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
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