Benjamin smiled with satisfaction, content with the capabilities of the twenty individuals before him. Subsequently, he initiated the formation of a group named "Shallow River."The nucleus of our group consisted of the two individuals we pinpointed, while the guiding figures steering the group were indeed the initial three people Albert had mentioned earlier on in our conversation."Shallow River essentially operates as a collective, where all members contribute to the overarching objective. However, the primary goal of the collective is not determined through joint decision-making; only I have the authority to set it," Benjamin explained emphatically.Nods circulated among the group. There was no dissent regarding the party's vision and mission; their commitment to Benjamin had been previously affirmed. In that moment, an unspoken vow echoed within each of them – a pledge not to oppose Benjamin.A smile played on Benjamin's lips as he snapped his fingers, his tone firm as he added,
The woman resisted, yanking her hand forcefully until it slipped free from the man's grip. In retaliation, she delivered a resounding and furious slap across his face."Don't push me any further!" she warned, pointing her index finger directly at the tip of his nose. "I've made myself clear; we're done! You and I have nothing more than a friendship. Don't compel me to ruin whatever remains of our amicable connection!""I don't care!" The man snapped so loudly that his saliva flew in all directions. "You dumped me unilaterally, I never agreed with your decision! Now, however, you must get back to my apartment."The girl regarded her ex-boyfriend with disdain, then sneered, "Return to your apartment? Huh, don't even dream! Honestly, I'm certain none of the girls in the world would want to live with you. Your rude and forceful behavior utterly lacks any respect for women. I'm done with you!"As she spoke, the man's nostrils emitted a smoky breath. He glared at the woman fiercely and prom
Hearing his nephew's name mentioned, Fabian choked on his saliva.'For God's sake, what's that little brat up to? Out of all the millions of people he could have offended, why did he choose to offend Master Frost?' Fabian muttered to himself.Fabian coughed, clearing his throat of any lingering irritation, and then asked, "Mr. Frost, if it turns out to be my nephew, I wouldn't hesitate to lay down a hefty punishment. But can you be absolutely sure it's Darvis Luther?""I'm pretty darn sure he's your nephew, Mr. Luther. He even had the audacity to boast that he's the nephew of a big-shot politician – none other than you," Benjamin responded, shooting a sidelong grin at Darvis.Fabian silently cursed, fed up with his meddlesome nephew who seemed to revel in stirring up trouble. Despite it all, he couldn't deny the love he harbored for Darvis; after all, blood was thicker than water.However, Fabian loved his nuclear family much more. Therefore, Fabian decided to do one thing he had neve
Darvis pondered for a moment, his thoughts treading cautiously. He felt as though he were walking on fragile eggshells, navigating a precarious situation.On one hand, complying with Benjamin's request would shatter his pride.But, on the other hand, not complying could tarnish his family name.Plus, his uncle sounded very angry. Darvis should not have his name removed from the Luther family just because of this shabby-looking man in front of him.Darvis stared down at Benjamin's worn-out shoes, a shiver running through him. There was not a single force in the universe that could make Darvis willingly stoop to kissing Benjamin's feet. Unfortunately, this was not the moment for him to dwell on ego and pride. The stakes were higher – his standing within the Luther family hung in the balance if he failed to heed Benjamin's commands.A soft growl escaped the man. However, with a heavy heart, he begrudgingly knelt before Benjamin, his body tense and unyielding. Darvis' hands were clenched
Aria looked at him with interest and hope, asking, "If you offer me a job, I am very interested! Mr. Frost, I need money right now."Witnessing her eagerness, Benjamin grinned with satisfaction. Convincing the girl seemed to require little effort."Yes, I am offering you a promising job," Benjamin said. "Moreover, this job seems to suit your background. I need a woman who can work on complex matters without missing a single detail. Do you have that ability?"Aria quickly responded, "No worries, Mr. Frost, you can always count on me for such tasks. I've completed three semesters of my management studies with nearly perfect grades. The only catch is that I lack sufficient work experience after graduating. I've only worked for one company, and that's Darvis' company."Benjamin waved his arm. "It's not a problem if you don't have enough experience. My organization is also recently formed, so you won't encounter any heavy complex matters in the short future. This will be a great place to g
Darvis' steps became heavier as his heart beat faster. Darvis was about to turn around and leave when his eyes saw two bodyguards opening a large door in front of him."Step on in, Young Master," Matthew beckoned, ushering Darvis to enter ahead.Darvis swallowed hard. Steeling himself, he followed Matthew into the family meeting room. The room housed a lengthy table with a dozen chairs behind it. At the forefront stood a grand throne chair adorned with a carved dragon, symbolizing the head of the Luther family. The ambiance felt less like a casual family gathering and more like a courtroom.The moment the door creaked open, every gaze in the room pivoted towards Darvis.It was clear that a bunch of folks from the family had already snagged their seats, with only a lone empty chair hanging out next to Daniel Luther – obviously kept warm for Darvis.Darvis walked towards the chair. Cold sweat ran down his temples from the stares of the people who felt like they were skinning him. When D
Darvis' eyes widened. Although Darvis was still very young, he had read the history of the big families in Aristo Heights. And the biggest and most legendary among the other families was the Frost family.Now, Darvis understood why Timothy and Fabian were so angry when they heard that he had offended Benjamin. Apparently, it was because Benjamin was the last family member with magical abilities. Darvis' lips were sealed tightly. He really couldn't say anything else. Darvis' body shook violently, realizing who the person he was dealing with was."Now you understand, right, why do you have to receive punishment?" Timothy asked.Darvis gulped his saliva with difficulty as if something was blocking his throat. Darvis turned his head toward the long table where the entire Luther family sat and watched him kneel before his grandfather. He looked at them one by one as if he wanted to ask for help. However, he knew very well that there was no way anyone would help after they heard the story o
"You still have the audacity to contradict me?" Daniel glared directly into his son's eyes. "Damn it! You've brought immense trouble upon the Luther family and me, and yet you dare to deflect any blame. Who the hell taught you this cowardice?"Darvis clutched his flushed and throbbing cheeks, refraining from uttering a single word. The tension hung heavy in the air as he remained silent.Meanwhile, Daniel rubbed his face in frustration. Throughout his entire parenting journey, he rarely resorted to such a violent approach to education.Yet, he believed that the only fitting punishment for Darvis was ten lashes and a resounding slap across the face.This kid had enjoyed bullying others far too much; there were still a few lessons he needed to learn."Darvis, even before today, you've managed to stir up quite a bit of trouble with your antics involving women. This is the pinnacle, and I reckon it's high time I set some boundaries for you," Daniel stated with a serious demeanor.In that