James clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the floor. “You took every penny,” he whispered, his voice laced with barely restrained anger. “That money was for my sister’s medical bills, Helen.”Helen Shaw scoffed, folding her arms with a look of complete disdain. “That money was wasted on a useless fool like you. My son deserves a proper wedding, and you don’t deserve to be part of this family. You’re pathetic.”James swallowed hard, his mind spinning with the weight of her words. For three years, I’ve tried to make this work, to be what they expect, but no matter what I do, it’s never enough. He fought the urge to retaliate, knowing it would only worsen things.Pamela stood silently behind her mother, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “Mom… maybe he just… Maybe James needs a break.”“Pamela, don’t defend him,” Helen snapped, her voice icy. “He’s failed you. Failed everyone. I’ve told him a hundred times to leave you. He’s nothing but a leech.”James felt his chest tighten as he glanc
James tried to process the shock as he faced Victor in the grand, opulent office.“So… you’re telling me my father, the man who couldn’t afford hospital bills, was secretly a billionaire?” James’s voice was thick with disbelief.Victor nodded, his gaze steady. “Not just a billionaire, James. He built Maple Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the country. And as of today, it’s all yours.”James laughed bitterly. “This feels like some kind of joke. Why would he keep this hidden from us?”Victor’s expression softened. “David was a man of many secrets, but he wanted you to inherit everything once you were ready. Today is that day.”James shook his head, struggling to understand. “So… my sister? Her medical expenses?”Victor leaned forward. “Taken care of. A private team is with her as we speak.”James exhaled slowly, relief flooding him. “Thank you… I mean, thank you for everything. But I just… I don’t understand why my father would let us live like that.”Victor studied him for a
James paused in the doorway, taking in the sight before him. Tom sat on the leather couch, laughing and talking with his in-laws, a glass of expensive wine in hand and a smug grin plastered on his face. James’s jaw tightened.Helen glanced up, her eyes narrowing. “Look who finally decided to join us,” she sneered. “James, maybe take some notes from Tom here on how to be a real provider.”George chuckled. “Maybe if you learned to be a man, we wouldn’t have to entertain better options for Pamela.”James ignored them, his gaze fixed on Tom. “Interesting choice of company, Tom.”Tom raised his glass, feigning surprise. “James! Always a pleasure.”“Is it?” James replied, his tone ice-cold. His eyes flicked to the lavish gifts spread across the table: vintage wine, a designer handbag, and a diamond necklace.Helen clapped her hands. “Oh, look at what Tom brought! Real gifts, not the cheap things you get for Pamela.”Tom leaned toward Pamela, placing the necklace in her lap. “This would look
James’s voice was ice-cold, each word clipped with barely contained fury. “You think $3,000 will cover what you did to my sister, Tom?”Tom gave a smug shrug, slipping a wad of cash out of his wallet and tossing it onto the table. “It’s more than you’ve ever seen, James. Take it or leave it.”Helen laughed, picking up the cash. “Honestly, James, maybe spend this on something useful. Like… makeup for me.”The comment hung in the air, and James felt his anger boiling over. He looked around at their smug, indifferent faces, something inside him snapping. Without a word, he grabbed the expensive bottle of wine from the table, his grip firm.Before Tom could react, James swung, smashing the bottle against the side of Tom’s head. Glass shattered, and Tom slumped back, a stunned expression replacing his arrogant smirk.Helen gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “James! Have you lost your mind?”But James ignored her, his eyes blazing as he grabbed another bottle, letting the moment settle.
