A flush of pink crept into Lisa's cheeks.
Before Jason could say anything, Lisa cut in.
"Just wanted to say goodnight," She muttered and ran away, leaving Jason confused.
The next morning, Lisa had already left.
Jason headed for the park to practice some boxing.
He bumped into Eloise and Lloyd at the entrance. They were there to invite some important people to the wedding
“Look who it is!” Eloise said. “It’s our favorite homeless beggar!”
Lloyd laughed. “ I can't believe you have been reduced to this!” He exclaimed.
Ignoring them, Jason walked past them.
Eloise pretended to be shocked. “Oh, come on! Don’t be so sensitive! I mean, you must have a great taste to have picked such a nice place to beg!”
Still, Jason ignored them.
He put on his gloves and started shadowboxing.
“Don’t worry, Jason! We’ll definitely mention you in our vows!” Eloise yelled. “Something like, ‘May our love be as strong as Jason’s begging skills!’ ”
Gabriella who had strolled alongside her grandfather, Robert, observed the scene.
She quickened her pace to catch up with Eloise and Lloyd.
“Hey, can you tell me what you know about him?” Gabriella asked, pointing towards Jason.
Eloise sighed.
“He used to be my husband, but we just got divorced. I couldn't bear to stay with a jobless man like him,” she replied.
“Listen, Miss, don’t let him charm you. He’s not what he seems,” Lloyd warned, his voice low and serious.
Gabriella felt a chill run down her spine as their words sank in, solidifying her thoughts about Jason.
If Eloise had left him, and Lloyd was wary of him, that means he was bad news, and shouldn't be trusted.
Gabriella pulled out her phone and dialed her father, Robin Richmond's number.
“Dad, you need to come back,” she urged the moment he picked up. “I’m worried about Grandpa,” she added.
She explained the whole situation to her father before hanging up. She couldn't let Jason deceive her grandfather any longer.
In the evening, Lisa returned home.
“Good news,” she said “I’ve invited a French chef to cook for us tonight!"
When dinner was ready, they were about to sit when the doorbell rang.
Robert was at the door.
He had a cigar in his left hand and a glass of deep red wine in his right.
“I just wanted to say, practicing your technique twice a day has been incredible. It's more effective than the new medicine my team put together for me.”
“What kind of medicine did they give you?" Jason asked.
Robert chuckled. “I'm not sure. I didn’t even take it. They delivered it two days ago, but I tossed it in the shoe rack without even opening the package.”
“Why don’t you join us for dinner?” He suggested.
"I'll be honored,” Robert agreed.
“Red for everyone?” Lisa asked as she poured glasses for the group.
Robert lifted his glass in appreciation. “Thank you.” He took a long sip and then pulled out a slim box from his pocket. “Jason, how about trying a cigar? Perfect after a good meal.”
Jason smiled. “I’ll take you up on that.”
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Gabriella stormed in, her eyes immediately locked on Robert, who was casually sipping red wine and holding a cigar.
She was shocked.
“Grandpa, what the hell?!” She turned to Jason, her tone sharp. “You let him drink and smoke? You know he’s sick!”
“Gabriella, I’m not ‘letting’ him do anything. Robert’s a grown man. And if he sticks to the training program I gave him, he can enjoy a drink or a cigar every now and then without making things worse,” Jason said.
“That’s ridiculous! You’re just making his condition worse. You don’t care about his health—you’re just playing with his life!” Gabriella yelled.
“That’s enough, Gabriella!” Robert scolded.
He shook his head in frustration, putting out his cigar.
“You’re out of line, and you’re embarrassing me. This is Jason’s house, and you will show him respect,” He added.
Gabriella’s face flushed, but she didn’t back down. “Grandpa, he’s...”
“No!” Robert cut her off. “Jason has been helping me, and you’re making a scene, so apologize.”
Gabriella’s mouth tightened, but she didn’t say a word.
Robert turned to Jason. “I’m sorry about this, Jason. We’ll take our leave.”
Jason nodded.
Gabriella shot Jason a final glare, her voice low and threatening. “I’m warning you, Jason. Stay away from my Grandpa. And also,” she added, turning her attention to Lisa, “don’t let him fool you.”
