Joseph stood up, pocketed his phone, and walked out of the cafe. A sense of emptiness filled him, as if all hope had been extinguished. He knew he had to accept the reality that Charlotte had chosen not to have anything more to do with him. And with that, he had to move on without her.Inside, Joseph's hope of resolving everything amicably with Charlotte faded away. She had decided not to show up, and that meant she didn't want to find a way to resolve their issues. Joseph knew he had no choice but to move forward without her.Time passed, and Joseph's life gradually returned to its regular rhythm, though something incomplete lingered after the missed appointment. But he didn't allow himself to dwell on it too much. There were other things to do, and most importantly, he needed to be ready for Mr. William's return.The day Mr. William was discharged finally arrived. The family gathered at the hospital, the atmosphere tense yet filled with anticipation. Mr. William, still weak but some
Just as he set the phone down, it buzzed with a new message. Joseph opened his phone and saw a message from Amile, a close friend of his."Joseph, be careful. Things are getting more complicated. Stay alert and don't let anything throw you off balance."Joseph sighed, his eyes deep in thought as he looked at the screen.He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out, his gaze more determined than ever. Tonight's party at Mr. William's house was arranged with a rare opulence and grandeur. From the grand hall to the outdoor garden, everything was elaborately decorated, the sparkling lights reflecting through large glass panels creating a glamorous yet calculated atmosphere. Guests began arriving, luxury cars lined up the driveway to the mansion, influential figures in business stepping out with confidence and pride.In his private room, Joseph stood before the mirror, intently looking at his reflection. The perfectly tailored black suit hugged his body, highlighting his elegance and
Joseph responded with a gentle smile, mirroring Coco's nod. Coco entered the main hall, and her presence quickly attracted the attention of everyone around. The guests, familiar with the faces of high society, couldn't help but stop and admire Coco's refined beauty and charm. In her teal dress, she exuded a noble air while still maintaining a youthful and modern look. Immediately, praises were heard from all around.“Joseph and Coco truly make a perfect couple,” an elderly guest whispered to someone nearby. “Look at them, they really are well-matched.”“Indeed, Joseph is so elegant, and Coco is utterly beautiful and graceful. They seem to be made for each other,” another added, their eyes following every step they took.The praise didn’t stop there. The arrival of Amile and Jayce also drew attention. Amile, with her confident and savvy demeanor, easily made a good impression on the guests. And Jayce, with his confident smile and sharp eyes, always knew how to stand out at any party.“
Jayce, continuing to converse and respond to compliments with a polite demeanor, was keenly aware of his own agenda. Each word, each gesture of Jayce was meticulously calculated, hoping to create a perfect image in everyone’s eyes. He knew that success at this event would help solidify his position, and he was ready to do anything to achieve that, even faking smiles and humility.In the opulent yet tense atmosphere, the ongoing compliments and comparisons served as a backdrop for the underlying battle between Joseph and Jayce. Each with their own style and strategy, but both with the same goal: to secure the top position, or at least to protect what they had.Jayce stood in the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with absolute confidence and control. As the superficial conversation dragged on, Jayce decided it was time to stop. With a friendly yet sharp smile, he raised his glass, creating a gentle clink that drew everyone's attention."Ladies and gentlemen, I think w
"Of course, Mr. Watts," Joseph replied, trying to keep his voice calm.Joseph quickly exchanged glances with Amile, a silent signal for her to be alert. If anything unusual happened while he was away, Amile would immediately inform him. Amile, always perceptive, immediately understood Joseph's intent. She was arm in arm with Jayce, raising a glass to toast with those around her. Her eyes quickly swept over Joseph, and with a subtle nod, she tacitly agreed.Joseph looked back at Amile once more before turning to Mr. Watts and leading him out of the banquet hall. He guided Mr. Watts through the expansive hallways of the mansion, towards the quieter and more secluded rear grounds where they could talk."Joseph, do you know how pleased I am to see you and Coco together?" Mr. Watts began as they stepped out into the open space. "I have always hoped that my daughter would find a dependable and ambitious man like you."Joseph offered a slight smile, but his vigilance did not wane. "Thank you
Joseph turned back to look at Mr. Watts, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. “Thank you, Mr. Watts. I will do whatever is necessary to protect what is important. If needed, I will seek your help.”Joseph took a deep breath, trying to stay calm amid the tension. Mr. Watts stood there, his eyes anxiously watching Joseph and Brian, clearly unaware of what was happening. Joseph knew he couldn’t stay any longer—every moment could be decisive.“Mr. Watts,” Joseph said, his voice warm but resolute. “I appreciate the time you’ve taken to talk with me. But now, there is an urgent matter that I need to address immediately.”Mr. Watts furrowed his brow, obviously confused about what was happening, but he maintained a composed demeanor. “Joseph, what’s going on? Can I help in any way?”Joseph smiled faintly, a smile full of gratitude but also tinged with worry. “Mr. Watts, I greatly appreciate your concern. But I must go now. I apologize for not being able to explain more at this moment, but trus
The two continued to hide, watching every move Jayce made. Meanwhile, Jayce stood in the center of the room, his anger and despair becoming increasingly evident in every gesture. The phone in Jayce's hand became useless, which only fueled his resentment further.Jayce's face flushed with anger, his fists clenched tightly. He continuously pressed the call button on his phone, but the message "the number you have dialed cannot be reached" kept ringing out consistently, fueling his fury."Damn it! Why haven’t they shown up yet?!" Jayce roared, his eyes fierce. "Are they planning to stand me up? They promised, so why haven’t I seen a sign of them yet?!"Jayce paced back and forth in his rage, each step heavy as if he wanted to crush everything underfoot. His mind was in turmoil, unable to accept failure at such a critical moment. His perfect plan was on the verge of collapsing, and that made Jayce unable to contain his fury."I can’t wait any longer," Jayce said loudly, as if talking to h
"Alright, that works," Jayce finally agreed, his tone abrupt but unable to completely hide his relief. "But I’ll only be gone for a bit. I don’t want to be away too long."Brian immediately feigned gratitude, thanking profusely as if it was a huge favor Jayce was doing for him. "Thank you so much, Jayce! You really are reliable when needed."Tyler, standing next to Jayce, quickly grasped the situation. He looked at Brian, then turned to Jayce, nodding as if agreeing with the idea of buying wine. “Mr. Jayce, that’s also a good idea. If we’re going out, we might as well handle both matters at once. I’ll take care of the wine for the party, and you can handle your business.”Jayce half wanted to refuse, but seeing Tyler also agreeing with Brian's proposal, he had to accept. “Alright, just a special bottle of red wine that our guests like is enough. You go ahead with your thing, I’ll continue managing everything here.”Jayce said nothing more, just nodded and turned to leave the room with