her irritation, scoffed. “Inspect it? Do you even hear yourself? That painting is worth millions! How dare someone like you even think of inspecting it?”“Exactly!” Brenda chimed in, her arms crossed in disdain. “You have no right to touch something that valuable. If you so much as leave a smudge on it, you’ll be paying for it for the rest of your life!”Brian smirked arrogantly, adjusting his pristine designer watch as he
Gerald’s expression darkened further, his patience wearing thin. If it weren’t for Adam’s association with Stacey, he might have lashed out already. He clenched his fists, suppressing his growing annoyance.Meanwhile, Brian, oblivious to Gerald’s restraint, sneered disdainfully. “How shameless can you be? Offering this junk as a gift? It’s downright embarrassing.”“He’s absolutely right,” Wendy chimed in, her tone dripping with contempt. She rolled her eyes dramatically and added, “Just look at Mr. Diamond. His gift is worth millions, while yours is nothing but a worthless trinket.”Adam let out a quiet chuckle, his smirk widening. “I’ve been holding back, trying to ignore the two of you. But you’ve pushed me too far. Since you seem so eager, I have no choice but to expose the truth.”The sudden shift in his tone caught the room’s attention. Brian and Wendy exchanged uneasy glances but quickly masked their unease with indignation.“Expose us? You?” Wendy scoffed, crossing her arms. “W
“What? How dare you curse me?” Gerald’s voice thundered through the hall, his expression darkening with fury.“I’ve told you before—he’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch. Do you believe me now, Grandpa?” Brenda sneered, seizing the opportunity to pile on the insults.“How dare you curse Grandpa? Apologize to him immediately!” Richard roared, his face contorted with anger.“What are you waiting for?” Eleanor shouted at Adam, her voice trembling with rage. “Do you want to drag us all down with your reckless behavior? Apologize now!”Their frustration was palpable. Despite their disdain for Adam, he was still tied to their family through marriage. If Gerald's anger boiled over, it would spell disaster for everyone associated with him.“Adam, you’ve crossed the line this time! Apologize to Grandpa right away,” Tessa demanded, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.The crowd, sensing the mounting tension, erupted into a chorus of condemnation.“What kind of son-in-law dares to curs