Chapter 13Ethan stared at Christine, his heart with concern. The vibrant girl seemed to have shrunk into herself, the weight of the family issues totally take on her young face. The thought of their mother, Amelia, seeking solace in another man's arms while contemplating a divorce from their father, business tycoon Robert Thorne, was a bitter pill to swallow. "I miss the way things used to be," Christine said. "Just a normal family, having dinner together, laughing..."Ethan reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know, Chris. Me too. But hey, chin up, okay? We'll figure this out, together." His words felt hollow even to him. How could he, a teenager himself, possibly mend the fractured pieces of their family?Not even when he was just a mere guy who just got luck to be the lost heir of the family.A look of pains in Christine's eyes. "You know what, Ethan? I'm tired of tiptoeing around Mom and Dad's feelings. They're the grown-ups, they should be the ones f
Chapter 14The lady swiveled in her seat, acting the part of the queen she already believed herself to be."Triana Zaragoza," Alessia said, a sly smile playing on her lips. "What a delight to see you and your... little brother you call a husband? Speaking of which, I've always wondered why Mateo seems shorter than you. Maybe you should keep him at home more often. People might get the wrong idea."Harsh words, but Alessia never handled defeat gracefully.Furious, Mateo lunged for Alessia, but Ethan Manson was quick to grab his hand."Act like a gentleman," Ethan said calmly, returning to his seat."Seriously?" Mateo spat. "A cab driver is holding me back?"He stormed to the center of the restaurant."Listen up, ladies and gentlemen!" he declared, his voice booming. "I can't believe this! A moron like Ethan thinks he can stop me from going after that flashy, good-for-nothing sister of his? It's unbelievable!""As some of you may know," he continued, puffing out his chest, "the Richards
Chapter 15: Trouble WatersAt Elena's fiancé's house, she cuddled with Mr. Charleston on the plush armchair, their lips locked in a heated kiss. The pressure from her family, particularly her grandfather's contract issues with the Bigtale company, weighed heavily on her mind.The door creaked open, shattering the intimacy. A security guard ushered in a man in dark suit. "Mr. Charleston," the guard stammered, "apologies for the intrusion, but this gentleman insisted it was a matter of utmost importance for you and Miss Elena."Mr. Charleston pulled away. "Can't you see we're occupied? Whatever it is, it can wait.""He said it couldn't," the security guard mumbled before scurrying out of the room.The man, dressed in a sharp suit, cleared his throat. "My name is Howard Samuel, Barrister for Mr. Mike, Elena's grandfather."Elena's eyes widened in surprise. Mr. Charleston whipped his head towards her, suspicion coloring his features. "Did you know this man? Or did you choose to keep qui
Chapter 16: Ethan Manson's expression turned glacial as he listened to his assistant's words. "Tell Mr. Charleston I'm not interested," he said curtly, his eyes never leaving Bartholomew's fidgeting form across the table."Aren't you going to meet with him, sir?" his assistant asked, surprise evident in his voice.Ethan's gaze flicked to the phone. "No, I'm not. Tell him I'm not interested, and that's final."He disconnected the call, his attention returning to Bartholomew. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, your 'ethical business practices'."Bartholomew's face paled, but he forced a smile. "Ah, yes, of course, Mr. Manson. We'll prove ourselves, I assure you."Ethan turned with anger from the call he just received. Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Bartholomew's face. "I'm not sure you understand, Mr. Bartholomew. I don't do business with people who operate in the gray areas. My reputation is built on integrity, and I won't compromise that for anyone."Bartholomew's
Chapter 17:Ethan's eyes narrowed as he listened to Alessia's words. "You want me to stop the wedding because you have a crush on Mr. Charleston?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.Alessia's face reddened, but she stood her ground. "Yes, Ethan. I know it's a lot to ask, but I can't bear the thought of him marrying Elena."Ethan shook his head. "I'm not going to stop the wedding, Alessia. It's not my place to interfere in Mr. Charleston's personal life.""And he's marrying your ex wife. He kicked you out of Elena's life and now wanted to marry her. You should know this. He's disgracing both of us. I have a crush on him and he has your ex wife."He couldn't shake off the feeling that Mr. Charleston was going to marry his ex wife and go away with it. He turned to Alessia. "Fine," Ethan said finally. "I'll attend the wedding, but not to stop it. I'll go to embarrass them."Alessia's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really, Ethan? You'll do that for me?"Ethan nodded. "But I need y
Chapter 18"You should leave now before I call the security on you, Mr. Davidson!" the receptionist said, her voice firm and authoritative.Davidson gritted his teeth, his face twisted in anger. He couldn't believe that the live-in son-in-law, Ethan Manson, was going to become the CEO of the largest company, Manson Corporation. He knew that nobody would believe him if he tried telling the family members that Ethan Manson was actually Ethan Allen, the son of the company's biggest rival."You bastard!" Davidson thought to himself. "You should be lucky we didn't get the contract, or you would be crawling after my car by now."He knew that Mr. Charleston had used him to get what he wanted. He didn't secure the contract; he was just lying to save face because his own proposal got rejected by the Manson's family company.Davidson gently walked out of the office, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge and betrayal. He drove out of the parking lot, his anger simmering just below the surface
