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
His thoughts spun uncontrollably, replaying the scene—Lily’s father, her mother, even her half-brother—all mocking him, calling him a liar, pretending as though they knew everything. How dare they? His foot pressed harder on the accelerator, the car zipping through the streets faster than usual. He was distracted, his vision clouded by his anger, the lights of the city flashing by like mere flickers in his peripheral.When he finally arrived at his office, it was late, the sky outside a blanket of darkness. The security guard, sitting at his post, raised an eyebrow in surprise at seeing Robert at such an odd hour. He hadn’t expected anyone, much less Robert, and the tension on Robert’s face made him stand a little straighter, concern etching across his features."Sir, everything okay?" the guard asked hesitantly.Robert didn’t answer, his thoughts still swirling like a tornado. His only response was a curt nod as he stormed past the guard, his pace quick, his eyes straight ahead, foc
“We’re calling to inform you that Glidson Group of Companies is canceling the contractual agreement effective immediately.”The father's face drained of color, and his hands trembled. “What? Canceled? What are you talking about?” His voice was shaky, but he tried to maintain composure.“Yes, unfortunately, Glidson cannot proceed with any dealings with individuals whose behavior and moral standards are questionable. Your family’s actions reflect poorly on ethical business practices, and we cannot associate with people who behave like rogues and lack basic decorum.”Lily's father was stunned. “What? Rogues? What does that even mean? There must be some kind of misunderstanding—”But before he could continue, the phone line abruptly went dead.The silence that followed was deafening. His hand still holding the phone to his ear, the father stood frozen in shock. Slowly, he pulled the phone away, staring at it in disbelief. His mind raced to process what had just happened. “Canceled... rogu
Her father stepped forward, his voice rising with anger. “You seriously think that pauper has the power to cancel a multi-million-dollar deal? Stop this nonsense, Lily! It’s Jonathan. He’s probably playing some game, but he’ll come around. He has to.”Lily shook her head, trying to get them to understand. "No, it’s not Jonathan. It’s Robert. You don’t know him like I do—"Her mother cut her off, her voice shrill with fury. “Shut up! If you don’t fix this, Lily, we’ll deal with you ourselves. I won’t have you bringing shame to this family because of your foolish choices!"Her half-brother chimed in, his voice dripping with contempt. “You better get that deal back, or you’ll regret ever standing up for that pauper. You’re either with this family or against us.”Lily felt a cold wave of panic wash over her. The pressure, the anger, the threats—it was all too much. Unable to bear the suffocating atmosphere any longer, she spun on her heel and stormed up the stairs, tears streaming down he
Lily’s face flushed with anger. She couldn't believe how low they had sunk, and her voice cracked with frustration as she snapped at them, “Instead of trying to appease him, you’re still disrespecting him? After everything?!”But her words only fueled their laughter, a bitter chorus of mockery echoing through the room. Her mother scoffed loudly, “Appease him? This pauper?” She shot Lily a look of disdain, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Since when you started hanging around him, you seem to have completely lost your senses, Lily.”Her father chimed in, shaking his head, “What a shame. Our daughter, with someone like him? It’s no wonder you’ve become blind to reality.”But Lily had enough. “Stop it!” she shouted, her voice quivering with fury as she stood between them and Robert. “You don’t know anything about him! He’s been nothing but good to me, and I won’t let you keep disrespecting him!”Her father’s expression darkened as he stormed toward Robert, his fists clenched, his face a
Robert’s patience had already worn thin, and as he left the Hartley house, a faint smile tugged at his lips. If only they knew, he thought to himself, if only they understood that I could secure the deal with a single call, they wouldn’t be so flippant. But instead of revealing his hand, he simply nodded, keeping his cool. Walking back to his car, he agreed to the deal on the surface and left the house without looking back.Five days passed, and the atmosphere in the Hartley household grew tense. Lily had had enough of watching her parents treat her life like a game of ping pong. Her frustration had reached its peak, and she realized she couldn’t just sit around any longer. Taking matters into her own hands, she made a bold decision — she would go to the Glidson Group of Companies herself and try to salvage the deal.Determined, but nervous, she picked up her phone and called Robert. As the phone rang, her heart raced. She wasn’t sure how he would react to her sudden decision, but sh
