"Get lost!" Daniel barked, his patience with Adrian nonexistent. He brusquely shoved him aside and marched directly toward Tessa.Adrian stumbled, shocked, but Daniel’s focus was solely on her. He stopped a few steps away, bowed deeply, and said with reverence, “Madam, please forgive my delay. I beg your pardon.”Tessa’s eyes widened in alarm. Her hand instinctively moved to shield the Cursed-Idol amulet hanging from her neck.A wave of dread washed over her. He recognizes it. That was her immediate thought, though she knew the pendant she wore was merely a counterfeit. If Daniel realized the truth, she’d be in grave trouble. Regret bubbled within her—she should’ve removed the fake amulet before coming to Bulgart Industry.The others were stunned into silence.Adrian broke it first, his voice laced with confusion and disbelief. “Uncle Daniel, you must be mistaken! She’s just the daughter of the Armand family, and that loser over there is her husband. Why are you calling her ‘Madam’?”
“Adam, let’s just let it go,” Tessa said softly, her gaze lingering on the humiliated group. Despite everything, she felt a pang of sympathy for them.Adam raised an eyebrow and smirked, glancing at Daniel. “Mr. Sebastian, it seems they didn’t quite hear you earlier.”Daniel’s face turned cold, his tone laced with fury. “It seems they have a death wish. Men! Drag them out and feed them to the dogs!”“No! I’ll fulfill my end of the bet!” Henry shouted, panic overtaking him as he stepped forward, his earlier arrogance completely gone.“I’ll do it too,” Adrian said grudgingly, swallowing his pride. His face was a mix of anger and humiliation.As for Wendy, she didn’t even bother to argue or defend herself. The moment Daniel made his threat, she bolted from the scene, disappearing into the crowd without a backward glance.“This way, please, Mr. and Mrs. Adam,” Daniel said with a polite bow, gesturing for the couple to follow him into the building.---Inside the grand building, Daniel per
“Wendy, are you sure about this?” Gerald asked anxiously, his tone filled with anticipation. His hands trembled slightly as he leaned forward, eyes fixed on Wendy. If her guess was correct and the Supreme General had truly taken an interest in her, it would be a monumental breakthrough for the Armand family.Wendy crossed her arms and huffed proudly. “Of course, I’m sure. That old man I met had white hair and looked to be around the rumored age of the Supreme General. And, as the rumors say, he was hideously ugly. At first, I wasn’t certain, but now everything lines up perfectly.”She paused for dramatic effect, casting a mocking glance at Tessa. “The Supreme General must have taken an interest in me, which is why he sent Mr. Sebastian to greet us earlier. Clearly, Mr. Sebastian mistook Tessa for me.” She sneered, stepping closer to Tessa. “Did you really think someone like the Supreme General would be interested in a married woman like you?”Tessa, unfazed, shook her head. “I’ve neve
“You brat! Look at Wendy. She’s managed to catch the attention of the Supreme General! And what about you? You latched onto a useless piece of trash. Damn it!” Eleanor fumed, her face red with anger. Richard’s expression was equally dark. “She’s right. You must divorce that useless piece of garbage immediately. There’s no way we’ll let that jerk drag you down any further.” “Your dad is absolutely right,” Eleanor added, slamming her hand on the table. “Go and divorce that good-for-nothing right now. Just the thought of him makes my blood boil!” Wendy smirked, her arms crossed. “Even if she divorces him, she’s still a used woman. Do you really think the Supreme General would be interested in someone like her?” Henry, not one to miss the opportunity to ridicule, chimed in with a sneer. “What do you take the Supreme General for? Why would someone of his stature waste his time with a divorced woman? She wouldn’t even catch the eye of someone like Mr. Woods or Mr. Blackwoods now.”