Chapter 19: 'Have that son of a bitch discovered about the contract or just another emotional heartbreak as usual,' Mr. Charleston thought as he sat beside her with a calm look.Elena smiled at him and kissed him passionately. "So, handsome, how do you plan on getting the contract with Grandpa Mike?" Elena asked, trying to divert his attention away from her silly cousin.It was just a brutal looking for Elena. Divorcee with Ethan Manson, now getting married to Mr. Charleston, who got embarrassed in the shopping sprees by a mere cab driver, just like they have always thought about Ethan.Mr. Charleston tried to get along with Elena too. He grasped her hand firmly and kissed it. "Why don't you trust your brilliant husband to be?" Mr. Charleston asked."I have a lot of ways to get things done for myself. And this includes having a handsome and influential Grandpa Mike from your family, which is the best," he said."Are you going to spare me those compliments?" Elena asked and got off fr
Chapter 20: Meanwhile, at Jag city's downtown, Ethan Manson and Alessia got home to meet a lawyer sitting down in the living room with Christie."What's going on?" Ethan Manson asked, looking at the lawyer's serious face."Please, have a seat," the lawyer said, gesturing to the couch. "I have some news about your parents."Alessia and Ethan Manson exchanged a worried glance before sitting down. "What is it?" Alessia asked, her voice trembling."Well, as you know, your parents have been going through a rough patch for a while now," the lawyer began. "They've been coming to court for the past six months, trying to work out their differences.""But they can't even stand each other!" Ethan Manson interrupted. "How are they supposed to work things out?""I know it's been tough, but they've been trying," the lawyer said. "However, despite our best efforts, they've decided to go through with the divorce."Alessia gasped, her eyes welling up with tears. "So it's official, then?" she asked, h
CHAPTER 24: Davidson's eyes locked with Alessia's, she tried to keep calm behind her brother Ethan Manson. But Ethan Manson nodded to her. She tried to keep her affection in check. There was still some public murmuring through the door."We sent an official email to the Mike's family a couple of weeks ago," Alessia explained, "when our new CEO decided it wasn't safe for us to continue our contract due to the vendetta between our families. And we felt it was safer to end it."Ethan's uneasy looks revealed his reluctance to disclose this information. Alessia continued, her voice firm, "We didn't renew any contract in favor of Mr. Charleston. In fact, we rejected his offer entirely."The room fell silent, the Mike family's anger and frustration evident. Alessia's words were a harsh reality check. "You shouldn't spend another penny trying to pin us down. Because you will lose. And you will lose even more money than necessary."Alessia added, her tone sarcastic, "Just like my brother said
Chapter 23Mr. Charleston's eyes narrowed as he read the inscription on the cake, his expression darkening. He strode closer to Elena, who was already in tears. Her white wedding gown was stained and creamed, ruined."This is pure wickedness!" a man in the crowd exclaimed. "Who dares challenge the Mike's family?""I know they'll catch the deliverer and make them suffer," another woman said. "Mr. Charleston won't let this go."Mr. Charleston turned to his cousin, Stella. "Get a new gown, quickly!"As Stella turned to leave, the grand event's doors opened, and Ethan Manson, Alessia Manson, and Christie Manson walked in, looking like angels."Oh my goodness, it's the two daughters of the Manson family," someone whispered."What is Ethan doing here? Isn't he Elena's ex-husband?" a teenager asked."Of course, he has no shame. What kind of man attends his ex-wife's wedding?" another comment echoed.The room was filled with murmurs and comments, including, "Today is dramatic enough, from cak
Chapter 22Christie struggled to breathe as she couldn't believe a final-year student like her could be called into the biggest contract of the year. Securing it with Ethan Manson, Alessia Manson, and Carl Lyall would be tough, especially against the mastermind businesswoman in the Z country."Brother, are you seriously going to push this thought away and let us focus on the present? I haven't even gotten my certificate, not to talk of working on a real project," Christie said, her voice filled with submissive respect.Alessia added, "Ethan, think about the emotional distress Mr. Allen went through when we lost the contract last year. We can't let him go through that again, especially after the divorce."Ethan turned to Carl Lyall, "I want the proposal stereotypes and outlines written by you and Alessia. Bring it to our meeting on Monday. I have a big thing to do this weekend. And Alessia knows we can't leave that stone unturned."Carl replied, "Of course, sir. It will be on your tabl
