When Zach returned to the Bennett mansion, he saw Sarah raging downstairs. She was throwing everything within reach, and when she caught sight of Zach, she grabbed a small ceramic vase and hurled it at him.
Zach, unprepared for the sudden attack, was struck on the forehead. Fresh blood started to flow.
“Damn you! Why does everything go wrong whenever you’re around?” Sarah screamed. Her appearance was a mess, her makeup smeared, and her dress stained with soil from the shattered vase.
The mansion was in chaos. Several servants stood by with cleaning tools but didn’t dare intervene, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire and risk being fired.
Zach winced in pain, wiping away the blood nearing his eyebrow. “Can you stop this?” he asked gently. “Enough already, Sarah. What happened at the bar should be the end of it.”
“Shut your fuck mouth!”
Zach was about to say something when a new sound entered the scene—measured, deliberate footsteps. The presence of a woman, marked by the wrinkles around her eyes and her piercing gaze, brought the chaos to a halt.
Mrs. Grace looked between the two of them, her gaze finally settling on Sarah, her daughter. “What are you doing?” Getting no answer from Sarah, she turned to Zach. “Explain this situation, Zach!”
“Mrs. Grace, actually—”
“I saw him at the bar!” Sarah cut in abruptly. “He accused me of cheating, but I was only meeting a client there, Ma.”
Zach’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? That’s not true.”
“He approached me and scolded me in front of everyone. My client got scared and ran away out of embarrassment. Then, Zach kept attacking me and causing a scene there!” Sarah spoke so quickly that Zach didn’t have time to defend himself. “I was humiliated and hurt because of him. How could he embarrass me in front of so many people?”
Zach was stunned by the complete falsehood. “What are you talking about? Sarah, don’t make stories like that, I—”
Zach felt a sharp sting on his face for the second time, on the same cheek. Silence fell over the room, and Zach's ears rang. Mrs. Grace’s slap hadn’t lost its strength since the last time she hit him. This wasn’t the first time he had faced such treatment from this family.
“I really don’t understand you, Zach,” Mrs. Grace said. “How many times have I told you not to cause problems in this family, especially making my daughter’s life difficult!”
Zach couldn’t say anything. It wasn’t because of the pain from the slap, but because he was tired of what his life had become. Nothing had gone right, even though he had sacrificed his life and dignity.
“Do I need to kick you out and make you pay your father’s debt and the debt from your failed bar?” Mrs. Grace was not as graceful as her appearance suggested. She was harsh and heartless when angry. Whatever she deemed correct remained so. Her authoritarian attitude made everyone around her shrink, not just because of her wealth but because of her true nature as an intimidating woman.
Zach had been deceived when he first saw Mrs. Grace’s angelic face. With a firm but calm gaze, she seemed wise with her body language and smile. Her porcelain-like, radiant skin didn’t show the lines of age.
“I can make you homeless again like before. I can throw you out whenever I want. Remember that, Zach!”
This threat always came when Sarah started her drama. No one was willing to listen to Zach or even ask for his side of the story. No one asked for his perspective. Everyone remained silent whenever Sarah accused him of being the villain, like now.
After delivering her humiliation, Mrs. Grace left with her personal assistant following closely.
Meanwhile, Sarah, seeing Zach belittled, smiled in satisfaction. “I told you. Never touch me no matter what happens.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” Zach asked, barely containing his anger. “What have I done to you?” He just wanted to know why she hated him so much.
“Because you’re you. Because you’re Zach Hayes, poor and pathetic.”
That statement was a direct hit, piercing Zach’s heart. A statement matching reality wasn’t an insult, was it? It was a slap. Zach hated it when others reminded him of who he was. Zach had seemed to sleep comfortably amidst the luxurious amenities of the Bennett family.
Sarah brushed aside the ceramic and glass shards scattered on the floor with her red-heeled shoes. She stepped closer to Zach, standing less than two meters away. “You should recognize your place. You’re just trash that Mama picked up and recycled.”
