CHAPTER 3

Adrian gulped at the almost threatening words, “Yes sir.” He mumbled, clutching the envelope tightly in his hands as he opened the door to leave.

As he exited the study, he met Liam who regarded him with a hostile gaze. “You succeeded in getting my father’s money huh?” Liam muttered, his expression unreadable as his eyes zeroed in on the envelope in Adrian’s hands.

“Let’s see if you manage to save your worthless mother after all.” He added vaguely, a sinister smirk playing on his lips. He pushed past Adrian’s shoulder, shoving him slightly as he stormed into his father’s study and slammed the door shut behind him.

Adrian didn’t pay much attention to Liam even though he still had the urge to punch the living daylights out of him. He simply put on a positive smile and left the Muller’s mansion but not without Jared shooting him a death glare on his way out.

***

“Alright Dad!” Liam plopped down on the leather couch at the corner of the study with a sigh of bitterness. “Can you now explain why you humiliated me in front of that piece of trash?”

Robert smiled at his son’s tantrums and went to sit close to him. “You know I only have your best interests at heart. That loser was willing to do anything for the money, and I used that to our advantage. I made him sign the marriage contract with Anita Davies in your place so that you would no longer have to worry about marrying that…ugly girl.” Robert said in a grimace.

“He was simply a pawn in my plan to secure the Davies partnership. Now you can get married to any beautiful girl of your choice, no more ugly duckling. It’s a win-win.” He finished and leaned back in his seat with an accomplished smile on his face.

Liam’s eyes lit up at his father’s words and he threw his head back in laughter. “Oh wow dad! You’re a genius! You made it seem like you were on his side… That’s brilliant!”

The smile on Robert’s face faltered as he said in a cold voice, “Never Liam. Never will I be on that bastard’s side.”

“That’s a relief! Thank goodness I don’t have to marry that ugly and fat Anita.” Liam shuddered as the photo he had seen of Anita Davies flashed before his eyes. She looked like a cow with the ugliest pair of glasses and braces he had ever seen. He almost vomited at the memory and shook his head to get rid of the disturbing image.

“But Dad,” Liam started, shifting his attention back to his father. “Are we really just going to let him keep that money? His bitch of a mother really doesn’t deserve to live.”

“Don’t worry about that, son, $100,000 is just a trivial sum to me. Let’s just call it…a small investment towards a better financial future.” Robert winked and patted Liam’s shoulder reassuringly. “Besides, your salary and allowance would both be doubled once the company is back afloat, alright?”

Liam only nodded in response and let out a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Inwardly, he wasn’t thinking of leaving Adrian with that money. Not in the slightest. “I have to teach that bastard a lesson for crossing me.” He thought with clenched fists as he brought out his phone and sent a cryptic text message.

***

Adrian hadn’t gotten really far from the mansion when a group of thugs in two motorcycles suddenly encircled him and blocked his way. Before he could react or even process what was going on, he was hit in the head with a stick.

“Sucker!” one of the thugs laughed mockingly as his counterpart snatched the envelope of money from Adrian’s hands before they zoomed off.

Adrian was overcome with disbelief, then shock, then frustration and sadness. He fell to his knees dejectedly as blood trickled down his temple from where he had been hit. Hot tears welled in his eyes as he cursed his unfortunate life.

Just then, the engine of a sleek black Bentley Continental GT revved to a stop beside him. A tall middle aged man wearing a dark blue designer suit stepped out from the car and crouched down next to Adrian. “Are you Mr. Adrian Muller?” The man inquired in a cool and collected baritone voice.

Adrian looked up at the mysterious man in a confused daze. “Y-yes, I am” He answered weakly. “Who are you?”

“My name is Jonah Leigh,” The man replied in a firm tone. “Butler and personal assistant to Sir Edward Young. He requests your presence immediately. A trillion-dollar empire awaits you.”