After some persistent persuasion from Seraphina, Alexander finally caved and agreed to attend the Diamond banquet. He had no choice but to go solo since he was the sole invitee.
Guests flooded in through the grand entrance of the mansion, greeted by a display of extravagance and refinement. Twin marble staircases, draped with flowers, led up to intricately carved double doors flanked by torches held in ornate brass sconces.
The air hummed with the gentle melody of a string quartet, mingling with the laughter of the arriving guests.
Stepping inside, Alexander was embraced by the warm glow of crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling, casting intricate patterns of light on the polished marble floors, flashing back memories from his past life, memories he had worked hard to bury, but now, they were resurfacing due to Geoffrey's sudden reappearance.
Navigating through the banquet hall, Alexander felt like a stranger in a strange land, with unfamiliar faces casting looks of disdain and mockery his way.
"Hey there," a lady greeted him with a bright smile.
"Hi," Alexander responded, relieved to finally have someone to converse with before he lost his sanity to their stares.
"Is this your first time at the king’s party?" she asked politely.
"Is it that obvious?" he retorted with a smirk.
"I'm Elaine Wellstone, princess of Wellstone Company," she introduced herself.
Wellstone Company, a titan in the business world with a net worth in the multibillion-dollar range, wielded immense influence across various industries.
"I'm Alexander Chase," he replied.
"Modest," she remarked.
"I'm afraid I don’t know what you mean," Alexander quipped.
"At events like these, you don’t just state your name; you flaunt your wealth, your lineage, and your worth," Elaine explained.
"Oh, I'm worth nothing, not a single penny," Alexander joked.
Elaine desperately hoped it was indeed a joke. "Ha-ha, that's a joke, right?" she nervously laughed.
"It isn’t. I'm the live-in son-in-law in the Lockwood family," Alexander disclosed.
"What did you just say?" Elaine's disgust was palpable.
"I’m a live-in son-in-law—" Alexander's sentence was cut off as Elaine poured her drink on him, unable to bear his presence any longer.
"What the hell, Elaine?" Alexander exclaimed.
"Don’t dare speak my name with your wretched tongue," she spat at him. "What a joke," she muttered before storming away.
“Gross. I can’t believe she spent all that time talking to someone like him!” someone said in a near distance.
“How did he even get invited here?” Another uttered.
“A live-in-son-law? I’d rather kill myself,” another rebuked.
“Isn’t that the wretched live-in-son-in-law of the Lockwood family?”
“Eww, he’s so gross.”
“Yeah, what a total loser am I right?”
Alexander felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him as he recalled a quote he once read:
"In this world, strength defines a person.And indeed, strength was often equated with wealth. Those without strength are crushed." he mused silently, overhearing the disdainful remarks of the other guests.
As Alexander walked to the bar of the banquet main hall, his resentment toward the societal upper one percent magnified, and his disdain for his father grew as well. ‘They’re all the same,’ he muttered to himself.
"One glass of vodka,” he requested.
Suddenly, a man came to sit next to him, standing around him were five others.
“Alexander Chase! who would have imagined I’d meet you here of all places,” the man said.
“And you are,” Alexander replied to the unfamiliar face.
“Forgive my manners, I am Julian Monroe, heir of the Monroe Family...” he said.
“Good for you,” Alexander replied, cutting him short, without looking back at him.
‘The same Julian Monroe that wants my wife himself, what the hell could he possibly want now’ Alexander thought to himself.
“O it will be, once you sign this paper that is,” Julian said, pulling out a document and sliding it over to Alexander.
Alexander picked up the document and glanced over. His eyes widened at its content.
“What the hell is this?” he asked.
“It’s simple. Divorce Seraphina Lockwood, so I can make her wife and I will reward you handsomely for your troubles,” Julian said.
Alexander took a long stare at him, ‘The audacity, trying to buy him to divorce Seraphina?” he thought to himself.
“You must have had a lot to drink tonight to even think of such a thing, Mr. Monroe.”
“O come on, you and I know this is bound to happen sooner or later. Don’t tell me you truly believe a wretched pauper like yourself can keep a woman like Seraphina Lockwood to yourself?” he poked.
