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2024-10-29 19:42:56Alex stepped into the room, causing everyone's attention to shift towards him. Brielle appeared embarrassed and quickly averted her gaze.
"Oh, so the chicken finally shows up, huh? What do we have here, a little toy?" Brock taunted, prompting Alex to meet his gaze head-on, catching Brock off guard.
"Not a toy, Brock. It's called a vase, in case you didn't know," Alex countered, causing Brock to stare at him in surprise. Brock menacingly approached Alex, but soon realized that Alex was much larger and stronger than him, causing him to halt.
"Feeling brave now, huh? What did my sister say to you on the balcony?" Brock inquired, to which Alex simply shrugged.
"It's nothing, man. I brought grandma the best gift I could afford, that's all," Alex retorted. This statement elicited laughter from Brock and some members of the family.
"Come on, Alex. The best you could afford is basically nothing. Look at what I've got," Brock boasted, lifting another vase.
"This is a gift, not the toy you brought. Do you have any idea how much this is worth, Alex? It's more than you could ever earn, bro," he taunted. Alex nodded in response.
"It's alright, Brock. He did what he could," Brielle defended from behind, causing Brock to turn towards her with a malicious smile.
“Brielle, how nice of you, defending your poor husband, I guess that makes you a loser and poor ass like he is, you are both LOSERS” he yelled and Brielle's words caught as she blushed, she was embarrassed as hell.
Alex's face tightened as he listened to Brock's insults towards his wife. He couldn't stand by and let him disrespect her like that. His anger grew, but instead of yelling back, he noticed something that gave him an idea.
"Hey!" Alex called out, catching everyone's attention, including Brock's.
"Defending your wife, are you?" Brock taunted, not expecting Alex's response.
Alex smiled triumphantly, causing Brock to narrow his eyes. He stared at the vase on the table, and Alex knew he had caught his attention.
"Staring at my vase, huh? Thinking you can outdo me, huh? Well, you can't. You're a pauper, and you can never match me. I wonder why you're even associated with this family," Brock boasted.
"That's not why I'm staring at the vase, Brock. I'm staring at it because it's fake," Alex blurted out, shocking Brock. He clenched his fist and lunged for Alex, but Alex quickly dodged, causing Brock to stumble and crash to the floor. The room fell silent as everyone watched in surprise.
Brock slowly stood up, trying to hide his embarrassment. He smiled at Alex, attempting to regain his composure.
"How can you tell it's fake, shithead, huh?" Brock yelled, trying to regain control of the situation.
Alex walked slowly towards him, his imposing presence making Brock instinctively move back, though he tried to hide his intimidated demeanor.
"Because you lunged for me when I said that, and I can give you other reasons why it's fake if you want me to go on," Alex said calmly, causing Brock to narrow his eyes even further.
"Oh, how nice, Alex. Minutes ago, you couldn't say a word, and now you're acting all macho. I see. Was it Brielle? Did she finally open her legs for you, huh?" Brock tried to change the topic and provoke Alex's anger, knowing that Alex wouldn't tolerate any disrespect towards his wife.
"Brock!" Brielle exclaimed, her face flushed with embarrassment at his crude remark.
Alex's emerald eyes grew cold; he tightly clenched his fist, causing his knuckles to turn pale. He had an overwhelming urge to pummel Brock, but he knew he had to control his anger.
"She didn't do anything like that," Alex retorted, and a cruel smile spread across Brock's face. His plan was working.
"So, you forced her then?" Brock sneered, and Alex had to bite his tongue to refrain from lashing out at his brother-in-law.
"I can't stoop to your level, Brock. Maybe you're the expert on that," Alex moved closer, his voice low. "I may have bought a worthless original, according to you, but it's still an original," Alex whispered, and Brock glared at him.
"You still don't get it, Alex," Brock tapped Alex on the shoulder, but one look from Alex made him quickly retract his hand. "You must be on something, because when did you suddenly find the guts to talk back to me?" Brock taunted, and a dangerous smile slowly formed on Alex's face, warning his brother-in-law to tread carefully.
