Richard’s footsteps were steady, but his mind was racing as he pushed open the door of the reception room. As the door swung wide, the silence in the room seemed to deepen, and all eyes were on him.When the others saw Richard leave without a word, they were left stunned. Their eyes widened in disbelief, confusion hanging thick in the air. How could he walk away from such a life-changing opportunity? To refuse an offer from someone as powerful as Felicia Stone—it was unthinkable to them.Parker stood motionless for a moment, his face darkening with anger. His chest heaved as he took in a deep breath, trying to contain his frustration. This was the first time in his life that someone had so blatantly ignored him. His usual confidence seemed to slip as he processed Richard’s audacity."Good. Excellent!" Parker's voice was laced with venom, and the words were barely audible, but the malice was clear. A sinister grin spread across his face, but it did nothing to mask the fury beneath the s

“Grandpa, we’re here with Richard, Amelia’s fiancé!”Before Freya could speak, Maya's voice cut through the tension, her words coming out a little too quickly, almost as if to preempt any awkward silence that might follow.“Richard?”The sound of Andrew’s voice made the room go still. Richard, who had been standing beside Amelia, could feel his pulse quicken. The moment Andrew looked up, narrowing his eyes slightly and scrutinizing Richard, all the nerves he had been trying to suppress suddenly flared up. He knew the history—Andrew had never been a fan of his relationship with Amelia, had always seen him as beneath their family’s standards. This could either go well or terribly wrong.Both Richard and Amelia exchanged a glance, their nerves palpable. They braced themselves for what might be an unpleasant greeting, an uncomfortable moment in front of the entire family. After all, they had already experienced enough of Andrew’s disapproval in the past. If he decided to air his feelings n

Sebastian’s stare lingered on Richard with an intensity that bordered on venomous. Behind his eyes burned the unmistakable fury of a man watching his son’s future crumble, all because of one decision—one man—who wasn’t even officially part of their family yet.To be in proximity to someone like Jr. Parker... that was a door most people would never even see, let alone get a chance to knock on. And now, thanks to Richard, Sebastian could only watch as it slammed shut in his son’s face.Across the room, Smith’s mother trembled—not from grief, but from the kind of fury that clenches itself into silence when the patriarch is still present. Her hands, balled into tight fists on her lap, were pale from the pressure. Her eyes stayed fixed on Andrew, begging without words for him to do something.“Grandpa!” Smith’s voice cracked with anger, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Do you have any idea what this means? It took everything I had to make contact with Jr. Parker. Now Richard comes alon

“Young man, you shouldn’t be so sure. Some things just aren’t up to you!”After hearing Richard's words, a trace of anger flashed across Andrew's face as he said to Richard coldly. His voice was sharp, carrying a chill beneath its measured calm—a warning dressed in civility.“My legs belong to me. If I want to leave, who can stop me?”Richard looked at Andrew expressionlessly. There was no fear in his eyes, only a steady defiance, quiet but unshakable. Although he had no way to expose his identity, Richard's personality was changing little by little.If it were Richard a month ago, he might not have said such words.But now, Richard was clear about something.That was, the more polite you were to some people, the more they would push their luck.Andrew was such a person. Since Andrew looked down on him, Richard would definitely choose to fight back head on.His heart no longer trembled beneath disapproval. He had begun to understand that some battles were not won by compromise—but by s

“Rubin?”Richard’s brows lifted slightly, caught off guard by the name. He turned to Amelia, a crease forming between his eyes. “Do you know him?”“Of course I do. Rubin is Grandpa Gabriel’s eldest grandson,” Amelia replied coolly, her voice steady but distant.A flicker of something unreadable passed through her eyes—quick, but unmistakable.Richard caught it. “What’s wrong?” he asked, puzzled.“It’s… it’s nothing,” she said, shaking her head lightly, though her eyes lingered in the direction Rubin had gone.Before Richard could press further, Angela and Vivian approached, lowering their voices.“Rubin isn’t just anyone,” Vivian murmured.Richard raised an eyebrow. “How so?”Angela glanced around before replying. “The Andrews family is prosperous, sure. But nearly everyone on Grandpa Andrew’s side—and even his brothers’—are in business. Very few of them pursue anything outside of that. And those who try to enter politics or the military usually don’t go far.”Vivian nodded. “But Rubin