She looked him up and down, her smile contemptuous. “You’re dressed up to look suitable for this mansion, but you can never be one of us.” She pointed to Zach’s wrist. “That watch only gives the impression of wealth. You still look fake and poor! You’re nothing more than that!”
Sarah laughed openly after saying that. All those words were thrown at Zach as if he were a garbage bin, deserving of such filthy comments.
Zach clenched his fists. “You’re too much.”
“What?” Sarah laughed again. “No, Zach. I never cross the line. You’re in the zone where I can insult you, where Mama can trample on you, and where anyone who knows who you really are in this family can do the same!”
Zach began to feel a headache coming on. His heart was wounded, but he couldn’t do anything because, besides feeling her words were true, he also couldn’t fight the Bennett family. That damn debt and his fate of having nothing else were the reasons Zach endured this long.
Satisfied with her insults, Sarah turned and left with her trademark arrogance, humming a low, cheerful tune. There was no hint of guilt on her face.
“Sir,” someone approached Zach from his right. It was Jeremy. “You should get treated immediately.”
Zach exhaled sharply. He wiped the blood from his forehead and looked at it in his palm with a bitter smile. “Even this pain means nothing.”
“Sir—”
“Shut your mouth,” Zach interrupted. His sharp gaze met the bespectacled man’s eyes. Without saying another word, Zach walked to his room. No one could heal the pain in his body or heart except solitude and distancing himself from everyone associated with this family.
Meanwhile, Jeremy watched him with an unreadable expression.
Zach hated Jeremy more than he hated the loan sharks who threatened to rip out his organs. The reason was simple: Jeremy was better at deceiving and pressuring than those criminals.Zach didn’t know and didn’t want to know what Jeremy’s job was in this family, but it was clear Jeremy always followed him, sometimes openly, sometimes covertly. Zach didn’t care because there was nothing he could do other than walk around in the evenings, watching the busy people on the increasingly crowded streets. They were busy people who had gone through a hard day at work.Zach missed his job.“You are not allowed to work, any kind of job.” Mrs. Grace’s words on the same day as Zach and Sarah’s wedding still echoed. “I don’t want you looking foolish in front of many people, especially those connected to the Bennett family.”Zach sighed deeply. The tired-looking man leaned his head against the car window, lamenting his fate, which was now safe but boring.“Is there anything you want, sir?” Zach’s pers
The police finally arrived to arrest the thief along with the victim for further questioning. Zach and Hannah were also required to come along since they were considered witnesses, and Hannah had to explain about the thief who was now semi-conscious from the injuries she inflicted.In the car, Zach still felt uneasy about the woman next to him, Hannah. She appeared calm, her face showing no expression. How Hannah had subdued the thief in such a short time still replayed in his mind.“Did you learn martial arts?” Zach asked, breaking the silence. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the police officer driving the car listening in. “You’re quite brave.”“Shut your mouth.”“I was just asking,” Zach said quickly.Zach slightly recalled what had happened yesterday when he was at the bar talking to the woman, but he didn’t quite remember their conversation, only the moment before he left the bar.They finally arrived in front of the local police station. There, the bag thief was arguing wit
Zach was forcibly taken into the car. He thought that aside from the driver and Jeremy, there was no one else inside. However, sitting in the back seat with a stoic expression was Mrs. Grace, right next to Zach.Zach glared at Jeremy, who had just gotten into the car. “You’re full of surprises today.”Jeremy ignored him and instructed the driver to start the car. For a moment, the atmosphere was tense and silent. Zach tried to ignore the presence next to him, but the oppressive aura was too strong.Zach gave in. “What brings you here?”“You and the trouble you’ve caused.” Her voice was calm but carried the weight of invisible needles.“I was there only as a witness. Everyone, even the inspector, knows that.” He glanced at Jeremy again. “Your subordinate here blew things out of proportion, dragging me out of there.”“If you don’t want such things to happen again in the future, never get involved with the police again.”That wasn’t advice. Zach clearly understood that her statement was