"I'm not on anything, man. I just want to know why you, with all your boasting, gifted grandma a fake vase, Brock," Alex stated, and Brock scowled.
The two men stood face to face in a tense standoff, the air around them thick with tension. Onlookers remained silent, sensing the imminent clash between the two. The larger, more handsome man appeared relaxed, while the other seethed with fury. The latter's hands twitched incessantly as if he was contemplating ways to strike the former. Finally, the latter forced a smile.
"You're just trying to act tough, Alex, but deep down I know you're a coward," he said, and Alex raised an eyebrow.
"That doesn't explain why you bought a fake vase, Brock. Yes, my gift may not be as extravagant as yours, but at least I bought something genuine and safe. That vase you bought was painted with toxic substances. Do you even realize how harmful that could be to Granny?" Alex snapped back, and Brock glared at him, feeling a pang of guilt deep inside.
He knew that Alex's words held truth. Brock's father had given him money to buy a gift for their grandmother, but instead, he chose to buy a fake vase so he could use the rest of the money to buy his girlfriend a car. However, Brock couldn't admit to his selfish actions. He gathered his composure and sneered at Alex.
"How dare you," Brock seethed. "A lowlife like you wouldn't know the difference between vases. Who are you to accuse me of buying a fake?"
"Yeah," one of Brock's cousins chimed in. "How dare you lie to our cousin like that," she added, and the others joined in, berating Alex. He stood in silence, glaring at Brock, who smirked in response.
"Enough!" someone suddenly yelled, and everyone turned to see Grandmother entering the room. Instantly, the room fell silent.
Grandmother was the true matriarch of the Reynolds family ever since their grandfather passed away, a loss that deeply saddened Alex. Their grandfather was the only one who stood up for him.
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Grandmother settled herself down slowly as Brielle approached her side."Grandma, we have a situation here. My... umm... husband claims that my brother's vase is fake. Can you tell? You used to have extensive knowledge about vases, grandma," Brielle whispered, squatting close to her and gently caressing her hand.Brielle had started to doubt the authenticity of Brock's vase, and she was becoming impressed by the way Alex had stood up to her brother.Her grandmother glared at Alex and Brock. She extended her hand, and Brock hesitated."Well," she said, and Brock reluctantly handed her the vase. She then reached out her hand to Alex, who stared at her in surprise. He nodded and handed her his own vase for inspection.She first examined Alex's vase and scowled. Brock grinned beside him, but the grandmother set Alex's vase aside and lifted Brock's vase to the light. Without hesitation, she instantly smashed it on the floor."Woah!" Brock exclaimed, and his grandmother scowled."How dare y
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Alex woke up and found Brielle lying next to him, fast asleep. He focused on her face, the face that had captivated him. Ignoring her nakedness, he got up and put on a shirt. As he stood, Brielle woke up and put on a robe. They both locked eyes and stared at each other."Sorry about last night, I shouldn't have done that," Alex apologized. Brielle burst into laughter."Oh my god, you're such a wimp, Alex. I was the one who initiated it, remember?" she said. Alex nodded and walked into the main room. He poured himself a glass of vodka and sighed with satisfaction as he drank it. He poured another glass and downed it quickly."Can I join you?" a voice asked. Alex turned to see Amelia looking at him, her usual haughty expression softened."No," Alex replied, in a bad mood and not wanting any trouble. He didn't trust Amelia. "Go away," he said, tilting the vodka bottle to his mouth and finishing it. The alcohol seemed to help him forget his problems. Amelia's soft hands found their way t
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Alex woke to find the bed empty; he knew Brielle must have gone to get some groceries. They were still on break because of Grandma's birthday. Sighing, he sat up and stared at the mirror before him. His dark hair had fallen to his temples, and his eyes still looked hungry for sleep—he damned well needed one.Yawning, Alex walked out to the bar stand, where he now always resorted to drinking to clear his head. He grabbed a bottle of liquor, poured it into a glass, and took a sip.“This is becoming a habit. Do you know how much it costs to maintain this lifestyle?” someone said, and Alex nearly spilled his drink in surprise.“Amelia,” he said, his voice deep, something that made her observe him closely. “Good morning,” he added nonchalantly, and Amelia smiled at him, a grin plastered on her face as she walked up to him.“Should you be drinking this early? This lavish lifestyle, I hope you know your meager salary can't fund it,” she mocked. Alex frowned, and the liquor turned sour in his
