The Armand family had convened an emergency meeting in the opulent family mansion, though the grandeur of their surroundings felt hollow given their current crisis. Gerald sat at the head of the table, his usually firm posture sagging, an undeniable weight etched across his features."As you all know," he began gravely, "we invested every cent we had into the Darkclaw project. And now, with the Darkclaw Group's collapse and the project forced to halt, we're staring bankruptcy in the face."A heavy silence settled over the room, punctuated only by Gerald's weary sighs. His once sharp eyes, now dimmed, reflected a man burdened by the looming threat of financial ruin.First to break the silence was Wendy, who leaned forward with a look of disdain directed at her cousin. "Grandpa, this entire fiasco is Tessa's doing! If our Armand family goes bankrupt, she'll be the one to blame for it.""Absolutely!" Brenda, Wendy’s mother, chimed in with fervor. "She’s brought this calamity on us. She s
“Let her in,” Ethan commanded, a trace of smug anticipation flashing in his eyes. As he spoke, he discreetly reached into his desk drawer, extracting two small pills. Swallowing them, he felt a sharp, invigorating kick—an artificial edge to mask his weakness. These pills were powerful drugs to help his manhood, a temporary fix with dangerous side effects if overused. But at this moment, Ethan didn’t care; his pride demanded it.The assistant scurried out, and within moments, Tessa entered the office. She looked composed, but he could sense the tension radiating from her, as if she were a deer stepping into a lion’s den. She hesitated by the door, her gaze flickering uncertainly over him.“Leave us,” Ethan directed to his assistant. “Close the door. No interruptions.”The room fell silent as the assistant hurried out, leaving Tessa alone with him. Ethan leaned back, crossing his legs leisurely, eyeing her with a smug grin. “Ms. Armand, you finally grace me with your presence. I’ve invi
“Mr. Blackwood, no, please!” Tessa gasped in horror, her voice trembling as she backed away from Ethan. Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly assessed the situation, knowing she had to act fast. Fortunately, she had prepared for this moment. In a flash, she stood up, her mind racing, and grabbed the nearest object—a vase from a nearby table. Holding it tightly, she pointed it toward Ethan, her grip firm despite the fear coursing through her veins. “Don’t come any closer!” she warned, her voice shaky but resolute. Ethan’s expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed with fury. “Tessa, do you still want the money or not?” His voice was low and threatening. “Put the vase down, and let me have my way with you, or the Armand Group can kiss their business goodbye.” Tessa’s breath hitched at his words. The weight of the situation bore down on her as she tried to steady her shaking hands. She had no choice—her family’s survival depended on her making this deal. “I’ll do whatever you
Wendy glared at Tessa, her anger seething as she pointed a trembling finger at her. "Grandpa sent you to please Mr. Blackwood, and what did you do? You didn’t just fail to cheer him up, but you’ve gone and ruined everything! You've even injured his... Do you realize what you've done? You're going to destroy all of us!" Tessa stood frozen, horrified by the harsh words and the cold stares from everyone in the room. Her heart pounded in her chest. "What are you trying to do, Tessa? What did you think would happen?!" Gerald’s voice boomed with fury. "Do you really want the company to go bankrupt just to get your way? Is that what this is all about?" The accusations kept coming. Every word, every harsh tone made her feel smaller, like the walls were closing in around her. They were all angry—furious at her failure, at her actions, and at the situation she had unknowingly walked into. "How could you be so reckless?" Wendy shouted, her voice sharp. "This isn’t just about you anymore, Tess
Tessa’s eyes filled with concern. "Adam, please—" "No. We leave together," he said, his tone unyielding. But Tessa knew the danger. "They’re my family," she argued desperately. "I’ll be fine. Just go back to the hospital." Adam shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I’ve seen enough. These people don’t treat you like family, Tessa. You’re just a tool to them. You’ve always been just that." The tension in the room thickened as Adam turned his gaze to Gerald, his expression sharp and unforgiving. "I’m not leaving, Gerald. Not until you stop threatening my wife." Gerald’s patience snapped. His face contorted with anger as he coldly addressed Adam. "Considering the favors you’ve done for me in the past, I’ll let you go. But if you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for what comes next." Adam stood his ground, unwavering. "I’m not going anywhere. And if you keep pushing her, I’ll make sure you regret it." "Getting cocky, huh?" Henry barked, his fury growing by the second. "Someon
"That's your word," Adam said, his voice light but laced with a hint of warning. "Don’t go back on it when things get tough." Henry scoffed, his eyes glinting with arrogance. "My word is ironclad. But this is your one shot, Adam. One billion dollars, or your arms get snapped." Tessa looked at Henry, then back at Adam, her brow furrowed. "Adam, what are you talking about? Where would you even get that kind of money?" She turned to Henry, trying to downplay the tension. "He's just joking, don’t take it seriously." But Henry's expression turned icy, his tone cutting through the air. "I’m not joking. I want proof of funds, now." Adam’s gaze remained steady. "I don’t have it on me right now," he replied, his calmness only increasing the tension. "Good," Henry said, his smile cold and cruel. "Then break his arms." "Wait, Henry, please," Tessa pleaded, her voice desperate. "You don’t need to do this. Let him go." "No!" Henry's voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing. "I haven’t forgotten e
"This idiot actually thinks Mr. Blackwood will bring him money. What a joke," one of the Armand family members sneered. "You can’t even lie properly," another chimed in. "Mr. Blackwood would rather skin you alive. And you expect him to bring you money? Are you out of your mind?" The Armand family members laughed at Adam, seeing him as nothing more than a fool. Tessa, however, was on edge, her worry growing by the second. "Adam, this isn’t the time for jokes. Please, apologize to Henry and get him to let you go." Adam met her gaze, his expression serious. "Tessa, believe me, I have a way to get Ethan to send the money. I’m not lying." Tessa hesitated but nodded, sensing the sincerity in his voice. A glimmer of hope flickered in her chest. Wendy scoffed from the side. "I thought you were useless, but now I see you’re just a damn fool. And Tessa, you actually believe him? You really think Mr. Blackwood will come through for him?" Tessa knew it sounded far-fetched, but in this momen
“Get lost!” Ethan barked, shoving Lucas aside. He had no patience to deal with him right now. His burning frustration was entirely focused on Adam.Turning to face Adam, Ethan’s eyes burned with anger. “Did you do this to me?” he growled, his voice low but menacing.Adam remained unfazed, his tone calm yet mocking. “It’s your fault for not being able to control yourself. What does that have to do with me?”“You!” Ethan’s face twisted with rage as he pointed a trembling finger at Adam. His anger boiled over, and he was sure now that Adam was behind his mysterious ailment. The man he’d looked down on, insulted, and even tried to harm had apparently found a way to retaliate.His mind raced. The humiliation of his condition and the audacity of Adam’s defiance made him want to lash out, but he held himself back. Striking Adam here, in front of the Armand family, would be beneath him.Adam’s confident smirk only fueled Ethan’s fury. “Relax,” Adam said, his tone dripping with mockery. “I can