Inside CEO Joe Sabal's sleek, modern office, tension hangs thick in the air. Joe stands on one side of his polished desk, his brow furrowed with suspicion, as he scrutinizes Marcus Xu, who stands confidently before him."Should I really be wary of him?" Joe ponders silently.He's always been curious about Marcus's ties to the William Group, especially now that associates like Philip and Jaucian are involved with him. Their recent interactions only deepen Joe's intrigue."The two of you really pique my curiosity," he remarks."Curiosity about what?" Marcus responds with an enigmatic smile, meeting Joe's gaze head-on."What exactly were you and Philip up to? Jaucian has been reaching out to me as well, in connection with you," CEO Joe leans forward, his suspicion mounting."Don't tell me..." He hesitates, nerves fluttering as he considers whether uncovering the truth will benefit him. "Are you some hidden heir of the William Group? A secret heir?"Joe watches Marcus closely, noting the
Inside Philip Cheng's office, tension thickened the air like a heavy fog.Marcus, with a steely gaze, sat across from Philip, whose expression was a mask of solemnity.He drummed his fingers impatiently on the armrest of his chair. "Well, Philip? Don't keep me waiting any longer. What do you know about Reyster Sebastian?"Philip's lips tightened into a thin line as he met Marcus's gaze. "He's desperate for credentials and acknowledgment.""As if I didn't know that. I know how to search for information about my enemy too," Marcus scoffed, his patience wearing thin. "I know he has to impress his father, CEO of Jaypark Steel Co., so what tip do you have?"Philip leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Megarev Industrial Co. is on the verge of closing down operations.""So what? Is it Reyster’s fault?" Marcus commented."No. It's the perfect chance to buy the company cheaply. And Jeyster trusted Reyster with the bid to expand their business on hydraulic equipment manufacture. Wh
Marcus stepped into the dining hall, immediately drawn to the lively chatter and the clinking of glasses. His eyes swept the room, noting the well-dressed figures seated around the elegant table.Intentionally arriving late, as instructed by Jaucian, Marcus paused at the entrance, assessing the scene. His gaze fixed on Reyster Sebastian, who occupied the foremost position, deeply engaged in conversation with other businessmen."One day, I will end you," Marcus muttered under his breath before slipping into character.With deliberate confidence, Marcus approached, his posture erect and his expression composed. As he navigated to his seat, he sensed a subtle shift in the room's atmosphere. Whispers ceased, and all eyes pivoted towards him."CEO Gregory, delighted you could join us," Geral Marvo exclaimed, rising from his seat to greet him. The other businessmen followed suit, mirroring Geral’s warmth."It's a pleasure to be here," Marcus replied, shaking hands with each of them in turn.
CEO Carlo Roki stood outside the police station, hesitating as he gazed up at the imposing building. His mind raced with thoughts of the revelation Marcus had shared with him earlier.“Do I really need to do this?” he muttered to himself. However, after a moment of contemplation, he gathered his resolve and stepped forward, pushing open the heavy doors and entering the station.Inside, the atmosphere was tense, with officers bustling about and the faint sound of radios crackling in the background.Carlo approached the front desk and cleared his throat, catching the attention of a nearby officer.“Excuse me, I'm looking for Sergeant Lieutenant Buendiya. Is he available?” he asked.“Buendiya? He's around here somewhere. What's your business with him?” The officer responded, glancing up from his paperwork.“It's... it's regarding a matter of some importance. Is he in his office?”“Yeah, down the hall to your right. Can't miss it.”Carlo nodded gratefully and headed down the hallway, his
At Aurora, the estate where all the nightmares of the son-in-law unfolded, the double found himself in the lap of luxury."Is there anything else you need?" Butler Morgan inquired, setting down a stack of business management books on Marcus's bed.He cast a cautious glance at Marcus, who lounged on the bed, engrossed in a business management book, while the maid, Jaime, fed him grapes."Turn up the air conditioning," Marcus ordered nonchalantly, his gaze fixed on the pages."The air conditioning?" Morgan echoed, unsure, but he complied with Marcus's request.Though outwardly composed, inwardly, Morgan seethed with impatience.Marcus had arrived that morning and had been bossing them around incessantly since. And his demands were anything but ordinary. Marcus had already toggled the air conditioning between low and high settings numerous times, as if it were some sort of game."What? Is there a problem?" Marcus snapped."None, sir," Morgan replied politely, though irritation simmered b
Predicting the likely winner of the presidential election was a daunting task, especially for someone like Marcus Xu, who was more concerned with the entertainment industry than politics. However, he needed to respond logically in front of the chairman, rather than stuttering like Gerald.“Who we will back. Gracestone Group has been playing like thugs just because they were backed by the current president. Let's not make the same mistake,” Gudofredo explained, furrowing his brows as he grew irritated just thinking about their rival's schemes over the years.“We should allocate our campaign funds to the third-ranked candidate,” Marcus Xu said confidently, even though he wasn't entirely sure what he was talking about.“Third? Not the first or second?” Gudofredo looked at him critically.“Yes. The rivalry between the top two is too intense. I believe the people will grow tired of them and instead favor the third candidate,” Marcus reasoned, though internally he couldn't agree with himsel