Chapter 21As the sun dipped below the horizon, Christie and Ethan Manson settled into their car for the drive home.Christie's music filled the air, but Ethan's focus remained fixed on the road ahead, his mind preoccupied with the events of the night.He couldn't shake off the feeling of justified anger towards the bar manager who had sought to humiliate him.The silence between them was palpable until Christie removed her earphones and turned to face Ethan."Brother, do you know I've felt like I've lived my entire life miserably because you weren't there?" she asked, her voice laced with emotion."Tonight, we had an amazing showdown, and you proved why an heir will always be the preferred child of every family.""I remember the last time Alessia and I went out, seventeen months ago. A man disrespected us, and all we could do was call Dad, who promised to take care of it, but he never did.""But you, Ethan, you handled it just great."He thought about how Christie's lifestyle might h
Chapter 20: Meanwhile, at Jag city's downtown, Ethan Manson and Alessia got home to meet a lawyer sitting down in the living room with Christie."What's going on?" Ethan Manson asked, looking at the lawyer's serious face."Please, have a seat," the lawyer said, gesturing to the couch. "I have some news about your parents."Alessia and Ethan Manson exchanged a worried glance before sitting down. "What is it?" Alessia asked, her voice trembling."Well, as you know, your parents have been going through a rough patch for a while now," the lawyer began. "They've been coming to court for the past six months, trying to work out their differences.""But they can't even stand each other!" Ethan Manson interrupted. "How are they supposed to work things out?""I know it's been tough, but they've been trying," the lawyer said. "However, despite our best efforts, they've decided to go through with the divorce."Alessia gasped, her eyes welling up with tears. "So it's official, then?" she asked, h
Chapter 19: 'Have that son of a bitch discovered about the contract or just another emotional heartbreak as usual,' Mr. Charleston thought as he sat beside her with a calm look.Elena smiled at him and kissed him passionately. "So, handsome, how do you plan on getting the contract with Grandpa Mike?" Elena asked, trying to divert his attention away from her silly cousin.It was just a brutal looking for Elena. Divorcee with Ethan Manson, now getting married to Mr. Charleston, who got embarrassed in the shopping sprees by a mere cab driver, just like they have always thought about Ethan.Mr. Charleston tried to get along with Elena too. He grasped her hand firmly and kissed it. "Why don't you trust your brilliant husband to be?" Mr. Charleston asked."I have a lot of ways to get things done for myself. And this includes having a handsome and influential Grandpa Mike from your family, which is the best," he said."Are you going to spare me those compliments?" Elena asked and got off fr
Chapter 18"You should leave now before I call the security on you, Mr. Davidson!" the receptionist said, her voice firm and authoritative.Davidson gritted his teeth, his face twisted in anger. He couldn't believe that the live-in son-in-law, Ethan Manson, was going to become the CEO of the largest company, Manson Corporation. He knew that nobody would believe him if he tried telling the family members that Ethan Manson was actually Ethan Allen, the son of the company's biggest rival."You bastard!" Davidson thought to himself. "You should be lucky we didn't get the contract, or you would be crawling after my car by now."He knew that Mr. Charleston had used him to get what he wanted. He didn't secure the contract; he was just lying to save face because his own proposal got rejected by the Manson's family company.Davidson gently walked out of the office, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge and betrayal. He drove out of the parking lot, his anger simmering just below the surface
Chapter 17:Ethan's eyes narrowed as he listened to Alessia's words. "You want me to stop the wedding because you have a crush on Mr. Charleston?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.Alessia's face reddened, but she stood her ground. "Yes, Ethan. I know it's a lot to ask, but I can't bear the thought of him marrying Elena."Ethan shook his head. "I'm not going to stop the wedding, Alessia. It's not my place to interfere in Mr. Charleston's personal life.""And he's marrying your ex wife. He kicked you out of Elena's life and now wanted to marry her. You should know this. He's disgracing both of us. I have a crush on him and he has your ex wife."He couldn't shake off the feeling that Mr. Charleston was going to marry his ex wife and go away with it. He turned to Alessia. "Fine," Ethan said finally. "I'll attend the wedding, but not to stop it. I'll go to embarrass them."Alessia's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really, Ethan? You'll do that for me?"Ethan nodded. "But I need y
Chapter 16: Ethan Manson's expression turned glacial as he listened to his assistant's words. "Tell Mr. Charleston I'm not interested," he said curtly, his eyes never leaving Bartholomew's fidgeting form across the table."Aren't you going to meet with him, sir?" his assistant asked, surprise evident in his voice.Ethan's gaze flicked to the phone. "No, I'm not. Tell him I'm not interested, and that's final."He disconnected the call, his attention returning to Bartholomew. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, your 'ethical business practices'."Bartholomew's face paled, but he forced a smile. "Ah, yes, of course, Mr. Manson. We'll prove ourselves, I assure you."Ethan turned with anger from the call he just received. Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Bartholomew's face. "I'm not sure you understand, Mr. Bartholomew. I don't do business with people who operate in the gray areas. My reputation is built on integrity, and I won't compromise that for anyone."Bartholomew's