“We are done here,” Alexander said as he rose to leave, but was blocked by Julian’s men.
“We are not done until I say we are done,” Julian said, sipping his glass of alcohol.
“What is this?”
“Alexander, things don’t have to get ugly, all you have to do is sign to damn paper, I make Seraphina sign her share, we get married and you get a massive compensation. Tell me, how much do you want? Five million, ten million, just name the price you got it.”
“What makes you so sure Seraphina would want to marry you?”
“Why wouldn’t she, and frankly speaking it’s not up to her, I have everything planned with her mother, the only thing left is for you to sign the damn papers and stop asking questions that don’t concern you.”
“And if I don’t,” Alexander said.
Julian emptied his glass, and he then tapped the bar table twice. With that, his henchmen began flashing weapons such as knuckle rings and batons tucked underneath their shirts, as well as cracking their necks and knuckles.
“Then we would be forced to take this meeting outside,” he said.
Alexander looked around, then took a deep sigh. And just he was about to muster his next words or reaction;
“Alexander, you made it?” a voice yelled from a distance, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall. It was Jacob Harrington.
The entire crowd was lost for words. Why would Jacob Harrington know a wretched live-in son-in-law like Alexander?Every jaw in the banquet was dropped as Jacob Harrington gleefully came over to the bar.“Alexander Chase, I wasn’t sure you’d make it,” he said, as he shook his hand firmly, ignoring everyone except, including Julian.“Jacob Harrington,” Alexander greeted with a slight bow.“Sir Harrington, do you know this man?” Julian stammered.“Well, not as much as I would love to. Did you come with him?” Jacob replied.“No, I didn’t,” he answered.“Oh, that’s too bad. Oh, about the business contract with your family, do well to tell your father to consider it a done. Just a few more I’s and T’s to be dotted and crossed, and it’s a done deal.”“Will do just that, Sir,” Julian replied, his entire body quivering with gratification.“Now, Alexander, would you like us to chat, here or go somewhere else?” He said to Alexander, completely ignoring Julian once more.Alexander took a glance a
As Alexander left the banquet, “Maybe they are not all the same after all” he thought to himself about his meeting with Jacob Harrington.The sky was pitch dark, and as he walked through the Billiard Maze Avenue. It was given its name due to its numerous corners intersections and dead ends synonymous with that of a maze. Alexander could feel that he was being followed so he turned around, and his suspicions were correct. He took the next turn to the left and lost his pursuer, but just after a few seconds, he saw another one. Quickening his pace, he took the next corner and the next, but with every turn he took there was always someone tailing him from behind or by the side until he was faced with a dead end. Alexander stood firm, and looked at the shadows behind him, he counted six of them. Alexander let out a loud sigh and said;“Before we get started, do any of you gentlemen want to walk away” he said in a cold still voice. His words sent shivers down their spine. He turned aroun
The next day, Alexander woke up a bit later than usual. His wife, Seraphina, had already left for work, and Caroline, his mother-in-law, must not have slept in at the house. If she had, Alexander would have surely been woken up with a rain of curses and beatings for sleeping a second longer than four hours.Starting his daily chores, Alexander, being a live-in house husband, embarked on his routine: cleaning, sweeping, arranging the house, and cooking. Amidst his tasks, he found a note on the table with folded cash beside it. "We are out of milk, go to the store and get some," it read. It had to be from Seraphina.Alexander swiftly cleaned up and dashed to the nearest supermarket. The sky was cloudy, and as he walked, he couldn't shake off the feeling of being followed yet again. This time, he halted abruptly."Exactly how long you do plan on stalking me?" he said.Suddenly, two men merged from the shadows behind him, and in a matter of seconds, he was surrounded by seven of them.“Ou