The Rightful Successor Chapter 6
Alex entered the extravagant resort and was greeted by a swarm of people. He couldn't help but wonder why the place was so packed and why Martins had chosen such a crowded spot to meet.Feeling confused, Alex scanned the area for Martins, but it was difficult with all the noise and commotion. Deciding to step outside, he inadvertently collided with a red-haired lady, causing her to drop her bag."Are you blind?" she snapped at Alex, who quickly apologized and bent down to pick up her bag. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming," he explained, handing her the bag. She snatched it from him suspiciously, giving him a disdainful look."You're a thief, aren't you? I hope you haven't stolen anything yet. Is this how thieves behave?" she accused, scanning her bag for any missing items. Alex wasn't surprised by her reaction; people in the city often looked down on those they perceived as poor. He didn't dress like a wealthy person, so it was easy for them to judge him."There's no need to make a
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Alex found himself in a dimly lit room, but to his surprise, he wasn't being treated roughly. Instead, he was kept in a tidy room. Before long, a servant girl entered the room, accompanied by two burly men who resembled the ones who had kidnapped him. The girl placed a tray on the table in front of Alex and then bowed slightly before leaving.Confused, Alex watched as the servant girl walked away. He couldn't understand why he was being treated so nicely when he clearly remembered being kidnapped and brought here. His gaze shifted to the meal in front of him, and the delicious aroma made his stomach growl.Curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously lifted the lids of the covered plates. To his delight, he discovered seared filet mignon with truffle sauce, along with his favorite roasted potatoes and steamed vegetables. The anticipation of the mouthwatering meal made his stomach churn, but he couldn't help but be cautious."What if it's poisoned?" he silently questioned himself
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The following day, Alex and Martins arrived at the company in a sleek, dark BMW. As they parked the car, Alex couldn't help but feel a rush of nostalgia as he gazed at the impressive and modern architecture of the building. Memories of his time spent here with his father and Sir Martins flooded his mind, and even after fifteen years, he still admired the luxurious and sophisticated atmosphere."You still remember what the company looks like," Martins remarked, impressed."Just a little," Alex replied, clapping his hands together and feeling slightly out of place in his casual attire. Despite Martins arranging a fitted tuxedo for him, he insisted on wearing his own clothes."Are you sure about this?" Martins questioned, gesturing towards Alex's choice of clothing. "We can do this another time, you know." Just then, one of the security guards opened the car door, and both Alex and Martins stepped out."Yes, I prefer it this way for a fresh start," Alex affirmed, determined to wear casua
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Brock felt uneasy, his stomach churned as sweat formed on his forehead. This business proposal was his opportunity to keep his secrets hidden. The profits from the deal would help him cover his tracks.Unfortunately, yesterday he had a major loss at the casino, completely ruining his plans. He had a feeling that something was off because he had insider information for a sure win. "Baby, can we please get out of here? They can all go to hell," Sophie complained, gripping his hand tightly. In a fit of anger and frustration, Brock forcefully pulled his hand away from her."Find your own way back," Brock shot at her, sliding into the driver's seat and slamming the door shut. "Baby, I'm sorry," Sophie lamented, attempting to open the car door, but it was already locked from the inside. Brock started the car and sped away, leaving Sophie behind."Babe... Bab..." Sophie's calls were drowned out by the sound of the speeding car. She was now breathing heavily, her anger growing. She knew Broc
