"Master said you don't have to return home now if you don't want to, but you have to manage the subsidiary of the conglomerate here in Atlanta," the butler said as Ryan read through the contract.
"What if I don't manage the subsidiary and at the same time don't return home?" "I am afraid, Sir, Master would have to retaliate against the Hill family." Ryan glanced sharply at the butler. "What?" He asked, more shocked than surprised. "Dad told you that?" "Yes, Sir." Ryan shifted his weight on one leg. His father had him cornered. Before Stephanie's grandfather died, the man had made Ryan promise that he would take good care of the Hill family business. Even after what had happened between him and Stephanie in the past few hours, he couldn't bring himself to watch her family business get destroyed because of him. But wait a minute… He glanced at the butler who was waiting for his response. "Dad told you he would retaliate against the Hill family if I don't manage the subsidiary?" "Yes, Sir. If you would ask me, this is your chance to get back at what the Hill family has made you go through. You should show them that they have messed with the wrong person," the butler said. Ryan shook his head slowly. He couldn't be the destruction of the Hill family. He already promised Stephanie's grandfather. It surprised Ryan to think that his father knew about the fact that he would not want anything bad to happen to the Hill family business and still had not used it against him. His father could have used that advantage alone to drag him back to New York, but he wants him to manage the subsidiary? What the hell is happening? "I will manage the subsidiary," Ryan said, much to the surprise of the butler who had thought Ryan's next step would be to take revenge on the Hill family. The butler thought the Hill family were lucky. He gave Ryan a pen that he used to sign the contract. The butler bowed slightly. "Be safe, Sir." Ryan nodded. He watched the butler get into the car with the bodyguards and drove away. When they had gone, Ryan stared at the exquisite bank card that was now his. Few minutes ago, he only had ten yuan on him, which would not have been enough to pay for a taxi if he had to board one, but now he has thirty billion dollars in this card in his hand. He rubbed his thumb over the card. The last contract he had signed with his father, his father had ordered him to keep his identity a secret and had not given him any money, but now, it was different. He was suddenly a rich man. A smile caressed his face at the thought. The smile disappeared as it came as he remembered one of his painful memories with the Hill family. A guy that had managed to become Ryan's friend back in the orphanage home had been sick some months after he turned eighteen and had been out of the orphanage home. Ryan had knelt in front of his mother-in-law and had asked her to lend him some money to help the guy, but instead of giving him the money he asked for, she had raised a bank card to his face. "Guess how much is here? A million dollars," she had said. "I am sure You've never seen that much money in your life." She laughed too. Laughter that had caused Ryan to cry his eyes out when he got back to his room. "I won't lend you a penny. Even if I use all the money in this card to get food for the dogs, it is worth more than that filthy friend of yours," she had said. Stephanie's sister had been there to witness the scene, and for the fact that she hated him, she too had made fun of him. All those happened before he regained his memory. As he was trying to get over the pain that the memory had brought, he suddenly staggered forward as a force pushed him from behind. He tried to get his balance. Turning back, he came face to face with his ex mother-in-law.Mrs Hill raised her chin in a haughty manner. She dressed in expensive clothes and wore one of her heel shoes that often made Ryan wonder how she found it convenient to walk in them. She was accompanied by some women wearing expensive clothes too. Each of them were carrying shopping bags, making it obvious that they had just gone on another show-off shopping, displaying how much money they had. Ryan's eyes moved back to Mrs Hill who was looking at him in total disdain. "What is wrong?" He asked. Mrs Hill was slightly caught off guard by the cold manner in which Ryan responded to her. If it were some other time, he would have bowed immediately he saw her. Is he sick? "What are you doing here? You are supposed to be home getting the breakfast ready for the family, you ungrateful idiot," She said in disdain. "Ungrateful idiot?" Ryan asked coldly. "What more do I have to do so that you can be satisfied?" He moved closer to her and looked her straight in the eyes. "Ever since I go
Ryan could not help the smile that came on his face as he listened to the woman who used to be his mother-in-law threatening him with divorce. "Ma'am, I already divorced your daughter. Save yourself the bother," Ryan said. The confusion on her face and the way her veins appeared because of her tight grip on the phone amused Ryan. He has never thought he would be able to get any reaction from her other than disdain and mockery. The call connected and Mrs Hill heard Stephanie's voice at the other end. She wondered if what Ryan just said was true but if it was, then it is a dream come true. Stephanie deserved to be married to a wealthy man. "Stephanie, I can't put up with your husband's attitude anymore. I can't! He is getting more rebellious every second." Mrs Hill saw Ryan sneer and walk away. "Ryan…?" Stephanie asked at the other end. "He disrespected me in front of the society women just because I asked him why he isn't home to cook breakfast. As if that is not enough, he wa
