Derek’s smugness was unbearable, and it made Lily’s stomach twist even tighter.The man on stage cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention back to him. “Unfortunately, our director is not able to join us this evening, but I will be standing in his place to make the necessary announcements.”Lily’s nerves spiked further, her mind racing. She glanced at Robert, who gave her an encouraging nod. The moment of truth was drawing closer, and despite her anxiety, she knew she had to stay calm. This was their chance.As the man continued, his words felt distant to Lily, who was struggling to keep her emotions in check. Anger boiled inside her as she couldn’t understand why the director himself was absent for such a monumental day.She gritted her teeth, her foot tapping anxiously against the floor as the man droned on with pleasantries. Her fingers were clenched tightly on her lap, and she kept shifting in her seat, unable to sit still.Her breathing grew uneven, and she stole quick glan
Lily's heart, which had been racing moments earlier, began to steady. Robert's words infused her with a new surge of confidence. She nodded slightly, taking a deep breath.The flicker of hope from earlier had grown into a flame, burning bright within her. She was ready. The truth was about to be revealed, and everyone would see who she truly was.On stage, the man continued with a smile. “I would like to welcome to the stage the person who negotiated this remarkable deal, whose skill and perseverance have brought about this partnership.”Derek’s parents turned to him, pride practically radiating from their faces."That's our boy!" his father whispered with excitement, nudging him. “You did it, Derek.”His mother beamed, “We always knew you had it in you.”Lily, too, was on edge, her breath held in anticipation. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for.The man on stage paused for dramatic effect, letting the tension build. Then, with a smile, he said, “Please help me welcome M
Lily's heart, which had been racing moments earlier, began to steady. Robert's words infused her with a new surge of confidence. She nodded slightly, taking a deep breath.The flicker of hope from earlier had grown into a flame, burning bright within her. She was ready. The truth was about to be revealed, and everyone would see who she truly was.On stage, the man continued with a smile. “I would like to welcome to the stage the person who negotiated this remarkable deal, whose skill and perseverance have brought about this partnership.”Derek’s parents turned to him, pride practically radiating from their faces."That's our boy!" his father whispered with excitement, nudging him. “You did it, Derek.”His mother beamed, “We always knew you had it in you.”Lily, too, was on edge, her breath held in anticipation. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for.The man on stage paused for dramatic effect, letting the tension build. Then, with a smile, he said, “Please help me welcome M
Lana continued, Some people will go to great lengths to hide it, but at the end of the day, the truth always wins.” Her gaze briefly lingered on Derek, who was squirming uncomfortably in his seat, and then moved to her parents, whose faces were taut with anger and disbelief.She paused for a moment, letting her words sink in, and then turned toward Robert. “I wouldn’t have been able to stand here without the help of someone who always believed in me, even when others didn’t. Robert, thank you for your unwavering support and for helping me see this through.”Robert, standing at the back of the hall, smiled warmly. His voice carried confidence and pride as he replied, “You never needed my help, Lily. You had everything it took from the start. All I did was remind you of the power you already had. I’m just glad I could witness you reclaiming what was always yours.”Lily’s heart swelled with gratitude as she locked eyes with Robert, feeling vindicated at last. She had not only won the d
Derek’s shoulders stiffened, but he didn’t respond. He couldn't. His mind was racing, searching for a way out. Ignoring his father’s commanding tone, Derek hurried toward the door, his steps quick and unsteady, as if the faster he moved, the less real the situation would become.Mr. Hartley, his patience wearing thin, clenched his fists as he watched Derek flee. “Coward,” he muttered under his breath, his disappointment deepening. Mrs. Hartley shook her head, tears of frustration welling in her eyes as the full extent of Derek's deceit settled into their hearts.As Derek slipped out of the hall, his once-confident persona was left in tatters behind him. His world had collapsed, and now, there was nowhere to run from the truth.As Lily stepped down from the stage, her gaze immediately locked onto her parents. The disappointment in their eyes was unmistakable—deep and cutting, a reflection of their shame. They had believed Derek’s lies over their own daughter, allowing his deceit to
They stuttered through their apology, struggling with the shame of how they had treated him with such contempt.Meanwhile, Robert waved his hand with a casual smile. “It’s nothing,” he said, his voice calm and dismissive. His words only fueled their irritation. In their minds, this "loser" now felt important, like he was on some higher ground. Their pride bristled at the thought, but they remained silent, hiding their disdain.Lily, however, felt nothing but gratitude. Her heart swelled as she thanked Robert again, her voice soft yet filled with genuine appreciation. He had stood by her through everything, and now, they were both vindicated. When the Hartleys finally left the premises and returned home, they expected a quiet night to absorb all that had unfolded. But to their shock and dismay, they were met with an unexpected sight as they entered the house.Derek was sitting nervously on the couch, his face pale and his hands fidgeting in his lap. Guilt washed over him like a tide
After what had happened and having get to recover the contract, Lily’s parents reluctantly agreed to the wedding not because of love but they wanted to witness the humiliation of lily and Robert.After they've repeatedly warned her not to marry Robert because they believed he doesn't have a family and they believe Jonathan is a better option. Robert and Lily spelled out a date for his wedding. For Robert, he needed Lily by himself for the next phase of life he was about to take as the President of the Glidson Empire.Madam President wanted her son's wedding to be the grandest of it all; that would be a medium to officially announce him as president of the Empire. The initial announcement wasn't out to the world yet; it was just within the company's shareholders and important position within the group.Meanwhile, Lily's father objected to the marriage at the last minute, while his family kept humilating Robert for having no family.The months leading up to the wedding were fraught wi
Robert stepped inside, unbothered by her remark. The marble floors of the grand entrance hall gleamed under the chandelier’s light, but there was nothing warm or welcoming about the space. It felt cold, just like the reception he was getting.Before he could respond, Mr. Hartley appeared from another room, his presence commanding but hostile. He stopped at the threshold, eyeing Robert with disdain. “Ah, the groom-to-be,” he said with a smirk. “Come to check if everything’s falling apart yet?”Robert met his gaze without flinching. “No. I came to see Lily and ensure everything is on track.”Mr. Hartley laughed bitterly. “On track? The only thing on track here is your impending humiliation. You really think this wedding of yours is going to be anything but a disaster? It’s laughable. You’re setting yourself up to fail, Robert.”Mrs. Hartley crossed her arms, leaning against the polished banister, her lips curling in contempt. “You might be fooling Lily with this charade, but not us. We