As Alex approached the house entrance, Sophia noticed that Alex
was behind her."Haven’t you had enough?"
"Believe me," Alex replied, "running into you is the last thing I wanted today."
Sophia stepped out, blocking his path.
"So, what is it then? Are you here to remind me of the biggest mistake of my life?"
"Mistake?" Alex’s tone grew colder.
"I could say the same. You think I enjoyed waking up and realizing I’d wasted my time with someone so shallow?"
"Shallow?" Sophia’s eyes flashed with anger.
"You’re just bitter because you know I’m right. You’re nothing but a loser, a gold-digger."
Alex laughed, shaking his head.
"You’re delusional. I don’t need anything from you, least of your money."
Sophia stepped even closer, her finger jabbing the air between them.
"Then what do you want? To ruin my life even more?"
"No, I’m not here to ruin anything." Alex locked his eyes with hers. "I’m meeting my fiancée."
"Your fiancée? You have a fiancée?" Sophia shocked.
"I’m here to meet someone named Sophia Lancaster at this address," Alex’s patience wearing thin.
"I’m not looking for you. So, if you can help me out, call her, and I’ll leave as soon as possible."
WTF?!
Sophia paused, her expression shifting from shock to realization.
"Wait... you're here for that Sophia Lancaster?"
Alex coldly replied.
"Yes! Can you please just get her? I don't have time for games."
Sophia bit her lip, trying to mask the confusion swirling inside her.
"There’s no need to call anyone. I’m... I’m Sophia Lancaster."
They stood there, staring at each other in stunned silence.
Just then, a voice called out from inside the mansion.
"Alexander Leonhart!"
An old man stepped out, his face lighting up with a wide smile.
"Master told me you would come today! What are you doing out there?"
"Grandfather," Sophia called.
The old man, Abraham Lancaster, turned towards them, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
He looked between them, his smile growing even wider as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"So, you've met Alex, your fiancé. It’s great to know you both know each other."
Sophia quickly interjected, "We are not—"
"Call your parents, Sophia," Abraham said, cutting her off.
"Gather everyone in the Great Hall. I have an announcement. You both are going to get married today."
Sophia stood, shocked.
"Finally, my long-held wish can be fulfilled today," Abraham’s voice trembled with happiness.
He walked over to Alex, his hand reaching out to grasp Alex’s.
"Come, let’s go to the Great Hall. You’ll meet your in-laws."
Sophia watched them walk away, disbelief and anger surging through her.
She had lost her virginity to that man, and now she was supposed to lose her future too.
"This can't be happening!"
She had dreamed of an extraordinary fiancé, someone worthy, someone heroic, not any rubbish!
Instead, she was now being handed to a man she could have picked off the street.
As CEO of Lancaster Group, known for her beauty and bright future, how could she marry such a man?
What would people think?
"No," she decided. "I'll stop this marriage, no matter the cost."
***
In the Great Hall, Abraham guided Alex to an honored seat.
"How is Master?"
"Still healthy after a hundred years," Alex replied.
"You’re young, successful, and humble. I’m fortunate to have a grandson-in-law like you. Sophia is a good person; please give her a chance to get to know you better."
Alex nodded politely, but he doubt the possibility.
Sophia didn’t look like she wanted the chance.
"Wonderful, wonderf—" Abraham laugh joyfully.
However, just then, an angry voice cut in.
"Are you insane?! Sophia cannot marry him!"
Lady Lancaster, Abraham's wife, angrily stormed into the Great Hall.
She was flanked by their two sons and two daughters-in-law, with Sophia trailing behind them.
"Old man, how can you marry off Sophia, our greatest beauty, to that poor man? Is your brain rotten or what?" Her anger grew. "My beautiful granddaughter can never marry a lowlife. She will marry Chris Roland! He’s wealthy and powerful, and can secure our family's future." "Chris Roland?" Abraham frowned. That hypocritical playboy?"Don’t you know Jerry Roland?" Lady Lancaster snapped. "He works for Alfred Kingston, who practically owns Vancouver. Chris is his only son. Marrying him ties our family to the Kingstons!" Sophia’s parents also looked at Alex, and a dissatisfied frown crept onto their faces. Alex wore a simple shirt typically seen on people of the lower-middle class, cheap and old shoes sold on the street, nothing about him screamed wealth. If Chris Roland was the young rich man with a company, this man was probably Chris’s cleaning service, paid with the lowest salary. Thinking their daughter would marry this loser already made their anger rise to the peak. “No w
Alex shook his head and chuckled. He knew Sophia despised him."Sophia, let me show y—" He wanted to let Sophia see the real him a bit, but she turned her back to him and walked to the parking lot. A white four-seat Porsche Panamera pulled up and stopped in front of them. A stunning young woman stepped out of the car with effortless grace, her elegant dress and sparkling jewelry enhancing her high-fashion allure. "Sophia," she hugged Sophia."Lyra, thanks for coming," Sophia replied joyfully. "I came as soon as I could when I got your text." Lyra smiled while eyeing Alex from head to toe and shook her head. Not a single item of value detected from head to toe. Apart from being a bit handsome and having a somewhat fitting body, this man was totally worthless. When Sophia texted her and told her that she was forced to marry a loser and needed a helping hand, she had thought Sophia was exaggerating. But seeing Alex in person made her realize how unlucky Sophia was. Most of So
