The door to Veronika's room suddenly sounded."Daughter, it's me... Can I come in?""Of course, Dad, come in."Vladimir Novikov entered his daughter's room, and it was clear that his steps weighed like lead.He sighed deeply, as if gathering courage, and after sitting on his daughter's bed, he said:"Daughter... I have news to tell you.""Is something wrong, Dad?"Mr. Novikov remained silent, expressionless, with a cold and empty look directed at his daughter."You are going to marry Evangeline," he revealed bluntly."You're joking, Dad," Veronika said while laughing.Veronika couldn't believe it, but she knew her dad was never one to make jokes."How am I supposed to marry Araña? She's a woman just like me; that's absurd. I'm not a lesbian," she shouted."You should have thought about that before kissing her."Vladimir Novikov didn't listen to his daughter's tantrums. He had spoken, and it was a done deal."Dad!" she shouted.But her father turned away and continued walking."I'd rat
Curtis's life had literally taken a 360-degree turn. The car he was traveling in with his escort had overturned and tumbled a thousand times until it was completely destroyed.He had been unconscious for a few minutes, but it felt like he had lived an entire lifetime in those moments.He vividly recalled all the abuse and mistreatment he had endured in the Ballmer mansion when he was a mere aspiring son-in-law. He especially remembered the day that marked him forever within that luxurious estate.It was a day when Charles Ballmer decided to play a prank on him in the middle of the street."Son-in-law.""Mr. Ballmer.""Thank God you're here. You're just the person I needed.""Tell me, what do you need me for?""I'm such a fool; I just locked my keys inside the limo.""Why not just call one of your drivers to come get you?""That's not the attitude I expect from a son-in-law. I knew you didn't have what it takes to be part of the family.""Alright, fine... You win. What do I need to do?
Curtis's hands were throbbing with pain after cleaning the entire mansion with a simple mop, trimming all the bushes, and cleaning the gigantic pools. He just wished for a good rest in the tiny room they had given him to sleep while working for the Stanton family.Curtis could barely rest his head against the pillow when he heard his fake name being shouted in the distance."Norton!"He couldn't believe it. It was eight in the evening; what could they want from him at this hour?Curtis walked to the main hall, where he encountered the three Stanton siblings. Cambell, whom Curtis had already had the misfortune of meeting.There was also Carson, the older brother and the man currently representing the family's business due to Mr. Stanton's poor health.Lastly, there was Agatha, the middle sister and the only daughter of Mr. Stanton. They were all spoiled and hateful children, all equally terrible people, all hating the poor with the same intensity."How can I serve you?" Curtis asked, a
The next day, Curtis woke up a bit early to fulfill his duties from the first hour. However, he needed a good shower before being ready—a refreshing cold bath to feel as fresh as a lettuce.Heading towards one of the luxurious bathrooms in the mansion, Curtis was intercepted by Carson before reaching the shower."Where the hell do you think you're going?" Carson sneered, noticing Curtis carrying an old cloth on his shoulder and a used soap bar in his hands—the typical image of the poor man Carson despised."I'm going to one of the bathrooms... I need to shower," Curtis said with a trembling voice."Those bathrooms are only for important people," exclaimed Carson."Sir, but I...""But nothing, Norton. Don't get confused. Just because you got lucky last night, and my father defended you... that doesn't make you part of the family.""Then where can I shower?""I suppose there's a shower in the gardener's room.""With all due respect, Mr. Carson, but in that place, there's barely a bed to
Carson arrived the next day after a night of partying and drinks with friends. He had spent a lot of money at one of the wildest parties of the year. He had a slight hangover, and every loud sound bothered him that morning. Nevertheless, he decided to go to the mansion to check on his father. "Dad... still alive?" Carson jokingly asked as he opened the door to the room. "Come in, my son," Joseph said from the other side. Carson was surprised when he saw Joseph's room completely clean. "Did Norton do this?" Carson asked, amazed. "Yes, he's a very good lad." "Norton is trash, Dad... I just hope he also cleaned my room." "I don't want you to mistreat Norton." "Are you going to keep defending him, Dad?" "He's just the gardener. He shouldn't have to do mansion chores." "And who will do them then? ... You? ..." Carson couldn't hold back his mocking laughter and burst into a couple of laughs in front of his elderly father. "I don't have the strength to argue with you," Joseph sai
A couple of days had passed since Joseph appointed Curtis as his new personal assistant.A noticeable change occurred in both of their lives. Joseph had someone to attend to him and provide the support he needed, while Curtis had stopped receiving as many humiliations from the Stanton brothers. Although occasionally they mocked him and played a few pranks.The annoyance of Carson, Cambell, and Agata was evident. They were now forced to handle their own household tasks. Curtis was no longer there to clean up their mess and fix the chaos in their rooms.There was also a change in Joseph. He appeared much more active and smiling. There was no doubt that Curtis' company was positively influencing him.Curtis had earned even more disdain from the Stanton brothers than he had before.Joseph was so excited about his recovery that he decided to host a dinner to celebrate his improved health. Nothing better than a feast with his 'beloved' children to mark this significant moment.Mr. Stanton h
