"I want you to make an official announcement about the new company's president. However, keep my identity a secret. Just refer to me as a member of the Stone family, Mr Stone" Evan ordered."The second announcement should be about our willingness to cooperate with new companies" he added.Evan had a plan. He knew both announcements would shake the media, grabbing the attention of various billionaires and prominent figures. Most importantly, it would attract the Reynolds's family's attention."Yes, sir. I'll get this done immediately" Bella responded, nodding. As she was about to leave, Evan stood up from his office chair and said,"Also, I want you to know that I won't be here often. So you'll primarily be in charge of the company's affairs""Yes, sir" Bella replied. She understood Evan being the grandson of the Stone's family automatically meant he was a very busy man.Being aware of the numerous companies the Stones owned, she knew that while GigaBank Financial Group is also a sig
"Have you heard?" a middle-aged woman in the bustling streets of the city said to her friend."Heard about what?" her friend replied, curiosity piqued and eager for the latest gossip."GigaBank Financial Group has a new president and they're open for partnerships. Do you know how rare that is?""Really? That's huge news!" her friend exclaimed."Rumor has it that many moguls and companies have reached out, but they only accepted one" the woman continued."What? Just one?! That's unbelievable. Who did they choose?" her friend asked, eyes wide with anticipation.The news about the new president of GigaBank Financial Group spread all over Metropolis Central, just as Evan had predicted.No one knew he was the new president, except Bella Blaze and Mr Johnson, of course.Every billionaire and CEO in the city and beyond did indeed reach out, being willing to do anything to become partners and to discover the identity of the new President.Who wouldn't? Being close to a Stone family member was
Surprised by Evan's boldness, the sales assistant paused for a moment then replied with a contemptuous stare and tone, "Or our security will escort you out!" Her eyes shifted to the side and Evan's gaze followed, noticing the huge security guards closing in, their eyes fixed on him like predators.The voices of the patrons echoed through the store, each adding their own opinion on the scene before them."He sure has a mouth for someone who looks like that" a patron murmured to someone beside her."Tell me about it. Just look at what he's wearing. I wonder how they allowed someone who looks like a peasant to come in here" another chimed in."Can't he see he shouldn't have come here to shop? The things here wouldn't even be in his income bracket" someone else added, their words soaked in resentment."Maybe he's a scammer, like the sales assistant said. They often come in here to take pictures, posing as a customer without buying a thing, just so they can post on social media and show o
Unknown to everyone, earlier, Mr Johnson, concerned that Evan had been in the boutique for a long time, got out of the car to check on him. When he saw the commotion from outside, he quickly dialed the manager's number, reported the situation, and instructed him to come immediately, which he promptly did.***Mr Patrick, still reeling from being shut down by the manager he thought he was close to, watched in disbelief as the manager turned to Evan and said,"Please, sir, what did you come here to get? Just mention it, and it will be brought to you right now. You also don't have to pay, it's all on me""What?!" Mr Patrick fumed with envy. Despite his close relationship with the manager, he had never enjoyed such favor from him.Why was this supposed peasant receiving such special treatment?"Why are you doing this, Mr Julian? What has this peasant done to deserve all these favors?" Mr Patrick asked, his voice dripping with bitter anger as he glared at Evan in disgust."I thought I tol
"I did. He's with me" Bella interjected, taking Freda by surprise.Freda observed the lady standing beside her ex-husband, and there was no doubt she looked breathtaking. Her beauty was ravishing.Bella wore a tight-fitting scarlet dress that accentuated her curvaceous figure, and while Freda was also a beautiful woman, Bella had a more striking, seductive face that commanded attention.Freda felt slightly intimidated."Oh! You must be Bella Blaze, the vice president of GigaBank Financial Group" she said, forcing a smile. "Nice to meet you. I'm Freda Reynolds""Nice to meet you too" Bella returned the gesture, her smile equally deceptive.Freda then took a proper look at her ex-husband and couldn't deny he looked stunning and handsome, different from the Evan she once knew. There was something in his eyes, something she couldn't explain."How do you two know each other?" Freda asked, glancing back and forth between them with curiosity.Although she tried to hide it, she felt triggered
Freda was shocked at how bold Evan had become. The way he talked, looked at them, and carried himself was nothing like the old Evan. But why? Why was he so confident now? She remembered how he used to beg them for cash when he lived with them at the Reynolds's villa. "Is that a threat?" Justin glared at Evan. "Admit it, you're just mad she moved on from your pathetic self to a billionaire like me. You couldn't satisfy her because you're worthless" Evan replied with a smirk, "You think your bank account makes you worthy? Like I said, you're nothing but a paycheck to her, and when that runs out, she will too" Evan paused, his smile widening into a taunting grin, "But hey, enjoy the ride while it lasts. It's going to be a long fall from that horse of yours" Evan's words were like thorns under Justin's flesh, provoking him to his core. His eyes turned red as he clenched his fists behind him, looking ready to explode. "Let's head in, the gala is about to start" Bella said wit
