Archie decided to wait for a bit and pretend as though he did not understand all that was happening. He wanted to become somebody worth reckoning. "Will there be anything that we can do to change the situation?" Barrister Kate was being asked by his mother. Barrister Kate shook her head and glanced at the young man. She thought that the case was pretty decent and could be easily treated but even at the same time, he did not want to really give them much assurance because she knew how these things could work. It could turn out to be bad and also turn out to be good depending on the situation. "This is me hoping that they are daft enough but we can find a solution no matter how they prove to be wise. "Have you given it a deeper thought? I was wondering why we have not been able to see you since all this while. I also think that you guys should stay clear from the Court area so that one of these days whoever the opposing gang is wouldn't be able to do you any harm." "Good. I can mana
Marshall opened his eyes and saw a strange figure in his room. It was Mr Ambrose who was looking outside the window, with his hands deeply entrenched in his pockets as he hummed slowly, unaware that Marshall had woken up. At Marshall's groan, he turned in surprise and watched Marshall trying to stand. He ran towards him immediately to help him out. "Thank you so much for trying to help me despite how you feel about me." Marshall began slowly and he rolled his eyes. He wasn't going to counter the words with no argument. They already knew that they were enemies but were pretending to be friends. Marshall had pulled out from every group, both of them causing people to notice that they had friction. He wasn't even aware that Marshall had an accident that made him land in the hospital. If not he would have been a bit sorry for him. "You must be happy to see me here, right?" Marshall inquired, going straight to the point. He needed a cup of water to lubricate his throat but would rather
"We are here on behalf of Master Archie and Miss Judy on account of the alleged rape. The proceedings will start in the next five minutes and I hope that all of us can have some rest before it begins. May the best man win." The court clerk announced and the proceedings began. "We already know how the drill is done. You state your reason for being here, and then we proceed." The court clerk told them. It was just to set fear in the hearts of everyone present. Judge Lorna already had what she wanted to do in her mind. She was only waiting for the right time before she popped up and switched on them. If they thought that they could go scot-free in a case where she was the presiding judge, they didn't know what was coming for them. "I hope we all have our facts and our works already here. If we don't, then we have missed it all. I have with me various pieces of evidence presented by both parties trying to prove their innocence. I hope that this is truly what it is and that no one is tr
Murmurs filled the courtroom but no one was able to say anything against her order. They were going to behave exactly the way she had said they should. "I will be waiting for each of them to appear. I have already invited them to the court and we are going to get to the bottom of this issue today once and for all." She announced happily. She was always joyful whenever she had the opportunity to free the oppressed. It was later she got to know Archie's real identity. He wasn't the usual person that she thought he was. He was Marshall's son so she was not surprised by the way he was bold to prove his points. It was only people who had something to hide that would shy away from prosecution. She hoped for his step siblings sake that they did not have a hand in this because she was going to go hard on them and not even Marshall would tell her to stop. They tried to tarnish the young man's image everywhere. There were lots of posters and caricatures made of him as people thought he was
The gates of the juvenile home creaked open, and Archie stepped inside, he could already tell the meeting wasn't going to end well as he moved down the narrow corridor. The dull thud of footsteps echoed against the concrete floor. He spotted the living room and his step siblings pacing the room.As he entered his footsteps drew their attention, their eyes locked on him but he didn't flinch, already used to it. There was no warmth, no welcome, just the cold resentment that had festered for years. "Archie," Rhyder’s voice broke the silence, more a statement than a greeting. "Here to play the hero again?"Archie stood still for a moment, his jaw clenched. He could taste the bitterness of the conversation to come, already lingering on his tongue. "I'm not here to save anyone," he finally spoke, keeping his voice even. "Just to hear what's going on."Meg scoffed. "You should know by now. Dad washed his hands of us. Threw us all to the wolves except you right?." Her lips curled, but it was
Archie strode into the office the next morning with an air of command, his footsteps steady against the polished marble floor. The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the leather-bound scent of documents, yet there was something else in the atmosphere- his dominance. He scanned the faces of his employees, his gaze sharp, and his posture upright like a king on his throne.There was no room for forgiveness. With a flick of his wrist, Archie motioned to his assistant. "Gather them," he ordered simply.Soon enough, the ones who had wronged him stood before him. Archie watched them, letting the silence grow thick before he spoke.“Your time here is over,” Archie declared, shocking them.“You can’t just—"Archie raised a hand, palm out, halting him mid-sentence. “This is my company. I decide who stays and who leaves. And none of you deserve to stay.”The others exchanged nervous glances, their bodies tense but none of them.dared speak.One by one, they were led out. As the door clicked shut