"I refuse to stand here with my arms crossed while you spout such nonsense, Dad," shouted Carson, attempting to be authoritative."Much less me," added Cambell."Nor I!" concluded Ágata.The three Stanton siblings stood up from their chairs and were now standing, staring firmly at their father."You don't have to do this, Mr. Joseph. Thank you very much, really," Curtis insisted, trying to avoid a conflict between a father and his children."Of course, you don't have to do this!" shouted Ágata, filled with anger."Dad's money can only be for us and by us," asserted Cambell.While all this was happening, Joseph Stanton remained silent, observing his children's behavior."You're just a freeloader who has come to this mansion to take advantage of our father's old age," accused Carson."Yes!" said Ágata."Our father is senile; he doesn't know what he's saying."Insults against Curtis were thrown around. It was a full-blown attack against the poor guy who wasn't even at fault for being in
Some days had passed, and Joseph's health deteriorated again. The doctor prescribed spending at least a month on a paradisiacal island, away from the stress of his family.While Joseph enjoyed the sun on a beautiful Caribbean beach, Curtis was left at the mercy of the Stanton brothers and their deep hatred towards him.One day, Curtis was washing some of his clothes in the same fountain he used for bathing."Wash this garment too," Carson ordered, throwing one of his underwear in Curtis's face."Carson, please don't throw that at my face.""If not, what?" he asked threateningly, "Daddy isn't here to protect you.""Exactly... Joseph isn't here to protect anyone," Curtis said.His blood boiled with fury, and he clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost cut into the flesh of his hands. His body trembled with rage, and the desire to beat Carson increased a thousandfold."What? Are you tired already? Can't take it anymore? Want to hit me? Go ahead! Hit me with all your strength."
Campbell watched with concern the news of his mother's arrest on his cell phone as he prepared for the flight where he would escape with Dany.Dany noticed Campbell's demeanor and immediately took his hand to comfort him."We can't look back," Dany said, "I know just the thing to cheer you up."Dany went to the airplane minibar and grabbed a bottle of champagne, perfectly chilled. Without hesitation, she uncorked it in front of Campbell, letting the bubbly foam cascade everywhere, soaking the red carpet beneath their feet.It was all laughter, hugs, and kisses until a voice amplified by a megaphone wiped the smiles off their faces instantly."Campbell Stanton, step out of the plane with your hands on your head," the police chief's voice echoed through the megaphone.Campbell and Dany peered out the window to see an entire army of international special police agents on the runway, aiming their firearms directly at the plane.Curtis returned to the Stanton mansion safe and sound, as he
Charles Ballmer laughed maniacally. He couldn't believe that he had finally ended the life of the wretched Curtis Stanton. He had always known he would kill him since the day Curtis had used him as a stool alongside Araña years ago.His escorts also laughed, pleased to see that their boss had finally gotten what he wanted. However, things changed in an instant. A shot came out of nowhere, hitting one of the escorts directly in the forehead, killing him immediately. Another shot hit the leg of another escort, and that's when everyone finally reacted, starting to shoot in all directions without knowing where the shots were coming from.Charles Ballmer crouched down and quickly sought shelter from the gunfire while continuing to give orders."Shoot! Shoot at anything that moves!" Charles shouted, hiding behind one of the containers.Curtis was also crawling on the floor, completely unharmed by the shots Charles Ballmer had just fired at him.Immediately, the dock was filled with internat
The limousine slowly came to a stop in front of the Stanton mansion, and Agatha looked through the window while accompanied by Angeline."Welcome to your true home," said Agatha as the gigantic gate opened to allow the limousine to pass.Both were personally greeted by Curtis.Agatha quickly got out of the limousine and ran to hug Curtis."What the hell are you doing here? I told you to stay on the island and take care of Angeline," Curtis reprimanded."He came back, Curtis. He managed to find me," Agatha confessed, terrified, with a look of fear in her eyes."That's impossible!" Curtis exclaimed."I know, I know. But he did it. He reached the hotel and chased me up the stairs. He said Angeline was his daughter and that he had the right to know her," Agatha said, unable to stop crying."You are safe now," Curtis comforted her with a kiss on the forehead."Daddy!" Angeline exclaimed, hugging her father's leg while Alfred carried Agatha's suitcases."Hello, my love," Curtis greeted with
