"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. They consistently looked down on him, considering him unworthy of Emily. He was aware that their disdain had heavily influenced Emily, pushing her to consider divorcing him because he didn't meet their lofty standards of success. They saw him as incapable of providing the luxurious lifestyle they coveted. Despite this, Tyler had always strived to provide for Emily, even after the public humiliation he faced at his father's funeral. His stepbrother had labeled him a "bastard son" in front of everyone, a moment that had left a deep scar. Yet, Tyler had persevered, determined to prove his worth not just to Emily, but to himself. On a fateful evening, Emily approached Tyler after he had lost everything—the company he built, the lifestyle he once knew, and the luxury he once enjoyed—all taken away by his stepbrothers. "Tyler, I need a million dollars to buy a ticket to Dubai and complete my doctoral program," Emily informed him, her tone urgent. Tyler, despite his setbacks, worked tirelessly to raise the funds. As the deadline drew near, Emily grew increasingly anxious. With just one week remaining to secure her ticket, Tyler had managed to raise half the amount. Desperate and with only three days left before the tickets would sell out, he sought advice from a colleague at his new workplace, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where he had recently been appointed as an accountant. "Look, Tyler," his colleague began, leaning in, "you've got a knack for financial management. There's a way to get the rest of the money, but it's risky." Tyler listened intently, weighing his options. He felt compelled to follow his friend's advice, knowing that securing the remaining funds was crucial to saving his wife's ticket to Dubai. Unfortunately, Tyler was caught by the business management team as he attempted to siphon funds from the organization. The sudden shift of the guests' attention towards the three friends left Old Ms. Harrington in amazement. She stood up from her ergonomic chair worth over $300,000, a gift from her granddaughter Emily, and wondered what was happening among them. "Where's my wife, Emily?" Tyler exclaimed, his eyes scanning the room frantically. The presence of the esteemed figures of San Francisco was unmistakable. The Harrington family, well-known as the second richest family in the city, had a net worth that topped the charts during a time when San Francisco was still an unknown city. Now, as the city drew global attention for its luxury, the Harringtons strove to maintain their prominence. The guests, a mix of old friends, business partners of her late husband, and Emily's friends, turned their attention to Tyler's outburst. Old Ms. Harrington, the matriarch of the family, carries significant weight with her words not only within her family but also among the upper echelons of the wealthy world. As the last surviving elder of her generation, her influence is unparalleled. She has two sons, Richard and Jaxon, who consistently adhere to her wishes, regardless of the difficulty. They suspect that complying with her requests may simply be a strategy to ensure a more substantial inheritance of the family assets. At 80 years old, Ms. Harrington lived among her family with the vitality and spirit of a young teenager. She has one male grandchild, Andrew, and two daughters, Carolina and Emily. Andrew is older than Carolina, while Carolina and Emily seem to be the same age, with Emily being just a month older than Carolina. Carolina always felt a pang of jealousy towards Emily, believing she was the only granddaughter their grandmother truly favored. Emily, a stunning and accomplished doctor, had a million followers on social media, her fame a constant reminder of Carolina's own struggles for recognition. Though Carolina was also a social media sensation, her fame was fueled by provocative posts, including a popular photo of her leg that garnered hundreds of likes. Despite her online presence, she couldn't match Emily's level of influence and respect. "Who is this rude, mannerless man?" a voice from the crowd rang out, fixing a stern gaze on Tyler. Tyler, desperate and frantic, tapped the shoulder of a guest in front of him. "Excuse me, have you seen my wife?" he asked, his voice laced with desperation. The guest shook off Tyler's hand, her eyes blazing with anger. "Are you blind? Do I look like your lost wife?" she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. Tyler's eyes darted around the room, his apology hanging in the air. "Emily... Emily... I'm back home," he called out, his voice laced with desperation. The crowd remained silent, their gazes fixed on him with a mix of curiosity and disdain. Old Ms. Harrington's voice broke the silence, her tone venomous. "Who dared let this fallen-from-grace-son-in-law into our grand mansion?" She spat the words, her eyes blazing with contempt. Tyler's face reddened as he took a step back, the familiar sting of her harsh words hitting him like a slap in the face. It had been four years since he'd lost everything, and Old Ms. Harrington had never missed an opportunity to remind him of his fall from grace. "Who allowed him in here?!" she demanded again, her voice echoing off the walls. The gatekeeper, Diego, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, knelt down before her, his head bowed in submission. "I-I apologize, ma'am. I didn't mean to let him in. He sneaked past me, I swear!" "Diego, you foolish man! How many times must I drum it into that thick skull of yours? People like Tyler don't belong here! Especially not in my mansion!" Old Ms. Harrington's face was red with rage, her eyes blazing with intensity. "I tried, Old Ms, I swear on my mother's grave! I turned away some guests, locked them out... but he slipped past me, and now..." Diego's words trailed off as he realized his mistake. Since Tyler's incarceration, Old Ms. Harrington had explicitly decreed that upon his release or death in prison, he would be perpetually banned from the estate. She had made it clear that Tyler's criminal transgressions had rendered him persona non grata, and his name had been forever etched on the blacklist of people unwelcome into the family of Harrington. Old Ms. Harrington had sternly admonished all the mansion's staff, including Diego the gatekeeper, to deny Tyler entry under any circumstances. "What?!?! You dare to lock my guests out in the scorching sun?!?! You'll pay for this insolence, Diego! How could you be so cruel, so heartless?! My friends, my dear friends, suffering like animals outside these gates... all because of your incompetence!" Old Ms. Harrington's voice was a thunderclap, her words dripping with venom and outrage. Old Ms. Harrington was throwing a lavish party to celebrate her granddaughter Emily's remarkable nomination as one of the world's top doctors. To mark this momentous occasion, she had invited her old friends and acquaintances from various countries, all prominent figures in the elite social circle, to join in the festivities. Emily's achievement was a historic first, as she was the first in their family to be recognized among the prestigious doctor awards, which had never been bestowed upon anyone in their family before. "Forgive me, ma'am, please!" Diego begged, his voice trembling. "Get the hell out of here now and go let those guests in, now!" Old Ms. Harrington exclaimed as Diego scrambled to his feet, ready to rush out and unlock the gate. But as he stood up, he hesitated, recalling the master card that controlled the gate's mechanism. Only those with the card could enter the mansion. A surge of anger and curiosity drove him to search Tyler's body. "You cunning devil! How did you manage to outwit me?" Diego snarled, his hands rummaging through Tyler's pockets. "Where's the gate pass you used to gain entry?!" As Diego's search intensified, his hand closed around a mysterious object in Tyler's back pocket. "I knew you were hiding something!" he exclaimed, revealing a blue-rope wristband. But his triumph was short-lived, as his fingers delved deeper and uncovered a shocking discovery. "Look what I've found!" Diego announced, holding up the master pass card. "How did you obtain this?!" he demanded, his voice echoing through the room. The guests' whispers and furtive glances intensified, their eyes fixed on the incriminating evidence.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
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