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Alex was pacing back and forth as beads of sweat formed on his forehead and he moved restlessly."What do we do?" Martins asked as he stared at Alex who looked really restless.Of course, he should be. His wife had been kidnapped and he had no idea what would have been going on with her right now.This was something he had never imagined in all of his lifetime. That there would be a time when he wouldn't be able to save his wife from all these troublesWhat if her captors had already done away with her at this point?Had they hurt her already?Why had her captors not made an attempt to reach out to him yet.That was a point where he didn't even want to venture in. He didn't want to think of that because if he thought of that, he could possibly have a heart attack.."I have no idea, I'm as lost as you are." Alex said as he clenched and unclenched his fist gritting his teeth."I'm really confused and I'm trying to think on what to do but my head is falling to pieces." Alex stated as he
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It had been a week since the day that the final hearing had been adjourned. The judge had thanked Alex, Amelia, and Nikki for their help to the investigation. It was not something a judge would usually do but the whole situation that had brought them to the court was out of the ordinary. Alex and Brielle had been released from jail and the judge had ordered the immediate arrest of the real culprits after promising compensation to Alex and Brielle. Everyone sat in the courtroom, anticipating the beginning of the final hearing. There were reporters and people from the mass media all around the room and every single person who was involved in the case was present as well. Liam, his mother, their Lawyer who had helped their forgery, Brock, Sean and Martin. Alex, Amelia, Nikki and Brielle were also there to witness the final judgment so as to receive a form of closure for all of their efforts and the ways they had been deceived.Liam and his mother came into the courtroom first to hear th
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After Alex presented all the evidence explaining his wicked brother's schemes, Liam saw that there was no way to hide anymore so he grinned again. "Yes, I meant what I said. I can't be the only one with hands pointing at me. I am just a little in number of people who are involved in this crime so as much as I would like to talk about certain things I also wanted to tell you that there might be some things that you want to change but don't have the power to. It's all in your head if you think that I won't carry out proper investigations." He said. The whole courtroom was astonished at his nonchalance. "Do you think that I would be afraid anymore? You don't even know half of what I've done. If you knew it, I'm sure that a lot of you would run mad but that won't help you one bit, instead it would dampen how fast this process should be and make you look like a fool." He spat. Temple signaled to him to stop talking so that he didn't reveal all the secrets but he refused. "The funny thi
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Chapter 160 Trials (ii)
The judge stared at him, wondering why three people were walking in."Barrister Nikki, what is going on here?" He asked when he saw close to five people walking into the room at the same time."I brought them as witnesses to help with the process, sir." She confessed and the judge nodded while motioning that she could go on. "I, Barrister Nikki, would like the court to allow us to begin the process again so that we can have a clear picture about what will happen soon." She replied.The judge was a bit perplexed but from the way the lady was speaking, she figured out that she probably knew what she was doing and was only biding her time.Liam glanced at his lawyer in fear hoping that they didn't make the mistake of letting anything slip out of his mind. Temple began to sweat because he knew that problems were about to arise and all he could do right now was to make sure that he was able to find a solution. "Let the proceedings begin." He replied."I have evidence that shows that my
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Chapter 159: Trials. (I)
In The CourtRoom. "According to the pieces of evidence before me I can boldly claim that the plaintiff is right in his suit." The judge spoke while adjusting the rim of his glasses so that it settled perfectly on his nose. Nikki rolled her eyes at the declaration. It was evident that he had been bribed hence the reason for him not properly dissecting the evidence before him and choosing to believe this man over Alex. "Objection my Lord." Nikki piped up with a smile while staring her boss in the eyes. Barr. Temple who watched her grapple with many sheets of papers as she tried to bring up more evidence. "Objection sustained." The judge granted her request Nikki adjusted her collar and smiled at the judge again. "I'm sure that everyone knows that these men are nothing but treacherous businessmen. At least that's what the tabloids say and not only that, we have a little evidence to back it up. May I show the court?"The judge nodded and she flicked on the remote which brought out im
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Chapter 158: Necessary Evils.
