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 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
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
"Damn it! Look at what you've done you dimwit!" An elegantly dressed woman screamed, glaring at the sorry-faced young man in front of her before immediately landing him a resounding slap."Do you have any idea how much this cost?!" She continued, her face etched with disgust."I…I'm sorry ma'am, it was a mistake" the young man stuttered in response.His name was Evan Stone. A live-in son-in-law of the Reynolds family.They were currently in the huge living room of the prestigious Reynolds villa, which had been specially adorned in honor of Lady Eva Reynolds's birthday, the esteemed head and grandmother of the Reynolds family. They were the fifth richest family in Metropolis Central.The once lovely and cheerful atmosphere quickly turned sour and tense upon the woman's outburst, garnering the attention of the guests and family members present.The woman was a friend of Mrs Brenda Reynolds, Evan Stone's mother-in-law."Isn't that Freda Reynolds's husband?" Someone whispered among the gu
Freda snatched Evan's hand tightly, furiously pulling him out of the living room to the main entrance outside and Evan followed without resistance. As soon as they stepped outside, she let go of his hand, and the guards that were present by the sides of the entrance exchanged subtly glances at the scene before them. "What is wrong with you?! Look at how much embarrassment you've caused me today. Ugh!" Freda exclaimed in frustration as she pressed her hand against her forehead. Evan was surprised by her reaction, he at least thought she was going to stand up for him even a little. "What do you mean?! I was the one enduring constant humiliation in there just now and you're making this about you?!" Freda shot him an irritated glance the instant he said that. "Have you taken a look at yourself?! You're such a dummy. Can't you just stay out of trouble for one second and avoid being a burden to me?!" Freda barked. Evan was hurt but hesitated to respond, not wanting to worsen the
"Hello?!""Hey Rico, it's me Evan" Evan replied calmly, trying to put himself together. He was on the phone with his colleague at his former garbage collector job as he stood outside the gates of the Reynolds villa."Oh, Evan. What do you want?!" Rico asked, his tone sounding a bit harsh."P..please, can you lend me some money?! I promise to pay back before the end of the month" Evan pleaded, his voice shaky. He knew he couldn't pay back before the end of the month but he was too desperate so he had to lie."Are you drunk?! Didn't I lend you some money just two weeks ago? You have some nerve, man. I had pity on you and told you not to pay back the last one you borrowed and you dare call me to ask for another?! "Don't ever call my phone again! You hear me?!" Rico's voice boomed through the phone."Rico, Please…" Evan was about to speak but the only sound he heard next was the beep of his phone as Rico instantly hung up on him after yelling.The doctor had given Evan a deadline of thr
"So you've been cheating on me with him?!" Evan asked, his tone mixed with hurt and anger as he clenched his fists beside him, his eyes boring into Freda's. Freda responded with a dismissive eye roll, unfazed by Evan's emotions. Evan catching her with Justin meant absolutely nothing to her. "You really think I would continue to spend my life with someone as miserable as you?!" She asked, her face contorted in irritation as she stared at Evan. "Of what good are you to me?! Huh?! You can't even afford the cheapest of gifts I want. Look at what Justin got me–the Himalayan Diamond Skin Birkin, my dream birkin bag. It's something you would never be able to afford in your entire life" Evan looked down at her hands and saw she was holding what looked like shopping bags. Justin Smith must have taken her on a lavish shopping spree. "Face it Evan, you're a worthless excuse of a man" she spat, her expression stern and demeaning. Justin Smith smiled at the words that came out of Freda'
Bang! Bang! Bang!"Open the damn gate! I need to see Mrs Brenda Reynolds!" Evan yelled, hitting furiously at the gates of the Reynolds villa."No can do, Mister" the gate man replied firmly."What do you mean by that?! Don't you suddenly know who I am, Albert?!" Evan asked in anger, he knew the gateman knew who he was."Sorry, but I'm just following orders. I was instructed explicitly by Mrs Brenda Reynolds not to let you in here ever again and I certainly don't plan on losing my job, so I'd suggest you leave now" the gateman replied, unwavering in his refusal to let Evan in."I'll be quick, this is urgent! Just open the gate!" Evan demanded in desperation, showing no sign of relenting. He had come to confront Mrs Brenda Reynolds about Mrs Evelyn's hospital bill."You're beginning to get on my nerves! You better leave now before I get the dogs on you" the gateman warned, his patience wearing thin."Mrs Brenda Reynolds! Freda! Come out!" Evan yelled more and more but it was of no use a
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