With his jaw clenched, Robert finally responded. “Jonathan, I’m not sure why you feel the need to drag this out, but you’re wrong. My accomplishments are my own, and I don’t need to prove myself to anyone—especially not to someone who doesn’t know the first thing about me.”His voice was steady, though the tension was palpable.As the tension in the room thickened, Lily’s mother, Grace, suddenly excused herself.“I’ll be right back,” she said sweetly, but there was something deliberate in the way she left. It felt more like she was abandoning Robert to the wolves, leaving him to fend for himself in an already hostile atmosphere.The moment Grace left, Jonathan seized the opportunity to escalate things. “So, Robert,” he sneered, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin. “You really think someone like you could ever be enough for Lily? Let’s be real here, you’re way out of your depth. Lily deserves someone who can actually provide for her, not a... charity case.”Lily’s eyes flashed w
Robert struggled to keep his composure, feeling the weight of the injustice suffocating him. He wanted to shout, to defend himself, but what good would it do?He knew, deep down, that nothing he said or did would change their minds. To them, he was a pauper, an obstacle standing in the way of their grand plans for Lily.Lily’s voice, however, cut through the tension. “Stop it, Jonathan,” she snapped, her voice trembling with anger. “You’re the one who’s out of line here, and I won’t stand for you disrespecting Robert for any reason.” She stood beside Robert, her loyalty clear, but her voice shook, betraying the emotion she was trying so hard to hold back.Before Jonathan could respond, Grace raised her hand, her voice firm but calm. “Lily, dear, you don’t need to be agitated. Calm yourself. We’re adults, and we’ll handle this like adults.”But her words did little to soothe the rising tension, and Robert could clearly see the strain on Lily’s face, the way she was fighting to keep her
Before Robert could muster a response, Lily’s voice suddenly cut through the tension like a knife, sharp and full of fury. "Enough!" she yelled, her voice trembling with rage. Her entire body was rigid, her fists clenched, and her eyes ablaze with an intensity that shocked everyone in the room. She had had enough, and it was clear in every fiber of her being. Her breath came in shallow bursts, and her cheeks flushed as if her frustration had been building for far too long, ready to explode.Her gaze shot between her parents and Jonathan, her anger almost palpable. "I’m done with this rubbish!" she declared, her voice rising with each word, cutting through the air like a whip."I will not marry Jonathan. That’s my decision, and nothing anyone can do will change it. I refuse to be a pawn in your greedy games!" Her words were a direct hit to her parents, her voice shaking with frustration and conviction. "This is my life, and I will live it however I damn well please!"Jonathan’s face
It was a quiet Monday afternoon, and Robert was buried deep in his work at the office, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound in the room. Suddenly, the sharp trill of his phone broke through the silence. Without hesitation, he picked it up on the first ring, pressing it to his ear. “Hello, Robert speaking,” he said briskly.A tremor in the voice from the other end instantly grabbed his attention. “It’s Lily,” came the shaky reply. Her voice was unsteady, filled with a raw emotion that sent a chill down Robert’s spine. He straightened up in his chair, his heart pounding. “Lily? What’s wrong?” Robert asked, his voice tight with concern as he bombarded her with questions. “Are you okay? What happened?”For a moment, all he could hear was her shaky breathing, and then Lily broke down in tears. “It’s my family, Robert… they’re threatening to disown me if I don’t marry Jonathan,” she sobbed, her voice cracking under the weight of her fear and pain.Robert’s heart sank. He sig
The family turned to Robert, their reactions ranging from disbelief to outright scorn. Lily’s father was the first to speak, his voice dripping with contempt. “You again? What the hell are you doing here, Robert?” His eyes narrowed with anger, clearly tired of seeing the man he considered to be beneath his family.Robert remained calm, standing his ground despite the hostility. “I’m here to help secure the contract with the Glidson Group of Companies,” he said, his voice steady.Lily’s father scoffed, glaring daggers at Robert. “You, this poverty-stricken guy? How in the world could you possibly make that happen? What makes you think you have anything to offer?”Before Robert could respond, Lily’s half-brother, Derek, erupted in laughter. His mockery filled the room, his voice laced with arrogance. “You? Help with a contract like that? Robert, you’re a joke! You’re out here playing knight in shining armor, but you’re nothing but a broke nobody. "He continued "Please, don’t embarrass
Lily’s anger and sadness were palpable. She knew Robert’s capabilities and believed in his potential, but her family’s blind arrogance and greed clouded their judgment, making them unable to see the truth about Robert.As all eyes were on him, Robert quickly pulled out his phone and sent a message. The rest of the room was too preoccupied with belittling him to notice. Lily’s mother approached him, her expression skeptical. “And why would you send a message?” she demanded.“Because I believe that marriage should be a matter of choice, not coercion,” Robert replied steadily. “I also believe that I have the connections to help secure this deal, and I’d rather not see Lily forced into a marriage against her will.”His words were met with more mockery and laughter. “You really think you’re making any difference here?” Derek scoffed. “Jonathan’s family is the only one with the real influence to get this deal done. Your so-called connections are nothing compared to theirs.”“Yeah,” Lily’s mo
Her father’s expression hardened. “So you’re saying you’ve actually made this deal? Even if you have, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re just an opportunist trying to insert yourself into our lives. You may have done something for the deal, but it doesn’t change who you are in our eyes.”Lily’s mother, now visibly agitated, added, “We’re not impressed by your grandstanding. If anything, you’ve only proven that you’re a sham who’s trying to buy his way into our family. We don’t need your false pretenses.”Her half-brother shook his head in disbelief. “You’ve made a fool of yourself, and by extension, you’ve made a fool of Lily. You’re no match for Jonathan, and you never will be.”Lily’s heart sank as she watched her family continue to belittle Robert. She could see the impact of their scorn on him, and it only fueled her resolve to stand by him. Despite their harsh judgments, she knew that Robert’s genuine efforts were worth more than the superficial judgments her family placed on
Robert nodded, his stance resolute. He glanced at Lily briefly before turning his gaze toward her parents and her half-brother. "I’ll leave," he began, his voice steady and cutting through the cacophony of laughter and mockery in the room. "But before I go, let me say one last thing."The room grew quiet, the mockery fading as everyone waited for his next words."I know you won’t believe me. I knew it the moment I stepped in here, but I didn’t come to convince you of my involvement in the deal. I came here because I love Lily, and I want to marry her."His voice wavered slightly, the sincerity clear. "I’m not here to prove anything to any of you, but it would be a shame if you don't let her follow her heart and marry who she truly wants."The father scoffed, folding his arms as a sneer twisted his lips. "Follow her heart?" he mocked, his voice dripping with condescension. "You talk as if love will feed her, clothe her, or secure her future. You think she’ll be happy with your empty p