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 reason,” he said, his tone steady but serious. “To help Robert live a few more years. That’s all.”
Robin studied him for a moment, clearly skeptical. Jason’s confidence and calm were undeniable, but Robin was used to such deceitful acting.
“And I’m supposed to believe that?” Robin asked, his voice dropping as suspicion lingered in his eyes. “Tell me, what’s your real motive?”
Jason’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I’ve told you already,” he replied, his voice steady but firm. “Whether you believe me or not, that’s your choice.”
Robin’s face hardened. “ Well, I don’t believe a word of it,” he said, his voice low with anger. “And trust me, you’ll pay the price for whatever game you’re playing.”
Jason hooked his thumbs in his pockets. He made no move to defend himself. His silence was deliberate. It was obvious that he didn't care what Robin said or thought.
Instead, he met Robin’s glare with calm resolve. “I don’t need to explain anything to you,” Jason said. “But I’ll warn you—push me too far, and you might regret it.”
The arrogance in Jason’s tone only fueled Robin's fury.
His fists clenched as he stepped closer, his voice rising. “You think you can threaten me?” he growled.
Just then music was heard. Robin tilted his head to the wedding area. "This is not the time or place for whatever you have,” he said.
Jason remained unmoved, his expression unbothered by Robin’s anger. “I’m not looking for a fight, but if you insist,” he said, his voice steady, “I’ll be ready after the wedding. We can settle it then.”
Without saying anything else, Jason walked away.
Robin’s eyes flashed with rage. The challenge had been laid out, and he was going to make sure gets what he deserved.
*** Mr. Gates, standing at the front of the grand hall, smiled warmly as he addressed the crowd.“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of our distinguished guests,” he began, his voice resonating through the room. “To Major General Harris, our esteemed high-ranking official, Mr. Donovan, the prominent local businessman, and of course, Colonel Daniels,” he said, nodding toward the military officer seated at the front.
The audience murmured in appreciation at the mention of such prominent figures.
Then, his gaze shifted with a hint of surprise. “I’d also like to welcome Mr. Robin Richmond, who we didn’t expect to see today,” he added, eyebrows raised slightly.
The room buzzed with shock to see a member of the Richmond family present in such a personal event.
He also welcomed Lisa, the well-respected manager of Winston Group, further emphasizing the importance of the day.
The crowd exchanged glances, their curiosity heightened as the spotlight on the wedding grew more intense.
The murmurs faded as Eloise and Lloyd were called to the stage.
Eloise took the microphone. “Thank you all for being here to celebrate this special day,” she began. But then, her tone shifted, becoming more personal. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to be starting a new chapter. My previous marriage… well, let’s just say it was far from happy.”
Her words stung, and the crowd leaned in, sensing the growing tension.
Lloyd touched the small of her back, trying to be comforting. “She’s right,” he said, casting a sidelong glance at Jason, who sat calmly among the guests. “Eloise deserves nothing but happiness, and it’s about time she had it.”
Eloise gave a light laugh, looking pointedly in Jason’s direction. “Some people just aren’t capable of giving that.”
The guests exchanged knowing looks, some whispering to one another, while others openly smirked at the thinly veiled humiliation directed at Jason.
Robin who was sitting a row behind Jason, let out a low chuckle. He leaned toward him. “Looks like they’re talking about you,” he sneered, the mockery clear in his tone.
But Jason didn’t flinch. He sat quietly, still maintaining his calm as he watched the show.
Then Eloise and Lloyd called Lisa to the stage to say a few words.
The room erupted into applause, as everyone understood the immense influence of the Winston Consortium. It was obvious that Lisa was the most prestigious guest present.
Lisa smiled graciously, raising a hand to quiet the crowd. “Thank you for the warm reception,” she began modestly, her voice carrying through the room. “However, I must clarify, I’m not truly qualified to speak on behalf of the Winston Consortium today.”
Her words caught the audience off guard, whispers rippling through the crowd.
Lisa paused, glancing over the guests before continuing. “The real person who should be speaking is the one in charge,” she said with a knowing smile. “Allow me to introduce the true head of the Winston Consortium, Mr. White.”
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
Jason exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts before he spoke. His voice was calm, yet filled with genuine remorse. “Elaina, I just want to say I’m sorry for everything that’s happened and the pressure it must be putting on you.”On the other end of the line, Elaina’s tone remained warm and steady. “There’s no need to apologize, Jason. I don’t hold any of this against you,” she assured him, a soft sigh escaping as she continued. “Actually, my sister… she asked me to contact you.”Jason hesitated for a while. He knew why Eloise would call, but he wasn't planning on going back on his decision.“Elaina, I want to offer you something,” he said to her. “I think you’d be a great fit as an assistant for Lisa Karl. I know how capable and dedicated you are, and I genuinely believe you can do it.”There was a long pause on Elaina’s end as she absorbed his words, clearly taken aback by the offer. Finally, she spoke, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “Jason, I’m grateful, really—I am... but I’m
As Eloise tapped the "end call" icon, she let out a frustrated sigh, barely able to keep herself from throwing the phone across the room. She had tried making a few calls to find someone to help out with the loan, but everyone rejected her request. Her jaw was clenched, as she tried to steady her breathing. “I need to set up a meeting with the person in charge—tomorrow, if possible,” she muttered.Eloise knew the meeting with the bank wouldn’t be easy. The news of her company’s instability had spread quickly through the financial world, making it almost certain that convincing the bank to extend the loan would be an uphill battle. But she couldn’t afford to give up. She had worked so hard for Gates Group to let it crumble. She looked back at her parents, their faces a mixture of anger and anxiety. Beneath their anger toward Jason, she could see fear lingering.Mr. Gates finally sat down. “He’s practically a puppet master,” he muttered as he thought about Jason, shaking his head
"What am I doing?" Lloyd said and then slammed his fork onto the table, his expression twisting with rage. "What am I doing? You destroyed my career, ruined my wedding and my future... Oh! Let's not forget how you also got me fired!" He yelled, his voice trembling with fury as he leaned forward, glaring at Lisa with a look of pure resentment. "Now, thanks to you, I'm facing punishment from Richardson Group's Overseas Headquarters."He paused, his eyes narrowing as he imagined what awaited him. Lloyd knew all too well how merciless the Richardson's Group internal security team could be. They were relentless with those who failed, particularly those who were in debt. As a former high-ranking official, he had witnessed firsthand how severely they dealt with people in his position. His fall from grace meant he was now just another target, one they would go after without hesitation.Dismissed, disgraced, and with nothing left to lose, Lloyd had reached a breaking point. In a moment of de