"What is Evan doing here?!" Caitlin Reynolds asked in surprise, as she was previously unaware of his presence in the hall."I hope this mushhead didn't come here to cause us embarrassment, cause that's what he always does" her elder brother Franklin added in scorn."Why is he walking to the stage? Or is he the presid… no, he can't be" their mother, Felicia Reynolds, panicked.Everyone watched as Evan approached the stage, including Lady Eva Reynolds, who became visibly angry and troubled as she saw him coming.What was the ratchet former son-in-law of the Reynolds family heading up there to do?"I hate this scum! What does he think he's doing?" Lincoln fumed from his seat."Can't anyone stop him and throw his silly ass out?!" George Reynolds, Mrs. Brenda Reynolds' husband, added in annoyance.Freda, Justin, and Betty also watched from their seats with a mixture of shock and disbelief.As Evan ascended the stage, Lady Eva swiftly grabbed his elbow, hissing,"Evan! I don't know why you'
What was the pauper going to do? Did he really think he could stand a chance against Justin Smith?"Go on, do your worst, loser! I'd love to see what you can do before I throw your worthless self in jail!" Justin barked, waiting for Evan's next move."Two... one... time's up. At least I warned you"Evan immediately reached into his pocket, and Justin watched with a mocking look as he pulled out his phone.Evan dialed Mr. Johnson's number and he instantly picked up."Hello, in one minute, I want to see the Smith's empire crumble. Skyrocket their debts and liquidate all their assets" Evan commanded with authority, then ended the call.Justin shook his head at how delusional Evan had become. The movies he must have been watching really did a number on his head."You're nothing but a madman. Did you really think that little act of yours could scare me even a little?" Justin scoffed."What do you take me for? A dummy like you?" he added coldly.Evan must have thought this was like in the m
Knowing Patriarch Charles, he never gave easy conditions, and this made Adeline's heart skip a beat as she anxiously wondered what he was about to demand.The rest of the family also watched closely, their curiosity piqued as they eagerly waited for Patriarch Charles to reveal his condition."As you all know, Valtor Corporation is building a new convention center and they're accepting bids for contracts…" Patriarch Charles began, leaving everyone to wonder where he was going with this."Okay… but Grandpa, what does that have to do with you allowing Evan and me to be together?" Adeline asked calmly, raising her eyebrows in confusion.The other members of the Davis family exchanged puzzled glances, equally curious about how Valtor Corporation's contract bids were connected to Adeline's relationship with Evan.A small smile formed at the corner of Patriarch Charles's lips as he finally revealed his condition. "This contract is very important to our family and our company. So, Adeline, if
Evan had tried several times to reach the unknown number that had sent him the text claiming to know who was responsible for his parents death, but there had been no response. He still hadn’t told Mr. Johnson about the message.During this time, Evan’s connection with Adeline grew stronger, and soon they started dating. Eventually, Adeline invited him to her family home to introduce him to her parents.Evan arrived in a cab, simply dressed in dark-washed jeans, a crisp white button-down shirt, paired with a tailored black blazer, and polished dress shoes."There you are! You look great!" Adeline exclaimed, greeting Evan with a warm hug as soon as he stepped out of the cab."Thanks, I did my best" Evan replied with a smile, though he felt a bit nervous."Come on, let’s go in" Adeline said with an excited tone, taking his hand and leading him toward the house.As they walked towards the front door, she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, they'll adore you. Just be yoursel
The muscular leader smirked, taking a step closer to Evan. "I see you want to play hero, huh? Well, let’s see how long that lasts"Evan stood his ground, his pulse steady. "You have no idea who you're dealing with"The leader’s smirk faltered for a moment before he chuckled darkly. "Big words for someone who's outnumbered. But fine, let’s play"Without warning, one of the men charged at Evan with his baton raised, but Evan swiftly grabbed the man's arm and twisted it with a quick, brutal motion that sent the man sprawling to the ground with a pained cry.Adeline gasped, her eyes wide with fear and admiration.The leader’s eyes narrowed. "So, you’ve got some skills in you. But it won’t be enough". With a flick of his wrist, he signaled to the remaining men.The two men rushed forward simultaneously, swinging their batons at the same time. Evan ducked under the swings, then landed a hard blow on the first man's ribs and the man stumbled back, gasping for breath.Evan then took down the
