There was a light shade of blue-gray along with clean-lined furniture made for a polished backdrop while the woven chairs, light wood side table, and tree stump coffee table ensured a laid-back atmosphere. It was the living room inside the mansion, the perfect balance of approachable and formal.
The architect applied hardwood floors in a Hungarian point pattern wood panels to the wall for an extra surge of warmth.
The whole area was sparkling neat and clean, all around its vicinity scenting with a soft essence of jasmine. Lucas suddenly had a flash memory that he always loved jasmine flowers.
"You used to love the jasmine air freshener," said the old man who'd pronounced himself as his butler. It was as if he'd been hearing Lucas's mind. He chuckled.
Lucas asked, straightening his posture. "Who are you exactly?"
He was certain he had no ver met the man before. He had Viking-gold hair and bristly eyebrows. "I don't think I know you." Lucas added.
The older man was happy to reunite with his young master again. Finally! His heart was filled with immense joy.
His mariner-blue eyes were orb round and darted constantly, a-gleam with delight and the vigor of youth. They were soft, Irish eyes and swam with joy. They shone brightly, like two sapphires dipped in milky pools. He remembered when everyone used to comment on his vivacious character and his gentle nature sometime in the past.
"Sire, it's me, Grover. You really have forgotten, haven't you?" The old man said, then when he got no reply from him, he continued to say. "I used to be the butler of this household years ago, before the unfortunate incident that happened with your late parent."
Lucas did not hear him clearly. "You knew my parents?" He asked with widened eyes, and Grover confirmed with a slight but firm nod. "So you're telling me that I used to be part of this whole household?" His hands pointed to the large vast space.
"You used to be the young master of this entire household, son of the late Williams." He bowed his head in pity. "May their gentle souls rest in peace."
Lucas was shocked. He silently muttered a quiet, 'amen,' then waited for Grover to continue.
Grover thought carefully on how to continue. "There was a forlorn accident that took place, and you lost all your family. But soon, I was able to locate you again and now, it is time to--"
"Wait wait, so I was the son of the owner of this entire household?" Lucas asked again, unable to contain his joy. He could ask and ask over and over again, and seeing that he might just receive the same positive answer made him even more happy.
Grover nodded a reply.
It took a moment for all the words to sink in but eventually, it started to make little sense to him. "If what you're saying is true, why am I here now?"
"The Mochi family are not good people."
Lucas couldn't seem to agree more. But then, how did Grover know? "Wait, you know them?" He asked and his eyes widened.
"Yes I do. They worked for your father, and were nothing more than his mere followers. Your family helped the Mochi and saved them from so many financial problems and one could even say that they became their savior. But after the betrayal that led to your parents death, they adopted you and ran off. And I never heard from them again."
"But now they're back." Said Lucas, quite shocked that his family in law had ever known his parents and had even worked for them before. Why would they keep that a secret!
"Apparently, they'd kept you hidden. When I even approached your mother in law now, your foster mother, years ago, she claimed she knew not where you were. She denied having you with her. I had feared that something terrible had happened to you, but I didn't relent in my search for you."
The Mochi had lied to him all those years. They never said much about his real parents, and had claimed that they did him a huge favor by adopting him. Something wasn't right. "But why would they lie about my identity? Isn't that just pure evil? They should have explained to you all along that I was alive and hale!" Anger was starting to overwhelm him as he didn't understand why people could become so evil and heartless. After all the torture and maltreatment. They could had made it up to him by connecting him back to his real family.
"Because that family is evil. When your parents died and they took you away, they also took away all of your property and wealth." With a bittered heart, Grover said.
"What!" Yelled Lucas, a heavy frown forming on his face. Horizontal lines wrinkled across his forehead.
"There was a chance to step up after that night when your family fell, so they took you in, pretending to be nice, and next, ran off with files and properties worth millions. Apparently, they'd been satisfied with that amount, and so they must have been happy. But, little do they know that that was just a tip of the iceberg."
Lucas had sat still, his left palm resting on his cheeks, then it fell again back to his laps. He was nearly lost in thought, thinking of the evil that the people he thought were his family, could actually have successfully done such a horrible thing, then the last words of Grover brought him back. "What do you mean?"
"It's exactly what I meant, sire. That's because the majority of your family’s fortune has been kept safe by me all these years. Your father had secretly entrusted to me, and I'd vowed to fulfill his wish even if it were the last thing I would do. See this is why I am so gratified that I have finally found you again."
It was in that moment that Lucas knew that he would after all laugh last. After all the terrible suffering he'd been through, who'd have thought that he had been a billionaire all along! His eyes met with Grover who was seated opposite to him, but he did not speak.
Grover began to say, "as the last surviving heir of the richest and most powerful family, I ask you to come back and claim your rightful place."
Was he for real!