Tessa smiled bitterly, a deep sadness lingering in her heart. She wished her family could see Adam as more than an outsider, as someone who belonged to them too. But it was a foolish wish. Even she was little more than a tool to her family—a pawn in their endless games of power and ambition.Adam broke the silence. “I have to go for a checkup later. You don’t need to wait for me. The bidding will be held in a few days, so you should prepare the necessary documents.” He smiled, trying to lighten the mood.Tessa chuckled, but the sound lacked warmth. “I’ve been demoted to vice president. Wendy is the president now, so she’s in charge of the bidding.”Adam frowned, clearly taken aback. “How is that possible? You just secured the bidding qualification. It’s bad enough they didn’t reward you, but to demote you? That’s outrageous!”“Well, I only got the bidding qualification because of Wendy,” Tessa said quietly, her tone resigned.Adam’s confusion deepened. “What does that have to do with
Although Eleanor had her doubts about Adam’s bold claims, her desire to attend the bidding event overpowered her skepticism. This was a rare opportunity to mingle with influential figures from Storm City, as well as international elites who had flown in for the occasion. If Tessa attended, Eleanor thought, perhaps she might catch the eye of some big shot and elevate their family’s status.However, Richard didn’t share his wife’s enthusiasm. To him, this was a futile endeavor. He had already lost all hope in Adam.Before long, the three of them arrived at the grand entrance of Bulgart Industry’s headquarters. The towering building exuded power and prestige, and a steady stream of well-dressed guests approached the security checkpoint, invitation cards in hand.“Adam, do you really have a way to get us in?” Tessa asked, doubt lingering in her voice.Eleanor, less subtle, snapped, “I’m warning you now—if you embarrass me in front of all these people, I won’t let you off so easily!”Adam,
“What does this have to do with me?” Adam said, finding Eleanor’s accusation absurd.Eleanor’s face turned red with anger as she jabbed a finger at him. “It’s all your fault! If it weren’t for you, Tessa would’ve married Mr. Blackwood instead. With the Blackwood family supporting us, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”Tessa sighed, already tired of the argument. “Mom, stop blaming Adam. I wouldn’t have married Mr. Blackwood even if Adam wasn’t in the picture.”“You brat!” Eleanor snapped, crossing her arms tightly. “You’re going to give me a heart attack someday with that attitude!”Adam decided to step in before the argument escalated further. “The bidding event is about to start. Let’s go inside,” he said, his tone calm but firm.Tessa hesitated, still anxious. “Can we really get in?”“Don’t worry.” Adam flashed her a confident smile.Encouraged by his demeanor, Tessa quickly stepped forward, nudging Adam ahead of her. Eleanor followed reluctantly, keeping a few steps behind. She glanced
Just as Mark finished speaking, Adam’s palm connected with his face in a loud, resounding slap.The sharp sound echoed across the entrance, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The security guards, staff, and even passersby stared in stunned silence.No one could believe what they had just witnessed. Adam, a man rumored to be nothing more than a cripple, had slapped Mark in broad daylight, right at the doors of Bulgart Industry.Mark stumbled, clutching his cheek with wide eyes. “You... you dare hit me?”Adam sneered, his voice cold. “You asked for it.”“Damn you! I’ll kill you!” Mark roared, his face twisted with fury. He swung his fist at Adam’s head, fully intending to knock him down.Though Mark knew Adam could fight, he assumed the injury to Adam’s legs gave him the upper hand. Confidence fueled his attack.But Adam didn’t even flinch. Before Mark’s punch could connect, Adam moved with surprising speed. His fist struck Mark’s stomach with
Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the crowd.“General Arin Vex is here!” someone shouted.Gasps of shock echoed across the room. Even Adam raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, and Stacey’s face turned pale. What was General Arin Vex doing in Storm City?General Arin Vex was one of the four Generals of Coastal Flair, a man whose presence alone commanded attention and respect. Known as the most powerful figure alive after the Supreme General and the other three Generals, his reputation was legendary. Few had ever seen him in person, and even fewer dared to approach him.The buzz in the hall grew louder as a massive convoy rolled up outside. Hundreds of soldiers stepped out of their individual vehicles, forming an impenetrable wall of security. At the center of it all was a black SUV, guarded by four imposing men. They moved in perfect sync, each opening a door to reveal the vehicle’s sole occupant.A man stepped out, tall and imposing, his very presence exuding authority. He looked
“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