"I see you are new here, call me if you ever feel stuck. I will be at your service even if it is in the middle of the night," the cab man said. Ryan looked from the cab man to the card. He wanted to ask the man why he thought he would need his service again but he collected it. Inside the car, the cab man had made him two different men, maybe there would be another rumour that would make him a man with three contrasting identities if he spent more time with the cab man. Outside the Villa, Ryan stared at the building for a long time. He's spent six years in this place. He let out a deep breath and went inside, deliberately using the steps instead of the elevator to go inside the room he used to share with Stephanie. He had only taken two steps when he saw a man climbing down the staircase. The man Stephanie had moaned his name. Ryan felt a bile rising in his throat as his eyes met with Anderson's eyes. Anderson grinned at him. Deciding to ignore Anderson, Ryan continued c
"I am not saying you shouldn't call the police if you want, but you should take a look at this first so that you will know who to get arrested," Ryan said. Stephanie glanced from the papers Ryan was holding to him. She wondered what he was up to. She grabbed the papers from him and opened it. Inside was the details of the debts that Anderson owed and something else… she scanned through the evidence She had been drugged the night before. She let out a gasp as she realized who had planned the whole thing. Anderson! There were pictures that had been taken from the CCTV camera of the bar where she had been last night. The bar man had added something to her drink after he was seen with Anderson. "What…?" Her lips quivered. The papers fell from her. She slowly looked at Anderson. "What's wrong?" Anderson scrambled from the floor. He ran up the stairs to where she was and picked the papers from the floor. His eyes scanned through the page. He ran his hand through his ha
After Ryan left, his words seemed to hang on and cause an uncomfortable silence in the room. Stephanie remained where she was, staring at Anderson. But Anderson needed no one to tell him that even though she was staring at him, her mind was faraway. Anderson finally decided to move closer to her. He took a step toward her, but she took two steps backward. "Babe—" "Stop. Don't come closer." She raised her hand to accompany how well she meant what she said. "I am sorry, babe. I didn't do it for my own selfish interest. I did it for you," Anderson said. Noticing Stephanie's puzzled face, he continued talking, adding his excuses together. "I wanted to help you escape this miserable life quickly. Even if you had come to me last night, nothing would have happened between us. I swear. You mean a lot more to me than you can ever imagine," Anderson said. His lies seemed to have some effects on her as her face slowly began to lit up. "Can't you see the freedom you have now? Tha
She hissed, rolled her eyes on Ryan before she looked back at the laptop to continue watching the movie she had been secretly watching. If not for the movie, she would sleep throughout all the time of her shift since nothing happens here except watching very rich people come in and go out."Call the general manager directly and —"The receptionist hit her fist on her desk, interrupting Ryan."Do you have any difficulty in locating the door leading outside?" She asked. Irritation evident on her round face.Ryan frowned. He looked her straight in the eye, waiting for her to do what he asked.When she saw how determined the man dressed in Walmart clothes was, the receptionist picked the phone. She couldn't wait to see him thrown out by the security men. After all these days, maybe she could watch a live drama in the company. She rolled her eyes on the man in disdain again and snorted. He has a real gut. Does he think he is special or something coming here without an appointment?"Ma'am.
"I only want to be the executive director." He noticed her frown, so he added, "you are handling things pretty well. I don't want to intervene.""Alright." She stared at him as he looked at the paintings on the wall. He looked more handsome."I still can't believe you didn't call me…""I said I am sorry, Brenda!" She is such a nag. "If you really are, come with me to a party this evening. And…" She added before Ryan could say anything. "I will get you some new clothes."Ryan chuckled and continued looking at the paintings.Later that evening, Ryan, dressed in the expensive black suit that Brenda had bought for him, drove them to the venue of the party.As he drove, Brenda noted that he looked even more handsome in the suit. "You've been in Atlanta all these while?" She asked."Yeah.""Dated anyone?" Ryan chuckled. "Married and divorced." As he drove, Ryan filled her in on his marriage to Stephanie, leaving out the details of how he was brought into the Hill family. For now, only hi
Stephanie pushed Anderson away from her and dashed across to where Ryan and Brenda were. They were on the last step of the staircase that led to the hall and had stopped to look at her."Have you been cheating on me all this while?" She shouted at Ryan. Her face, a mask of anger. She looked at Brenda through the corner of her eyes."What?" Ryan frowned, completely surprised with her accusation."If you haven't been cheating on me, there is no way you have gotten involved with her all of a sudden." She looked from Ryan to Brenda. "She is a famous and capable managing director in the city." Ryan wanted to ask her why she would think of something like that but he didn't. There was no use of wasting his energy on an argument with her."Your slanderous words would be taken to court, Miss Stephanie," Brenda said. She shot Stephanie a cold stare. Does she think she can say whatever she wants to Ryan and get away with it? Not anymore. Stephanie had done enough to Ryan and now that she found