That night, the whole family had gathered for dinner, as was now a well-established tradition. Curtis always insisted that these kinds of customs should never be lost. Despite the fact that the Stanton siblings and Beth hated Curtis, he always found a way to keep them together.The table had been masterfully decorated, ready to host a true feast. Exquisite dishes and unique delicacies prepared by the country's best chefs, whom Curtis had brought to work at the mansion.Carson, Cambell, Amber, Kim, Beth, Curtis, and Ander were already at the table, waiting for the moment to start savoring the excellent food.In front of them was a true culinary masterpiece, yet it didn't seem to matter to them, especially to Ander. Ander only looked at his phone screen, waiting for the time to go to work with Charles Ballmer.Suddenly, Curtis stood up with a glass of champagne in his right hand and made it ring by striking it with a fork.The sharp sound immediately caught the attention of everyone pre
"What the hell did you just say?" Carson asked, utterly bewildered.However, no one was as shaken as Amber. She felt her world had suffered a massive earthquake that shook everything."Just as you heard. Agatha and I are getting married. That way she will be entitled to fifty percent of my fortune," Curtis explained."I can't believe it," Ander said, astonished.Curtis took Agatha's hand and confidently led her to the long table."Agatha will marry me, thus regaining the Stanton surname, and as my wife, she will have every right to sit at the table like any of you," Curtis said and then kissed Agatha's hand.Agatha remained dismayed, her gaze easily drifting. It was not easy being rejected by the people she considered special.Curtis took her by the waist and smiled happily while Kim and Amber looked at him with disdain."That was my big reason to celebrate... Where's the toast?" Curtis asked mockingly, knowing everyone was uncomfortable with the union.Everyone was forced to raise th
"Annie? What the hell are you doing here?" Ander asked, completely alarmed."Let those women go right now, or I will call the police," Annie threatened, shouting loudly."I’ll fill you with lead first," Charles Ballmer threatened as he and his escorts aimed at her, ready to shoot.Annie's warning caused a great reaction among the women locked inside the container. They began to scream and cry for help desperately, making more noise than usual."Shut up!" Charles shouted, pointing inside the container.The women inside the container had already seen the kind of heartless animal Charles Ballmer was. Whenever they captured a new batch, he made sure to execute a couple in front of the others. That way, none of them would get the crazy idea to escape."Don't shoot, please. Don't shoot," Ander pleaded, placing himself in front of Annie to protect her."Why did you bring that meddler here?" Charles asked, losing control."I didn't, I didn't... She must have followed me," Ander explained desp
The limousine stopped in front of Annie's house, and she stepped out slowly with her head down and a sad expression. She hugged herself as if she were suffering from extreme cold.The house lights turned on, and her father quickly came out to see what was happening. It was unusual for his daughter to be brought home by such an elegant car."Annie!" her father shouted as he rushed out of the house."Annie, really. It’s very important that you stay quiet. You can’t tell anyone about what you saw tonight," Ander warned once more.Ander whispered softly through the window to avoid being overheard by Annie's father. He knew that man would confront him again once he got close to the limousine."You again? What are you doing here? I thought I told you not to see my daughter again," Annie's father shouted angrily."Dad, please. Stop," Annie said, unable to hold back her tears in front of her father.This only agitated her father further, prompting him to continue confronting Ander."What the
A direct shot to Annie's father's forehead instantly took his life while she looked utterly terrified, screaming with all her might until her throat was painfully torn. One of Charles's guards held her tightly, forcing her to watch. She had to witness what she had caused by not keeping her mouth shut.Her mother had already met the same fate a minute earlier, and now both were just corpses beginning to decompose in their yard. Charles Ballmer had killed them both with his own hands while Annie watched.The screams and gunshots were heard up to a kilometer away, yet no one dared to come to Annie's defense. No one was stupid enough to confront the most feared and respected mobster in the country. That would have been true suicide, and Annie was learning it firsthand."Alright. We're done here," said Charles Ballmer as he cleaned his gun."What should we do with the girl, sir?" asked one of the guards."She will have a completely different fate from her parents," Charles replied without
Some weeks had passed since that day, and one morning, the day dawned quite cool with a radiant sun. It was the perfect morning to go for a walk. The birds were singing, and the flowers were opening their petals magnificently.Curtis was in his room getting ready to go to the company building to take care of some pending matters.He was buttoning the cuffs of his expensive and elegant suit. The days when he dressed like a beggar and everyone mocked his appearance were long gone. Now he was a recognized and respected magnate among the elite.Agatha bid him farewell with a huge and passionate kiss before leaving the room. She looked very happy and radiant. Somehow, Curtis had managed to bring back her shine."Do you have to leave so soon?" Agatha asked, hanging from the neck of her future husband."I'm really running late," Curtis said, looking at the time on the diamond watch on his wrist."What a shame. I wanted a little action in the jacuzzi," Agatha said playfully while running her
"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
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