“You bastard!” Andrew shouted while the rest of the family stood there, stunned. He ran up to Jason and lunged at him, but Jason swiftly dodged his blow and backed away. Andrew tried to hit him again, but Diana quickly inserted herself in between the two."Andrew, please, let’s be civil," Diana pleaded.Her small gesture warmed Jason’s heart; it was practically the first time she was defending him in front of her family.“Civil? There’s no being civil to animals like him; how do you leave your wife for a year when she’s pregnant to do God-knows-what?"Andrew spat.Diana hadn’t shown anyone the message except Christopher and her father. A small part of her knew that it was strange, so she still had a little hope he would return.She knew that if she had told her entire family, they would jump at the opportunity and not only celebrate but also start looking for a new husband for her.“Jason didn’t know that I was pregnant,” Diana uttered softly.“That’s no excuse for leaving; I mean, he
Diana’s expression was sombre, and Jason looked at her with worry.“What was Andrew going on about?” Jason questioned."It's nothing, Jason." Diana dismissed him, turned off the bedroom lights, and then got into bed.“Really? So the future of your family is nothing?” Jason said, turning the light back on.“Andrew was just exaggerating. Please let me sleep. I'm very tired,” she said, then turned the light back off.Jason turned it on again, making Diana groan in frustration. "Jason, for God’s sake, stop being a child and let me..." Diana was interrupted by Lana’s cries. “Oh no!” she exclaimed, cupping her face on her palms.She turned to face Jason, her face twisted in anger. “You see what you did?" she pointed at the baby crib. “It's going to take me forever to put her back to sleep."Jason took a good look at his wife; the dark circles that sat under her eyes were a testament to all the stress she had gone through.Raising the baby all on her own these past few months couldn’t have b
Jason stood there, stunned. The same Elysian Syndicate that the Sinclair’s were counting on to save their company? He couldn’t believe it."Timothy, this is incredible," he said with a wide grin on his face. He didn’t even realise it when he embraced Timothy out of excitement."Oh, young master," Timothy said shyly.Jason quickly let him go, then cleared his throat. “So I'm assuming that Grey’s bought the company?”“Yes, your grandfather understands your reservations about coming home, and he would like for you to at least practice ownership of a company with the Elysian Syndicate.”Jason’s eyes widened. “He wants me to practice with one of the biggest companies in the country? He couldn’t have bought a MacDonalds."Timothy stifled a laugh. "Well, Grey Enterprises is much bigger than the Elysian Syndicate, so it makes sense that he would want you to start with it.”“This is great news, Timothy.”"Yeah, young master, I’ll send you the contact information of Amelia Steele; she is the ch
Jason sat there dazed, his mind reeling from Martin’s audacious proposal. He couldn’t believe what this bastard had just told him. He gritted his teeth in anger.“I know you’ve never seen so much money at once, so there’s no need for you to pretend with me." Martin continued, “If you take the money and let me have my way with her, then the partnership will be secured.”Jason was livid. This bastard put a measly price of five thousand dollars on his priceless Diana. This was the last straw.Jason masked his anger with a tight smile. “Will you excuse me for just a second?” he said, rising to leave the table.Martin smiled, thinking that Jason was about to accept his offer.Jason went into the men’s bathroom and dialed Amelia Steele’s number. It rang twice before the call connected.“Hello, am I speaking with Amelia Steele?” he said.“Yes, this is she. Mr. Grey, is that you?”Jason paused. Timothy must’ve already given her my number, he thought."Yes, this is Jason Grey.”“Good Evening S
Early the next morning, Jason took the bus to the Elysian Sybdicate. The grand building stood nine stories high. It stood out in the city with its elegant columns and sleek glass surfaces.He entered the building and used the elevator to go straight up to the top floor.He got out and started to walk towards Amelia’s office. He was stopped in his tracks by the secretary calling out to him.“Excuse me, sir," she shouted.Jason turned back and walked towards her desk. The woman was probably in her late twenties. A scowl was present on her lips as she looked at Jason. “You can’t go in without an appointment.”Jason smiled politely and said, “Good morning, miss..." He looked at her name tag, " Tammy, I don’t need an appointment to see Ms. Amelia; she’s already expecting me, I assure you. ”“Sir, your assurance means nothing to me." She chuckled bitterly. “You really expect me to believe that you.” She waved a hand up and down and sized him up with her eyes. “Have an appointment with Ameli
“Good morning to you too, Andrew,” Jason said sarcastically.Andrew rolled his eyes at Jason. “Answer my question, Jason." Andrew insisted.“I came to look for a job." Jason liedAndrew burst into laughter when he heard that "you," he pointed at him, “came to look for a job at the Elysian Syndicate.”“Yes, why’s that so funny?” Jason shrugged.“Jason, you don’t even qualify to scrub the toilets here,” Andrew snarled."Well, you never know," Jason said with a smirk playing on his lips that annoyed Andrew.“I don't have time for your nonsense today, Jay Jay,” he said the mocking nickname, then pushed past Jason, deliberately bumping him in the shoulder in the process.Jason was sure that he was going to try and strike a deal with Amelia. He wanted to stay and watch Andrew fail, but he had to hurry back to Diana and encourage her to see Amelia.Leaving the building, Jason crossed the road, oblivious to the black Ford speeding towards him. The sound of screeching tyres filled the air, and