Looking down at the world from his top corner office, Wilson Monroe, the kingpin observed the societal hierarchy in its natural order: the poor cowering in fear, those of similar status getting along, and the wealthiest vying for the top spot. Everyone seemed to find their place without much effort.“Sir, we have a situation,” his assistant Vanessa's voice came through his earpiece.“What is it?” He inquired.“We just received word that the Floating Mary K9 has capsized and been destroyed,” she reported.“What happened?” The kingpin asked, puzzled.“We're yet to confirm, but it seems like tidal waves,” Vanessa replied.“Tidal waves?” The kingpin's disbelief was evident. The Floating Mary was a top container ship for Monroe Logistics; a simple tidal wave shouldn’t have been able to take it down.“Yes, Sir,” Vanessa confirmed.“Alright, calculate our losses and contact the insurance company,” Kingpin instructed.“Copy that, Sir.”Despite the loss of the Floating Mary, Monroe Logistics st
'The Fall of the Kingpin’ became the headline in every Pantheon Valley billionaire news outlet, media platform, and bulletin. The fall of the great Wilson Monroe and his multi-billion-dollar company was unprecedented and had never been seen before; it was termed the Black Swan of the century.Another unrelated news story flooded the Pantheon Valley media headlines was: Maverick Corporation's hundred-billion-dollar open contract to a construction company. Every construction-based corporation went on their toes, eager to make a move, pulling every string in thier guitar case to secure this contract. The Lockwood Family was one of them.Lady Charlotte Lockwood knew that collaborating with a company as big as Maverick's would open many doors for the entire family, increase Lockwood’s societal ranking, and elevate their family status. She called for an urgent family meeting at the Lockwood Mansion and sent out compulsory invitations to every available member of the Lockwood family, to bra
After a long first day at Maverick Cooperation, Alexander returned home in the evening. He would have stayed longer, but he had to accompany his wife to the Lockwood meeting. Entering the house, Alexander walked into a heated conversation between his wife, Seraphina, and her mother.“Alexander is a useless pauper of a husband who hasn't a single penny to his name and is of no good to you. Why wouldn’t you just divorce him? You are better offers,” her mother argued.“Mother, we've been over this. I have always had better offers, I always will, and I will always choose Alexander every single time,” Seraphina countered.“Alexander, where have you been? You were supposed to be back hours ago,” Seraphina asked.“I’m sorry, I got held up,” Alexander replied.“It’s fine, let’s go. We are already running late,” Seraphina urged.“Don’t you dare walk out on me, Alexander? You are going to divorce my daughter and allow her to marry Ethan Bishop, someone much more qualified to be her husband,” he
Every eye turned towards Seraphina. Her voice was the least expected to be heard.“Sit down, Seraphina. This is not the time for jokes,” Ariana retorted, causing the entire hall to burst into murmurs.Ariana’s words chipped away part of Seraphina’s confidence, but she remained firm.She cleared her throat and said,“I am very much aware of that, Ariana, but as Grandma said, the Lockwood family needs this contract, and unlike the spineless wimp that you are, I am willing to do what it takes to help us get it.”Alexander smirked excitedly at his wife's witty and snarky response.“How dare you talk to my wife that way?” Ezekiel, Ariana's husband, rose to his feet and yelled.Ezekiel, too, was a son-in-law of the Lockwoods, but he was the complete opposite of Alexander. He was valued and respected by the Lockwood family because he came from a relatively wealthy background. Although not nearly as wealthy as the Lockwoods, but wealthy enough to raise his voice in their meetings.“Your wife’s
Soon after, the meeting came to an end.“What the hell was that?” Seraphina screamed at Alexander as they drove home.“What the hell was what?” he replied, feigning cluelessness.“Don’t play dumb with me, Alexander. It’s bad enough I’ll be humiliated for not being able to get the contract. Now, thanks to you, I’ll be kicked out of the Lockwood family. How on earth am I supposed to explain this to my mother?” Seraphina ranted.“It’s going to be fine, trust me,” Alexander said, trying to comfort her.With instant shock, and anger written squarely on her face, she snapped, “Trust you? You want me to trust you, Alexander? Are you out of your mind? Why should I ever trust you? You’re nothing but a wretch forced on me by my father to get married to, and you expect me to trust you?”Her words were a tough pill for Alexander to swallow, but he understood that she was angry, and she had every right to be. Only he could see the full picture he was painting. It ached him that he couldn’t just ex