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
Joseph walked into the house. As he passed through the door, he unexpectedly caught sight of Norman standing in the hallway, his expression serious."Joseph, come have dinner," Norman said, his voice deep and warm. Despite his rebellious and nonchalant appearance, there was still a hint of concern in Norman's eyes for his older brother.Joseph nodded slightly and followed Norman into the dining room. On the table were simple but comforting dishes. They sat across from each other, the soft light casting a peaceful yet thoughtful atmosphere over the two brothers."After dinner, will you go with me to visit Dad?" Norman continued, his eyes looking straight into Joseph's, filled with hope and expectation.Joseph was briefly surprised but quickly regained his composure. "Alright, I'll go with you."The meal passed in silence. Both brothers focused on their food, but the atmosphere between them was not tense; rather, it was a thoughtful quiet. Joseph could feel an invisible bond slowly form
Hospital waiting room atmosphere was heavy, tension palpable. Angry voices echoed through the room, mixed with the footsteps of doctors and nurses passing by in the hallway. The shareholders, with faces flushed with anger, stared intensely at Norman and Joseph, their disappointment, and frustration clearly visible.“Mr. William is lying there, his life hanging by a thread, and you two just arrive now?” an elderly shareholder named Henderson snarled. “You’re his sons, and yet you’ve left everything on Jayce’s shoulders, even though he’s not William’s biological son!”Another shareholder, Mrs. Rose, chimed in, “We’ve heard about Jayce’s plans for change. He’s taken on all the pressure, while where were you two? When the company faced difficulties, who stepped up to resolve them? It was Jayce, not you two!”Joseph clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with a hint of discontent. But before he could respond, the waiting room door swung open, and Jayce stepped in, his face calm and his poli
When the door finally closed behind the last of the shareholders, the room fell into silence. The tense atmosphere seemed to dissipate with each departing step, leaving only Joseph, Jayce, and Norman in the now still room. The dim light from the overhead lamp cast shadows on their weary faces.Jayce stood in the middle of the room, his eyes drifting towards Joseph. A familiar smile curled on his lips, one that Joseph knew all too well, yet never could fully decipher. That smile seemed friendly, yet something hidden lurked beneath the surface.“Joseph, don’t let them get to you,” Jayce said in a soft tone, as if he were discussing something trivial. “They’re just worried about the company, and sometimes that worry makes them say things they shouldn’t. You understand, don’t you?”Joseph stared straight into Jayce’s eyes, trying to conceal his true feelings. It was clear that Jayce was pretending nothing was wrong, as if everything was under his control. Joseph gave a slight smile, one t