Carlo Roki's heart thudded like a drumbeat as he stood before the headquarters of Magic Entertainment, Marcus Xu's calling card clutched tightly in his hand."I need to learn more about him first. How did he uncover the truth I've been blinded to for years?" Carlo muttered to himself, his determination to seek justice for his son's death warring with the fear of jeopardizing his other son's future.Marcus Xu seemed like the key to obtaining the justice he sought."CEO Carlo Roki?" A voice pulled Carlo from his thoughts, and he turned to see CEO Joe Sabal approaching him."Do you know me?" Carlo asked, surprised."Yes, I'm familiar with most of William Group's business partners. I'm Joe Sabal, CEO of Magic Entertainment," Joe replied proudly, though Carlo found it odd for an entertainment agency CEO to be acquainted with someone from the manufacturing industry."Nice to meet you," Carlo said, extending his hand for a handshake, causing Joe to notice the calling card he held."Who are y
Marcus scrutinized CEO Carlo Roki from head to toe, observing his posture as Carlo maintained his bowing position, awaiting Marcus's response."I heard your younger son is running for office," Marcus remarked, unsure if Carlo's request was genuine or a prank."Yes, he's running for mayor," Carlo confirmed, straightening his posture with determination evident in his demeanor."Mayor? Does that mean you'll be challenging Jeyster Sebastian?" Marcus inquired."Jeyster is running?" Carlo exclaimed, his fists clenched tightly at the revelation, absorbing more useful information from Marcus."Is that not public knowledge yet?" Marcus pondered, recalling Lucretia's penchant for gossip and her reputation as the family's informant for juicy drama."I need to be cautious here. Those skilled in gossip may uncover my job doubling the son-in-law," Marcus thought to himself, internally noting the need for discretion."No, his candidacy hasn't been announced publicly. And if I had known, I wouldn't h
All the members of the William family glared at Marcus with disapproval. Their silent protests were as loud as thunder, but only Fermina openly expressed her disdain, shouting at him.“What did you do?” she exclaimed.“What? Don’t worry, I’m not interested in taking everything away from you all,” he shrugged. “Is it just as bad for me? A new workload I never asked for?”“Tell me honestly, what are Gudofredo and you planning to do?” Fermina asked, her gaze menacing.This was not part of her plan at all. None of this was what she expected. No one expected this.“Nothing. I’m as shocked as you all, but as a good son-in-law, I’ll do the job well.” Marcus winked and then stepped closer to Fermina and Michael, looking at them contemptuously. “Now, I think your ears are ready to listen to what I have to say.”“We won’t just follow your orders,” Michael said. “I am still the eldest son of this family. You should watch what you say,” he added, though there was a hint of caution in his tone.“L
No one noticed Marcus harshly grabbing Gregory’s wife by the face, as everyone’s attention was on the doctor’s statement.He instantly silenced Margarette with a menacing glare.“Do you know what happens when you treat people like filth? They might end up like Miguel Xu—driven to the point of suicide."“Isn’t dying easier than suffering in poverty?” Margarette innocently replied, failing to empathize with people like the Xu brothers.“Why do I even bother trying to make you understand?” he groaned, releasing her but unable to calm his rage. He badly wanted these people to pay and taste what poverty feels like.“I don’t get what you’re trying to say. Aren’t you a William too?” Margarette said.“Ha! That’s right, I am a William now,” Marcus dryly laughed. He then tried to confirm if everything Margarette said was reliable. “How do you know all of this?”“Mom would usually express her concerns when she thought I was asleep. She talks to herself a lot.”“That’s funny to hear. Fermina is r
Marcus Xu’s face contorted under his bandages as he walked through the hospital hallway, a throng of media and reporters clashing with his security detail, desperate for a statement."Why now? This old man is really a piece of sh*t." Marcus voiced his frustration as soon as he entered the restricted area where the reporters couldn’t follow.“The family is gathered in the lobby,” Butler Morgan reported, trying to ignore Marcus’s grumbling and focus on his duties.“So you called me just to idle?” Marcus asked irritably. “I’ve got a lot of other things to do, you know.”“But Madam Margarette was looking for you.”“So, is Margarette your boss now?”“No, that’s not it,” Morgan stuttered. “It’s just that everyone is here, so I thought you should be here too.”“As if I’m part of this family,” Marcus said, glaring at Morgan.His time was precious, especially with so much to do with catching Reyster Sebastian.Even though he knew the competent Carlos Roki was on the move, he wanted to make sur
