"I'll take this," Tyler said, his hand delving deeper into his pocket to bring out his phone. Glancing at the caller ID, he noticed it was a familiar number he used to call back then.
"It's urgent!" he added, pointing at his phone as he walked away from the guests into a quiet corridor to pick up the call. "Father, let me go check the security footage to confirm all this," Andrew said, walking alongside Tyler. In the quiet, cold corridor, the light casting a growing glow all around, Tyler was about to pick up the call when Andrew suddenly pushed him against the wall. "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay away from this mansion and the Harringtons?" Andrew's finger pointed at Tyler's face. "Let me make this clear: if you expose what happened in the past, I'll make sure to bury you alive," he threatened. Releasing Tyler against the wall, Andrew walked away, disappearing into the distance. Tyler watched him go before redialing the number he had missed due to Andrew's bullying. Tyler dialed the number. It rang several times before the call was picked up. "Is this Mr. Tyler William?" the caller asked. "Yes, you are speaking to the right person," Tyler said confidently. "Okay, sir, we heard about your arrival," the caller said. "I just want to inform you that your character development experience as a live-in son of the Harrington family officially ends today." "So, your next task is to build experience in doctoral management. Before Mr. William Senior passed away, he had already arranged for you to become the chairman of Hope Bridge Corporation." "Okay, I understand," Tyler answered indifferently. If it were any other person of his level, they would have been ecstatic to suddenly become chairman of a company overnight. However, Tyler remained composed. The caller continued, "Mr. William Senior has written that you are getting along well with your wife. Do you want to officially allow her to join the William family and become one of the inheritors?" Tyler couldn't hear the last words of the caller as he was interrupted by a familiar voice coming from one of the twelve rooms in the corridor. He turned towards the sound, curiosity and tension pulling him away from the call. "Excuse me, give me a minute," Tyler said, holding his cellphone to his ear as he approached the room. The door slid open slightly, revealing voices from within. A female voice filled the surroundings as Tyler walked through the door and discovered his wife, Emily, with another man. As the caller's voice repeated in his ear, Tyler muttered, "She's not worthy of it. I can't let Emily Harrington inherit my family's assets worth billions. No need for that." Upon entering, Tyler's words cut through the room, startling Emily who quickly moved away from the stranger, clutching the bedsheet to cover herself. "Who's this? Why are you rude? How could you just walk in without knocking!?" Emily yelled in embarrassment. "I see you've found a replacement for me already, Emily," Tyler stated coolly. Tyler's sudden appearance agitated the stranger, who was caught off guard by Tyler's unexpected arrival and the awkward situation. Reacting swiftly, the stranger retrieved his underwear from the floor and appeared ready to confront Tyler when Emily interjected in shock. "Hubby, you... I thought you wouldn't make it back! And what are you doing here!?" Emily exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise and guilt. Startled, the stranger began to assess Tyler cautiously, uncertain of what would happen next in this tense and unexpected confrontation. Tyler was of medium build, shaped by his time in prison where access to a gym allowed him to maintain a fit appearance despite his unkempt beard. The stranger, seemingly unfazed by Tyler's presence, addressed Emily with a smirk. "Emily, so your husband is a prisoner, huh? If I had known earlier, he wouldn't have wasted any time in there." Despite encountering Emily's husband unexpectedly, the man remained nonchalant. He was well aware of Tyler's status as a fallen son-in-law among the Harringtons, knowing he held a lower position in their esteem. Tyler had only served a one-year sentence, shorter than many others might have faced. His words to Emily carried a mix of emotion and defense. "Emily, we've been married for three years! I only went to prison because of the misguided love I have for you. I don't want everything we've built together to disappear. Do you really believe I committed the crime I was accused of? You know I couldn't harm anyone, not even a cockroach." "So, all this time we've been together, it's clear you never really knew who I am, despite all I've done for you," Tyler lamented, his voice tinged with hurt. "I cooked your meals, took care of our puppies without complaint, and supported you when you needed it most, even going the extra mile to help fund your trips." Emily, shocked initially, quickly adopted a haughty demeanor. She got off the bed, retrieved some cash from the bedside table, and placed it on Tyler's chest. "If you're expecting repayment for what you've done, consider this a gesture for your future generations," she declared coldly. "And enough with your nonsense, Tyler. The consequences are serious." She turned to the stranger, Marcus Collins, introducing him with a tone of pride. "Marcus is a model, heads an investment firm, and is from