Anthony's mother, Mrs. Maria, bustled around the kitchen, preparing a spread of Anthony's favorite foods and snacks. She hummed to herself as she set out plates and glasses, her eyes lighting up with joy every time he took a bite."Are you enjoying it, my love?" she asked, beaming at him.Anthony nodded, his mouth full of food. He had barely spoken since he had returned home, still reeling from the trauma of his captivity.Once he had finished eating, his parents gestured for him to sit opposite them at the dining table. His father, Mr. William, cleared his throat."Son, we need to talk about what happened to you," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "You have bruises on your face, and you were missing for weeks. We need to know what happened."Anthony hesitated, his mind flashing back to the horrors he had endured. But he knew that he needed to tell them the truth."I was kidnapped," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was held captive by someone who wanted to hurt me."
Roland woke up early that morning, feeling both excited and nervous. Today was the day he had been waiting for his entire life – he was finally going to take over as CEO of the Lafayette Group, the massive conglomerate that his father had built from scratch.As he got out of bed, his maid Seraphina was already waiting for him, ready to help him get dressed. She had been with him since he was a child, and he trusted her completely. She picked out a sleek black suit for him, with a crisp white shirt and a red tie to match the company colors.Roland took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror. He was ready. He walked down the stairs to find his father, Chairman Lafayette, waiting for him alongside the Butler."Good morning, son," his father said, smiling warmly. "Are you ready for your big day?"Roland nodded, feeling a surge of pride and responsibility. "I'm ready, Dad."They walked out to the waiting limousine, where the chauffeur opened the door for them. Roland and his f
The family meeting was held in the Lafayette family mansion, a sprawling estate on the outskirts of the city. Roland arrived early, feeling a sense of apprehension as he walked up the long driveway lined with oak trees.When he entered the house, he found his father and his newly-discovered half-brother Alex sitting in the living room, deep in conversation."Roland, good to see you," Chairman Lafayette said, standing up to greet him. "I'm sorry about all of this. I had no idea that Alex existed."Roland nodded, feeling a mix of sympathy and anger towards his father. How could he have kept such a huge secret from his own family for all these years?Alex stood up, his eyes flashing with a mix of defiance and desperation. "I want my share of the company, Lafayette. I want what's rightfully mine."Chairman Lafayette sighed heavily. "I understand that, Alex. And I'm willing to work with you to come to a fair settlement. But we need to do this in a way that's fair to everyone involved."Th
Days had passed, and Roland had been running the Lafayette Group exceptionally well. His father and the old Butler were proud of him, and Roland felt a sense of accomplishment. However, during the weekend, when he normally didn't go to work, he decided to rest at home all day in his room. The scene of what happened last in the conference room flashed in his mind. He had a half-brother, Alex Lafayette. Roland was curious to know if Alex was the son of one of his father's mistresses.As he sat in his room, his maid, Seraphina, came inside with a tray of breakfast. She served him, and Roland told her not to leave. He started acting all intimate with her and told her to eat with him.Seraphina saw that he was worried about something but just couldn't dare to ask. "Is everything all right, Mr. Roland?" she asked.Roland let out a deep sigh before responding. "No, Seraphina, everything is not all right," he said, his voice laced with concern."What's wrong, young master?" Seraphina asked,
Roland arrived at his father's house just as the sun was setting. His heart was pounding in his chest as he stepped out of his car and approached the front door. He knew that this conversation could change everything, and he was both excited and anxious to finally get some answers.As he entered the house, he was greeted by his father and the old Butler, who led him to the sitting room. The room was dimly lit, with only a few candles flickering on the mantelpiece. Roland felt a sense of unease wash over him as he took a seat on the couch."Roland, my boy," his father said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I have something important to tell you."Roland's heart was pounding in his chest as he waited for his father to speak."I've been keeping a secret from you," his father continued. "A secret that I've been carrying for many years."Roland's eyes widened in surprise. He knew that this was it. This was the moment he had been waiting for."What is it, father?" he asked, his voice barely
"My name is Roland Lafayette," Roland said over the phone. "I'm your half-brother."Alex snorted. "You've got to be kidding me," he said. "I don't have any half-brothers."Roland sighed. He'd expected this kind of reaction. After all, he'd only recently discovered that he had a half-brother, and he knew that Alex had no idea he existed. "I know it's a shock," Roland said. "But it's true.""Look, I don't have time for this," Alex said dismissively. "I'm a busy man, and I don't have any interest in meeting some long-lost relative."Roland felt a pang of hurt. He'd hoped that Alex would be more receptive to the idea of a new family member. But he wasn't about to give up that easily. "I understand that you're busy," Roland said. "But I think it would be worth your time to get to know me. We have a lot in common, and I think we could be great friends."Alex laughed bitterly. "Friends?" he said. "You don't even know me. And frankly, I don't want to know you. I have no interest in getting
Roland wandered through the massive garden, surrounded by towering trees, blooming flowers, and lush greenery. The scent of fresh flowers and the sound of birds chirping in the distance filled the air as he strolled through the winding paths. The garden was so big that it felt like a whole world on its own, with hidden corners and secret spots to explore.As he walked, Roland couldn't help but think about his half-brother; Alex. He had always felt a strange connection to Alex, even though they had never met. They had the same blood, the same father, but they were worlds apart. Alex had grown up in luxury, while Roland had struggled to make ends meet.Lost in thought, Roland didn't notice the arrival of Butler Lucas until he spoke up."Good afternoon, sir. I hope you're enjoying the garden," said Butler Lucas, his voice soft and polite.Roland turned to face the butler, surprised to see him there. "Yes, I am. It's beautiful," he replied.Butler Lucas nodded. "It's one of the bigges
Seraphina sighed in relief as she finished cleaning up the mess she made on the floor. She picked up the tray and walked back to Roland's room, feeling nervous and guilty. She knocked on the door and waited for his response."Come in," Roland's voice came from inside the room.Seraphina opened the door and walked in. Roland was sitting on his bed, reading a book. He looked up as she entered."Seraphina, what's wrong?" Roland asked, sensing her unease."I'm sorry for spilling the food on your shirt, young master. I didn't mean to," Seraphina said, bowing her head."It's alright, Seraphina. I forgive you," Roland said with a smile.Seraphina looked up at him, surprised by his forgiveness. "Thank you, young master. I'm glad you're not angry with me."Roland got up from his bed and walked towards her. "Actually, there is something you can do for me," he said, looking into her eyes.Seraphina felt her heart race as she looked into his mesmerizing gaze. "What is it, young master?" she aske