All Chapters of RISE OF THE SCORNFUL CRYPTO LORD: Chapter 1
- Chapter 7
7 chapters
1. THE DIRT THEY GRIND ME INTO
Liam's POVThe sponge in my hands is soaked as I scrape my skin, and I scrub the Harrington family’s mahogany dining table.Vivian Harrington, Claire's mother yelled at me. “Liam Conrad, you’re slower than a snail! My table deserves better than a nobody like you.”I have almost gotten used to her words, which sting harder than a scorpion. But what choice do I have other than to keep quiet? When the room was full of her relatives as they all burst into laughter.My hands were shaking, but I kept wiping the floor as my dark hair fell over my eyes to hide the anger burning inside.I’m Liam Conrad, their useless son-in-law, and I don’t know why they treat me like dirt. I’m not rich like them, but I’m not poor either. I manage a warehouse, earn a decent paycheck, and have some savings in the bank.My father wasn't some rich folk either and I entered college with a scholarship presented to me by Claire's dad. He saw that potential in me and I never took it for granted. Even when I professed
Last Updated : 2025-09-03
2. THE GALA WHERE THEY SHAMED ME
Liam's POVI fell asleep just thinking about how wicked I'd be till I closed my eyes and fell asleep. When I woke up I realized my guest room was dark. The room has always been and I'm sure things will turn around for good soon. The creaky bed groaned as I sat and my mind wandered off to last night's discovery.Soon enough, I started to think about scenarios in my head on how to make Nathan pay. But how would I hurt Nathan without hurting Claire or her dead father's legacy?Claire knocked and entered, holding a black suit bag. “Liam, wear this tonight,” she said as her green eyes avoided mine. “You can’t go to the gala in your old clothes. They’ll laugh you out of the room.”Does she think I’m too poor to look decent?My face burned, but I did well to keep it in. “I have clothes,” I say, but she shook her head.“Not for this crowd. You will look like you crawled out of that warehouse you work at,” she replied.Is she embarrassed by me?Back then, she’d smile at my cheap shirts, hold m
Last Updated : 2025-09-03
3. THE POWER THEY DON'T SEE
Liam's POVI entered my room and slammed the door immediately. I sat down and placed the book on my lap.With the textbook almost gone, I flipped through the pages as I recalled the pages where I scribbled the phrases in college.Page one had Moon.Page ten had Parent.Page twenty had Frog.All the way to page ninety.I grab the textbook and my phone as I jot them down.Nine phrases are clear, but the tenth, on page ninety, is fuzzy. The book was burnt, but it showed it started with “Advan.”Is it enough? Absolutely not.I open my laptop, hands shaking, and log into my old Bitcoin wallet. I type the phrases up to the ninth.Then the tenth stumps me. “Advan” could be anything.I tried a few words that started with ‘Advan’, but it kept saying an error. I was lost and didn't know what to do. But I kept trying until I became scared.The screen warns: three tries before the account locks.The more my hand wavered on the keyboard, the more I got scared. Then, I tried *advance*.Error.I tri
Last Updated : 2025-09-03
4. A DEAL AND A MISTAKE
Claire's POVI wake up early because of the deal I'm about to sign.Today’s the day I meet the buyer offering $900 million for Harrington Tech. It’s more than the $750 million I wanted, way more than the $600 million Nathan and Mother pushed for.I slip into my best navy dress, smoothing my hair while hoping this deal saves Dad’s legacy.I don't know why, again, Liam’s face flashed in my mind. I could still remember the hurt in his eyes at the gala, the champagne soaking his suit.I bought him that suit to protect him from their laughs, but he thought I was looking down on him. I didn’t mean it that way. I love him, always have, since those coffee shop days when we’d talk for hours. But things changed after we married and my dad died. Mother, Nathan, Christopher, Lila, they hate him, calling him a nobody.I stayed quiet to keep the peace, but it’s pushing him away. I shook my head, grabbed my bag, and headed to the meeting.The café is quiet with the sunlight spilling through big win
Last Updated : 2025-09-03
5. PROBLEM ARISES
Liam's POVI planned it all, down to the last detail.John Gray was me, hiding behind a fake name and a fake face which was my way to test Claire.Would she fall for the rich, charming buyer I pretended to be?My heart ached as I watched her at the restaurant, her hand in Elijah’s, the lawyer I had contacted as their faces were pretty close.I held my breath, praying she’d stay true. When she pulled back, saying, “I can’t do this,” and ran. Immediately, I was relieved.But guilt followed. I tested her love, and she passed, choosing me over a billionaire’s charm. I felt small for doubting her.She crashed into me at the exit, her eyes were wide with fear. “It’s not what you think,” she said, her voice breaking.I wanted to hold her, tell her I was the one behind everything, but I couldn't. The Harringtons still thought I was nothing like a dog to mock. I need to crush them first.“Who is he?” Elijah Fray, my lawyer who was playing my role asked, stepping close.Claire’s face softened a
Last Updated : 2025-09-03
6. A GREATER EVIL
Liam's POVI listened to Claire and I told Elijah to call each shareholder in the company as I leaned back in the leather chair at the head of the conference table as I pressed my fingers against my temples.Elijah had done his job. Within twenty minutes of my call, the remaining shareholders were seated and I could see it in their faces which is a mix of curiosity and unease.Claire stood at the far end as she scanned the room.Vivian, the only other Harrington present, sat quietly to my left, her fingers tapping a nervous rhythm on the table. The absence of the rest of her family was deafening and that will always remind her of how far the Harrington empire had fallen.Claire didn’t waste time. “My father,” she began, “kept Mr. Charles in check for years. He knew how to handle him, how to keep his influence from creeping into our operations. But now, with the company shifting from us the Harrington's to Liam’s singular control—” she glanced at me, “we need to be proactive. We need s
Last Updated : 2025-09-03
7. SOME THINGS JUST DOESN'T WORK
Liam's POVThinking about what to do, I called Elijah.“You know you hired me as a middleman, more like a merger.” He lamented.“I will be paying more than what you earn in a month you know?”“Stop bragging now, what's up?”“Put a call through to Mrs. Vivian Harrington for a private meeting with the family by 8., I said.“Why don't you do that?” He asked.I smiled, “Will just do your job, Elijah?”“Oh damn you. I will.” He disconnected the call.Five minutes later, he called again. “I have delivered your message and she says she will be waiting by 8.”“Thank you and I want you present too. " I said.“Me!? For what!?”“Take notes. You are my personal assistant. I'll be waiting.” I said, disconnecting the call.7:51pm, I knotted my tie in front of the huge mirror at the hotel I was staying at for the time beingSoon enough, I'm outside and took the Uber to their mansion where they had resented me their whole lives.With calculated steps, I entered the mansion and into their dining hall
Last Updated : 2025-09-03