“Mom, I’m not about to do anything reckless,” Archie responded, realizing he wasn't going to get through with them; this was something he'll have to do himself.There was no way he would let his step siblings get away with everything they had done they would pay one way or another.Emily’s eyes searched his a bit doubtful he meant what he said. “Archie, I understand your anger, but chasing them won’t bring you peace. You’ve got your life ahead of you. Think about it.” She leaned forward, the tension in her body visible as she reached out, her fingers brushing his arm.“I get it. I’ll keep my head clear.” He forced a smile, a façade he hoped would ease her anxiety.As she turned away, Archie stepped outside, he pulled out his phone and dialed Simon’s number.“Hey, Archie! Everything alright?” Simon’s voice crackled through the line, filled with curiosity.“Not really,” Archie muttered, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby. “I need you to help me keep an eye on my siblings. They’
“Thank you all for being here,” Bailey began, keeping her gaze steady as she stood at the head of the table.. Her father narrowed his eyes. “What’s the point of this meeting, Bailey? You know how we feel about your... decisions.”Ignoring the dismissive tone, Bailey pressed on. “Since I’m taking control of the company. It’s time for a change, and I want to merge with Archie’s business.”The murmurs around the table rose like a tide, disbelief etched across their faces. “You can’t be serious,” her father barked, slamming his hand against the table, causing the coffee cups to rattle. “Archie is beneath us. He doesn’t belong in this world.”“Actually,” Bailey retorted, her voice slicing through the air, “I don’t care about your opinions anymore. I believe in Archie and his vision. He has more integrity than anyone in this room.” She locked eyes with her father, refusing to back down, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “You’re making a mistake,” her mother interjected softly.
8 months later,There is a popular saying; the ship is never afraid of the wind but rather it bends to it and dances to its tune of direction and relief.Trees who don't bend in the wind break. The wind is a pivotal feature of the human life as it is responsible for every occurrence that happens in human life. When you learn to bend, you fit everywhere. When you learn to bend you navigate the wind with your curved hands and control it. Archibald Lockwood has seen the storm, he had dined in the whirlwind and he had learned to embrace the raging tornado and walk inside of it. He learned to toil a dry land and water it with his tears of frustration and discouragement, and sweat of weariness and hunger.When he stood in front of the magnificent building which bore the name *Lockwood Enterprises* he closed his eyes and recounted how he had begun his life up to this moment. It was a different kind of wind,a different kind of struggle at every phase of his life. He smiled, watching the sun
The wedding began around 12:00 p.m. in the afternoon. The venue of the wedding was the family's yard which was filled to the brim with men of high class and caliber. Many of them were Marshall's colleagues from the military, oil and gas moguls,big celebrities and even politicians.It was a dream come true for Bailey, as every eye felt upon her in awe. She'd chosen to wear a lace turtleneck gown and a very transparent veil. There was no doubt that she looked beautiful and that she would be gracing the cover of the biggest wedding magazine in the country for a long time to come. Archie on the other hand was as stunning as ever, very much the desired man any woman would wish to have. He stood tall in his three piece suit, his brown eyes emitting the soft rays of the midday sun. His jet black hair had been dressed and combed to give a gentlemanly appearance. Once the band began to play the piano, Bailey's father took her by the hand and slowly started leading her to the aisle, where Arc
Archie waited for Bailey at the parking lot, feeling his heartbeat with tension and anticipation. He decided to protect his now grown reputation by standing under one of the trees, so that the darkness can shade his presence. A part of him still felt bad about Bailey's parents and how he had to leave them unresponsive. His heart had been clouded with pain, as memories of the ill treatment he had gotten from them reeled in his head. He drew a deep breath and closed his eyes, attempting to relax his taut nerves. This was the beginning of the end, and now that he had been vindicated, there was nothing left for him to think of. He ran his hand over his pocket, the tiny box was still there. When he opened his eyes he saw Bailey in the parking lots, looking around in search for him. “Hey! I'm here,” he called out loudly, waving his hands to catch her attention. She turned around at the sound of his voice, but when she was still not able to get his direction he walked out from under the
When the cameras flashing on Archie increased, he knew that he was already live on television. Every home was tuned into this station, every eye fixated on him.“Hmm,hmm”The throat clearing coughing of the presenter jolted him out of his thoughts. “You said you are who again?” Archie twisted his lips into a smirk as he chuckled lightly. There was sarcasm in the bald headed man's voice. He obviously thought he had come to humiliate himself just as everyone in the world was thinking. He adjusted his sitting position, crossing his legs. “I am Archibald Lockwood. The heir to the Lockwood empire.”The smile on the presenter's face dissipated immediately, becoming replaced with unease, the kind that left his eyes widened, and his jaw agape. Archie could feel the same silence, echoing through the land. The same shock on the presenter's face spread across every face in the land including Bailey's parents' own. It felt good, being a glistening debutante to the world who had undermined him
“Thank you all for being here,” Bailey began, keeping her gaze steady as she stood at the head of the table.. Her father narrowed his eyes. “What’s the point of this meeting, Bailey? You know how we feel about your... decisions.”Ignoring the dismissive tone, Bailey pressed on. “Since I’m taking control of the company. It’s time for a change, and I want to merge with Archie’s business.”The murmurs around the table rose like a tide, disbelief etched across their faces. “You can’t be serious,” her father barked, slamming his hand against the table, causing the coffee cups to rattle. “Archie is beneath us. He doesn’t belong in this world.”“Actually,” Bailey retorted, her voice slicing through the air, “I don’t care about your opinions anymore. I believe in Archie and his vision. He has more integrity than anyone in this room.” She locked eyes with her father, refusing to back down, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “You’re making a mistake,” her mother interjected softly.
