“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
The sleek Maserati came to a halt, and the crowd’s curiosity reached its peak. The door swung open, and out stepped a striking woman in a sharp, tailored suit. Stacey Gold. The assistant to the Supreme General.Gasps rippled through the Armand family. What was she doing here? Why would someone of her stature associate with Adam?“Stacey Gold?” Henry blurted, his voice laced with disbelief. He stepped forward, trying to maintain composure. “This must be a misunderstanding. Surely, someone of your position has no business here. Let’s not waste your time on trivial matters.”Stacey didn’t even glance at him. Instead, she strode purposefully toward Adam, holding a thick stack of cash in her hands.Henry reached out, desperate to intercept her. “Ms. Gold, please, let’s talk—”The sharp crack of Stacey’s palm meeting his cheek echoed through the air, silencing him. Henry staggered back, clutching his face in shock.“Know your place,” Stacey said coldly. Her icy gaze bore into Henry, making
“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