Max stood in his grandfather's study, his heart pounding. The old man sat behind a massive oak desk, his steely gaze fixed on his grandson.
"Max," his grandfather began, his voice gruff, "it's time we discussed your future. We've secured a marriage contract with the Hunters. You'll wed their daughter next spring." Max's breath caught in his throat. "What? Grandfather, I can't—" "This isn't up for debate," the old man cut him off. "This union will strengthen both our families. It's been decided." "But I don't love Alexa," Max protested, his voice rising. "I'm in love with someone else. Someone real." His grandfather's eyes narrowed. "Real love? Don't be naive, boy. Love comes with time and mutual respect. This marriage is about duty, about family." "I won't do it," Max said, his jaw set. "I won't marry someone I don't love." The old man's face darkened. "If you go against my decision, you'll be banished from this family. Cut off completely. Is that what you want?" Max took a deep breath, steadying himself. "If that's what it takes to be with the person I truly love, then yes. I'm willing to leave. I'll spend my life with someone I choose, not someone chosen for me." His grandfather stood, towering over the desk. "Think carefully, Max. You're throwing away everything—your inheritance, your future, your family." "No," Max said, his voice calm now. "I'm choosing my own path. I'm sorry, Grandfather, but this is my decision to make." Max left his family's home. He broke off the marriage deal with Alexa. He wanted to find "real love" on his own. He turned away from the life his family had planned for him. (Years Later) Years have passed. Max is sitting in a fancy car next to Alexa. She was once going to be his wife. The air feels heavy. Max moves around, uncomfortable. He keeps looking at Alexa. Old memories come back to him. Alexa still likes Max. Her eyes are warm when she looks at him. But Max isn't sure how he feels. Should he like her back? He doesn't know. His old choice to leave weighs on him. Every moment feels full of things they don't say. Max thinks hard. He left everything for what he thought was real love. But where did that get him? Now, next to Alexa, he wonders if he made the right choice. It feels odd and uncomfortable. It reminds him of the life and people he left behind. Max is about to speak. But then his phone rings loudly. It breaks the quiet. This makes things even more tense. Max's face paled as he saw his boss's name on the screen. With a trembling hand, he answered, "Hello?" "Where the hell are you, you useless piece of garbage?" his boss's voice thundered through the speaker, so loud that even Alexa flinched. "I'm... I'm on my way," Max stammered, his free hand clenching nervously. "On your way? You should have been here hours ago!" The boss's voice dripped with contempt. "What's the matter, pretty boy? Too good for honest work now? Think you can just waltz in whenever you feel like it?" Max winced at the mocking tone. "No, sir. I'm sorry. There was a misunderstanding—" "A misunderstanding?" the boss interrupted with a harsh laugh. "The only misunderstanding is me thinking you could handle a simple job! You're pathetic, Max. If you're not here in the next twenty minutes, don't bother showing your face again. You'll be out on your ass faster than you can say 'Daddy's trust fund'!" The call ended abruptly, leaving Max staring at his phone, his face a mixture of shock and humiliation. After a moment of tense silence, Max turned to Alexa, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Alexa, I hate to ask, but could you drop me off at the bar? I... I forgot I had work today." Alexa frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "The bar? Why are you still working there? You're returning to take your position in the family business, aren't you? You don't need to work at the bar anymore." Max shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I know, I know. It's just... I need to say goodbye to my colleagues. It's important to me." Alexa's frown deepened, but she nodded, guiding the SUV towards the bar. As the SUV pulled up to the bar, it immediately drew everyone's attention. The people hanging out in front of the bar got excited and started guessing about the car. "Whoa, check out that car!" someone whistled. "I bet someone rich is coming here," another joked. The crowd waited with bated breath to see who would walk out from the luxury car. When the door opened and Max stepped out, a hush fell over the group, followed quickly by gasps and mutters of disbelief. "No way," one regular said, rubbing his eyes. "Isn't that Max? The poor guy who works here?" Indeed it was. Max, known to everyone as the struggling bartender always scraping by, now stood before them, having just exited a car worth more than he'd likely earn in a decade. The shock quickly