Charlotte sat on the sofa in the Smith family’s living room, staring intently at her mother, Mrs. Smith. Her gaze was filled with suspicion. Charlotte couldn't comprehend how her mother knew so much about Joseph. She decided she needed to press for clear answers to shed light on everything.Charlotte felt as if she was being pushed into an inescapable maze. She had heard from Jayce that Joseph was his younger brother. But her surprise grew when Mrs. Smith, whom she had always thought only knew about mundane daily matters, seemed very aware of Joseph’s wealth. Her skepticism grew larger by the moment.How could her mother know these things? Joseph wasn’t someone who appeared in the news or was famous enough for everyone to know. She recalled conversations with her mother, and just a day ago, her mother had criticized Joseph, saying he had no prospects and was poor. Why had her attitude changed so drastically now? A myriad of questions arose within Charlotte: Where had her mother heard
Mrs. Smith, her face a little haggard and her eyes darting, looked around the room as if afraid someone was watching. Her evasive gestures did not escape Charlotte. She kept rubbing her hands together, as if to reassure herself as she spoke."You know, Charlotte," Mrs. Smith began, her voice trembling slightly. "It doesn't matter where I know, as long as this information is true."Charlotte stood there, staring at Mrs. Smith with cold eyes. She felt tired, both physically and mentally. These conversations had happened too many times and she did not want to dwell on them. She knew that in Mrs. Smith's world, truth and falsehood were vague concepts, often twisted to serve personal ends."Mother," Charlotte said, her voice low and clear, "I understand what you mean, but I want to go to my room now. I need to rest."Charlotte turned to leave, but Mrs. Smith immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her back. Her eyes were fixed on Charlotte, her expression urgent and determined."Charlotte,
---Dinner at the William household was always a grand event. The long dining table, covered in pristine white cloth, was adorned with exquisite dishes. The crystal chandelier cast a sparkling glow, reflecting off each smile and knowing glance. Everyone was present, from Mr. William to Jayce and Joseph, along with a few relatives and close friends.Jayce raised his glass of wine. "Cheers to Joseph. You've been doing a great job lately. The projects are progressing smoothly, and the clients are very satisfied."Joseph smiled gently and nodded in response. "Thank you, Jayce. It's all thanks to your guidance and the support of the entire team."In Joseph's heart, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Jayce had never genuinely praised him before. The smile on Joseph's lips seemed out of sync with the emotions inside. He sensed an ominous premonition approaching.Jayce set down his wine glass, his eyes gleaming with a plan already in motion. "Father," he began, his voice
Norman was unfazed as he removed his sunglasses, looking coldly at Mr. William. "Dad, do I need to explain myself for coming home? You're always criticizing me. I'm not Jayce, and I don't want to be Jayce."Mr. William grew angrier, his voice almost exploding. "You don't want to be Jayce? So you want to be useless? Do you know how many people would kill for your opportunities? You're wasting your life!"Norman calmly sat down, draping his coat over the chair and picking up the steak plate placed in front of him by a servant. "Dad, I'm living my own life. If you don't like it, don't force me to live your way. I'm not a tool for you to manipulate."Mr. William couldn't bear Norman's defiance. He stood up, grabbed the plate, and threw it at Norman, shouting, "Are you deaf? I'm your father; you must respect me! You only think about yourself!"Norman narrowly dodged the plate, his eyes cold but calm. "Dad, respect has to be earned, not demanded by throwing plates. You always force me to do
But Norman didn't want to hear any more. He screamed, his voice full of rage. "Deserving? He's just a bastard, nothing to be proud of! You all always favor him, but what about me? I'm always overlooked, treated like a useless nobody! Dad and you are both biased, always playing favorites!""Norman, don't be unreasonable. Your brother has worked hard and achieved success. You should learn from him and better yourself instead of shouting and making demands." Mr. William stood up, his face becoming stern and cold.Norman turned to Mr. William, his eyes blazing with anger. "Dad, you're always defending Joseph. What's he got that I don't? He's just a weakling and incompetent! You never acknowledge me, no matter how hard I try."Jayce tried to intervene, his voice calm and patient. "Norman, Joseph has proven his capabilities. This isn't about favoritism. It's about the company and the family."Norman shouted, unable to contain his anger. "I don't care! I want that position! I want to be reco
Norman sat in the corner of the room, his eyes red and his face clearly reflecting guilt and regret. Joseph realized that Norman didn't actually have bad intentions. He simply wanted to help Joseph out of a tight spot, though his approach was somewhat extreme. The deep affection Norman had for Mr. William was undeniable, and the torment etched on his face was proof of that.Jayce, on the other hand, maintained a calmer demeanor. He sat there, his eyes constantly scanning the room, clearly assessing Mr. William's health and calculating his next move. He was always someone who knew how to seize every opportunity, and Joseph understood that Jayce was weighing the pros and cons of the current situation.As they waited outside the hospital room, Joseph couldn't stop thinking about Mr. William's will. Had he already made one, and if so, to whom would he leave the estate? This thought made Joseph furrow his brows in contemplation. If the will had been made, Jayce would certainly try to manip
Joseph turned around, his gaze meeting the friendly eyes of the woman. She had a gentle appearance, with calm but sharp brown eyes, and her hair, streaked with silver and gray, was neatly tied back. Despite her age, she exuded strength and determination. "I’m Miriam," she said, a slight smile appearing on her lips. "I used to be a servant here many years ago. Today, I decided to visit, and I see the dogs still seem to long for human company."Joseph nodded, returning her smile. "I’ve only recently started coming out here to play with them. Work has been stressful lately, so I needed a place to relax."Miriam gently sat down next to Joseph, her eyes intently watching the dogs wagging their tails joyfully. "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone play with them. They’ve grown old, but they’re still loyal and yearn for human presence just as they always did."Joseph looked at the dogs, his eyes scanning the now grassless yard, which was at least still clean. Though the dogs were old
Joseph sat silently, listening intently to Mrs. Miriam's stories, his eyes gleaming with admiration. The memories of Norman and Jayce's childhood came alive through her words, like pages of a book opening to reveal a world full of color. He couldn’t help but feel a deep respect for the bond between the brothers, but deep down, Joseph was scheming. He realized that to win Norman's trust and affection, he needed to recreate those moments, to rebuild the memories that once forged a strong bond between the two brothers.Joseph decided to create similar moments, experiences that would make Norman feel as if he were reliving those old days. He understood that beneath Norman's rebellious and indifferent exterior, there was a longing for his childhood and the people in it. That was why Norman often acted out, deliberately going against Mr. William's wishes. In doing so, Norman hoped to reclaim a part of his lost past, a silent rebellion against the cold and harsh present.From a psychological