The formal dinner at the Von Ritcher estate commenced with an air of tense silence. The clinking of silverware against fine china was the only sound that filled the opulent dining room. Greg sat at the table, maintaining his calm demeanor while his stepmother, Lorraine, engaged with his father, Austine, in a hushed conversation. "Austine, you couldn’t believe what just happened today. Griffin has been showing remarkable progress in his studies lately, and his teacher praised him. They even state that he seems more focused and dedicated than ever," Lorraine said, her tone tinged with satisfaction. Austine responded with a brief nod. "That's good to hear. I'm glad to see him taking his future seriously." Greg couldn't help but silently laugh to himself. He knew Griffin well enough to suspect that his newfound interest in his studies was merely a show for their father's benefit. Nonetheless, he kept his amusement hidden and continued to focus on his meal. As the conversation between
BLAM! Lorraine slammed the bedroom door shut with a resounding thud. Her rage simmered within her, threatening to boil over. She couldn't believe Austine's audacity to consider Greg as the sole heir once again! All her carefully laid plans to secure the position for her own son, Griffin, were now in jeopardy. "How can he do this?" Lorraine seethed, pacing back and forth in her luxurious bedroom. "After all I've done to be in this family, including marrying that old hag… He still wants to give that stupid son a second chance?! What's so hard about making Griffin an heir anyway?! All Griffin has ever done is get sent to a labor institution for selling weapons and drugs! Didn’t Austine think that that STUPID Greg could get into bigger problems if that picture is out?!" Lorraine’s anger only intensified when she recalled how Austine requested Greg to come to his study room to discuss the second chance further. Why didn't Austine just talk in the dining room? Did he think of them as ou
"Good night, Father. I'll make sure to review all the documents tonight," Greg bid his father farewell with a nod. "Hmmm..." And with that, Greg stepped out of his father's study, clutching a stack of documents in a brownish map. As he walked down the Von Ritcher’s corridor, Greg couldn’t help but replay his father’s words in his mind: "You can start from tomorrow… I want you to begin with Behav Company which is located in Struggl City. Do you still remember Behav, right?" A crooked smile tugged at the corner of Greg's lips as he remembered it. Well, of course… Of course, Greg remembers Behav. How could he ever forget the place where his father made him out from Von Ritcher, and even accused him of crimes that he didn’t commit? Behav Company, a pharmaceutical subsidiary of Von Ritcher Industries, was where Greg had once worked alongside his stepbrother, Griffin. Griffin held the title of an executive, while Greg was just an assistant, overshadowed and underappreciated. Although G
—The next morning at Von Ritcher’s estate— Greg stood in his room, looking satisfied as he surveyed his packed belongings. "Alright, I think I've got everything. I don’t think I’ve missed anything,” Greg said as he checked once more.Today was the day when Greg would embark on his second mission which was: Taking over Behav Company as the executive.After thoroughly reviewing all the documents and the information about the suspects and Bradley, Greg decided to call one of his subordinates to see if there was someone on his side that was still working at Behav.And thankfully, there was, which made Greg's task of gathering further information about the situation at the company much easier."Hm… But John mentioned that after I left, there were significant changes in the roles of the executives, and the only ones who still had their position is just Bradley and his assistant. John also mentioned that those new executives had no prior affiliation with Von Ritcher's other main subsidiar
TING! "Attention all passengers, the gate for flight T1RE8 to Struggl City is now open. We kindly ask all passengers to proceed to the gate for boarding. Thank you." The announcement echoed through the bustling airport terminal, catching the attention of passengers who were waiting to board their flights. Greg and Dylan, along with the other travelers, promptly made their way toward the front gate in anticipation of their departure to Struggl City. Navigating through the crowd, Greg kept a composed demeanor, his strides purposeful while Dylan, on the other hand, seemed slightly annoyed by the prospect of the upcoming flight. As they settled into their seats, Dylan's frustration with the domestic flight process became palpable. "Man, I thought I was going to die out there. Did you see the lines at the security check? It was like a never-ending nightmare," Dylan lamented, rubbing his temples before looking at his boarding pass. “And seriously? UglyPlane 2000? Why on earth did they c
The UglyPlane 2000 descended with a shudder, its wheels making contact with the runway of an unfamiliar airport. Passengers braced themselves as the aircraft jolted slightly upon landing, their faces a mix of surprise and concern.The cabin was filled with a collective exhale, a mixture of tension and gratitude, as the plane came to a stop.TING![Attention, we have made an emergency landing at an alternate airport due to technical difficulties. Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened until further instructions are provided. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.]Confusion hung in the air as passengers exchanged uncertain glances. Outside, airport personnel moved swiftly, their purposeful actions a stark contrast to the unexpected turn of events. The overhead bins creaked as passengers retrieved their belongings, uncertainty etched on their faces.TING![Attention, we kindly ask that you follow the crew's instructions to disembark the aircraft i
The luxurious BMW sedan smoothly navigated the winding roads that led to the outskirts of the remote town. Greg and Dylan sat in the back seat, the leather upholstery enveloping them in comfort. The innkeeper, Jason, gripped the steering wheel with practiced ease, his eyes focused on the road ahead. The purr of the engine was a calming backdrop to their conversation. "Haha, the signal is pretty bad here, huh? Well, you’re lucky that I need to use my phone too, so you can go to the nearby woods with me," Jason chuckled, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "It might be tough for you city people to be stuck in here! Well, it’s not like you have other options besides my inn; it's the only one that's open, haha!" Dylan grinned in response. "Oh, don't worry about us. I think it's actually good to take a break from our tech addiction once in a while. Besides, staying here isn't so bad. Your inn is pretty cozy." Jason laughed heartily. "Ahh, you’re too kind! I’m glad you’re enjoyin
Greg paused his question, his brow furrowing as he seemed lost in thought. Bradley's voice broke the silence, crackling through the phone's speaker. “Hello, Mr. Von Ritcher? I’m sorry, but can you repeat your question again? I couldn't hear your last question clearly.”Greg snapped back to reality, his mind racing to catch up. "Oh, it’s nothing," he replied, his voice steady now. "I just wanted to ask if it's true that the Bluebell Inn is really the best inn with nature surrounding it. I heard from one of the guests that this inn is renowned for its connection to the woods, even boasting a wide variety of rare plants that have medicinal properties."Bradley's voice, with its characteristic air of authority, resonated from the phone. “Ahh, that's true, Mr. Von Ritcher. The Bluebell Inn is indeed known for its unique connection to nature. They have received awards for their commitment to preserving and utilizing the natural resources around the inn. In fact, there was a plan to visit