James couldn’t help but smirk as he read through the high school reunion chat on his phone. The messages from Luke Hunter, flaunting his “success” and throwing jabs about James’s past poverty, were nothing short of juvenile. The insults piled up, old accusations resurfacing, and his former classmates joined in, laughing at his expense.Same old Luke, James thought, feeling a familiar anger simmer inside him. Memories of high school came flooding back—the day Luke had framed him for theft, the shame he endured, the way everyone had turned on him. But today, he wasn’t that powerless teenager anymore. He was ready to respond… in his own way.James opened his banking app, set up a string of transfers, each accompanied by a custom message, and began sending money into the group chat.A notification appeared in the chat:James Smith sent $50“Luke is a dumbass.”Within seconds, another:James Smith sent $100“Luke is a coward.”The chat exploded with curiosity and laughter as each new trans
Luke’s voice echoed across the lobby of Maple Properties as he strode toward James, his expression smug with exaggerated authority. “James! Didn’t expect to see you here so soon. Or did you come to beg for a real job?”James looked up from his phone, his calm demeanor only fueling Luke’s ire. He chose silence, watching as Luke’s eyes narrowed, irate.“Silent, huh? Figures.” Luke turned to the security guards and barked, “Get this guy a mop and bucket. He’s perfect for the toilets.”The security captain, a wiry man with a barely concealed smirk, jumped in. “You heard the man, James. Time to clean up after the real employees.” He chuckled, elbowing his fellow guards, who joined in the mockery.Luke stepped closer, his voice low but full of venom. “You think you can embarrass me in front of everyone, and I’ll just let it slide? No chance. You’re going to remember your place, pauper.”James stood his ground, his calm gaze never leaving Luke. If only you knew, he thought, swallowing the ur
The dim light of the restroom flickered above as James stood cornered by two security guards, their sneers making it clear they relished this moment.“Guess you didn’t think you’d end up back here, did you, ‘Mr. Carter’?” one guard jeered, pushing him toward the stalls. “Still pretending to be someone important?”James remained silent, his gaze steady despite the humiliation. Let them think they have the upper hand, he told himself. Their time will come.Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He managed to pull it out, seeing Alexis Lane’s name flash across the screen. But before he could answer, the guard nearest him snatched the phone.“Well, well, what’s this? Ms. Lane is calling you? Trying to get help, huh?” The guard laughed and answered the call, pressing the speaker button.“Hello, James?” Alexis’s voice was sharp, laced with authority. “Where are you?”“Oh, James is a little busy right now,” the guard sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “Why don’t you mind your bu
James strode down the hallway of Maple Properties, his steps quick and resolute, the echo of Ray and the guards’ humiliation still lingering in his mind. Alexis walked beside him, her demeanor professional and respectful, an evident contrast to the earlier mockery he had faced.She gestured toward a set of polished mahogany doors. “Mr. Carter, here’s your office,” she said, opening the door to reveal a spacious, luxurious workspace with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline.James took in the opulent setting—a modern desk, state-of-the-art equipment, and plush leather seating arranged around a glass coffee table. He turned to Alexis, his expression calm but curious. “Quite the upgrade from the construction site, don’t you think?”She managed a smile, an acknowledgment of his past. “I’m genuinely sorry for how you were treated earlier. It was inexcusable.”James gave her a curt nod. “I appreciate your support, Alexis. And I’ll need it, especially as we investigate Ray’s
Chapter 47Helen Shaw’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floor of her living room, her expression tense as she scanned the documents spread across the coffee table. George Shaw sat across from her, his hands clutching a thick envelope containing copies of internal reports from Maple Group—reports that no one outside of James’s inner circle should have access to.“This is it,” Helen said, her voice low but brimming with confidence. “With these, we can deal him a blow he’ll never recover from.”George glanced uneasily at the papers. “Are you sure about this, Helen? If James finds out—”“He won’t find out,” she interrupted, narrowing her eyes. “Do you want Pamela to be stuck with a man like him forever? If we bring Maple Group to its knees, Pamela will finally see reason. She’ll leave him.”George hesitated, but Helen’s determination silenced his doubts. He knew better than to challenge her once she had her mind set on something.Helen continued, her voice growing colder. “We’ll
The air in the Shaw household was heavy with unease. Helen and George sat in the living room, their earlier celebration overshadowed by a growing sense of dread. The fixer, Charles Tully, had gone silent, and no updates had come through.Helen tapped her fingernails against the armrest, her irritation barely concealed. “Where is he? He promised results by now.”George shifted uncomfortably. “Maybe we should lay low for a while, Helen. If James catches wind of this—”“He won’t,” Helen snapped, cutting him off. “Stop worrying. Charles knows what he’s doing. We’re close to finally getting rid of that man.”Just then, the front door opened. Helen and George turned, expecting Pamela, but their faces froze when James stepped inside instead.James closed the door behind him, his movements calm, deliberate. Dressed sharply in a tailored black suit, he exuded an aura of quiet authority that made the tension in the room palpable.“James,” Helen began, her tone tight. “What are you doing here?”