Zach groaned and rubbed his face in frustration. He stared at the skyrocketing debt bill, the numbers making his head throb.“What now? What should I do?”Just three months ago, his bar business was doing pretty well, but out of nowhere, he got a call from the bank about an overdue payment. Zach did have debts, not only to the bank but also to loan sharks, but the calculations were still manageable until this morning's warning letter arrived.His phone rang for the umpteenth time. The numbers of the loan sharks had been terrorizing him since yesterday. Zach had no idea why all these problems were hitting him at once.“I can’t believe this! How could you borrow such a huge amount from them? Twenty million dollars? Are you crazy?” one of his employees and close friends yelled.“I have no idea where this is coming from!” Zach’s face turned red, sweat forming on his forehead, and he gripped his phone tightly. He was in a panic because a few minutes ago, the loan sharks had come and wrecke
The punch wasn't enough to vent Zach's emotions. He was truly messed up. If he had no conscience left, he might have done something worse than just cursing and swearing at them."You know what makes me want to destroy you?" said Sam as he stood up with Ava's help. This time, his eyes showed no friendliness or care. "You're an annoying guy! Your dreams are too high, and your ideals are impossible to achieve! The best bar in this city? You're delusional! All your capital came from debt, and you don't have the experience or connections! You want to own the biggest F&B company in this country? That's disgusting!""Shut up!" Zach was always ridiculed by those around him just because he came from a poor family. He had nothing, not even a stable family. A drunkard father with many debts, acting like a parasite in Zach's life, and an education that didn't guarantee a future.Zach worked from a young age to save money and with that money, he wanted to achieve his dreams. But everything he had
The large men beat Zach mercilessly. Over and over, Zach pleaded for them to stop, but the punches and kicks kept coming."You won't be able to escape, Zach," said a man who acted like the boss, approaching and planting his shoe on Zach's heaving chest. Then, he pressed down hard. "Your debt won't decrease by hiding. Don't be a coward!"Zach had no intention of running away, but he didn't know what else to do. His mind felt blank. There was no one willing to help him. A few days ago, Zach had approached friends who might have been able to help, including his former employees. He humbled himself before them, apologizing for not being able to pay their wages on time, and even asking for their assistance.Of course, that didn't go well. Zach also had no wealthy acquaintances he could rely on. He had no family, and even his friends were distancing themselves from him. He recalled Sam's words: maybe it was true that Zach's dreams were too high."Pay off your debt by next week. If not, I'll
"The Bennett family?" Zach repeated to make sure. "You mean Bennett of the BN Group? The largest FNB company in the country?""Yeah."Zach couldn't control his expression from gaping. He then laughed, as if he had just heard the funniest joke of the century. "Me, becoming part of that conglomerate family?" He pointed to his own chest. "Me? Are you kidding?"The Bennett family was one of the conglomerate families dominating the FNB business world. Their name soared because the company had branches in every corner of the country. Zach also got the inspiration from them to start his own food-focused company. Clearly, achieving the success of the BN Group was an impossible dream.Zach stopped laughing and dropped his silly expression when he saw no change in the man's face. "You're serious?""I am Jeremy Brooks, the secretary and head butler of this mansion.""Mansion?" Zach was taken aback. He looked around to confirm what he had just heard. "Not a house or a hotel, but a mansion?""The
Zach stared at the road ahead with a weary gaze. He was currently on his way to Bar Refaeli. It wasn't much, he just wanted to reminisce about the times when he could still live a normal life as the owner of a small bar at the edge of New York City. In his mind, he imagined how rundown and neglected the place must have become after being left unattended for so long.It had probably been a month since Zach officially became part of the Bennett family, and during that time, he had lived his life like a living doll that could eat, sleep, and use the bathroom.Zach asked the driver to stop across the main street and chose to walk to the bar. When he arrived in front of it, Zach was utterly amazed. The condition of the place wasn't as bad as he had imagined.There were many visitors coming and going, with various expressions on their faces—just like people who had spent their leisure time having fun. It was the image Zach had always wanted for his successful business."Who owns it now?" wa