“Mom, I’m not about to do anything reckless,” Archie responded, realizing he wasn't going to get through with them; this was something he'll have to do himself.There was no way he would let his step siblings get away with everything they had done they would pay one way or another.Emily’s eyes searched his a bit doubtful he meant what he said. “Archie, I understand your anger, but chasing them won’t bring you peace. You’ve got your life ahead of you. Think about it.” She leaned forward, the tension in her body visible as she reached out, her fingers brushing his arm.“I get it. I’ll keep my head clear.” He forced a smile, a façade he hoped would ease her anxiety.As she turned away, Archie stepped outside, he pulled out his phone and dialed Simon’s number.“Hey, Archie! Everything alright?” Simon’s voice crackled through the line, filled with curiosity.“Not really,” Archie muttered, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby. “I need you to help me keep an eye on my siblings. They’
Archie strode into the office the next morning with an air of command, his footsteps steady against the polished marble floor. The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the leather-bound scent of documents, yet there was something else in the atmosphere- his dominance. He scanned the faces of his employees, his gaze sharp, and his posture upright like a king on his throne.There was no room for forgiveness. With a flick of his wrist, Archie motioned to his assistant. "Gather them," he ordered simply.Soon enough, the ones who had wronged him stood before him. Archie watched them, letting the silence grow thick before he spoke.“Your time here is over,” Archie declared, shocking them.“You can’t just—"Archie raised a hand, palm out, halting him mid-sentence. “This is my company. I decide who stays and who leaves. And none of you deserve to stay.”The others exchanged nervous glances, their bodies tense but none of them.dared speak.One by one, they were led out. As the door clicked shut
The gates of the juvenile home creaked open, and Archie stepped inside, he could already tell the meeting wasn't going to end well as he moved down the narrow corridor. The dull thud of footsteps echoed against the concrete floor. He spotted the living room and his step siblings pacing the room.As he entered his footsteps drew their attention, their eyes locked on him but he didn't flinch, already used to it. There was no warmth, no welcome, just the cold resentment that had festered for years. "Archie," Rhyder’s voice broke the silence, more a statement than a greeting. "Here to play the hero again?"Archie stood still for a moment, his jaw clenched. He could taste the bitterness of the conversation to come, already lingering on his tongue. "I'm not here to save anyone," he finally spoke, keeping his voice even. "Just to hear what's going on."Meg scoffed. "You should know by now. Dad washed his hands of us. Threw us all to the wolves except you right?." Her lips curled, but it was
Murmurs filled the courtroom but no one was able to say anything against her order. They were going to behave exactly the way she had said they should. "I will be waiting for each of them to appear. I have already invited them to the court and we are going to get to the bottom of this issue today once and for all." She announced happily. She was always joyful whenever she had the opportunity to free the oppressed. It was later she got to know Archie's real identity. He wasn't the usual person that she thought he was. He was Marshall's son so she was not surprised by the way he was bold to prove his points. It was only people who had something to hide that would shy away from prosecution. She hoped for his step siblings sake that they did not have a hand in this because she was going to go hard on them and not even Marshall would tell her to stop. They tried to tarnish the young man's image everywhere. There were lots of posters and caricatures made of him as people thought he was