Gabriella stormed out with Robert close behind, leaving an awkward silence in the room.
***
When they got home, Gabriella wasted no time. She immediately called the medical team
When they arrived, they carried out the usual test
Robert, returned to his room when they were done.
Later on, the doctor approached Gabriella, his expression a mix of surprise and caution. " Well, your grandfather’s health has improved. Quite miraculously, actually,” he said, flipping through the notes on his clipboard. “We haven’t seen this kind of progress in a while.”
Gabriella frowned. “Improved? How is that possible?"
The doctor nodded, “It’s unexpected, but the results are clear. That said, he must continue to take his medication as prescribed.”
Gabriella's frown deepened. Jason was just fooling her grandfather. It was the medications at work and not Jason's treatment.
Once the doctor left, Gabriella grabbed her phone and called her father.
“Dad, we have a problem,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “Jason’s been convincing Grandpa to smoke and drink—like it’s some part of his ‘treatment plan.’ Can you believe that?”
“What?!” Robin exclaimed. His voice was filled with disbelief.
“Yes! I saw it with my own eyes. He’s acting like it’s no big deal, saying Grandpa’s improving with his methods. But the doctors are saying something different. I know Jason’s up to something.”
Robin’s voice hardened. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Gabriella nodded, feeling a small sense of relief. “Thanks, Dad. We can’t let this go on any longer,”
“I understand,” Robin replied, his tone sharp. “I’ll handle it.”
The next morning, Jason made his way to Paradise Resort Island.Without noticing, he drove passed a military SUV driving in the opposite direction. The imposing vehicle rolled to a halt in front of a luxurious villa. From the passenger seat emerged a man who embodied the essence of military authority. He was dressed in a well-pressed uniform. His chiseled features were stern beneath the brim of his hat, and his eyes were sharp, giving off the gaze of one who had numerous people under his command. “Dad!” Gabriella yelled as she rushed out of the villa.Her face lit up with a mix of relief and frustration. Robin flashed a smile at her as he caught her in a hug.“Where’s your grandfather?” Robin asked, his voice deep and authoritative.“He hasn’t woken up yet,” Gabriella replied.Robin’s brows furrowed. “How’s his health? Has anything changed?”Gabriella sighed and crossed her arms. “The doctor came for an emergency check yesterday. He said Grandpa is getting better, thanks t
Jason arrived at Paradise Resort Island. He parked his car at the parking lot before making his way to a small island situated in the center of the lake.The island had been transformed into a stunning wedding venue, adorned with elegantly set tables, beautifully arranged chairs, and vibrant flowers that filled the air with a sweet fragrance.As Jason approached the entrance, a security guard stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “Sorry, sir. I need to see your invitation,” the guard said firmly.Jason frowned. “I don’t have one,” he replied.The guard crossed his arms in front of him, his stance unwavering. “Everyone who’s invited has to have an invitation. No exceptions.”Jason let out a light chuckle. It turned out Eloise had fooled him. She never wanted him to be at the wedding, she just wanted him to quarrel with the bodyguards and make a fool of himself At that moment, Eloise and Lloyd appeared from behind the guard.Both of them looked absolutely stunning.Eloise looke
Robin stood tall and confident, like a member of his family. His gaze was sharp as he scaled Jason, convinced he had gained Robert’s trust through deceit. “You think you’re clever, don’t you?” Robin said in a calm tone “People like you, schemers, always have an agenda. So tell me, what are you really after?”Jason didn’t flinch, he remained calm and composed. He wasn't afraid of anything, let alone Robin. He had faced men like Robin before, and his true identity and abilities left him unshaken.“I’ve seen your type before,” Robin continued, his tone icy. “You think you can fool us, but you won’t get far.”Jason’s expression remained steady. “You’re wrong,” he said, his voice firm. “I’m not here to harm anyone, and I’m not playing any tricks with Robert Richmond.”Robin raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “So, what? You just happened to win over my father’s trust for no reason?” he asked, his words dripping with sarcasm.Jason met his gaze unwaveringly. “I did what I did for one
Jason didn't have any intention of going up on stage, but as he looked at Lisa, he realized what she was trying to do by giving him the platform. She was trying to help him out.With a slight nod to her, Jason rose from his seat. The room fell into a hush as eyes tracked his every move. He walked calmly towards the podium and made his way toward Eloise and Lloyd, who stood near the stage. Lisa stepped aside with a small smile, making way for him.The crowd’s reaction was instant and varied.Whispers echoed through the guests, many of whom had previously written Jason off as insignificant. But now, understanding who he truly was, they watched in shock and disbelief.Robin Richmond who was sitting behind Jason, kept his expression neutral, but his mind was racing. If Jason was really who the manager of Winston Group said he was, his family must have made a grave mistake. Robin couldn't help but think about the consequences and what it meant to provoke someone with Jason’s influence.