Zach was forcibly taken into the car. He thought that aside from the driver and Jeremy, there was no one else inside. However, sitting in the back seat with a stoic expression was Mrs. Grace, right next to Zach.Zach glared at Jeremy, who had just gotten into the car. “You’re full of surprises today.”Jeremy ignored him and instructed the driver to start the car. For a moment, the atmosphere was tense and silent. Zach tried to ignore the presence next to him, but the oppressive aura was too strong.Zach gave in. “What brings you here?”“You and the trouble you’ve caused.” Her voice was calm but carried the weight of invisible needles.“I was there only as a witness. Everyone, even the inspector, knows that.” He glanced at Jeremy again. “Your subordinate here blew things out of proportion, dragging me out of there.”“If you don’t want such things to happen again in the future, never get involved with the police again.”That wasn’t advice. Zach clearly understood that her statement was
The police finally arrived to arrest the thief along with the victim for further questioning. Zach and Hannah were also required to come along since they were considered witnesses, and Hannah had to explain about the thief who was now semi-conscious from the injuries she inflicted.In the car, Zach still felt uneasy about the woman next to him, Hannah. She appeared calm, her face showing no expression. How Hannah had subdued the thief in such a short time still replayed in his mind.“Did you learn martial arts?” Zach asked, breaking the silence. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the police officer driving the car listening in. “You’re quite brave.”“Shut your mouth.”“I was just asking,” Zach said quickly.Zach slightly recalled what had happened yesterday when he was at the bar talking to the woman, but he didn’t quite remember their conversation, only the moment before he left the bar.They finally arrived in front of the local police station. There, the bag thief was arguing wit
Zach hated Jeremy more than he hated the loan sharks who threatened to rip out his organs. The reason was simple: Jeremy was better at deceiving and pressuring than those criminals.Zach didn’t know and didn’t want to know what Jeremy’s job was in this family, but it was clear Jeremy always followed him, sometimes openly, sometimes covertly. Zach didn’t care because there was nothing he could do other than walk around in the evenings, watching the busy people on the increasingly crowded streets. They were busy people who had gone through a hard day at work.Zach missed his job.“You are not allowed to work, any kind of job.” Mrs. Grace’s words on the same day as Zach and Sarah’s wedding still echoed. “I don’t want you looking foolish in front of many people, especially those connected to the Bennett family.”Zach sighed deeply. The tired-looking man leaned his head against the car window, lamenting his fate, which was now safe but boring.“Is there anything you want, sir?” Zach’s pers
When Zach returned to the Bennett mansion, he saw Sarah raging downstairs. She was throwing everything within reach, and when she caught sight of Zach, she grabbed a small ceramic vase and hurled it at him.Zach, unprepared for the sudden attack, was struck on the forehead. Fresh blood started to flow.“Damn you! Why does everything go wrong whenever you’re around?” Sarah screamed. Her appearance was a mess, her makeup smeared, and her dress stained with soil from the shattered vase.The mansion was in chaos. Several servants stood by with cleaning tools but didn’t dare intervene, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire and risk being fired.Zach winced in pain, wiping away the blood nearing his eyebrow. “Can you stop this?” he asked gently. “Enough already, Sarah. What happened at the bar should be the end of it.”“Shut your fuck mouth!”Zach was about to say something when a new sound entered the scene—measured, deliberate footsteps. The presence of a woman, marked by the wri
