RICHARD’S POVThe call from my lawyer came just as I was tying my shoes.“Richard,” he started, sounding almost hesitant. “About your brothers… Do you still want to set bail for them?”I leaned back, rubbing my temples. My stepbrothers. Every time their names came up, I felt a strange mix of guilt and anger.“No,” I replied firmly. “Leave them there. They deserve to rot for a while longer.”There was a pause on the other end, as if he was surprised by my decision. I wasn't in the mood to explain. They'd screwed me over too many times for me to care anymore.“Alright,” my lawyer finally said. “Just let me know if you change your mind.”I hung up without saying goodbye, slipping my phone into my pocket. Today was already shaping up to be a headache. Dealing with my father's business partners was bad enough, and now this. I shook my head and buttoned up my shirt, trying to get my mind in the game.But before I could even make it to the front door, there was a loud, sharp knock that echoe
RICHARD’S POVThe courtroom was dead silent, the kind of quiet that could make your skin crawl. My lawyer, Anderson, stood confidently, like he had the whole world in his pocket. He took a breath and addressed the jury, his voice clear and sharp. "Your Honor, members of the jury, what we have here isn’t just a case of false accusation. It’s a blatant attempt to manipulate and destroy a man who has done nothing but good for the very people accusing him. This young lady, Chairman Dennis’s daughter, Cathy, has been trying to force my client, Richard Thorne, into a marriage he never wanted."The jury's eyes flicked between me and Cathy, who sat in her chair, her face a perfect mask of anxiety. Yeah, I’m sure she didn’t see this day turning out like this.Anderson continued, pacing in front of them. "When Richard refused her advances, when he chose to stay committed to his wife, Amelia, Cathy decided to lie. She fabricated a story of abuse, hoping to ruin his life. But one thing she didn’
RICHARD'S POVI pulled up outside the police station, a sense of irritation already gnawing at me. Two days since the verdict, and now here I was—about to face my brothers. The same brothers who’d tried to take everything from me. I couldn’t help but wonder how much they had really changed after spending time in a cell.As I walked in, the sight of them was… pathetic. They looked like shadows of themselves—skinny, pale, and desperate. Good. Maybe they finally understood the consequences of their actions."Richard," one of them croaked, barely able to look me in the eye. "Thank you for getting us out."I raised an eyebrow. "Thank me? You should be thanking the legal system for having loopholes. I wouldn’t have lifted a damn finger for either of you."They glanced at each other, clearly embarrassed, before turning their pleading eyes back to me. "Please," the older one, Jonathan, began. "We’re still your brothers. We share the same father, Richard."I had to laugh at that. "Oh, now you
The next day, standing at the entrance of my company’s building, I watched as Jonathan and William dragged their feet toward the restrooms. Their faces were twisted in disgust, and I had to suppress a laugh. Honestly, this was a sight I never thought I’d see—my brothers about to scrub toilets like common janitors. Life had a way of bringing things full circle. I walked over to them, the grin on my face probably giving away just how much I was enjoying this. "Morning, gentlemen," I called out cheerily. They both shot me the same death glare, but I ignored it. They weren’t in any position to intimidate me anymore. They were the ones who needed to grovel now. William was the first to speak, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You really want us to do this? Clean your precious company toilets?" I shrugged, pretending to think about it. "Well, it’s either this or I keep everything, and you two can go back to being broke. Your choice." Jonathan muttered something under his breath, proba
RICHARD’S POV I walked into the house, tossing my keys onto the table, and immediately felt something was off. The air felt too stiff, too tense. Amelia was sitting on the couch, her face pale, eyes darting toward the kitchen. That’s when I noticed her grandmother. Great. Just what I needed. She was sitting there, her posture all prim and proper like she was royalty or something. Amelia’s grandmother was one of those people who always managed to stir up trouble whenever she showed up. I could already tell she wasn’t here for a friendly visit. “Richard,” she said, standing up with that fake smile of hers plastered on her face. “You’re home.” I glanced at Amelia, and she gave me a helpless look, silently begging me not to blow up. I sighed. “Yeah, I’m home. What’s this about?” Her grandmother’s smile widened, but there was something sinister about it. “Well, as you know, you’re married to my darling Amelia now, and with marriage comes responsibility.” I crossed my arms, lea
RICHARD’S POV I was finally getting some peace and quiet. Amelia had gone out to run errands, and I had the house to myself. I leaned back on the couch, eyes half-closed, trying to enjoy the silence. It wasn’t long before my phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking the calm. I grabbed it, already sensing some drama on the horizon. Sure enough, it was one of the guards I’d assigned to keep an eye on my brothers. “Yeah?” I answered, not bothering with any formalities. The guard's voice was steady, like he was reporting something routine, but I knew better. “Sir, I thought you’d want to know—your brothers, they’re not cleaning the toilets themselves.” I sat up a little straighter, feeling my annoyance bubble up. “What do you mean they’re not cleaning?” “They’ve hired staff to do it,” the guard continued. “They’ve been showing up to the bathrooms, pretending to scrub things down, but it’s all an act. They walk in after the hired help’s already finished the job.” I couldn’t help bu
RICHARD’S POVI was sitting at my desk, staring at my laptop, waiting for the inevitable knock on the door. The message from Jonathan and William had come through an hour ago—We’ve finished cleaning. We’re coming for our money. Of course, they didn’t know I had been two steps ahead of them the entire time. Cleaning toilets? Yeah, right.I tapped my fingers on the desk, the amusement already building inside me.The door finally swung open, and in they strutted—Jonathan first, chest puffed out like he’d actually accomplished something. William was right behind him, looking smug, like they’d already won some battle they didn’t even deserve to fight.“Richard,” Jonathan greeted me with a grin that made me want to punch him. “We did it. We cleaned those damn toilets like you asked.”I leaned back in my chair, a small smile playing on my lips. “You don’t say.”“Yeah,” William chimed in, “we held up our end of the deal. Now, about the money and the company shares...” His voice trailed off, h
RICHARD’S POVI stepped into the house, already smelling something delicious. Amelia was in the kitchen, her back to me, humming softly while stirring something in a pot. The sound of home. Peace. After the kind of day I’d had, this was exactly what I needed.“Something smells amazing,” I said, walking up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.She laughed softly, leaning back into me. “It’s just pasta. Nothing special.”“Pasta is always special when you make it,” I murmured against her neck, breathing in her scent.Before she could respond, my phone rang. I sighed, pulling it from my pocket. I didn’t recognize the number, but something told me to answer it.“Richard,” I answered, already annoyed.“Sir, there’s a fire at your father’s company!” a panicked voice said from the other end.I froze. A fire?“What the hell did you just say?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous.“There’s a fire, sir! The firefighters are on their way, but it’s spreading fast!”I didn’t even respond. I