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
Inside the office of Jaypark Steel Corporation's headquarters, CEO Jeyster Sebastian sat behind a polished mahogany desk, his expression unreadable.Towering windows framed the city skyline, casting long shadows across the room's elegant furnishings.His son, Reyster Sebastian, stood rigidly before him, feeling the weight of his father's gaze."How's the progress in acquiring Megarev?" Jeyster Sebastian asked, studying his son intently."It's going well, father," Reyster replied, swallowing nervously.Jeyster leaned back in his chair, his gaze piercing. "Do I have to call you here just to hear those few words?""No. I believe we're making significant headway. Global investors have shown interest, but I'm confident they'll withdraw once they realize Megarev's staggering debt will cap its value," Reyster reported, straightening his posture.Reyster worked hard to maintain confidence, aware that his father was evaluating his readiness to take over the company.Inwardly, he fretted about
At William Construction headquarters, Marcus Xu, masquerading as the fake Gregory William, finally stepped onto the main battlefield of the William Group's corporate world.Employees and staff greeted him with respect, which surprised Marcus, considering he knew the pathetic side of Gregory William whenever he visited Aurora as the son-in-law."Every business decision and management directive will come from us. Your role is simply execution," Philip Cheng said, walking beside him."Sure. As if I have a choice," Marcus replied dryly.Philip Cheng led him on a tour of the headquarters, briefing him on everything he needed to know to maintain the charade of being Gregory William.The entire tour was tedious for Marcus, but something unexpected greeted him as he approached Gregory's office."Good morning, sir," a voluptuous woman greeted him in a seductive tone."What's good about the morning?" Marcus responded coldly, instantly creating tension in the air. He glanced at the woman from he
Elissa returned to the CEO's office, clutching the distilled water she'd fetched from the ground floor. Each step fueled her determination to seduce the wealthy man behind the door. But as she pushed it open, her heart sank.The sleek office she'd left moments ago now resembled a war zone.Furniture lay upturned, papers littered the floor, and the pristine space had been ravaged."What on earth happened here?" Elissa gasped, her shock palpable as she placed the water on the nearest surface.Marcus, seemingly unperturbed amid the chaos, shrugged. "Looks like a bit of a mess, doesn't it?""Did you do this?" Elissa's incredulity dripped from her words. It seemed inconceivable that someone could wreak such havoc in such a short time."Does it matter?" Marcus's indifference stung in his reply.Elissa's patience waned, but she knew she had to remain composed to reach her goal."Should I call the janitor to clean this up?""No," Marcus's tone brooked no argument. "You'll clean it up."Elissa
Elissa Ramsey's eyes quivered as she stared straight at the masked man before her."You're joking, right?" she nervously questioned, hoping against hope that this was all just some twisted prank.But as she watched his brown eyes darken, a chill ran down her spine. It was then that she realized she wasn't playing a game; she was in a dangerous situation, teetering on the edge of an abyss.Where had her confidence vanished to now?"They said Gregory was a pushover. That damn Sebastian gave me the wrong information," she grumbled inwardly, regretting ever attempting to seduce a man she had thought was an easy target."No, I'm not kidding," Marcus's voice dripped with sinister intent. "We can make anyone disappear without a trace.""But William isn't like that. Your reputation was clean and—""A clean reputation doesn't equate to clean morals. Do you want me to show you the other side of William?" Marcus's tone brooked no argument."N-no. I'm sorry. I didn't... I'm sorry. Please, it hurt
"What happened here?" Philip Cheng asked as soon as he returned to the CEO’s office. His tone was assertive, but his expression betrayed no hint of shock."It was in a much worse state earlier," Marcus replied, his attention absorbed in memorizing lines for his acting project."Are you that bored?" Philip sighed, reluctantly using the intercom to call for a clerk to clean the office."Nah, I'm working harder than you think," Marcus said, flipping through his script."What do you mean?" Philip asked, moving furniture to sit across from Marcus."You haven't heard from HR, have you?" Marcus glanced at Philip briefly."What else is there to hear? The clerk met the standards; she just needs a bit of refinement in her manners," Philip shrugged."What manners? A less than professional demeanor?" Marcus snorted."This isn't your playground, so please behave," Philip said sternly."So, you're not interested in what I found out about the clerk?" Marcus asked, indifferent to whether his knowledg
Marcus Xu entered the film location where he'll shoot his debut web series.Dressed in a casual yet stylish outfit, he exuded confidence as he made his way through the set, greeting each staff member with warmth.“Good morning! It's a pleasure to meet you all,” he said, his smile as charming as ever.The crew, taken aback by his friendly approach, returned his greeting with surprised smiles.“Hey there! Nice to meet you,” he said, extending his hand to a crew member setting up lights, who reciprocated with a smile.“Good to meet you too, Marcus. We're excited to work with you,” a crew member responded.He then paused to engage with the makeup artist. “Please make me look really handsome later,” he remarked.“Oh boy, you’re already handsome.,” the makeup artist replied, her words tinged with a bit of awkwardness but still continuing to smile sweetly at him.Marcus chatted with the make-up artist for a moment before spotting the production assistant. He rose to greet him with the same w
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