170Victoria’s nails dug into her palm as she glared at Allvar’s retreating figure. Her lips curled into a sneer as she turned to Derek, her voice a low hiss. “Are we really going to let him walk away like that? He just humiliated us in front of everyone!”Derek’s jaw tightened, his gaze still locked on Allvar. “He’s lucky I didn’t smash that smug look off his face,” he growled, slamming the champagne flute onto the nearest table. “We can’t let him get away with this.”“Damn right we can’t.” Victoria’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she took a determined step forward. “He thinks he can talk down to us and just walk away? Not a chance.”Derek grabbed her arm, his grip firm. “What are you planning, Victoria? You can’t just march up to him again and make an even bigger scene.”She yanked her arm free, her glare cutting. “You think I care about a scene? This isn’t over, Derek. Not until that arrogant bastard knows his place.” She spun on her heel, stalking after Allvar
Allvar’s poised demeanor didn’t falter as Derek loomed closer, his face a mask of rage. The room had gone noticeably quieter, the tension between the trio drawing curious glances from nearby guests. Allvar didn’t care. He thrived in moments like these, where his composure became his sharpest weapon. “Enemies, huh?” Derek sneered, his fists clenching at his sides. “Big words for someone who barely got an invite. You think just because you’ve got a fancy suit and a champagne glass, you’re on our level?”Allvar’s gaze flicked to Derek’s fists, then back to his face, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “An invite?” He swirled his champagne, the liquid catching the light. “You seem confused, Derek. I don’t need an invitation to step into a room that was practically built for me.”Victoria barked a laugh, her voice dripping with disdain. “Built for you? Oh, please. You’ve got delusions of grandeur, Allvar. You’re nothing more than an overhyped outsider with a chip on your shoulder.”“Is tha
172“Do you?” Allvar asked, his tone mocking. “Then tell me, Victoria, what exactly do you see? Because from where I’m standing, all I see is a woman so consumed by insecurity that she’s willing to make a scene just to feel important.”The crowd around them began to shift, the balance of power tipping in Allvar’s favor. People were no longer whispering about his audacity but rather about Victoria and Derek’s inability to handle him. “You think you’re untouchable, don’t you?” Victoria hissed, her voice trembling with suppressed rage.“I think,” Allvar said, his voice steady and confident, “that you should consider choosing your battles more wisely. Because if this is your idea of a fight, you’re woefully unprepared.”Derek finally snapped. “That’s it!” he roared, lunging at Allvar again. Derek's roar filled the room as he lunged again, his patience frayed beyond repair. But Victoria stepped in quickly, her arm shooting out to block him. Her nails dug into his forearm as she hissed, “
173Victor Hawthorne, seated at the head of the sleek, modern conference table, surveyed the room of potential clients with a critical eye. The polished surfaces reflected the subtle gold accents that decorated the space, casting a warm glow around the room. His sharp gaze took in the men and women before him, all well-dressed in expensive suits and gowns, their laughter filling the air as they exchanged stories and sipped on fine wine. The soft clinking of glasses and the low murmur of conversation created an almost intimate atmosphere. Victor leaned back in his chair, the dim lighting casting a shadow on his weathered face, and allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. Tonight was supposed to be a success—an evening that solidified his position and strengthened ties with these powerful individuals. Across from him, his brother Reginald, and father of Victoria, a man with a broad frame and graying temples, leaned forward with an easy smile as he raised his glass. The air was thi
174Reginald’s expression turned cold as he stood, setting his glass down with a sharp click. "Damnit, Victor. Not now."Victor’s fury surged like a tidal wave. He warned Derek. He always warned him.His jaw clenched as he stood abruptly, knocking his chair back. The wine in his glass sloshed, but he didn’t notice. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath.“Excuse us,” Victor said to the clients, his tone dismissive. “It seems family matters require my attention. Reginald, come with me.” Without waiting for a response, he stormed out of the room, Reginald at his heels.The door slammed shut behind them, cutting off the hushed murmurs of the clients. The hallway outside was bathed in soft, golden light, but the tension was thick in the air, palpable.As they walked, Victor’s fists clenched at his sides, each step driven by an anger that only grew with each passing second. Reginald remained silent beside him, his face taut with concern."You’d think they’d learn by now," Victo
175The buzz of the crowd grew louder, rippling with shock and intrigue as whispers flitted from guest to guest. Allvar’s audacity had left the room captivated, but for Derek and Victoria, the public humiliation was unbearable. Their faces burned with rage, and Derek’s chest heaved as he tried to suppress the urge to lash out again.“This is my father’s house!” Derek bellowed, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a whip. He stepped closer to Allvar, his eyes wild with fury. “You don’t belong here, and I’m telling you for the last time—get the hell out!”Allvar regarded him with an infuriatingly calm expression, his champagne glass still in hand. He tilted his head, considering Derek’s words as if he were pondering a minor inconvenience. “And what,” Allvar said slowly, his voice dripping with mockery, “if I say no?”The room gasped collectively, the audacity of his reply sending another wave of murmurs through the crowd.“He’s a fool,” someone whispered from the back. “What is he
“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