It's been three years since Byron was locked up in place of Liam, his brother-in-law.
“Byron… please, my brother isn't fit for prison life. Liam doesn't deserve to be there, he didn't do it…. If you love me as you claim, then go in place of him. I promise to get you an attorney…”Those were the words Maggi, his wife had said to him and ever since then, she had only visited once. The first time she came with their little daughter, Ava.And ever since then he never heard from her, nor the attorney she promised, knowing he had taken her brother's place in this hell hole after he was arrested for the possession of hard drugs.He was rest assured by the promise she made but look at him now. He felt drained and heartbroken.Four years ago, Byron had saved Lucas Armstrong, the Grandfather of the Armstrong family by lending him the money to start up his construction company.Grandpa Lucas was so overwhelmed as the business started bringing good results that he decided to repay Byron by marrying Maggi, his youngest adopted daughter to him.Byron didn't care about the Armstrongs or even Liam's appreciation. He just wished he could see his little daughter, Ava, and wife.It was time for lunch and everyone took their place. In the prison, inmates get served 3 portions of soup or rice but Byron gets just one.Most times, when it gets to his turn to be served, the man will either tell him it's finished or there's no food for him.Byron would drop the plates and go back to his cell on an empty stomach. On days like that, he would only survive on the bread some of the inmates who took pity on him gave him.At first, he thought the server was making a mistake but then, he realized it could only be pure hate and he has had enough, keeping quiet for three years now.“You gave the rest three potions each, why do I have to get just one?” Byron finally spoke after years of keeping quiet.The man froze. He was only following orders. And his boss promised that there wouldn't be a problem. The man had to admit, Byron had a commanding aura. He couldn't help it. He was terrified.Byron was built differently. He made sure he worked out in the prison gym to build his muscles even more. Some inmates tried as much as possible not to get close to him as his muscles looked terrifying. Well, except for those who had the same muscles as him, they weren't scared of him.Just as the man tried to answer him, an inmate in the queue got impatient.“Hey! Get out of the queue if your one potion isn't enough!” The man yelled and pushed Byron aside, giving his plate to the server while the rest watched in shock.Byron narrowed his eyes, “You didn't have to push me.”“What did you say!” The man left the counter and inched close to Byron with fury in his eyes.Byron knew his name, ‘Cause trouble’ wasn't just for fun. The man was trouble!He hit Byron's plate and his food fell on the ground.“Jeez!”The whole crowd moved away from them and murmured amongst themselves.“There, you can have your lunch on the floor!”Hahaha! The crowd laughed.Byron clenched his fist and turned to leave but the man pulled his shirt to stop him. “The nerve! How dare you try to leave when I'm still talking!” He said, making a gesture to his friends.Suddenly, two men grabbed Byron's hands to the back. Then the man slapped Byron hard on his face. Just as Byron tried to free himself from the people holding his hands, the back of his shirt got ripped, revealing a gray shield mark on his lower back.A middle-aged man in the crowd caught sight of it before the police whistled and ran to stop the fight. “He is… he is… what the hell is he doing in a place like this?” The middle-aged man muttered as the police took Byron and the man away.He quickly went to the place where prisoners make calls to their loved ones to make a call.In less than ten minutes, a convoy of cars arrived at the prison gate.~Byron was trying to sew the ripped part of his shirt when he heard the sound of his cell gate. Obviously, an inmate had a visitor again.“Mr. Byron, come out, you're free to go.”Byron froze and his face went blank. He raised his head, ignoring the murmurings from his fellow inmates as he saw the gate wide open and a female police officer gesturing for him to come out.Was she mistaken or did she just call the wrong Byron?He pointed at himself, to make sure she was referring to him and she nodded seeing the shocked expression on his face.He was supposed to be here for 4 years, it's just three years, how come he's free all of a sudden?How come?“Yes, come on, your people are out waiting for you.” She replied as Byron stood from the floor with his mouth still open in shock.Wait… People? It must be Maggi! She has finally remembered him.He quickly put his ripped shirt on and followed the police lady.“Finally!” He muttered in excitement as he embraced the feel of sun and cool air on his skin.As soon as he got outside, the smile on his face vanished as he saw the expensive convoys of cars lined up in front of him and different men dressed in business outfits.The luxurious presence of these powerful individuals filled the air with an undeniable aura of authority.“Young master, it's a pleasure to finally find you!” They all chorused, bowing their heads to him.Byron couldn't help but laugh. Young master? Where was that coming from? Was this some prank? Where is Maggi? Or at least the camera?Chapter 2Byron wasted no time in going home to his wife and daughter. He was given a card by his father to call if he needed anything and the men offered to accompany him, calling him young master but he refused.He had missed Maggi so much.He was tempted to call and tell her about his family and the wealth he had acquired even though he didn’t fully understand it yet. But then, he shook his head.No one knew he was coming back, and thinking of it, he thought it was best to leave it that way. How about a little surprise? He wore a casual bargained shirt and worn-out pants as he got into a cab and instructed his bodyguards not to follow him. Byron was the missing heir of the trillion-dollar conglomerate chairman, Mr. Don Smith. But he went missing after an attack that claimed his mother's life. Then he met Lucas Armstrong who saved and took him in. Byron made some money, he decided to compensate the late Lucas by giving him some money which he used to start one of the biggest compa