Helen and George Shaw sat at the dining table, tension heavy between them. George’s face was pale as he clutched his phone, the recent call from Garth still fresh in his mind.“He’s furious,” George muttered, his voice shaky. “That bad information cost him millions. If he drops us, we’re finished.”Helen rolled her eyes, pouring herself a glass of wine. “Don’t be so dramatic, George. We just need to dig deeper. James can’t be this invincible.”“And what if we get caught?” George shot back. “Do you think James doesn’t know what we’re up to? He’s not stupid, Helen.”Helen leaned forward, her eyes cold. “Then we don’t get caught. You need to grow a backbone. This isn’t just about us—it’s about protecting Pamela from that man. If we don’t act now, she’ll end up losing everything when James eventually falls.”Unbeknownst to them, Victor was watching from a car parked across the street, his camera trained on the house. Through the windows, he captured the argument, Helen’s animated gestures
Helen Shaw paced the living room, her hands clasped tightly, the tension radiating from her every movement. “We’ve been patient for too long, George. That man has walked all over us, made us dependent on him, and humiliated us at every turn. If Pamela won’t see reason, then we’ll have to act for her sake.”George Shaw, slouched in his favorite armchair with a drink in hand, looked weary. “And what exactly do you propose we do, Helen? He’s not just some small-town businessman. James has resources—more than we can imagine. We can’t take him down easily.”Helen shot him a sharp glare. “Are you really that spineless? Garth has been hounding us to find a weakness in James’s empire, and now we have an opportunity. We just need to give him the right ammunition. Maple Group has vulnerabilities—we just need to find them.”George sighed but nodded reluctantly. “Fine. I’ll reach out to a few of my old contacts, see if there’s any chatter about Maple Group’s internal dealings. But you… You’re clo
The cold winter sunlight filtered through the office windows as Pamela sat quietly in a corner of James’s office. She had come under the pretense of delivering lunch, but she couldn’t help staying to observe him at work.James stood by his desk, phone pressed to his ear, his voice firm yet calm as he spoke to a supplier in Europe. Despite the mounting pressure of recent challenges, he remained composed, solving problems with a confidence that Pamela couldn’t ignore.She remembered the man she married—timid, unsure, and often dismissed by her parents. That James seemed like a distant memory. The man before her now was decisive, commanding, and, to her surprise, magnetic in a way she had never noticed before.As he ended the call, James turned to her. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Did you want to talk about something?”Pamela hesitated, feeling awkward under his steady gaze. “No, I just thought you might need a break. You’ve been working nonstop.”A small smile tugged at his lips. “There’
A gentle rain fell over the city, its rhythm soothing against the windows of James Whitmore’s penthouse. For the first time in weeks, the tension at Maple Group seemed to have eased. The newly forged international alliances were beginning to yield results, stabilizing the company’s supply chains and boosting investor confidence. James had spent the day tying up loose ends, ensuring that every department was aligned with the company’s vision. As he stood by the window, a glass of bourbon in hand, James allowed himself a rare moment of reflection. The battles with Brandon, Helen Shaw’s lingering resentment, and Garth’s growing aggression—all of it seemed distant, as if paused by the tranquility of the evening. Victor entered the room, his usually brisk demeanor softened by the quiet atmosphere. “The reports are in,” he said, holding up a tablet. “Our market share has increased by 7% since the Dubai partnership went public. Investors are calling it a turning point.” James turned to
The sprawling Maple Group headquarters buzzed with activity, reflecting the company’s recent momentum. James Whitmore stepped out of the elevator on the top floor, greeted by a team of department heads awaiting his arrival in the main conference room. After weeks of traveling, securing key international partnerships, it was time to address the home front.As James entered, his commanding presence silenced the room. He took his seat at the head of the table, the city skyline glimmering through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him.“Ladies and gentlemen,” James began, his tone firm yet energizing, “our international expansion is well underway. But growth abroad means nothing if we can’t fortify our foundation here. This is where the real work begins.”Victor, seated to his right, pulled up a presentation on the large screen. The first slide displayed key performance indicators for Maple Group’s domestic operations. “We’ve analyzed every division,” Victor said, his voice clear and pre
James and Victor spent the following weeks jet-setting between continents, meeting with key players in the business world.In Dubai, they secured a partnership with a major logistics company, ensuring Maple Group’s products could be delivered faster and more efficiently. In Singapore, they negotiated with a tech firm to incorporate cutting-edge AI into their operations. And in Germany, they forged an alliance with a prominent automobile manufacturer, opening doors to new ventures.Each deal was a piece of the puzzle, carefully selected to strengthen Maple Group’s foundation.During a meeting in Tokyo, Victor leaned over to James. “You’re playing a masterful game here. Garth and Brandon won’t know what hit them.”James smirked. “Let them plot. Every move they make now will only push us further ahead.The Gulfstream jet landed smoothly on the tarmac of Dubai International Airport. As James stepped off the plane with Victor by his side, he felt the heat of the desert sun and the weight o
The Maple Group boardroom had never been more alive. Executives, department heads, and international advisors gathered around the long mahogany table, listening intently as Victor laid out the blueprint for James’s latest initiative. Maps of target regions and digital projections flickered on the screen behind him, displaying key growth metrics and potential market analyses.Victor’s voice carried with a clarity that commanded attention. “We’re looking at markets in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. These regions are brimming with untapped potential. By establishing a presence now, we position Maple Group as a leader in industries ranging from renewable energy to logistics.”James leaned forward, his expression calm but commanding. “This isn’t just expansion—it’s reinforcement. If Garth or anyone else tries to undermine us, they’ll face resistance on multiple fronts. We won’t just withstand their attacks; we’ll render them irrelevant.”The room fell silent for a momen