a prominent San Francisco family. He's here to discuss a business deal that will solidify my position among esteemed doctors. If you doubt me, I can show you the contract, but I doubt someone like you would understand its complexities. And why am I even justifying myself to you?" Tyler shook his head, his expression resolute. "You may fool others, but not me." His words carried a mixture of disappointment and determination, refusing to be swayed by Emily's actions or Marcus's presence. How can someone who received a first-class degree not understand? The situation escalated as Emily's anger flared, accusing Tyler of arrogance for entering without knocking and threatening to call security. "Instead of begging for forgiveness for your audacity in barging in, and me reaching for the phone to call security to escort you out, you're still here shamelessly seeking validation? You must be out of your mind!" Emily yelled, her tone cutting through the tense air. Tyler shook his head in disbelief at Marcus's demeanor, sensing his provocation. Marcus seemed intent on belittling Tyler, misconstruing his actions. "Do you realize I have the influence to send you back to prison through my connections? But, considering Emily is your wife, I'm willing to offer you two options to avoid that fate. All you need to do is offer a sincere apology. How does that sound to you?" Marcus stated with a smug expression. In a city where power and influence held sway, Marcus wielded the ability to dictate Tyler's future, threatening to accuse him of trespassing without hesitation. Marcus wore a sinister smirk, portraying himself as the victim in the situation. He neither explained nor apologized for his role, instead expecting Tyler to humble himself and apologize to him. Tyler had hoped Emily would intervene and stop Marcus's shameless behavior. However, to his astonishment, Emily instead said, "Tyler, apologize to him. I can't bear the thought of you spending another year in prison! He's not someone you can afford to offend." Enraged, Tyler lashed out, "You two have been nothing but bullies! Not only do you refuse to apologize to me, but you also have the audacity to demand an apology from me instead, huh? That makes absolutely no sense!" Tyler clenched his fists, feeling the urge to confront Marcus. But just as Tyler moved forward, Marcus stepped back in surprise. Emily positioned herself between Tyler and Marcus, shielding Marcus and threatening, "Tyler, look at yourself. You're not fit to step foot in a room worth over a million. Leave now, or I'll call security!" Tyler looked at Emily with a mix of disappointment and hurt. "Emily, I hope you won't regret this someday," he said quietly. With that, Tyler turned around and walked away.Old Ms. Harrington's frustration was evident in her voice. "This doesn't prove anything! What are we achieving here?" she asked, her tone soft yet firm.Andrew shrugged, his expression uncertain. "Some aspects remain unclear, Grandma."Her eyes narrowed as she replied sharply, "If we can't even establish how he gained entry, then all of this is a waste of time. But that man owes me an explanation!" Her anger simmered just beneath the surface, palpable in her words.Andrew paused, gathering his thoughts before speaking again. "Grandmother, why doesn't Emily just divorce Tyler? He's brought nothing but disgrace to our family. I'm embarrassed to be associated with him in public."Old Ms. Harrington's expression hardened. "Divorce is not an option, Andrew. It goes against your grandfather's wishes, and I won't allow it. Your grandfather and Tyler's grandfather had an agreement - our families only marry within our social circle. We cannot betray that trust."Tyler's and Emily's grandfa
As Tyler stumbled out of the mansion, trying to process the betrayal, he barely noticed the sleek black car speeding up the driveway. Before he could react, the car screeched to a halt, and two men in dark suits jumped out. Strong hands grabbed him, dragging him into the back seat.He fought back, but their grip was ironclad. A cloth was forced over his mouth, and the last thing he saw was the mansion's grand entrance fading into the distance.When Tyler awoke, his head throbbed, and he realized he was tied to a chair, his arms bound tightly behind him. A coarse, black cloth covered his eyes, shrouding him in darkness."Who's there?" he demanded, his voice echoing in the silence.A door creaked open, and he heard footsteps approaching. The air grew colder, and he sensed someone standing directly in front of him."Tyler," a familiar, cold voice spoke, dripping with disdain. "I see you're finally awake."Tyler's heart pounded. "Who are you? What do you want?"The man chuckled. "You rea
Meanwhile, Tyler, unaware of the storm brewing against him, made his way home. He took a shortcut through a secluded alleyway, his mind preoccupied with the day's events. As he turned the corner, three men stepped out of the shadows, blocking his path."Tyler, right?" the leader of the group said, cracking his knuckles. "We've got a message for you from the Harringtons."Tyler's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. "I don't want any trouble," he said, trying to stay calm."Too late for that," the leader sneered. "You crossed the wrong family."Before Tyler could react, one of the men swung a bat towards him. Tyler ducked just in time, but the second man lunged at him, catching him off guard. A fierce struggle ensued, with Tyler fighting back with everything he had.However, Tyler dodged the incoming punches from the leader, who was covered in tattoos, with ease. He leaped onto the alleyway's railing effortlessly and then kicked one of the attackers in the face."Damn! This as