Alex took out his smartphone and pressed the fast call number 9. “Good day, Mr. Leonhart. I am Julia, your First Royal Mastercard personal concierge. How may I assist you?” “Do you know where I am right now?” “Yes, your card has GPS. You are at Vancouver’s Noble Knight Club.” “I want to become a member.” “We are processing that now. You can use your Mastercard as the membership card,” Julia replied. The glass door suddenly opened. “Your membership has been approved. Do you need anything else, sir?” “No, thank you.” Alex put his smartphone in his pocket and walked into the club. The guard hurriedly blocked his path. “I think the system made an error. You cannot enter.” “I am a member here,” Alex explained. “Why do you think the system let me in?” The guard was confused but asked again, “Do you have a membership card? I want to check it. If you don’t have one, please leave.” Alex took out his First Royal Mastercard. The guard had never seen this kind of card before. “Sir
"You talk as if you can beat me. Who do you think you are, a grand master?" Chris said with a smirk, "I doubt you have ever played this kind of game." Chris was confident that only wealthy men could afford such expensive toys, and Alex definitely didn't look like he could."There’s a first time for everything, right?" Alex shrugged casually.Chris laughed with contempt. It looked like victory were already assured.He touched his smartwrist, and a 3D hologram of a big mansion appeared."This mansion in West Vancouver is mine. I bet on it. If you lose, you’ll divorce Sophia."Chris had bought that house with his personal savings, thinking it would be the perfect place to take Sophia to spent night together, not too far from her house.He was already imagining having two babies with her there. He was putting up his best house because he couldn’t fathom losing to a complete newbie."Deal," Alex replied with an air of calm."Then what are we waiting for? The sooner you divorce Sophia, th
When the system declared Alex the winner, the entire hall fell into stunned silence.They couldn’t believe their ears or eyes."How can a loser who barely knows the game win?" someone blurted out.Shock rippled through the room. Everyone had expected Alex to lose.After all, Chris was the highest-ranked player in Vancouver!How could a newbie win him? Impossible!"There must be a mistake, right?" another person muttered.As Alex exited the room, with Michelle following him, people noticed something unusual—his gaming suit.It’s the latest, most expensive gaming suit, equipped with AI assistance.A newbie could become a master by activating the AI. Originally designed for military use in war, it’s now a game-changer in the virtual world.Seeing that super expensive gaming suit for the first time, their surprise quickly turned to anger."You cheated! That suit must’ve boosted your fighting skills," someone shouted."Yeah, no way a newbie could win without cheating," another voice chimed
What the fuck?!!!"Here comes the king of braggarts again! Can’t you just stop boasting?" Sophia scoffed. "You’re only embarrassing yourself!"One of Chris's friends called out, “Hey dude, the banquet’s off. Know why? Because I wasn't invited, so they cancelled the whole thing.”His tone was so amusing that everyone burst out laughing.He sneered at Alex, “Boo! Shame on you, man! Trying to act like you know something.”“Listen, Alex, whatever you’re trying to pull, we’re not buying it,” Lyra said.Alex knew hardly anyone would believe him, but he tried to tell his wife anyway. It was up to her whether to believe him or not.Suddenly, Chris’s smart wrist device buzzed.“Hey, silence please,” Chris asked the group and shot a smug look at Alex. “My dad’s calling. Probably about the banquet.”The room went quiet as Chris switched on the speaker.They pricked up their ears to the latest news of the banquet while looking at Alex with a sarcastic expression.“Father,” Chris said politely, “I’
However, before Alex replied, his phone rang suddenly, catching everyone’s attention. He glanced at the screen and moved to a corner to take the call.A few others glanced over, and one burst into laughter."You guys won’t believe this,” someone said, chuckling. “That dude’s trying to scam all of us. Guess who just called him? Alfred Kingston! Can you believe that?”“For real? He went that far? Thank God we know he's just a king of scum.”Alex answered the call, his voice low and serious.“I’m sorry to disturb you, young master. My daughter's condition suddenly worsened,” Alfred Kingston’s desperate voice came through the speaker.“I don’t know what else to do except to ask for your help,” the voice continued, trembling with worry. “Pick me up. I’m at the Noble Knight Club.”“Yes, sure! Thank you very much, young master. I really appreciate your kindness. I’ll send someone to pick you up right now.”Alex ended the call and turned to Michelle.“I’m sorry, but I have to decline your in
A few minutes after Alex arrived at Kingston's mansion, the old butler, already waiting at the entrance, greeted him."Respected Sir Alex, Master Alfred asks for forgiveness as he has not returned home yet. He asked me to guide you in checking Miss Jasmine’s condition.""No problem, take me to her," Alex replied.The butler led Alex through the luxury long hallways. As they approached Jasmine's room, a sharp, sterile medical smell filled the air.An older woman was already pacing back and forth there anxiously.Upon seeing Alex, she immediately turned and rushed to him.It was Jasmine Kingston’s mother, Jessica Kingston."Doctor, please help my daughter!" Jessica pleaded desperately.“Calm down. No need to worry."Alex saw a young woman lying still on the bed, her breathing shallow and labored.She appeared to be in her early twenties, her once-beautiful features now overshadowed by a sickly pallor.Her face was ashen, her body trembling uncontrollably, and tears clung to her lashes,