Vivian’s voice boomed once again. “Tell me where Tedmond is! If anything happens to my grandson, you will regret it! Harold!” she shouted. “Come here now!”In less than a minute, Harold hurried down the stairs to face his mother. “What’s going on, Mother?”“Where is Tedmond?” Vivian asked.Running his hand through his hair, Harold sighed. “Mom…”“Where is he?”Harold glanced at Evelyn, and from the look on her face, he could tell what had happened. He turned his gaze back to his mother. “He left home.”Vivian frowned. “Tedmond would never do that. Max said he was kicked out of the house. I’m sure that’s what happened.”Harold scowled at Max. “Was he rude, Mother?”“Yes, son! He said a lot of terrible things about Tedmond!” Vivian replied.Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, Harold sighed. “I’ll punish him later, alright, Mother? You should go upstairs and rest. I’ll help you find Tedmond.”Hearing that, Vivian was finally relieved. “Since Tedmond will be coming home soon, I can
Everyone turned to Finn, and so did Tedmond, who had no idea why he was being challenged. Challenging Tedmond to a duel meant that everyone in the class had to stop what they were doing to clear the area and even invite students from other courses.The classmates glared at Finn, disdain written all over their faces.“Get out!” One of the guys, holding out a shirt for Tedmond to sign, snapped. “Why would you say that at the wrong time?”“There’s no way we’re missing a chance to get Kanis's autograph for some stupid duel,” another added.“Give it up!” a girl said. “Don’t ruin my chances of having Kanis touch my headphones and handkerchief, leaving his scent on them.”The murmurs grew louder as the students voiced their complaints one after the other.“How dare you talk to me like that?!” Finn yelled. “I’m the backbone of this class! Without me, none of you would even be here!”Tedmond’s brows furrowed.“This isn’t high school anymore, Finn. Grow up.”“We all know Tedmond got a perfect s
The frowns on Tedmond and Kyle’s faces deepened as they watched Max.“What are you doing here?” Kyle asked, his tone dripping with irritation. “You called me a lowlife and insulted my family! What the heck are you doing here if my family isn’t as rich as yours?”Max gritted his teeth. “What are you talking about? Aren’t we friends? Why can’t I be here when Tedmond is here? Aren’t you supposed to be friends with me instead of him?!”Kyle looked away. “Our friendship ended when you called me a lowlife and insulted my family.”Max’s face twisted in confusion. “You’re joking, right?”“What makes you think I’m joking?” Kyle asked. “You insulted me and my family just because I told the truth—that you were lying.”Tedmond sighed and stepped away, leaving them to talk. He knew Kyle and Max argued and fought a lot, but they usually made up within a week. It hadn’t even been that long since their last quarrel.It wouldn’t surprise him if they patched things up, and Kyle ended up tossing him and
Anticipation hung in the air as Mrs. Karishin walked towards the front door. It opened, revealing her elegant figure. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the balloons, a cake, loads of decorations, and her portrait displayed in the center.Though surprised to see a party, she had no clue what was happening.“What the heck is this?” she asked, attempting politeness, but her tone came out demanding.Oliver, Liam, Noah, and James flinched, regretting their decision to enter the mansion. However, Kyle and Tedmond weren’t as shaken. Kyle was beaming, while Tedmond remained expressionless.“Mom!” Kyle squealed like a little kid. “You’re here!”Mrs. Karishin’s gaze shifted to Tedmond, who held a bow and arrow.“Hello, Mrs. Karishin,” Tedmond muttered. Kyle had hastily handed him the bow and arrow when they saw her arriving on camera."Shoot the balloon at the top," he’d instructed.Mrs. Karishin glanced around at the decorations, her brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of it all.“Is
Tedmond’s lips pressed into a thin line. He knew the Griffins were plotting against him, but he hadn’t expected it to be something like this. Max smirked, the expression on his face clearly saying it was all part of their plan.Silence hung in the air before the room erupted into murmurs.Liam and the others were stunned by the sudden turn of events, rushing towards Tedmond. But one glance from him stopped them in their tracks. Tedmond didn’t want them dragged into his mess.“How could he steal a diamond necklace and switch it with a fake?”“I thought he was from a respectable family, especially since Mrs. Karishin recognized him.”“Turns out he’s just a con artist who took advantage of Kyle and swiped the necklace.”“Did he think no one would notice?”“How did he even manage to steal it? If he walked right past us, what else might he have taken?”The guests stared at Tedmond with contempt.“I didn’t do it.” Tedmond’s calm voice sliced through the murmurs. “I have no reason to steal m
Tedmond turned his head to look at Max and Maxine. Both of them glared at him with pure resentment.Walking over to Mrs. Karishin, Tedmond brushed past his half-siblings. They both stared at him like they wouldn’t hesitate to cut his throat if given the chance.“What are you talking about?” Tedmond asked. “I bought this necklace last night for Mrs. Karishin’s birthday.”Truthfully, he had asked Thomas to prepare the gift since he had no idea what a woman would like. Thomas had chosen it to suit the taste of the Karishin family.Maxine raised her hand, pointing an accusing finger at him. “You! How dare you do that to Grandmother?! She treated you better than anyone else in the house, and you dared steal from her!”“You ungrateful brat!” Max yelled, the memory of how he had been treated the day before flashing through his mind. “How dare you?! Now that you’ve stolen her necklace, she’ll hate you for good.”Tedmond raised his brows. “But I don’t have a grandmother.”Everyone at the party
The emerald dangled from Vivian’s neck, sparkling in the light. The necklace caught everyone’s attention, including Tedmond's. He had thought Max lied about their grandmother having the necklace, but she indeed wore the same one.“What’s wrong, grandson?” Vivian asked. “Are you mad at me for not being there for you when Max and Maxine treated you wrongly? Don’t worry, I will take care of them. Just give your grandmother a hug.”Tedmond tried to keep a straight face. He didn’t want to speak to her. Although she was acting all kind toward him now, it was only in the present. In the past, she had resented him for being an illegitimate child, often telling him to his face that she didn’t consider him her grandson and only acknowledged Max.She had starved him since he was a baby, waiting for him to die, but Maxine's nanny had been kind enough to feed him. As long as he could remember, if his grandmother was home, he wouldn’t have anything to eat or drink unless he stole from the kitchen
Max flinched as all eyes turned to him, sweat forming on his face. "I didn’t steal the necklace," he insisted. "Someone must have tried to frame me."Tedmond’s lips curled. When he brushed past Max to get to Mrs. Karishin, he slipped the necklace into Max’s pocket. Since Max wasn’t paying attention, he didn’t notice when Tedmond planted it there.Tedmond already knew Max had placed the necklace on him and that he had returned it to the person who had originally stolen it."How dare you try to frame Tedmond after stealing from us?!" Kyle yelled. "Not only did you threaten me, but you also stole from me."Mrs. Karishin sighed, rubbing her forehead as the diamond necklace was presented to her. "This is the real one.""Oh my God, I can't believe Max stole from the Karishins.""Is that why he said the Griffins were above the Karishins? Was it because they were getting a contract with Xinca?""He tried to shift the attention onto Tedmond so that no one would think to search him.""Thanks to