Diana looked at her father. In disbelief, she let out a dry chuckle. “You can't be serious.”Andrew grinned “The good news just keeps coming,” he whispered to his brother Noah.Jason’s fist tightened, and his jaw clenched. How the hell could Stephen use this celebratory moment to deliver such news?Everyone else was either shocked or amused by Stephen's announcement. A coy smoke was present on Andrew’s lips.“I'm being very serious; I wouldn't joke about such a thing.” Stephen stated “As I said, I'll give you a week to think it over. Congratulations again!” He took a sip of his champagne and then left the room as though he didn't just drop a bomb.Annette followed behind him without saying a word. Diana's brothers congratulated her and then left awkwardly, leaving Diana and Jason alone.“What the fuck?" Dans exclaimed, “Why is he doing this to us?" Her mind raced as she replayed her father's words in her mind over and over.Jason looked at his wife with concern. He knew that ever sinc
Jason stood there, his heart pounding. He silently prayed that Amelia would come up with a good lie.“He's just a friend of mine,” Amelia said. “You don't know him.”“Are you sure? He looked familiar,” Amara insisted.“Did you come all the way here to interrogate me?” Amelia said it in a playful tone.Amara laughed. “No, I actually wanted to talk about an event…"Jason let out a breath of relief and hurriedly climbed up the stairs to the penthouse. He unlocked the door and sat in the living room, anxiously waiting for Timothy and Reuben to arrive.After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door. Jason unlocked the door, and the two men greeted him and then walked in.“Is there a problem, Young Master?” Timothy said that concern was present in his voice.“Yeah, sir, what's the issue? You didn't even say hello in the message." Reuben added, trying to lighten the mood.“There are two matters that we need to discuss, but first, can you two just call me by my name instead of Sir or Youn
One month later.A month and some change had passed since Jason’s enemies were arrested.Roland pleaded guilty. With the help of Jason Lawyers, he managed to secure a relatively lenient sentence of 10 years, given his cooperation in exposing his associates crimes.Andrew also pleaded guilty, but his sentence was far harsher due to the severity of his actions. He received 20 years, with no possibility of parole for the first 15.As for Stefan and Kent, neither had pleaded guilty. Both were currently in jail awaiting trial, their faces a permanent fixture in the news. Stefan’s crimes were so extensive and damning that it was widely believed he might never spend another day outside of prison walls.Kent’s situation, while not as severe as Stefan’s, was no less grim. By the time he eventually walked free, he’d be nearing Roland’s current age if not older.As one could imagine, public trust in the Syndicate had plummeted, and Jason had spent nearly every waking moment trying to sweep up th
The museum was dimly lit, the natural light from the large windows muted by heavy curtains. Jason stood at the centre of the room, his posture calm, almost casual, as he faced Stefan Sinclair. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, the kind that seemed to make even time stand still.As both men stared at each other, they realised that this was the first time they were alone together since that unfateful morning that Jason had walked into the police station and into Stefan’s trap.And both men wanted to make sure this would be their last meeting.Jason broke the silence, his voice laced with mock amusement. “Well, dear ex-father-in-law, do you want to start the heart-to-heart now? Or do you prefer we warm up with some small talk first?”Stefan’s face twisted with barely contained fury. He had come into the museum intending to play the role of the civil patriarch before finishing Jason off, but Jason’s smug demeanour was unbearable. The words burst out of him before he co
Five minutes. It had only been five minutes since Jason Grey walked into the dining hall like a celebrity meeting his doting fans—and haters, Just five minutes, yet so much had already happened.Mildred, Richard, and even Damien made up the population of Jason’s fan club. They were utterly charmed by him; his every move, expression, his tailored Armani suit, his impeccable poise, and his air of quiet confidence had disarmed them completely. However, Jason hadn’t charmed them in the five minutes he’d been there. They became charmed much earlier when he told them his true identity. Frankly, he could have insulted their decor and spit in their fine china, and they would still be captivated by the grandson of Michael Allen Grey.Diana, meanwhile, had been exchanging furtive glances with Jason throughout those five minutes. Each look seemed to carry a silent plea, as if begging him to tread carefully. But Jason? Jason was calm, measured, and in complete control.And then there was Stefa