“Curtis?” said Beth, peeking onto the balcony, “I finally found you. I've been searching all over the mansion for you.”“I was reminiscing about the view from this magnificent balcony,” Curtis replied.“Remembering old times, I imagine.”“Exactly in this spot, I stood the day Baxter went crazy and killed Lucius for no reason,” commented Curtis, fully aware that Beth was the culprit. However, he never pointed the finger at her directly.Beth immediately understood the accusatory remark and simply smiled to keep up the pretense.“It’s a real shame that such a beautiful place brings such bitter memories to your mind,” Beth responded.“No, not at all. It’s the perfect occasion to remember the inexplicable things that only happen in the Stanton mansion. Ander died and no one knows a thing about what happened. It’s exactly the same with Lucius and Baxter,” Curtis remarked sarcastically. “These elegant walls hold mysteries that the world has no clue about.”Beth only responded with a feigned
Agatha couldn't believe it. That man had found her and surely wanted to harm her and her young daughter. She could expect anything from Prince Rick at that moment. It was impossible to trust someone who had abandoned her and stolen all her money."Let's go, Angeline. We need to go back," Agatha said, terrified, taking her young daughter by the arm to return to the elevator."Agatha!" Prince Rick shouted, rising from his seat when he saw that Agatha wanted to flee from him.However, the elevator had already closed again and was on the upper floors. No matter how many times Agatha pressed the buttons, the door simply wouldn't open.Agatha watched with concern as Rick quickly crossed the entire lobby to reach where she was."Let's go through the stairs," Agatha said, picking up her young daughter and carrying her to move much faster.She was forced to walk a bit further to her right to enter the door leading to the hotel's stairs. She tried to move as quickly as possible without drawing
The next day, all the media outlets were abuzz with a story that went global in a matter of minutes.Ander Stanton, the youngest member of the powerful Stanton family, had been found completely charred inside the remains of a limousine that had been intentionally set on fire. He was found alongside a girl, also charred, who, for some strange reason, had a chain tied around her neck.This news plunged the Stanton family into mourning and called into question the performance of the city's police authorities. The citizens were alarmed. If something like this could happen to someone as important as Ander Stanton, what could an ordinary citizen expect?"That's common in this city. People are murdered like that every day. It's just that now it's someone rich, and that makes the difference," said an old woman being interviewed on television while Charles Ballmer and Beth Aldress watched.They were both completely naked and sitting in a hot tub. Charles was enjoying a cigar while Beth just re
Ander lost all the harshness in his voice and his bravery vanished as if by magic. Now he was just a scared and cowardly child, trembling like jelly in front of what seemed like a ghost from the past."Annie..." Ander sobbed, a mix of lament and high-pitched cry.He began to sweat profusely, and tears streamed down his face like waterfalls as he remained in disbelief. He couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing.Annie was there, staring at him face to face. However, she seemed unresponsive. Somehow, Charles Ballmer had managed to destroy her feelings and emotions. Everything that Annie once was had been erased from her mind forever. Now she was just a kind of pet that only served to wag her tail when her master, Charles Ballmer, came home tired from work."What did that bastard do to you?" Ander said, crying like a child.He took the chain that bound Annie's neck and noticed it was made of very resistant material. Perhaps that was why she had never managed to escape. Or maybe Charle
Ander woke up again in the middle of the night due to a horrible recurring nightmare that he had over and over again. Annie's face and voice tormented him during his dreams, preventing him from resting. Since it happened, Ander hadn't been able to sleep peacefully on any of the following nights."You're a damn coward," he told himself to gather the courage to go on with his life.His idea was to convince himself that he had chosen well by showing loyalty to Charles Ballmer. After all, Annie had brought that horrible end upon herself. However, the nightmares and the bitter taste in his mouth didn't go away with anything. Maybe it was something he had to learn to live with.The next day, everything returned to normal at the Stanton mansion. Beth walked proudly around the mansion, not missing any opportunity to rub her triumph in Curtis' face.However, Curtis was locked in his room with no desire to come out. He just stared out the window while everyone else enjoyed the pool. Maybe they
"Congratulations," said Campbell innocently."I think you should be grateful he didn’t get your wife pregnant, idiot," Beth snapped angrily, while Campbell felt ashamed."My personal life with my wife is none of the business of anyone present," Curtis commented immediately, although, to be honest, he was still in shock."You’re right. We don’t care about the child of a bastard and a traitor," Beth said venomously, not caring that she was talking about her own grandchild."He will own everything you see," Curtis defended himself with a sharp comment."That reminds me," Beth stood up and began walking around the office, "the new company directors have been talking, and...""And what?" Curtis questioned."And we’re thinking of kicking you out of the business," Carson immediately attacked.Curtis smiled, letting out a bit of air in a half-laugh."That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard," Curtis said, smiling."We want to remove you from your duties as president of Stanton Enterpr