“The decision wasn’t mine,” Lisa said in a calm and firm tone. “It was made by the board due to the ongoing investigation. So don't blame me. Blame your criminal husband-to-be.""But... But still... You shouldn't..." Eloise stammered, trying to find the right words to use. "You can’t just fire Lloyd like that! There must be something you can do. This can’t be happening!"Lisa remained calm, her expression unshaken by Eloise’s plea. "Eloise," she began, her voice still firm and even. "Lloyd has broken the law. His involvement in tax evasion makes him unfit to continue as the CEO of Richardson Group. This is not a personal matter—it’s business."The weight of Lisa’s words seemed to hang in the air, suffocating both Lloyd and Eloise. They couldn't believe what was going on.Without breaking her calm, Lisa signaled to her secretary, who quickly approached with a document in hand. As the guests leaned forward, looking on, the secretary placed the file in Lisa’s hand. She turned to Eloise
Before Robin could confirm Gabriella's words, she continued."I spoke to Grandfather. He hasn’t taken any medicine at all. But the examination report is real. His health has improved." Robin’s eyes widened in surprise as he struggled to process what he was hearing. "Grandfather said it’s because of the exercises Jason taught him. That’s what’s been helping him."Robin felt his heart drop into his abdomen. Jason was right after all. He had spent so much time doubting Jason, but now, he had to face the truth. Jason had genuinely helped his father. The shock of it left him momentarily speechless.Gabriella pressed on, her tone more urgent as she leaned in and whispered into her father's ears. "Father, if we don’t apologize to Jason for what’s happened, Grandfather said we’ll be expelled from the family," She said.The weight of her words hung in the air, and Robin found himself torn. His pride and his position were at stake, but the truth was undeniable. Jason wasn’t their enemy; he ha
With those words said, some officers moved forward and laid hold of Lloyd's hands. "No! No! You can't take me anywhere! I'm innocent! You don't have any evidence against me!" He kept yelling as he tried to break free from their grip. The officer let out a low chuckle. "Oh! Is that what you think, Mr. Richardson? Well I am sorry to burst your bubble, but we have hard evidence against you," He said to Lloyd in a calm tone. Lloyd was both shocked and confused. "That's not possible," He muttered. He had made sure to cover his tracks, so there was no way they were telling the truth. "Well, Mr. Richardson, I assure you that it is possible," The officer added. "How?" Lloyd asked, wanting to know what he did wrong. "We received an anonymous tip from someone. It contained documents—evidence of all the taxes you had evaded in the past," The officer said to him. Lloyd's jaws dropped as his gaze darted from Lisa to Jason. He knew they were behind it. The guests looked on in stunned sile
Eloise stood outside the door, no longer in her stunning wedding gown but rather she was dressed in simple, everyday clothes. Her face was tear-streaked, and her voice trembled as she spoke. “Please, Ms. Karl,” Eloise begged, her voice breaking, “I need to speak with Jason.”Lisa hesitated for a moment, wondering how Eloise knew where to find them, before glancing over her shoulder at Jason who was seated calmly in the living room. He met her gaze and, after a brief pause, nodded, though his expression showed a mix of weariness and reluctance. With his silent permission granted, Lisa stepped aside, allowing Eloise inside.The moment she got into the house, Eloise desperately rushed over to Jason. She fell to her knees beside him and clutched at his legs as she sobbed uncontrollably. “Jason,” she cried, her voice thick with emotion, “I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me.”Jason looked down at her, his face impassive. “I made myself clear at the wedding, Eloise,” he said firmly, his to