He had already bribed a few junior executives to downplay any of Lily’s proposals or make her appear unprofessional. Additionally, Derek had gathered enough dirt on her supposed relationship with Robert, which he intended to use against her. He had planned to imply that Robert was only interested in her because of her association with the Hartleys' wealth, a narrative he knew would cast doubt on her in the eyes of anyone listening.“All I have to do is drop a few well-placed comments during the meeting,” Derek mused. “And those snide remarks about how she’s nothing more than an adopted outsider will do the trick.” He knew that undermining her confidence would make her falter in negotiations, and he’d step in as the “hero” to salvage the situation. The executives would see him as the one capable of getting the deal back on track, and Lily would be painted as the incompetent, useless woman he had always believed her to be.But his plans didn’t stop there. If he could successfully sabot
Robert’s patience had worn dangerously thin, and his calm facade cracked under the weight of Derek’s relentless insults. His temper flared, and with a sudden motion, he stood up, his frame towering over Derek. His eyes burned with a fierce intensity, his voice low but carrying a dangerous edge.“You better watch what you say,” Robert warned sternly, his fists clenched at his sides. “I’ve tolerated your arrogance long enough. Don’t push me.”Derek’s eyes widened briefly, surprised by Robert’s sudden shift in tone. But the surprise quickly faded, and a smirk curled on his lips. He wasn’t intimidated. In fact, Robert’s outburst only fueled his desire to humiliate him further.“Oh, look at you!” Derek mocked, laughing harshly. “Finally decided to grow a spine, huh? What are you going to do, Robert? Threaten me? Please.”He stepped closer, sneering in Robert’s face. “You’re nothing but a poor, pathetic nobody clinging to Lily like a parasite. Do you really think you can intimidate me?"Rob
The company, once vulnerable in the wake of Madam President’s death, was now regaining its footing under Robert’s guidance. But his journey had only just begun, and he knew that he needed to be vigilant, for there were still enemies lurking in the shadows.His mother’s funeral, though somber, had not only been a farewell but also a declaration to the world that Robert was no longer the boy who lived in his mother’s shadow. He was stepping into his role with a newfound sense of purpose, and he would not be undermined.In the weeks that followed, Robert spent long hours at the company’s headquarters, pouring over documents and familiarizing himself with every intricate detail of the empire his mother had built. His butler, an older gentleman named Alfred who had served the family for decades, became an indispensable ally. Alfred had known Robert since he was a child, and he had seen the boy transform into the man standing before him.One evening, Alfred found Robert still working in hi
Madam President, as she was fondly known to the world, was a woman of unparalleled influence and charisma. Her life was a tapestry of triumphs, woven from years of building her empire and leading her company with a firm but compassionate hand. She had overseen countless business successes and was a beloved public figure, admired for her resilience and business acumen.But even the strongest of leaders are not invincible. Behind closed doors, the indomitable Madam President had been battling a relentless illness. The diagnosis had come suddenly and without warning, sending shockwaves through the lives of everyone who knew her, especially her only son, Robert. Despite her physical decline, she never let her illness dim her spirit or her drive to oversee her company’s affairs. Robert often marveled at his mother’s sheer determination, even when she was confined to her bed, issuing orders and signing documents with the same unwavering authority.The family spared no expense in providin
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier as the final figure was announced. Lila’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling at the sheer audacity of it all. How could this be happening? Robert was supposed to be the pauper here, the one barely scraping by, not the one making extravagant purchases without a second thought.Meanwhile, Anita’s smile grew even wider, a mix of disbelief and glee painted across her face. To her, it felt as though she had won the jackpot, her wildest dreams unfolding right before her eyes.Robert, however, merely smiled sheepishly, his calm demeanor unshaken by the staggering total. He turned to Anita and said, "I hope you’re satisfied with your picks. Let’s get these wrapped up."At the same time, When the assistant called out the total—$350,000—the shock on Lila and her companion’s faces was almost palpable. Lila’s eyes widened in disbelief, her carefully calculated confidence beginning to unravel as she processed the staggering figure. The man besi
Lila and her companion stood frozen, their eyes locked on Robert. The confidence with which he moved, the calm in his demeanor, and the absolute lack of fear in his voice were all completely at odds with the image of him they had clung to for so long. Every word he spoke, every action he took seemed to defy the expectations they had so carefully built around him.Lila's breath hitched as she watched Anita wheel the overflowing cart towards the register. Her gaze darted to the items, her mind racing as she tried to calculate the worth of everything piled inside. Her heart sank as the numbers began to add up—thousands upon thousands of dollars. The realization was like a punch to the gut. Could this really be happening? Could Robert, the man she had always considered beneath her, actually afford this?For years, Lila had carried a deep-seated belief that Robert was a nobody, someone to be mocked and dismissed. But that belief was now crumbling under the weight of what she was witnessin