The cold in the room suddenly snapped at Lucas, his whole body shivering. He was happy, but at the same time, it was almost too much. "You want me to reclaim the family's fortune, now?" He asked, his pale blue eyes staring brightly at his butler. Of course that would someday have to happen, if truly he was the son they'd all been searching for. Only, he wasn't ready yet. It wasn't really something he'd ever prepared himself for. After all, no one had suddenly woken up to the realization that they might be the son of an insanely rich family!Grover on the other hand, he begged to differ. "Sire, this household has been waiting for you for years now. It is time." In his voice came confidence and determination. He knew he could die anytime soon, in fact, he was ready to. Only, his promise had to come to fulfillment. And that would only happen if Lucas agreed to reclaim his family's fortune. "Okay, if that's true then," the younger man said, leaning forward in the comfortable chair. Wh
A quote once said: “The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in life have had on her; but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.” Ivy Mochi was exactly that type of strong woman. There was no doubt she learnt well from her husband, Lucas Williams. Somehow, they had both grown to understand each other, and it was difficult to break their connection, otherwise, Ivy would not have still been married to him. Her skin was copper-brown, like a windfall autumn leaf and her eyes were bliss of wonders with an electrifying smile that made Lucas fall in love with her. Ivy's hair was coral-black and it crashed over her shoulders. She had been blessed with a smoldering, doe-brown eyes and a queenly figure. She had been waiting patiently for her husband's returns, and since she trusted him, she knew he would be fine. They never kept secrets from each other, so her min
The door creaked open, and just in that moment, her mother rushed out in anger, pushing Lucas out of her way. "Get out you filthy rag! Bitter excuse of a son in law..." She muttered on her way outside. Ivy was furious. A bit more related to frustration in fact. Her mother never acknowledged her and respected her, and it was a sad fact to Ivy. Which mother doesn't acknowledge her daughter's wishes and even tries to make them come true? When she turned—which she didn't even have to—the face of her husband smiled wearily at her. "Where have you been?" A tinge of anger mixed with her tone of voice. Lucas managed his way over to her, then, displeased by the frown on her face, his hand met with her face to dry the tears away. "I'm sorry, I received a news." He said, as casual as he could. But his wife was not moved. "I received a call from my mother, she said there was a problem." Still wearing the frown, Ivy managed to say to her husband. They never kept secrets, so she knew
Peter passed down the message to his sister and she couldn't believe her eyes. Her mother, Blanche was an arrogant and proud woman, and the thought of her having to give up the position of the family CEO must had absolutely displeased her. The family was truly in trouble. No matter how arrogant and pompous Blanche could be, she was still her mother. She still felt pity for the woman. Lucas had been staring from over the room's entrance, the petrified face on his wife's face. He also over heard their conversation, and that was when it suddenly hit him. He was going to make his wife the CEO of her family. "My love?" He said, finally announcing his presence. "Are you alright? What is the matter?" "It's my mother. She's really in trouble. The entire family is!" Her eyes misted over and a sob rose in her throat. "I feel numb with disappointment, Lucas." She said, finally admitting to her husband. "You know I'm working now. It'll be fine, I promise." Lucas promised, hoping he could
Lucas purposely played dumb in front of his family in law, but told his wife how to place the bid. He told her to trust him, announcing to her that he found a job at the same company her brother had been talking about, and that he has inner information. That Monday morning, he had hurried straight to work, and entrusted his wife to place the bid. Of course she didn't understand anything, but she would have to trust her husband. She trusted Lucas with her life. She was not sure about Lucas's instruction, but having decided to trust him at last, she placed the bid for her family without noticing the others. ✩★✩ Thirty minutes later after Lucas had left work, he was already home. To his surprise, his wife hadn't been the only one at home. "Blanche? What is my mother in law doing here now?" The word shockingly emitted from his lips as a soft whisper as soon as he opened the door to catch her view. She was scolding Ivy, as usual. And her bodyguard—and son!—Peter, had been standing
"I have told my wife to place the bid. And here's my proposal. If she wins, you must all promise to make Ivy over here," he paused to steal a glance at her, and the worried state on her face propelled him to speak faster, "the family CEO, and never ever, mention us divorcing again." "And if she doesn't win?" Said Peter, almost instantly. He was losing his patience already. "Then, I'll leave her and never bother this family ever again." There was a loud gasp from Ivy, a slender hand covered on her opened mouth. This reaction followed a raucous laughter from Blanche, and Peter followed in the footsteps of his mother. Her mouth twitched with a smile, and let out a triumphant yelp. "Oh... So you, you want to tell me that... Seriously?" Another series of thundering laughter followed. "You think that she would win? That you can win this bet? Ha!" A faint tremor of amusement was on his lips. Lucas watched in silence all through their drama. He was certain that his wife would win.
Ivy sat next to her husband, fingers crossed and silently prayed the bid would be in their favor. She glanced over to her mother and saw that she had a smug smile plastered across her face, probably pleased that they would lose the dare.Lucas on the other hand looked completely calm, he must have really high hopes in his connections. She just hoped he knew what he was doing.They all sat patiently awaiting the announcement of the winner but the announcer never mentioned it, instead he kept going around in circles, refusing to reach the essence of the matter. "On behalf of our generous CEO, Mr Williams, I say a big thank you to all the individuals who took part in this bidding and I hope that even after the results are out, your relationship with the House of Freddie will continue to flourish and to those who didn't take part in this bidding, we hope to see you all next time."Peter and his mother leaned forward in anticipation of the winner announcement but the secretary kept going b
"Good morning sir." "Good morning." Andreas replied with a smug smile."I was talking to–" Lucas raised his finger to his lips. Shh. She responded with a slight nod and turned back to Andreas. "How may i help you?" "Yes, I would like an audience with your CEO.""How about you sir?" She asked Lucas, trying to sound casual."Same thing.""Alright. Follow me." She led both men to the elevator. "The ninth floor.""Wait! Are you telling me I have to ride in the same elevator with this idiot?! We're nowhere in the same class, and besides, I was here first so I should go up first!.""Sir, please be patient. It doesn't matter who got here first you have to ride the elevator together.""NO! I won't have that. I deserve to be respected! We are NOT the same!.""Sir,""Its okay, he can go up first. I'll wait. Wouldn't want anyone to wreck havoc at your workplace.""Better. It's good when a poor man knows himself." Andreas smiled, feeling proud of himself as Lucas got off the elevator. "Besides,