"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 to address the matters at hand. Her family gathered around her, waiting for her to speak. "Thank you all for gathering here to celebrate Emily’s upcoming nomination," Old Ms. Harrington began, seated at the center of the room. "No one has ever achieved this before in our family, and she is the first to bring her hard work to life!" "I also want to share some news I received early this morning. I should have informed you before the celebration started, but it slipped my mind. I was notified that Emily has been listed among the top three doctors to be awarded for their outstanding dedication and hard work!" Ms. Harrington announced. Joyful screams filled the room as Emily raised her hands in triumph. However, Carolina rolled her eyes and muttered, "Whatever. Do you think you did it all alone? Without Grandma’s help, you wouldn’t have been nominated." "Enough!" Ms. Jenner snapped back at her, glaring fiercely. "Don't you dare tell my daughter 'Enough'!" Ms. Kylie stood up, her voice trembling with anger. "Are you not ashamed of all the trouble your fallen-from-grace son-in-law has caused this family? First, he beats up my son, and then he sabotages the appeal with Mr. Blackwell! Are you not ashamed?" Ms. Jenner’s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration, but before she could respond, Ms. Kylie continued, her eyes blazing. "You and your disgraceful son-in-law owe me an explanation for what he did to my son!" Ms. Jenner and Jaxon were panicked, knowing that as Tyler was their son-in-law, they would definitely have to take the blame. The room was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the soft rustling of fabric and the faint clinking of glasses from the other room. Andrew, the only male descendant of the third generation, stood to the side, his face pale. If anything happened to him, it would mean the end of the Harrington family line of succession. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on everyone present. Ms. Jenner finally found her voice. "We will address Tyler's actions!" Emily wasn't surprised by her mother defending her and silencing Carolina. Ever since Emily had become the talk of the town, Carolina had shown signs of envy towards her, and it was evident in her behavior. Ms. Jenner did everything she could to silence her. "Why do you always defend your daughter no matter what? Haha! I can really see it now!" Andrew taunted. "See what?" Ms. Jenner exclaimed loudly. "It's clear that you're the one teaching your daughter, Emily, to cheat on her husband! It's written all over you!" Andrew accused. "How dare you accuse me in such a manner!" Ms. Jenner retorted. "I'm not accusing you; I'm just stating the facts!" Andrew added. "Enough! Andrew, I won't take this from you any longer!" Ms. Jenner exclaimed before Old Ms. Harrington intervened. "Stop this argument, both of you!" she commanded. "I won't watch you both burn the house down! And Andrew, respect her the way you do your mother," Ms. Harrington said, turning to Emily. "Emily, my darling granddaughter, is it true what Tyler said about you?" Old Ms. Harrington asked. Feeling the weight of her words, Emily fell to her knees, weeping. "Grandmother, I would never go against Grandpa's agreement, but before Tyler went to jail, he was such a bully!" Old Ms. Harrington's heart ached seeing Emily bawling her eyes out. She walked over and helped her up. "Emily, stop crying. You're my granddaughter, and today is your day. You can't ruin it with tears. Tyler is just a live-in son-in-law. Now, tell me how he bullied you. I'll teach him a lesson when he comes back!" Emily wiped the tears she had forced herself to shed and then said to everyone, "Tyler had an affair with another woman!" "What?" Old Ms. Harrington exploded. "He's a beast! For the past four years, we've let him stay in a luxury apartment and drive an expensive car. Even knowing he's an outcast from the William family, he couldn't devote himself to you and stay loyal. How dare he get involved in an affair!" Emily chose to play the blame game and falsely accused Tyler of cheating on her, easily gaining Old Ms. Harrington's trust. Emily knew how to hide her true colors well and always acted like a good girl in front of her family. If Tyler hadn't caught her in the act, he would have continued to believe she was pure and kind, despite her slight arrogance. Emily's parents, deceived by their daughter, angrily scolded Tyler. "With whom?" her father demanded. "With Agnes! Daddy, on Grandmother's 80th birthday!" Emily replied. Old Ms. Harrington sighed. "Why does this fallen-from-grace son-in-law keep causing trouble?" she asked. "Just call her here! Now," Old Ms. Harrington demanded, clearly furious about what was happening. A few