gave way to jeers and taunts. Some of the more obnoxious colleagues started whistling and cat-calling. "Hey Max!" one shouted. "You become a gigolo or something?" Another chimed in, "So that's why you were so desperate to date that actress! Found yourself a sugar mommy instead, huh?" Inside the SUV, Alexa watched the scene, her anger rising with each passing moment. She spoke to herself, her voice low but filled with fury. "How dare they? These so-called 'colleagues' of his... They're nothing but a bunch of small-minded, jealous fools." Another colleague scrunched her nose in disgust and said, "What'd you do, Max? Sell your dignity for a ride in a fancy car?" The taunts grew louder and more vicious. "No self-respect left, eh? How low can you go?" Alexa gripped the seat, her knuckles turning white as her anger rose. "Look at them, mocking him like that. They have no idea who he really is, what he's been through. And Max... God, he's too good for this. Why did he even want to say goodbye to these people? They don't deserve his kindness." The crowd erupted in laughter, clearly enjoying their perceived cleverness at Max's expense. Max, for his part, maintained a calm smile. He stood tall, brushing off their words as if they were nothing more than a gentle breeze. Just as Alexa was about to exit the car and give the crowd a piece of her mind, the bar's owner stormed out. Without warning, he slapped Max hard across the face. "You did a terrible job yesterday, and now you have the nerve to show up late?" he yelled, his face red with anger. "I will cut your entire salary for this!" The crowd fell silent, shocked by the sudden slap. Max stumbled back, his cheek stinging from the slap. He looked stunned, caught between the mocking people and his furious boss."I'm not here to work," Max said, his voice steady despite his rage. "I'm here to quit."The boss's face twisted into a sneer, his beady eyes narrowing. "Oh really?" he mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And how do you plan to make a living without this job, Mr. High-and-Mighty? Did you suddenly win the lottery?"Max took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "That's none of your concern. I'm moving on to better things."The boss let out a harsh laugh. "Better things? You?" He turned to the other employees. "Did you hear that, folks? Our Max here thinks he's too good for us now!"The other workers shifted uncomfortably, unsure whether to laugh along with the boss or support Max. A few nervous chuckles echoed through the bar.The boss stepped closer to Max, his breath hot on Max's face. "Listen here, you ungrateful little punk. You were nothing when you came here. I gave you a chance when no one else would. And this is how you repay me?"Max stood his ground, refusing
Alexa's words stunned everyone at first but in a couple of seconds, they burst into mocking laughter.The boss laughed heartily, shaking his head at Alexa. "Pretty girl, you look beautiful, but you seem to have a few screws loose up there," he said, appreciating her beauty while flirting with her in a way that was far from subtle. Beside Alexa, Max's brows wrinkled and he looked displeased but didn't intervene knowing she had it all under control.The boss continued to taunt, "You shouldn't spend too much time with a loser like Max. Otherwise, you'll begin to have some serious delusions. You really think my bar would go bankrupt just because of a phone call of yours? That’s absurd. Your showoff act is getting on my nerves."He was pretty confident as he strutted around in front of them. But Alexa was rather calm and unfeeling, merely gazing at him coldly."Don't be so quick to laugh," she replied. "Who knows what might happen by the time five minutes are up?""What will happen is you
She stood akimbo, and it was obvious that she was furious. The aura around her was intense, and everyone in the scene could tell that she wasn't to be messed with. Although Alexa looked young, it was obvious she had some good backing.Even Max could not help but give her a few more cursory glances."It won't stop with your rent, loan, and tax," Alexa continued to speak, her chin raised as she evened her cold gaze on him. "If I want you and your entire generation to pack up from this city with nothing, no one can stop me."Max could tell she was not going to let it go. Seeing how the boss and the rest of his colleagues looked terrified, he felt uncomfortable and muttered, "Alexa..."She quickly spun to look at him. "I was already furious with that foolish... woman... erm.." she coughed and gazed at him carefully, unsure if he would be angry at her with that term of address."Anyway, I was already angry with July and her stupid lover," she continued to say. "And yet, he came to provoke