Nikki tapped her feet in the car impatiently as they waited for Brielle to come out of Sean's apartment. They had gotten someone to set a camera inside the house to watch what was going on so that they knew the next step to take Amelia also tapped her fingers against the window as she counted one to ten in her head. The plan was simple, Brielle was to go in, seduce Sean and get him to confess to many crimes that he committed so that they could present in the court in three days. "What could be keeping her too long?" Nikki murmured angrily. They still had a lot of places to reach before midnight. Shs wanted to make everything done and over with so that she could take a nap but this was not going the way she wanted."She's not even in the line of vision. We told her to remain in the living room so that we could capture the real footage and present unmistakable evidence." Amelia muttered, their initial ire forgotten.Nikki rubbed a hand across her face as she kept on waiting for the fo
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Chapter 157: Calling Truce
Nikki's eyes wandered toward the duo who were staring at her eagerly like she was bringing salvation to them."I feel weird." She chuckled nervously but their stares continued."I know, right? We have been waiting for you all day, why don't you get some juice in the fridge? I made it specially for you." Brielle suggested so that she didn't feel weirded out.Amelia on the other hand tapped her foot impatiently as she tried to understand what might be going on."Do you realize that we have a lot to do and I would really appreciate it if we get right into it." She muttered impatiently."Right. I guess we can dive right into the topic. So why are you here, Amelia?" Nikki challenged her. Amelia scoffed at the audacity that this lady possessed to challenge her about her presence in her cousin's house. "You're just a friend but that's beside the point. Now, why I called is to inform you that there will soon be a party, the culprits would be present so we need to be fast about it." She said
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Chapter 156: Brainstorm
"Why don't you stop by my house later tonight?" Brielle inquired from Nikki the next day. She has something very improved to tell her that required that they brainstorm.Nikki glanced at her watch and realized that there was a problem. It was almost three p.m. and she still had a meeting to cover before she could call it a day. However, since Brielle needed her, it was high time that she agreed on what to do."Okay, I'll be there. I hope you have food though because I'm famished," She replied. "Yeah, you don't need to worry, I just need to put some things together, that's a little repayment for your time and energy," Brielle responded half-heartedly. She wasn't really in the mood to cook but had no choice anyway since that was what her beloved friend wanted. "You don't need to stress yourself to prove a point, I could order but I feel like having a home-made meal. You know what? Why don't I make a quick stop at home so I don't stress you out? I could also bring some for you. Whatcha
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Chapter 155: Spilling the Tea.
“I’m here to see Alex.” Amelia told one of the prison wardens who stared at her as though she was speaking Greek. She returned a matching glare not wanting to be intimidated at all. They had nothing on her."Who are you and why do you think that you have the right to see him before visiting hours?" He asked her."I don't know why I don't have the privilege to see my in-law, last time I checked, this is the visiting time or is there something you don't want me to know about?" Amelia replied angrily. She had no respect for people who were after their bellies. The warden was tapped by his colleague who nodded to allow her in. She was a family member who was not restricted from seeing him. The first warden didn't just want to allow her in like that. There needed to be peace and orderliness. “Who are you?”“Amelia.”“Wait in the visitors room, I’ll call him for you.”Amelia was seated as she looked around and waited patiently for Alex to be brought to her. It was minutes and minutes wer
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Chapter 154: Sacrifice
Nikki still didn’t want to give up even if Martins was so too good at covering up his tracks. She knew that he wanted to cheat Brielle and she wasn’t going to let that happen. Apart from the fact that he and Brielle were friends, she knew she was also a lawyer and it’ll be very easy for her to sue him if she got any evidence at least.She knew that they’ll be no one to give her the information that she needed so she decided to take matters into her own hands. She decided that she would follow Martina for some time as she knew that eventually, he was going to slack off and leave some of his tracks Uncleaned.It was going to be stressful but she was willing to do anything for the sake of Brielle. She was pregnant too and she didn’t want her bothering herself.She knew that her father’s condition was already affecting her and she was trying her best notTo act like it and Martins was barely adding to her problems. She hated everything about Martin including his guts and how selfish he