minutes later, Agnes arrived. "Was it true that Tyler slept with you on my 80th birthday banquet?" Old Ms. Harrington asked. "Old Ms. Harrington, that day it was a setup. I found myself in the same bed with Tyler; we were both drunk! Please forgive me!" Agnes pleaded. Ms. Jenner felt a devilish smile play on her face. She had orchestrated the setup after repeatedly begging Old Ms. Harrington for Emily's divorce, but to no avail. She hoped this incident could finally convince her. "Just leave!" Old Ms. Harrington said firmly, but then her tone softened. "But come back with a DNA test. We need to get to the truth of this." As Agnes made her way out of the room, Old Ms. Harrington added, "I won't allow Tyler to ruin my beautiful day!"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
"Sir, you're under arrest for the murder you committed," a police officer's voice echoed through the night air. The wail of ambulance sirens and the flashing red and blue lights of the police cars bathed the surroundings in an eerie glow."You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court," the officer recited, his hand hovering over his holstered gun, finger poised on the trigger."Turn around, hands in the air!" he barked, his voice firm and commanding.Tyler complied reluctantly, raising his hands to rest atop his head in a gesture of surrender. Despite his cooperation, the officer advanced aggressively, thrusting Tyler's head forcefully against the unyielding surface of the police car's bonnet. Bound by handcuffs, his arms contorted behind his back, Tyler's eyes met those of his brother-in-law Andrew, whose once immaculate clothes now bore crimson stains, betraying his involvement as the mastermind behind this unfolding chaos.The offi
The loud clang of the gate slamming shut jolted Tyler back to reality. He watched Diego return to his post, then shifted his gaze to the mansion entrance, where red and blue lights flickered through the downstairs windows, casting an ominous glow.Fueled by hope, Tyler tried to force his way through the gate. He imagined his wife's family throwing a welcome-back party, explaining why no one had picked him up at the prison entrance they were too busy preparing a surprise celebration. He clung to the belief that his wife, Emily, still loved him and that their bond was unbroken. However, his efforts were futile; the gate was securely locked by Diego, leaving Tyler frustrated and defeated.After a few minutes in the scorching sun on Haight Street, Tyler slumped against a waste bin, feeling hopeless. Suddenly, the click of the gate unlocking made him lift his head, wondering who was on the other side.That's when he saw her—a maid in a black top and Nike trousers, holding a black trash can
"Could he have escaped from Alcatraz?" the one in the middle speculated, glancing around at the group."Maybe. The commander of Alcatraz Island held a press conference yesterday, announcing that three prisoners had escaped," the person on the left added, leaning forward with interest."He’s probably one of them, and that's why he's here today," Keisha, the light-skinned girl on the right, chimed in, her eyes wide with excitement."How do you know?" Sophie asked, her tone playful but curious."It's obvious - it was all over the news yesterday, and now he's suddenly appeared!" Rachel exclaimed, clearly impressed by the unfolding mystery."Rachel’s absolutely right!" Sophie agreed, nodding at her friend's keen observation.As the group erupted into laughter again, drawing the attention of the crowd, Tyler felt his patience snap."I don't have time for your jokes!" he exclaimed, pushing his way past them.Tyler knew Emily's three friends had never liked him, and the feeling was mutual. Th
Diego understood that without proof of how Tyler gained access to the mansion, his job as the gatekeeper would be in jeopardy. He knew that Old Ms. Harrington was not one to forgive those who crossed her easily.A guest's sharp voice broke through the tension. "How did he get that gate card?" She pointed her wine glass at Tyler, her finger accusingly aimed at him, while Tyler's gaze remained locked on Diego with unsettling intensity.Tyler's eyes narrowed in disbelief. He never expected Diego to act this way after everything he had done for him over the past few years."After all I've done for you, this is how you repay me?" he thought, his voice barely a whisper.Memories of his last humiliation at work still lingered, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He had revealed the cost of Diego's son's treatment, thinking he was helping, only to face backlash. His boss had punished him by deducting a portion of his salary, but Tyler never disclosed this to Diego or anyone else. He brushed
"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 bul