“I’m sorry about my family.” Vanessa said with a frown as she and Stephen walked out of the restaurant. Stephen looked at her and frowned, he didn’t understand why she kept feeling the need to take responsibility for her family’s actions. “Vanessa, are you a martyr?” Stephen asked his fiance.“A martyr? What? Of course not!” Vanessa exclaimed. “I could never be someone so, so, so selfless.”Stephen laughed and shook his head. He couldn’t believe how unaware his fiance was of how much she had already sacrificed because of family.“Vanessa, they aren’t your responsibility, you don’t owe them anything.” Stephen said as he pulled Vanessa aside. “I’m not.” Vanessa was frowning as Stephen told her the painful truth. “One day they will cross someone who is not as forgiving as I am.” Stephen warned her. “What will you do when that day comes?” “It won’t happen, my family would never offend someone better than them. Have you not seen how they grovel in front of your half brother?” Vanessa
“Did they leave ahead?” Stephen asked as he returned to find Vanessa waiting all alone for him. He had expected his uncle to insist on sending them home.He knew William Cho was starting to get desperate in finding out where Stephen lived.“Yeah, William got called home. Something about his brother being furious.” Vanessa chuckled as they walked out of the restaurant hand in hand. “Vanessa, I’m going to grab some drinks with Robert and Edward, if that’s fine with you.” Stephen told her. “I already asked Amalia to come over to the house to keep you company. I have to discuss work with the boys.”Vanessa shook her head and smiled at Stephen. “Amalia doesn’t need to come over. The house is safe enough, we have a few maids now and a cook. I’ll be fine alone.” Vanessa told him as he nodded in response.Around them, Stephen’s bodyguards walked silently as they observed their surroundings. They were particularly on the lookout for Willaim’s men that he could have left behind to stalk Steph
“Sir?” John asked as he knocked from the other side of the door.“Come in John.” Stephen called out as his right hand man entered the room.“Edward, Robert, this is John.” Stephen introduced as John bowed in front of the two men. “In the Essen Mafia, he is my right hand man.”“So that’s the mafia you were leading. You owe me ten thousand Edward!” Robert laughed as Edward took out his phone and sent the money digitally to his friend.As Robert reveled in his victory, Edward noticed the nervous glances he was getting from John. It was clear that he was worried about Edward Hao’s family.The Haos were a powerful and old political family, families like theirs viewed the mafia and gangs as the dark side of the world.“John Reid.” Edward suddenly said, making John look up, his fear visible in his eyes. “That’s your real name right? John Malcolm Reid, thirty five years old, you came to the country a month before Stephen did.”“You knew?” Stephen asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked at Ed
“Where do I start?” Stephen asked.“That morning, who did you speak to?” Robert questioned his friend as they were careful to go through every detail.“The first person I spoke to was Amalia, she was up early and crying as if I had died.” Stepehn laughed and shook his head. Little did they all know that that night, Amalia’s fears would become a reality.“Did what she told you change your mind?” Edward asked his friend as he refilled his glass of liquor. “No.” Stephen confidently answered. “I smiled and laughed and told her that I would be back in a few months when we had a break from school. We then went down to breakfast with grandpa, uncle, and my mom.” “Why was your uncle there?” Robert asked as he looked Stephen in the eyes. “If I recall correctly, your Uncle William rarely had meals with the family.”“It was my sending off meal.” Stephen told his friends. “Everyone was required to be there, but my Uncle William didn’t want his wife around, he was telling us how she might be pre
“Stephen, the Ty family?” Robert asked as they headed down to leave. “What about them?” Stephen asked, stopping in his tracks. “They don’t deserve to be associated with you or Vanessa.” Robert declared in an angry tone. “Even Vanessa deserves better. You are all their victims.”“What are you trying to suggest, Robert?” Stephen asked as he looked at his friend.“He wants your permission to drag their name through the mud.” Edward answered. “Of course, Robert is acting impulsively again.”“If I were acting impulsively, I wouldn’t have asked Stephen and just acted. I know Stephen would probably have a plan for them.” Robert answered, rolling his eyes at his friend.“The Ty family are fortunate that Vanessa is their child.” Stephen said in a cold tone. “But that doesn’t mean they will get through this unscratched. I will give them time, for now, to see their mistakes. If they refuse to change, then I will make a move against them.”Robert and Edward both nodded in understanding.No matt
Michael glanced between Stephen and Andrew as a deafening silence enveloped the room. When the two men had entered, Stephen didn’t say a word. He just sat down, crossed his arms and glared at Michael.Following Stephen’s lead, Andrew did the same. “Why didn’t you tell us?” Andrew said as his expression went soft. He hadn’t spoken this way to Michael since he arrived. Andrew had thought the worst of Michael, even when he was pleading, explaining what had happened. To Andrew one of the gravest crimes now was to betray Stephen.“I had to Andrew! You don’t know what it was like!” Michael cried out, sobbing. “But I regretted it in the end, that’s why I’m here. I’d rather get fired than suffer my conscience!”Andrew stood up and slammed his palm on the table.“What do you mean I don’t know what it’s like?!” He asked angrily as he stood up.Stephen remained calm as Andrew grabbed Michael by the collar, dragging the younger man forward.“Michael, do you forget who’s son I am? My mother is
When Stephen arrived in the office the next day, he acted as if nothing had happened. He carried his laptop to his office, greeted everyone as usual, including Michael who nervously glanced between Stephen and Amalia. Michael had learned the truth, Amalia wasn’t in this team just because the chairman favored Stephen, she was here because he was her brother. It was no wonder that Amalia had easily adjusted to Stephen, they acted as if they had known each other for a long time from the start, because they had. “Meeting, ten minutes, my office.” Stephen announced as soon as he realized that the entire team was there. Vanessa had recovered all of the files last night, they would be able to complete the entire project within the day. Everyone quickly gathered their things or headed to the bathroom, while Isabelle prepared coffee and snacks for everyone.“It will be a long one, won’t it boss?” Isabelle asked as Stephen passed her.“I want it done today, I might have to bother you to o
“You aren’t attending tonight?” Amalia asked as she stayed behind to speak with her brother. It was six in the evening and Stephen had allowed his team to go home.They had progressed quite well that day and were ready to present in three days.“No, but Vanessa will be going with a friend and several bodyguards.” Stephen told his sister as he made the finishing touches on the presentation.“Don’t tell me you’ll be working the entire evening? I know for a fact that Robert and Edward will be at the Charity event tonight.” Amalia said, crossing her arms on her chest. “Grandpa told you to build your connections. You’ve been gone for too long.”Stephen sighed, his sister was truly being too insistent. “Vanessa will be there, building her own connections. My presence will only make things worse for her.” Stephen reminded his sister about how lowly he was right now compared to his fiance. “So you will just stay in the office and work?” Amalia asked, clearly annoyed at her brother.“I will