Robert let out a calm smile, his eyes narrowing slightly as a cold expression settled on his face. "You're right, why won't I?" he responded, his tone icy and composed.Lila's scorn was unmistakable. She threw her head back and let out a sarcastic laugh, her eyes gleaming with mockery. "Really? Robert afford a bag this much?" she sneered, her gaze landing on the $89,000 price tag of the bag Anita had been eyeing earlier. "You? A pauper like you? Trying to level up so bad—it’s laughable!"She continued, "You’re in way over your head, Robert. You’re just digging your own grave, pretending to be something you're not. This is going to put you in serious trouble one day, mark my words."Her words dripped with disdain, but beneath her confident exterior, a seed of unease began to sprout. She couldn’t shake the memories of her past encounters with Robert. She recalled their run-in at the Luxor Hotel—how she had expected him to be exposed as a fraud or a thief, yet, to her bewilderment, he ha
The words hit Lila like a slap to the face. Her eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in fury, her face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. For a moment, she was rendered speechless, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find a retort. But soon, the anger boiled over, and she exploded into a furious rant."You—how dare you!" she sputtered, her voice rising in pitch. "You think you can talk to me like that? Do you know who I am? I’ve got more class in my little finger than you’ll ever have! Those bags—those bags are worth more than anything you’ll ever touch! You’re nothing but a lowlife, a pathetic little con man who can’t afford even a scrap of what I have!"Lila’s face contorted with rage, her voice dripping with venom as she continued to rant, her words becoming more disjointed and desperate as she tried to regain some semblance of control over the situation. "You’re the joke here, Robert! A joke! And as for you," she spat, turning her glare towards Anita, "
The tension in the air was electric, thick and oppressive like a storm cloud ready to burst. The other guests, who had been observing the escalating situation with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, began to murmur amongst themselves, their voices tinged with both anticipation and judgment."Serves him right," one diner whispered, barely hiding a smirk. "He must be out of his mind to go up against someone like Mr. Smith.""Foolish, really," another chimed in, shaking their head. "He’s asking for it. The manager’s going to toss him out on his ear, just wait and see."The whispers grew louder, with some even casting pitying glances at Robert, while others openly mocked him. "He has no idea who he’s dealing with," one person commented with a sneer. "Smith’s a regular here, practically untouchable. That guy is done for."Anita, sitting beside Robert, could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was visibly fidgeting, her fingers nervously tapping on the edge of the table. The thought o
Robert remained unnervingly calm as Mr. Smith's voice escalated, his threats echoing through the luxurious hall of the VIP section. His demeanor was as steady as a still lake before a storm, showing no hint of the tension burning beneath the surface. The more Mr. Smith ranted, the less Robert seemed to react, his composed expression only further fueling Mr. Smith’s fury.Mr. Smith sneered, his voice thick with venom. "You act like you’re above it all, like you own this place, you think everyone else is just as deceitful as you?"The other customers, were now turning their heads, their curiosity piqued by the growing commotion. Some whispered among themselves, while others watched intently, their food momentarily forgotten.Robert, sensing the perfect opportunity to twist the knife, leaned back in his chair, his expression calm. "Well, Smith," he said with a casual shrug, "if you must know, I own this place."Mr. Smith froze mid-rant, his eyes narrowing as he processed what Robert had
As Robert and Anita left the lively birthday party, the evening air was cool, and the city lights glittered around them. Anita’s stomach growled audibly, and she burst into laughter.“Okay, that’s embarrassing,” she said, rubbing her belly. “But seriously, I’m starving. We’ve been surviving on potato chips, cupcakes, and candy all night. I need some real food—something warm and hearty.”Robert chuckled, nodding in agreement. “I hear you. I can’t believe they called that a party spread. You know what? Let’s go somewhere special. I know a place.”Anita’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Special, huh? Fancy or casual?”“Oh, very fancy,” Robert said, a mischievous smile playing at his lips. “Trust me, you’ll love it.”Curiosity piqued, Anita grinned. “Alright, lead the way. Just don’t make me wait too long; I’m already dreaming about a perfect, gourmet meal.”They drove through the city, the anticipation growing as Robert pulled up to an elegant, upscale restaurant. The establishment exuded s