Tessa’s entrance into the grand hall was like a spark igniting a flurry of whispers. Heads turned, conversations paused, and all eyes focused on her. Known far and wide as the most beautiful woman in Storm City, her presence alone commanded attention.But what truly captured everyone’s curiosity was the man seated in the wheelchair she was pushing.“Who’s the cripple with Ms. Armand?” someone murmured, voicing the question on everyone’s mind.The room buzzed with speculation, the sheer mystery of the scene fueling countless theories.“You don’t know?” someone else chimed in, eager to share gossip. “That cripple is her husband.”“Tessa Armand married? And to him? Impossible!”The revelation sent a wave of disbelief rippling through the crowd.“Wait, what? She’s married? To him? How could someone like Ms. Armand, with her beauty and reputation, settle for a cripple?”“Is he from a wealthy family?” a woman asked skeptically, grasping for an explanation.“Absolutely not. I heard he’s just
Adam leaned back in his wheelchair, his calm yet sharp gaze fixed on Sarah. A sarcastic smile curled his lips as he spoke with an air of controlled mockery. “If I’m trash, then what does that make you? A lapdog?”The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by murmurs of disbelief.Sarah’s face twisted in fury, her voice rising in indignation. “How dare you call me a dog?!” she shrieked. Her rage bubbled over, and without hesitation, she raised her hand to strike him.The crowd watched, some eagerly anticipating the slap, others too stunned to react.But before her hand could connect with Adam’s face, a crisp and resounding slap echoed through the hall. To everyone’s shock, it wasn’t Adam who had been hit. Instead, Sarah stumbled back, clutching her cheek in disbelief.“You—” Sarah stammered, her voice trembling with both pain and humiliation. “How dare you hit me?”Adam’s gaze remained cold and unflinching. “
The entire hall fell into stunned silence as Adam's bold words hung in the air. Wendy’s face contorted with fury, her voice trembling as she spat, “How dare you demand that I lick your shoes? Do you have a death wish?” The crowd erupted in an uproar, their shock quickly morphing into anger. “Disrespecting the Supreme General’s wife is a crime beyond forgiveness!” “He’s done for! No one in the world can save him now!” The onlookers shouted in unison, their voices ringing with disdain as they regarded Adam as if he were already condemned. Tessa’s face turned pale, panic clear in her wide eyes. She leaned closer to Adam and pleaded in a hushed but frantic tone, “Adam, please, you’re being reckless! Apologize to Wendy before it’s too late!” Even Eleanor, who had been a silent spectator until now, couldn’t hold back her anger. She pointed at Adam and screamed, “You useless idiot! Are you trying to drag us all down with you? Just bow down and apologize already!” Sandra, who had been
The tension in the room was palpable as the murmurs of the crowd grew louder."That man is doomed," someone whispered, their voice dripping with schadenfreude. Others nodded, their faces alight with anticipation, eager to witness Adam’s impending humiliation.But Adam remained unfazed. He smiled faintly and shook his head, his tone calm but cutting. “You’ve brought this upon yourself.”Wendy’s eyes burned with fury. “Still talking back when you’re at death’s door? Daniel, slap him!” she barked, her voice sharp with authority.But no sooner had Wendy finished speaking than the sound of a sharp slap echoed across the room. To everyone’s shock, it wasn’t Adam who had been struck—it was Wendy.A collective gasp swept through the crowd. People stared in disbelief, their eyes darting between Wendy, holding her swollen cheek in shock, and Daniel, whose hand had delivered the blow.“Did he just… slap Wendy?”“Is he insane? Isn’t she the Supreme General’s wife?”Wendy staggered slightly, her h
"Adam, please spare me. I'm so sorry!" Wendy's voice trembled as she fell to her knees, desperation etched across her face.Henry quickly followed suit, his hands clasped together in a pleading gesture. "Yes, Adam. We're sorry. Please forgive us. I promise I won’t do it again."Sandra, shaking visibly, collapsed to the floor. "Please spare me, Mr. Adam," she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper.Brenda, however, tried a different tactic. She forced a small smile, hoping to appeal to Adam’s sense of family. "Adam, we're family. Please forgive us this time. Let bygones be bygones."The shift was almost laughable. Just moments ago, they had been arrogant, looking down on Adam. Now they groveled at his feet, their lives hanging by a thread.Adam’s lips curled into a mocking grin. He had seen this act too many times before. People like them didn’t change. Their apologies were hollow, their promises worthless. He knew that sparing them now would only invite more trouble in the future
Back at the Armand family's residence, Brenda, Wendy, and Henry sat seething, their humiliation still fresh. Their glares could have pierced through stone as they turned their ire toward Adam and Tessa."This is all your fault," Wendy hissed, her face twisted in anger. "If it weren’t for you two, none of this would have happened!""Exactly," Brenda agreed, her tone venomous. "You humiliated us in front of everyone, Adam. Don’t think we’ll forget this."Henry, always quick to follow his mother’s lead, added, "You think you’re so smart, Adam, but you’ll pay for this someday."Adam, lounging casually in his seat, merely smirked at their pathetic attempts to shift the blame. "If you spent half as much time reflecting on your own actions as you do blaming others, maybe you wouldn’t find yourselves in these situations."They fumed but didn’t dare retort further. Deep down, they knew he was right, but their pride wouldn’t allow them to admit it.later that night, Adam went to the room, he ju
Adam slightly turned over and saw Tessa lying, with her back facing him, he thought she was asleep and wrapped his arms around her.she smacked his hand away. "Adam I said goodnight."Adam however grabbed her hand against the bed, rollerd on top of her and locked her with a deep kiss, his hands moved slowly unbottoning her dress.Tessa pushed Adam off her, quickly getting dressed. Her sharp glare fixed on him. "You’ve gone too far."Adam raised an eyebrow, looking at her with mock innocence. "But we’re husband and wife. It’s so uncomfortable for me to hold back every day. Can’t you pity me a little?"Tessa crossed her arms, her expression softening slightly but still firm. "I’m not ready yet. Give me some time. Besides, your legs aren’t even healed."Adam sighed dramatically and lay back down, his face clouded with disappointment."Are you angry?" Tessa asked after a moment, her voice quieter now."No," Adam replied honestly, though his eyes betrayed his frustration. "Just... disappoi
All eyes turned to the entrance, where Tessa made her entrance. Draped in an elegant evening gown that accentuated her striking beauty, she commanded the attention of everyone in the room.As the acknowledged "number one beauty" of Storm City, Tessa’s appearance never failed to captivate. Conversations halted as heads turned, and the atmosphere grew electric.The men in the room, especially, couldn’t hide their stunned expressions. Lustful gazes followed her as murmurs began to rise among them."She’s even more beautiful in person," one guest muttered."But can you believe she married a cripple? What was she thinking?" another whispered, his tone laced with disdain.With her beauty, Tessa could have had any man she desired. She was the kind of woman who could effortlessly marry into one of the four prestigious families, yet here she was—married to a cripple. It was a decision that many found utterly baffling."She was like a rose in the hands of someone who never intended to cherish i
“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