Evan's smile faltered for a moment, and he looked around the room carefully before leaning in closer to Adeline. "Remember, I told you I have my ways, I know a few people here" he said, trying to sound nonchalant."You did say that, but I know there's more to it. So please, tell me" Adeline insisted, sensing that Evan was hiding something.She noticed how much he had changed, not just in his appearance, but in personality. He had become bolder and more confident, traits the old Evan didn't really have. There had to be something he was keeping from her.Even the way the head waiter of the restaurant welcomed him into the platinum room so respectfully gave her a signal.Evan sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Fine... I'll tell you. But you have to promise not to tell anyone else"Adeline's curiosity was piqued. "I promise. Now spill it"Evan glanced around the room again, ensuring no one was listening. "I... I have a connection. Someone who owes me
"I'm sorry, but I have to ask you all to leave" the waiter said calmly, gesturing toward the exit.Freda, Mr. Robert, and her family were stunned, and the patrons' eyes widened in shock."What?!" Freda exclaimed, raising her eyebrows in confusion."I don't understand! What do you mean?!" Mrs. Brenda chimed in, her expression filled with panic.They all looked to Mr. Robert, hoping he could stand up for them in that moment."And why are you asking us to leave?" Mr. Robert demanded, as Freda quickly linked her arm with his.The head waiter remained calm as he answered, "I'm afraid it's a security protocol. We've had some concerns about the room's capacity, and we need to rebalance the guest list"Mr. Robert's eyes narrowed. "Security protocol? At 8 PM on a Tuesday? I don't think so. What's really going on here?""Exactly, what's really going on?!" Mrs. Brenda's panic turned to annoyance. Seeing Mr. Robert speak up, gave her a confidence boost."This is ridiculous! We're not going anywhe
"Go on. Say it, tell your new sugar daddy who he is" Evan taunted."He's… irrelevant," Freda blurted out, not wanting to reveal who Justin was to Mr. Robert. "And as for you, you have the nerve to talk, huh?!""It seems to me you've forgotten how miserable you are. I don't know how a pauper like you even managed to get a reservation here. You can't even afford the lowest menu!" she added in disdain, diverting the attention back to Evan."Exactly! I'm so glad my daughter no longer has anything to do with your horrible self" Mrs. Brenda chimed in, her face contorted with scorn."You know what, Mother? I'm sure Adeline was the one who got their reservation here. And I'm sure she'll be the one paying for his meal" Freda mocked.Lincoln instantly laughed out loud. "You're right, Freda. We all know Evan can't even afford a bottle of water. I don't know why Adeline's wasting her time here with him"Hearing all this, a patron whispered, "Wow! He must really have no shame, coming here with a g
The evening of the dinner Evan had invited Adeline to had arrived, and the sun was beginning to setEvan got ready, wearing a navy blue dress shirt and pants that looked simple yet appropriate for the occasion.Mr. Johnson had offered to arrange a ride to take Evan to the restaurant, but he declined, preferring to take a cab instead.When he arrived there, he got out of the cab, paid the driver, and waited for Adeline. Shortly after, she also arrived in a cab, and Evan greeted her with a warm smile."You look stunning, Adeline! I'm so glad you could make it"Adeline blushed and chuckled, "Thank you. You look really good as well""But I have to say, I'm intrigued by this dinner invitation. How did you manage to get a reservation here? I've heard Chez La Vie is nearly impossible to get into" she added in curiosity.Evan, not wanting to reveal too much, smiled. "Well, let's just say I have my connections. I know a few people at the restaurant"Adeline raised an eyebrow, still a bit skept
Evan decided it was the right time to reveal the truth about his new identity and fortune to Mrs. Evelyn, sharing everything with her.He chose not to inform Mr. Johnson about the new text message, preferring to keep it to himself for the time being.To ensure Mrs. Evelyn's safety, Evan arranged for her to move to one of his family's private houses outside Metropolis Central.…Four Weeks Later."I can't believe this. Our company's earnings are drastically declining" Lady Eva Reynolds lamented as she arrived at their villa with her eldest son, Kenneth Reynolds, Franklin's father. They had just returned from their company meeting."The worst part is that some of our investors are demanding we achieve a 40% revenue growth compared to last month's figures, or they'll withdraw their investments. How on earth do they expect us to achieve that?" Mr. Kenneth Reynolds voiced out in frustration."I'm not even sure we can achieve a 10% revenue increase with the way things are right now" he add
"So, you were part of this?!" Evan seethed, looking at the guy standing beside the middle-aged man who had spoken earlier.Evan also saw Mrs. Evelyn tied up in the corner, and she screamed, "Evan, my dear, you need to leave while you still can!" "Oh, shut up, woman!" the middle-aged man snapped, his face irritated.Those words provoked Evan deeply, but he forced himself to maintain his composure. He had never tolerated anyone speaking to his matron in that manner."Who are you? And what do you want?" Evan demanded, unfamiliar with the man before him. However, he immediately recognized the guy standing by his side. It was Justin Smith, Freda's boyfriend."I am Christopher Smith, your worst nightmare" the man declared, puffing out his chest with arrogance. "My nephew here told me about the little stunt you pulled at the Reynolds's gala"Evan's eyes flicked to Justin, who looked away in fear, his face pale. "I have no idea what you're talking about" Evan replied in pretense."Don't you