A blue colored SUV sped through a grove of lush and tall trees before stopping in front of a tall iron gate. The building behind the gate was shielded by the tall gate, but it was still evident how magnificent it was. There were two guards standing ramrod straight at the gate with rifles in hand, and when the SUV stopped, one of them quickly approached. Alexa rolled down the window. The guard questioned respectfully, "Do you have a permit, ma'am?"She paused, having forgotten that one needed a permit to enter the Norman mansion. She had gone out in a hurry to pick Max up and didn't take her permit along. She was about to explain this when the guard suddenly sighted the person in the passenger seat. His face immediately changed, and he saluted, "Welcome back, Young Master."Max finally looked over and gave an embarrassed smile. "Hi, Marcus."The guard was clearly pleased to see him and said excitedly, "The door is open. Please go in.""Thank you."Immediately, the gate opened up, an
Max went silent for a few moments.Upon seeing this, the old man sighed and clicked his tongue. "You still don't want to? I thought you would have made up your mind by now."He was still quiet and seemed to be contemplating some things. Eventually, he looked up at his grandfather and declared, "I'll do it."The old man looked surprised at first but quickly regained his composure and nodded graciously. "You made the right choice. You'll begin working from tomorrow, and your first task is attending the business party being held at Dawn Entertainment Corps.""Our affiliate company?" Max asked in surprise. It was just one of the many companies affiliated with the Norman family, and usually, the main branch didn't need to intervene with its activities. "Yes. I've seen that you're a bit knowledgeable when it comes to the entertainment industry. You should start with something you're already good at."His words made Max smile bitterly. There was really nothing he could hide from his grandfa
The Galaxy Media Hotel was alive and bustling that evening. Decorative lights shone around its vicinity, illuminating every nook and corner. Rows of sleek and expensive cars lined the red carpets, filling up the entire parking area, and from time to time, superstars stepped out of them with their various partners. As it was a big event, countless showbiz journalists and reporters were on the scene, each jostling to get the best snap and blinding light flashed from time to time.A sleek black limo pulled up a block from the hotel, and Max stepped out, smoothening the slight creases on his blue suit. He looked toward the hotel and could see the flashes of light in the distance.He shut the car door and leaned down the window to speak to the driver with a slight chuckle, "Thankfully, I quickly stopped you before you parked there. It would be hard to drive out after the event."The driver nodded courteously and asked, "Shall I wait here for you, Young Master?""No." Max shook his head li
"Stop!" A female voice rang out from the other end of the red carpet.When everyone looked over, they saw a lady in a maroon fishtail dress standing there. She was quite a beautiful woman, and although her makeup seemed pretty heavy, it fit her disposition and highlighted her beauty.When Max saw her face, he instantly recognized who she was. Claire Moretti - July's biggest rival in the entertainment circle.The faces of the other people also changed once they saw who she was, especially the rude usher. Who did not know who Claire Moretti was? She was the most ill-tempered of actresses and so sharp tongue that whenever she had it out with even the most bothersome of reporters, they would eventually run away with their tails between their legs.She was what people would call the 'shrew of entertainment industry.'Claire looked at their faces and smiled haughtily seeing how careful they were. She looked quite arrogant, and even the reporters didn't dare to tale her pictures wantonly.Th
"I am July's ex-husband," he whispered.Claire was shocked. The look on her face was even more unnatural when her gaze flickered to July and saw the way she hung on to Greg. July had only just known Greg recently and everyone already believed they were together.She knew that July was entangled with this bartender and recognized him - that was why she helped Max earlier as she noticed he was no longer around July. She simply thought it was just a matter of minor disagreement and just wouldn't pass the chance to discredit July.Who knew she would stumble upon such explosive news? If Max was July's ex-husband and had been around her for so long, yet, she was now flirting around with some richer man, it would mean that July had cheated on him during their marriage.What a big scandal!July noticed the strange look on her face and her gaze flickered from Max to hers consecutively. A bad premonition suddenly sprouted in her heart seeing how Max was whispering to her. She suddenly suspecte