166Derek descended the grand staircase, his polished shoes clicking against the marble steps as he approached the glittering ballroom below. The space was alive with movement—women in flowing gowns and men in tailored suits mingled beneath a cascade of crystal chandeliers. The low hum of conversation mixed with the clinking of glasses and the soft strains of a string quartet in the corner. Derek’s eyes immediately scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces.His father, Victor, stood near the center of the room, commanding attention as he spoke with an air of authority. Beside him was Victoria’s father, Richard, his deep laugh carrying over the noise of the gathering. Victoria stood nearby, her gold dress shimmering under the light as she sipped champagne, her expression carefully neutral but her sharp eyes surveying the room.As Derek approached, Victor spotted him and gestured sharply for him to come over. “Derek,” Victor said, his voice loud and commanding. “Come meet some o
167The grandeur of the place overwhelmed Allvar the moment he stepped inside. The chandeliers, resembling cascading frozen waterfalls, cast a warm golden glow across the polished floors and the flowing gowns of the elite. Soft jazz music hummed in the background, blending seamlessly with the lively chatter of laughter and clinking glasses.Allvar lingered awkwardly at the edge of the room, his fingers brushing against a waiter’s tray as he grabbed a glass of champagne. He sipped it, letting the bubbles fizz on his tongue, though it did little to settle the knot of tension in his stomach. His eyes swept over the crowd, searching for any familiar faces, but the sea of strangers only heightened his discomfort. *Everyone here looks like they belong,* he thought bitterly, adjusting the lapels of his suit that felt too tight, too unfamiliar.Determined not to appear like an outsider, he took a breath and stepped further into the crowd. The sound of conversation buzzed in his ears, a stark
Derek’s sharp voice cut through the tension hanging in the air. “Is there a problem here?”Allvar’s eyes flicked toward Derek, the man who had just entered the conversation. The moment Derek’s gaze met his, Allvar could see the recognition—though it was followed by a mix of confusion and disdain.Derek’s expression shifted from one of curiosity to outright shock. “What the hell are you doing here?” he spat, his voice laced with disbelief. “This is a private event, not some free-for-all. How’d you manage to sneak in? Didn’t think people like you could afford an invite.”Victoria’s eyes narrowed as Derek’s words settled, the smirk returning to her lips. She tilted her head, taking a step back as though she could sense the shift in power. “Looks like you’ve got some explaining to do, Allvar,” she taunted. “It’s not exactly a place for... well, people like you.”Allvar stood there for a beat, his gaze never leaving Derek. He could feel the familiar knot of frustration twisting in his gut,
“Mr. Falck,” the man in the center said without looking at Allvar's face. “I can't accept you to work for my company.”The man looked busy with the cell phone he kept playing.Allvar frowned, but he tried to calm himself down."It was like a trick in the interview, he was testing me." Allvar thought."Sir, you didn't even touch the application file I brought. Please trust me, you'll be satisfied with it..." Allvar said with a calm tone. As a student graduated from a reputable university, he was confident with himself.However, for some unknown reason, however, in the past 2 months he has been repeatedly rejected when looking for a job. Those people also looked down on him, not even willing to take a look at his resume."Why should I look at it? Even without me looking, I already know what's in it. So I don't need to waste my time going through that useless file."The man said arrogantly, ignoring Allvar's words.Allvar was angry, but he still tried to remain his anger and said with pa
Chapter 2:Allvar’s world collapsed around him, but his heart wasn’t ready to surrender. His hands clenched into fists, and before he could stop himself, he yelled, “Serena! What the hell is this?”The sound of his voice cut through the room. Serena and the man jerked away from each other, their faces a mix of shock and guilt. Serena’s eyes widened in panic as she scrambled to cover herself with the bedsheet.“Allvar! It’s… it’s not what it looks like,” Serena stammered, her voice shaky, but her eyes flickered with fear. She started to reach out to him, but the man beside her sat up, his face calm and collected, as if he had been expecting this.Allvar’s gaze burned with anger. “Not what it looks like? Are you serious? How could you, Serena?”Serena’s panic quickly shifted to frustration. She glanced at the man beside her before looking back at Allvar, her expression hardening. “Allvar, you don’t understand. You’re never here, always running around with your head in the clouds, thinki
Chapter 3The man laughed, a deep, condescending sound that echoed in the room. "You still don’t get it, do you, Allvar?" he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "It’s not about love or loyalty. It’s about power, money. You’re a fool if you think Serena was ever going to stay with a broke dreamer like you."Allvar’s fists clenched tighter, the urge to wipe that smug grin off the man’s face almost overwhelming. "Shut your mouth," Allvar hissed, his voice shaking with rage. "You think money gives you the right to destroy lives?"The man raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Destroy lives? I’m simply offering Serena a better one. Something you clearly can’t provide. It’s not personal, kid, it’s just reality."Serena stood between them, her back to the man, facing Allvar with cold determination. "He’s right, Allvar. You’ve been living in a fantasy, thinking your dreams would magically turn into something real. But this... this is real. He can give me what I need. What I deserve."
Chapter 4Allvar stood frozen on the sidewalk, watching the older man step out of the luxury car. His heart raced as he recognized him, Mr. Lorentz, his neighbor of several years. But how? The man had never been wealthy. In fact, he had always seemed like a regular, unassuming old man living next door. Now, here he was, stepping out of a car that probably cost more than Allvar had ever made in his entire life."Mr. Lorentz?" Allvar's voice cracked, barely believing what he was seeing. "What are you doing here? What’s going on?"To Allvar’s utter shock, Mr. Lorentz walked up to him with a calm but respectful air. The older man bowed slightly, his expression serious but respectful. “Young master,” he greeted him, voice low and steady. “Please, come with me.”Allvar blinked, his head spinning. “Young master?” he repeated, bewildered. “What the hell are you talking about? This—this has to be some kind of joke, right?”The older man straightened, his face unreadable. “I assure you, young
Chapter 5Allvar’s head spun as he stared at his father, seated comfortably on the luxurious couch. His father, who he hadn’t seen in what felt like years, looked perfectly at ease in the lavish surroundings. For a moment, Allvar couldn’t speak. The weight of the moment, his confusing arrival, the strange behavior of Mr. Lorentz, and now, the sight of his father, felt like too much to process.His voice finally broke the silence, shaky and filled with confusion. "Dad? What…what are you doing here? Why…why didn’t you tell me anything about this?" He waved his hand, motioning at the grand villa.His father smiled warmly, leaning back in his seat. "Allvar, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. There’s something you need to know, and I think now’s the right time. You’ve graduated from college now, and it’s time you learned the truth.""The truth?" Allvar repeated, bewildered. "What truth? None of this makes any sense! Mr. Lorentz is driving a luxury car and bowing to me, cal