Mark's phone rings again, and he hesitates before answering. This time as he picked up the call, he knew the voice just when he said,“Hey, Brother-in-law.”It was his brother-in-law, Edward Feathering, Felicia’s brother, on the line. Mark's heart sank, knowing that Edward took great pleasure in mocking him."Well, well, well. If it isn't the poor little orphan," Edward sneered. "What has it been, Mark? A year since you married our precious Felicia Feathering? And still, you can't even provide for her properly. I’ve heard the news, she’s pregnant."Mark clenched his jaw, biting back a retort. He knew Edward was only trying to provoke him. This was becoming a norm and he couldn’t keep up with it."You're a disgrace to our family, Mark. And if Felicia, my sister is still married to you by tomorrow, she and her baby will be disowned for good. You hear me? Our family will cut them off completely."It had been that when Felicia tried to connect with Mark about her pregnancy and he didn’t r

Mark nodded resolutely, agreeing to his younger brother's proposal. "Alright, Alexander, I'll do it. But we need to be careful. As the last surviving heir of the Blackwood family, it might not be safe for me to come back into the public eye."Butler Thompson nodded in understanding. "Indeed, Master Mark. We'll need to keep your identity secret for the time being. We can't risk alerting anyone who might still be seeking to harm the Blackwood family."Mark turned to Butler Thompson. "Now, tell me about the family's assets. What's left of our fortune?"Butler Thompson's eyes gleamed with pride. "Ah, Master Mark, the Blackwood family's wealth is still vast, despite the betrayal. We have numerous companies, properties, and investments around the world. And, of course, there's the family's legendary treasure, hidden away for safekeeping."Mark's eyes narrowed. "I want you to transfer a few of our larger companies – just a small fraction of our original holdings – and a few million dollars i

In the city's business landscape, a new player had emerged, threatening the Blackwood family's long-standing dominance. NovaTech, a cutting-edge tech company, has been making waves with its innovative solutions and meteoric stock price rise. Its young CEO, the charismatic and brilliant Ethan Ryder, had been a thorn in the Blackwood family's side for years. Despite their efforts, they had never been able to bring NovaTech into their fold.But now, Mark saw an opportunity. He messaged Felicia Feathering, his wife, with a simple instruction: "Set up a meeting with Ethan Ryder and me. This is your first mission."Felicia Feathering’s phone lit up with the message, and she felt a surge of excitement mixed with trepidation. She had heard of Ethan Ryder, the wonder-kind CEO who had disrupted the tech industry with his revolutionary ideas. She knew this meeting would be a challenge, but she was determined to succeed.“Okay, I won’t disappoint you.” She texted back as quickly as she could.

As Ethan's car pulled up to Felicia's home, she thanked him for the ride and the lovely evening. Ethan bid her farewell, his eyes lingering on hers before she stepped out of the car.Just as she was about to enter her house, Mark emerged from the shadows, his face twisted in a scowl."Who is this guy, Felicia? And why did he bring you home?"Felicia's voice remained calm, trying to defuse the situation."Mark, please calm down. His name is Ethan, and we met at an art event. He offered me a ride home, that's all."Mark's anger boiled over. "Why didn't you call me instead? And what's with this 'art event' business? Who are you trying to impress and why did you have to go there?"Felicia's patience wore thin."Mark, we've had an agreement – you were supposed to be there for me, but you’re not always there and now you're blaming me? I'm tired of this charade. If you had a good job, I wouldn't be going through all this to help you gain my family's trust."Mark's face reddened. "Forget abou

Felicia's eyes narrowed, her voice firm as she asked her mother. “What do you know about the Blackwoods, Mother?"“The Blackwoods?” Her mother's expression twisted with spite. "Those people are ruthless and power-hungry. They think they're above everyone else just because of their wealth and influence. I'm happy I was able to deal with them sooner rather than later."“What do you mean mother?” Felicia's brow furrowed. "Why did you betray them? What had they done to our family? I want to know everything. And was Father involved in it too?"“There’s nothing you need to know regarding the Blackwood. They are history and all that is behind us.” Her mother's face contorted in a mixture of anger and pain. "But the only thing I’d say is that The Blackwoods are the reason I lost your father. They ruined our family, and it was for the greater good that I buried them. I did it to protect us, to protect you and your future."“To protect me, right.” Felicia's voice was laced with confusion. "But