Clad in a tailored Armani suit, Jason looked every inch the part of a powerful heir. His black hair was styled to perfection, and his calm, unblinking demeanour seemed to cast a spell on everyone.Mildred gasped audibly, her eyes practically sparkling. “Oh my…” she murmured, as if Jason had stepped out of a magazine. Beside her, Richard was speechless, caught between admiration and disbelief.Damien, though already aware of Jason’s identity, was still taken aback. The man standing before them didn’t look ridiculed or cast aside. And he definitely didn’t look a bit like the ‘Thrifty Jay’ that they called him. No, he looked untouchable. Damien muttered under his breath, “I still can’t believe it…”Diana’s eyes were glued to Jason, hope swimming in them, as if silently praying the day would end in Jason’s favour.As for Stefan…A memory flashed unbidden into his mind, vivid and cutting.It was a sunny afternoon years ago, the day Diana had insisted he meet her boyfriend. They had arranged
The vineyard stretched endlessly in neat, sunlit rows, lush green vines crawling over carefully constructed trellises. The air was thick with the sweet smell of ripening grapes and damp soil, but inside the rustic estate house, Stefan Sinclair paced restlessly by the window, his phone clenched in his hand. He glanced at the screen for the hundredth time—no messages, no missed calls.Damien’s father, Richard, entered the room with a jovial smile, followed closely by his wife, Mildred.“Stefan,” Richard said warmly, his voice echoing slightly in the high-ceilinged room. “The vineyard is particularly beautiful this time of year, don’t you think?”Stefan turned, forcing a thin smile. “It is, Richard. Truly.” His tone flattened. “But I have to say, the service here is… shitty.”Richard’s booming laugh filled the room as Mildred chuckled softly beside him.“Ah, yes,” Richard said with a grin. “We didn’t take that into consideration when we bought the place. You can barely send a text, let a
Kent’s car cruised down the empty highway, music blaring from the radio. Kent gripped the steering wheel with one hand, tapping it to the beat while belting out the chorus of an old rock song with a self-satisfied grin plastered across his face. Andrew sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, staring out the window, clearly unimpressed.“Jesus Christ, you’re tone-deaf,” Andrew muttered, cutting through Kent’s off-key singing.Kent smirked but didn’t miss a beat. “You just don’t appreciate talent.”Andrew shifted in his seat, finally turning to face him. “You do realise we still have to figure out what happened with the accounts, right?”Kent’s smirk faltered for a split second before returning. “Relax. I’m on it. I told the bank to run a thorough investigation. We’ll know soon enough.”Andrew didn’t look convinced. “And maybe we need to run an investigation of our own.”Kent arched a brow, eyes flicking toward him. “What the hell do you mean by that?”Andrew’s voice remained calm, but
Jason sat on the couch, watching Amelia pace the apartment with nervous energy. Her hands kept brushing through her hair as if trying to shake off the morning’s events. She turned suddenly, her voice slightly breathless.“You have no idea how scared I was, Jason,” Amelia said. “When that secretary came into Kent’s office to tell him about the accounts and the way he looked at me…I thought for sure he knew.” She let out a shaky laugh. “I swear, I thought he was going to call me out right then and there.”Jason leaned back, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “But he didn’t.”Amelia stopped pacing and sighed. “No. He just turned around and gave me his usual ‘I’m superior to you’ attitude and sent me out of the office. Rudely, of course. I should’ve been pissed, but I was so relieved.” She paused, crossing her arms with a grin. “It’s kind of the best way things could’ve played out.”Jason nodded, his eyes full of quiet admiration. “You did well, Amelia. More than well. You’
Connie, under the alias Renata, stepped into the Elysian Syndicate, her red-bottom heels clicking and contrasting sharply against the white marble floor. Painting it red wherever she stepped. With her fur coat and extensions that battled her in height, she fully embodied a different persona. A caricature of a mob princess, some might say, but she wanted to go all out and was thoroughly enjoying it.Beside her, Shadow—now Steel—kept a measured pace, his imposing figure exuding quiet confidence. The brim of his hat cast a shadow over his eyes, concealing the hidden camera embedded in its design.Kent and Andrew stood near the entrance, their expressions calm but calculating.“Ah, Renata and Steel,” Kent greeted with a polite smile, extending his hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you both.”Andrew nodded, his tone equally professional. “We’ve heard great things. Shall we?”Connie accepted Kent’s handshake with a sharp smile, her grip so firm it stunned Kent for a second. “The pleasu
Diana sat in her room at the Sinclair Mansion, staring out the window. The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, but its warmth didn’t reach her. There was an icy cold storm brewing inside of her caused by everything she had learnt about her father. She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as she mentally rehearsed what she was about to do.This has to be done, she reminded herself. For Lana. For me. For Jason.Rising to her feet, she smoothed the front of her dress, squared her shoulders, and headed toward her father’s study. Her hand trembled slightly as she knocked on the heavy door.“Who is it?” came Stefan’s deep, commanding voice.“It’s me,” Diana replied, steadying her voice.“Come in.”She opened the door and stepped inside. Stefan glanced up from his desk, his sharp eyes assessing her.“I’m surprised you have any time for me,” he said with a slight smirk. “Your mornings are usually devoted entirely to your daughter.”A strange thing happens when you find