Old Ms. Harrington turned to Andrew and said, "I'm sorry, Andrew. I know I was the one who put you in this mess!" Her voice was firm as she embraced Andrew in a tight hug. "I won't allow that to happen to you anymore!" Andrew nodded his head, tears welling up. "Grandmother, I'm also sorry for the shame I brought to today's celebration. I was just trying to protect myself from the man who was bullying me, saying I had to pay up for the drug money I owed him, even after I said I wasn't into drugs anymore! After that, he tried to kill me!" "I know, Andrew. You can't kill anyone; it was just self-defense, wasn't it?" Old Ms. Harrington asked, her voice gentle but strong. A devilish smile played on Andrew's face. "Yes, Grandma. I can't kill anyone," he said, lifting his head. Old Ms. Harrington held Andrew's face in her hands, looking deeply into his eyes. "How was the agreement between you and Mr. Blackwell? I hope the government has pardoned our family!" she asked, her voice full
"Please continue enjoying yourselves while I have a little conversation with my family," Old Ms. Harrington said, her voice calm yet authoritative. "And I apologize for any discomfort I may have caused." She smiled warmly, her eyes sweeping over the guests, who responded with nods and encouraging smiles.As she made her way toward the private sitting room, her children and grandchildren followed her immediately, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Old Ms. Harrington’s composed demeanor reassured the guests, and they resumed their mingling, the hum of conversation and clinking of glasses filling the air once more.Old Ms. Harrington paused at the doorway, turning back to give one last, reassuring smile before disappearing into the room, her family trailing behind. The grand chandelier cast a warm glow over the gathering, and the soft music playing in the background created an elegant ambiance.Inside the private sitting room, Old Ms. Harrington took a deep breath, ready
Andrew cut off Old Ms. Harrington with a smirk. “Haha! Drunk? Emily, don’t take this the wrong way, but you share some of the blame. You never let Tyler get close to you in the four years you were married. Even if you’re beautiful, it doesn’t matter if he can’t be with you. No wonder Tyler spent the night with Agnes!”Emily’s mother couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Andrew, that’s unfair. Emily’s status is far above Tyler’s. If she had been intimate with that disgraced son-in-law, it would have been an insult to her. It would have tainted her.”Andrew scoffed. “You’re just trying to keep her pure so she can marry a wealthy man after you find a way to get rid of Tyler, aren’t you?”Ms. Jenner said, "You...""Any word from you again, and you're going out!" Old Ms. Harrington hollered. "Even if Emily is like that, he has no reason to have an affair! What does he take our family for? I can't wait for that beast to arrive here!"After saying old Ms Harrington reach to her stroked poodles
As Tyler and Nicholson arrived back at the villa, the atmosphere grew tense. The grand estate loomed ahead, its elegant facade belying the turmoil within. The car came to a halt, and before Tyler could gather his thoughts, two mafia members swiftly moved in. They grabbed him roughly by the arms, holding him tightly as they yanked him out of the car. The forceful grip sent a jolt of pain through Tyler's shoulders, but he bit back any signs of discomfort.The men dragged Tyler across the gravel driveway, his feet barely touching the ground. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline surging as he struggled against their iron grip. His mind raced, searching for a way to escape, but the mafia members' firm hold left him little room to maneuver.At that moment, the door to the villa opened, and Old Ms. Harrington emerged, followed closely by the rest of the family, coming from the private room. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to contempt as they took in the sight before them. Old
"You insolent fool! Kneel before me this instant!" commanded Old Ms. Harrington, her voice dripping with authority."Do you think you can break the family's laws and walk away without consequence? You fool!""Family rules! What rules!" Tyler exclaimed, defiant.Old Ms. Harrington's eyes narrowed, but there was a glimmer of understanding in her gaze. "Have you forgotten the agreement you signed with our family? Three years ago, when you became a son-in-law of the Harrington family, you vowed to accept our family's rules and face the consequences if you ever betrayed us. Does that vow still bind you?"Tyler stood tall, his voice steady. "It absolutely does."A nod of acknowledgment came from Ms. Harrington. "Very well, then you understand your offense," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Bring me the 'Judgment Rod." At her command, Richard produced a long, intricately carved rod, a symbol of the family's history and tradition.The Judgment Rod, passed down through generations, was mo