This wasn’t the first time Zach saw his wife getting cozy with another man. From the beginning, she never took their marital status seriously. Perhaps, she never wanted this marriage in the first place.Zach didn't think much of it because he, too, lacked genuine commitment in this marriage. Marrying out of necessity to survive and escape debt sounded quite pitiful. However, sometimes life’s solutions come from unexpected directions.“But still, I feel my life is too miserable,” Zach said, wiping his face before turning away from his wife’s figure.Hannah, silently observing, asked, “Do you know that woman?”Zach nodded. “Who doesn’t know her? She’s the daughter of the richest family in this town.” His voice was slurred and unclear.“Is that so? I thought she was your lover.”The remark elicited a loud laugh from Zach. He pointed to himself. “Me? Impossible. She never acknowledged my existence.” Though Zach spoke enthusiastically, his eyes told a different story. A deep sadness was ev
Zach stared at the road ahead with a weary gaze. He was currently on his way to Bar Refaeli. It wasn't much, he just wanted to reminisce about the times when he could still live a normal life as the owner of a small bar at the edge of New York City. In his mind, he imagined how rundown and neglected the place must have become after being left unattended for so long.It had probably been a month since Zach officially became part of the Bennett family, and during that time, he had lived his life like a living doll that could eat, sleep, and use the bathroom.Zach asked the driver to stop across the main street and chose to walk to the bar. When he arrived in front of it, Zach was utterly amazed. The condition of the place wasn't as bad as he had imagined.There were many visitors coming and going, with various expressions on their faces—just like people who had spent their leisure time having fun. It was the image Zach had always wanted for his successful business."Who owns it now?" wa
"The Bennett family?" Zach repeated to make sure. "You mean Bennett of the BN Group? The largest FNB company in the country?""Yeah."Zach couldn't control his expression from gaping. He then laughed, as if he had just heard the funniest joke of the century. "Me, becoming part of that conglomerate family?" He pointed to his own chest. "Me? Are you kidding?"The Bennett family was one of the conglomerate families dominating the FNB business world. Their name soared because the company had branches in every corner of the country. Zach also got the inspiration from them to start his own food-focused company. Clearly, achieving the success of the BN Group was an impossible dream.Zach stopped laughing and dropped his silly expression when he saw no change in the man's face. "You're serious?""I am Jeremy Brooks, the secretary and head butler of this mansion.""Mansion?" Zach was taken aback. He looked around to confirm what he had just heard. "Not a house or a hotel, but a mansion?""The
The large men beat Zach mercilessly. Over and over, Zach pleaded for them to stop, but the punches and kicks kept coming."You won't be able to escape, Zach," said a man who acted like the boss, approaching and planting his shoe on Zach's heaving chest. Then, he pressed down hard. "Your debt won't decrease by hiding. Don't be a coward!"Zach had no intention of running away, but he didn't know what else to do. His mind felt blank. There was no one willing to help him. A few days ago, Zach had approached friends who might have been able to help, including his former employees. He humbled himself before them, apologizing for not being able to pay their wages on time, and even asking for their assistance.Of course, that didn't go well. Zach also had no wealthy acquaintances he could rely on. He had no family, and even his friends were distancing themselves from him. He recalled Sam's words: maybe it was true that Zach's dreams were too high."Pay off your debt by next week. If not, I'll
The punch wasn't enough to vent Zach's emotions. He was truly messed up. If he had no conscience left, he might have done something worse than just cursing and swearing at them."You know what makes me want to destroy you?" said Sam as he stood up with Ava's help. This time, his eyes showed no friendliness or care. "You're an annoying guy! Your dreams are too high, and your ideals are impossible to achieve! The best bar in this city? You're delusional! All your capital came from debt, and you don't have the experience or connections! You want to own the biggest F&B company in this country? That's disgusting!""Shut up!" Zach was always ridiculed by those around him just because he came from a poor family. He had nothing, not even a stable family. A drunkard father with many debts, acting like a parasite in Zach's life, and an education that didn't guarantee a future.Zach worked from a young age to save money and with that money, he wanted to achieve his dreams. But everything he had