Byron's heart sank even further, he felt his heart imploding. He had longed to see and be with this woman throughout his stay in prison. Why was she doing this? “I thought… We were in love. I thought you loved me?” “Well wake up to reality! She never did! She's tired of inhaling that stench called poverty from you! Read the room bro! Sign the damn papers and get lost!” Liam barked, throwing a pen at Byron's chest. Byron smiled bitterly as he glanced at the divorce papers in his hands. Then he raised his head at them, “I will sign this but I want custody of Ava.” Ava is his life. He loved her way too much to leave her in the hands of these people. The room fell silent. “Let me rephrase that. You mean, my daughter?” Liam scoffed. What? Byron's head buzzed. Is this some kind of a sick joke? Maggi tilted her head as if prepared for his reaction. She didn't waste time in showing him the DNA test that proved what Liam just said. Byron's face turned pale. He clenched his fist
At the entrance of the Mega Corporation, a row of luxurious cars were parked and quite a number of them belonged to either the owner or members of the firm. Judging from how expensive this car looked, Liam was sure the president of Mega Corporation was no ordinary man. Countless companies were seeking partnerships with them but most of them were rejected… given that the new president is odd. Liam heard the news, so before coming he had called one of his friends, Leo, who happens to be the company’s PRO and he was reassured that everything will fall in place. The shares Granny had promised kept ringing in his head as he approached the receptionist. He told the receptionist where he was headed then she asked if he had an appointment with the president.Liam shook his head and told her he was here for the bid.She gave him a quick once-over saying, “I'm sorry sir, but you have to book an appointment first before seeing the president.”He let out a deep sigh and was about to say some
“This riffraff came to apply for the janitor position here but he stole my friend’s clothes and insulted us, so I wanted to teach him a lesson but he ended up slashing water all…”“Really?” Byron cut him short with a questioning brow before making a face at Carol who got his message.“Shut up or I might just slap you real good this time!” Leo hushed Byron instantly.“You tried to slap him?! Do you even know who…” Carol had to pause herself, remembering that Byron did not want his identity revealed.“Guards!” She yelled, her face turning red with anger.Six giant men immediately appeared before her, all going down on one knee and bowing to her.“What hand did you try to slap him with?”“Huh?” Leo asked in confusion. Was his boss mad that he slapped a common man like Byron, an ordinary live-in son-in-law, to his friend’s family? SMACK! SMACK!Leo received two simultaneous slaps from Carol as her expression hardened even further. Her eyes narrowed at him and her nose flared.Ah! He real
“What did you just say!” Grandma Jane asked after dropping her fork. At the Armstrong mansion, the old lady sat at the dining table, staring intensely at Liam who looked extremely displeased. He had to admit it, his blood was boiling and he wanted to explode! How the hell could that lady make him do that in public? What was making him even more pissed was the fact that that stupid oaf, Byron, patted his head, calling him a fucking good boy!He just didn't get it! Who the fuck was that woman? And how in hell did Byron get close to someone that powerful? Even his friend who is the company's PR0 obeyed her like she was the president herself.At some point, he almost thought she was the president but everyone knows Mega Corporation's president is a man. ‘I smell something fishy!’ He thought. But he wouldn't give Byron the pleasure of having the last laugh.He cleared his throat then glared at Maggi and the rest before turning to Old lady Jane, “It’s all Byron's fault, Granny.” He star
Byron was about to go to bed that night in the rented condo he was living in when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID and it was none other than Maggi. He frowned but he picked up the call, wondering why she would be calling him at this time of the night.“What do you want?” Byron said coldly from his end of the phone.“Byron…” Maggi let his name roll off her tongue in a seductive and coquettish tone.It was a trick she had honed over the years to manipulate him. She knew he couldn’t resist her whenever she spoke in that manner and she was right. Even though Byron was mad at her and wanted nothing to do with her, hearing her speak in that matter softened his tone, after all, she was a woman he had been in love with for years.“I asked you a question Maggi, what do you want?” “I know what I did is very despicable to say the least, and you have every right to be mad at me and never want to talk to me again but this is not about me, it’s about Ava, she misses you. She
Byron wakes up with no idea of what happened after he dropped the drink Maggi had given him last night. All he could remember was her trying to apologize before everything went blank. In the CEO's office at Mega Corporation, Carol's eyes widened in shock as she opened the email that was sent to her. Slowly, she raised her head at Byron who was busy going through the contracts he was supposed to sign for a new project. “Something wrong?” Byron asked, his aura chilling and his face still glaring at the papers in his hands. Carol gulped then reluctantly turned her phone for him to see. Byron raised his head and the files in his hands almost dropped out of shock. What?! It was a video of him and a woman in bed! He clenched his fist then stretched his hands to collect the phone for a close view. He narrowed his eyes and tried to zoom in but the woman was blurred out. “How did you get this, Carol?” He asked, his brows creased. “From a close associate, sir. The video is on
Shell-shocked, everyone stared at Byron, their mouths wide open with a complicated expression. Liam's eyes darkened. An apology conference? He must be out of his goddamn mind to give them such conditions. How can a poor loser who once lived by the Armstrong family's grace say such a thing? Old lady Jane bit her lower lip, staring bitterly at Byron who simply ignored the look on her face. While Liam was trying to control the urge of slapping sense into the fool's head. He stood from his seat and pointed his index finger at Byron, “Are you mad?! Or you're just out of your mind? How dare you give us such conditions? Do we look like beggars to you?” Liam roared, his voice sharp. “There’s no way in hell, I and my family are going to kneel before a disgusting lowlife dog like you!” Byron ignored him, adjusting his tie with a calm expression, “My rules; invite all the press and different reporters to the event. Lastly, it has to be tomorrow.” Byron said, rubbing his palms. He e