While Marcus Xu was determined and focused on catching Reyster Sebastian and uncovering the truth behind his brother’s death, chaos continued between the brothers Michael and Gerald William in Aurora.The grand doors of the William mansion swung open, and in marched the imposing figure of Chairman Gudofredo, his eyes blazing with fury. His once sharp features, now softened by age, contorted in rage as he took in the scene before him.Michael and Gerald, the two heirs to the William empire, were grappling like schoolboys, fists flying and shouts echoing through the ornate hall."Enough!" The chairman's voice thundered, freezing everyone in place.Michael and Gerald, their suits disheveled and their faces flushed, sprang apart, panting."What in god's name do you think you're doing?" the chairman bellowed, his voice reverberating off the marble walls. "You are the CEOs of the William Group, not children in a playground!"Both men stood silent, eyes cast down, avoiding their father's fur
Marcus Xu arrived at the William Securities headquarters. Despite it being Michael William’s territory, the staff treated him with care, aware that Gregory William had equal power in appointing the next chairman of the conglomerate.“Please wait in CEO Michael’s office. We’ll bring all the files you need there,” an associate said.“No. I don’t want to wait,” Marcus bluntly replied as he barged into the headquarters' security control room, startling the staff.“Leave me alone. I’ll call you once I’m done,” he commanded, ignoring the startled looks from everyone around him.“What are you looking for, sir? It will be faster if we navigate it for you,” a security personnel suggested.“No. Everyone leave,” he said sternly, his commanding tone leaving no room for argument.Once alone, Marcus operated the computers with ease, his past experience as a part-time security personnel coming in handy. He quickly navigated through the controls, searching for footage of Miguel Xu meeting Michael Wil
Marcus's heart pounded with intense rage and confusion. He froze in place, struggling to digest the events that led to his brother’s death."Miguel wasn't just devastated because we were poor and I was murdered? He met these bastards? What did they do that pushed Miguel to kill himself?" he mused.He felt like snapping Michael and Gerald's necks as they remained nonchalant, talking casually about the person they killed and the consequences that led to his brother’s suicide.His veins popped out, and his brows knitted in disgust at the vile people in front of him.However, none of his expressions or intense rage would be noticed by the two because of the bandages wrapped around his face. Michael and Gerald were oblivious to the growing hatred within Marcus as they continued to speak casually."Why do you care about that actor and crippled brother? They don't matter. What matters is that you helped me get away from this jackass's scheme. Thanks to you, I was saved from being framed," Mi
At Aurora, the grand estate of the William family, the members gathered in the opulent study room, the tension palpable as they awaited the arrival of Chairman Gudofredo. The ornate room, filled with dark wood and rich leather, seemed to suffocate them under the weight of the scandal that had befallen the William Group.Ruben, the chairman's brother, lounged in a leather armchair, swirling a glass of brandy. His eyes darted around the room, assessing the anxiety etched on everyone’s faces."Well, isn't this a charming family gathering," he remarked with a sardonic grin. "I wonder which one of us will be the sacrificial lamb today."Lucretia, Ruben’s wife, sat primly beside him, her lips pursed in disapproval. "Ruben, this is serious. The company's reputation is at stake, and all you can do is make jokes."Emily, the wife of the eldest son, Michael, stood near the fireplace, her arms crossed defensively. "Perhaps if certain people had been more discreet, we wouldn't be in this mess," s
Jeyster Sebastian stood in his office, glaring at the mirror as his team bustled around him, preparing for the press conference. The weight of the latest scandal pressed heavily on him. His hands shook slightly as he adjusted his tie, trying to mask his anger and anxiety. The media had already crowded the hall outside, with cameras flashing and reporters shouting questions."Mr. Sebastian," his secretary, Killiman, approached cautiously, his face pale. "There's another problem."Jeyster's heart sank. He turned to him, his eyes narrowing. "What now?""Reyster caused a scene at the William Group conference," Killiman said, his voice trembling. "He barged in, accusing Gerald William of framing him. It’s all over the news already."Jeyster felt a surge of rage. "That idiot! He's making everything worse!" He slammed his fist on the table, making everyone in the room jump. "We need to fix this. Now."He barked orders to his employees. "Double-check the statements, make sure the press kit is
The grand ballroom of the Sunrise Hotel was filled with investors, executives, and media personnel, all buzzing with anticipation.Marcus Xu, disguised as Gregory William, stood confidently on the stage, his bandaged face hiding a sinister smile.The moment he'd been waiting for had arrived.“Let me in!”The crowd gasped, and security immediately moved to intercept Reyster Sebastian the moment he barged into the conference hall. He pushed through them with frenzied strength."Gerald William! Where are you?" Reyster shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. No longer intimidated by Gregory William, he furiously searched for Gerald. His disheveled appearance drew whispers and curious glances from the attendees. Wearing only a robe and slippers, he stood in stark contrast to the polished, high-powered crowd."Gerald William!" Reyster shouted again, his voice echoing through the ballroom. "Show yourself, you coward!"Marcus Xu stepped forward, gripping the microphone tightly. "Ladies and