Rags to Riches

Chapter 14 The World

"A-All of them?" Even Yannis, who had a remarkable background, was so shocked that his voice trembled. Even if they took the lowest cost of 21 villas, it would still amount to 2.3 billion dollars!

Compared to the former, Murray's reaction was much tamer since he had helped Marcus spend ten billion to acquire Globestone Investments in the past.

"Yep. I don't care how you do it, Murray, but I want the property ownership certificates for the 21 villas within the week," Marcus instructed pensively while he glanced at the calendar on his phone.

"Got it!" Murray replied without hesitation. He couldn't seem to ignore the knots in his stomach, however.

His reaction was normal, since only the wealthiest families in Cromford occupied the villas of Hingbrook Hills. That was especially true for Pinnaclepoint Estate, the one at the highest point of Hingbrook Hills.

Many even believed its current owner came from an exceptional background.

…

It was afternoon when Marcus finished assigning tasks to everyone.

He arrived outside the Lorimer Group and waited for a while, though Vivian never came. She didn't answer her phone either.

Having no other choice, Marcus headed upstairs into the office area to find her.

Little did he expect to bump into Faye Lorimer, who had fainted from shock this morning.

"Gosh, look who it is! If it isn't the powerful businessperson with an entourage of twenty or more cars that don't exist! Well? Did your imaginary motorcade not show up? Is that why you had to ride your motorcycle around now?" Faye remarked with a shrill tone.

She blamed Marcus for the shame she'd experienced this morning.

Marcus didn't want to waste his breath on her, so he turned to ask a bespectacled young man nearby. "Where's Vivian?"

"Beats me," came the man's unenthusiastic reply. He was also a descendant of the Lorimer family, so he bore the utmost disdain toward Marcus, who had married into their family.

"What? You're looking for your wife, huh? Hah! I bet she's having the time of her life with someone else right now! Isn't it obvious why Murray would help you? He wants to fuck your wife, yet you were so happy about receiving his help!" Faye refused to believe that Marcus had somehow gotten into Murray's good graces.

After mulling it over, she convinced herself that Murray had only done it to get Vivian into his bed.

"You must really have a death wish, huh?" Marcus' eyes were ablaze as they burned holes in Faye. Even his chest grew stuffy with rage.

He couldn't care less if others laughed or ridiculed him, but he refused to tolerate anyone slandering Vivian.

"Hey, Vivian! Your freeloading, live-in husband has come to pick you up from work!" someone called out from the door. It was none other than Luke, who had just returned.

"Marcus? Why are you here?" Vivian stood behind Luke, balancing packages of various sizes in her arms. She assumed Marcus and Murray would be busy, so it shocked her that he had returned this early.

Not a word came from Marcus as he marched over to grab some of the heavy items in her hands. Only then did he question with a growl, "Why are you doing this?"

Never in a million years did he think his 500-million-dollar investment would result in his wife getting picked on in the company.

"It's okay. Let him abuse his superiority over me because it won't matter when I officially take over next Tuesday. He won't be happy for long," Vivian whispered while patting his hand.

She didn't know why, but her chest fluttered upon seeing him upset over her mistreatment.

"Next Tuesday? Don't get too excited. We don't know who the winner is yet," Luke sneered, knowing how much Nora loathed outsiders that coveted the Lorimer family's wealth.

He believed Marcus, who fit the bill, would likely cause Vivian to lose.

"Luke, it's the 12th of March next Tuesday. It's little Miss Self-Proclaimed Hottie's wedding anniversary! How could she not be happy?" Faye interjected snidely between giggles.

All at once, Vivian's gaze dimmed while a storm cloud formed over Marcus' head.

After spitting on the ground with disdain, Luke barked, "Their wedding anniversary? Hah! More like the most dreadful day of the year! Don't forget that our family became the laughingstock of Cromford on their wedding day!"

"You're right! Ever since that horrid day, I can't even leave my house every year on the 12th of March. I'm terrified of getting laughed at!"

"Tsk. Why did she end up with such a freeloading piece of shit for a husband instead of a regular man? How humiliating!"

The Lorimer family members clenched their jaws at the couple. They had already taken Luke's side since he was a direct descendant and their legitimate family member.

Vivian's head slowly lowered as she gnawed her lips.

In truth, the 12th of March was the day she and Marcus had collected their marriage certificate. They didn't even have a wedding ceremony.

That night, she had locked herself in her room and cried until dawn. She remembered being in tatters at how her life had gotten ruined because the man she married was a pathetic live-in son-in-law.

Vivian didn't understand why her grandpa, someone she'd been so close with, would leave behind a request for her to marry Marcus in his will.

Because of that, she'd become a disgrace in the Lorimer family and the laughingstock of Cromford City.

The more Vivian thought about it, the more watery her eyes became.

Upon seeing how helpless the former was, Marcus' chest tightened.

Although he had to bear the insulting title of being a loser and getting stepped on by everyone, the undeniable truth was that Vivian had suffered worse things because of him.

He had held his tongue this entire time but couldn't any longer.

"Trust me on this—someday, the 12th of March will become a memorable day for the world! You'll all envy Vivian when that day comes!"

Almost instantly, everyone's eyes narrowed at him like he had lost his mind. A moment of silence passed before roaring laughter filled the air.

"I admit that my presence these years has brought Vivian plenty of grief and suffering, but from today onward, I'll make up for all the things I owe her as my wife!" Marcus continued, ignoring the scornful people around them.

His gaze was fixed on only Vivian as he slowly but confidently told her, "I'll give you the world if that's what you want, honey."