"Ryan is moving up. That’s all that matters.”Benjamin shook his head.“No,” he said softly. “That’s not all that matters.”They stared at him, anger and disbelief mingling in their expressions.“Still jealous,” his mother muttered.“Still slandering,” his father added.Benjamin looked at them one final time.“If you refuse to see it,” he said, “then there’s nothing more to say.”The cold air pressed in around them.And for the first time, that distance that had always been between them felt permanent.His father let out a short, humorless laugh.“There you go again,” he said. “Acting like you’re morally superior. As if you’ve never wanted what your brother has.”Benjamin did not answer immediately.Guests moved past the revolving doors with soft murmurs and rolling suitcases, casting curious glances at the argument unfolding near the entrance.His mother crossed her arms tightly. “Ryan worked for this opportunity. He used his brain. He made connections. That’s how the world works.”“

“Before any decisions are made,” he said, voice low but carrying, “I need clarity.”“We have given you clarity,” the woman snapped impatiently.“No,” the manager replied. “You have given me accusations.”His eyes sharpened.“Who are you?”For a moment, silence lingered between them.Benjamin’s adoptive parents stared at the manager as if he had just uttered the most ridiculous question in the world.The woman let out a short, disbelieving scoff.“Who are we?” she repeated, her tone dripping with incredulity. “You must be joking.”The father gave a dry laugh, shaking his head slowly. “It seems the Golden Front Hotel hires managers who are not well informed.”A faint murmur rose from the small crowd that had gathered at a careful distance. The name of the hotel carried weight in Boston. Scenes like this were rare.The manager did not smile.He did not blink.He simply looked at them.And in that unwavering gaze, the adoptive parents finally understood.He truly did not know who they wer

Benjamin finally spoke.“They would be familiar,” he said evenly.Martha turned toward him.The manager also looked at him, uncertain.Benjamin’s expression did not waver.“Yes,” Martha responded. “They are. But I can't seem to recall.”“Well, those are my adoptive parents.”Then it hit her.“The Lawsons?” Martha asked, confused.“Yes.” Benjamin responded. “The Lawsons.”For a brief moment, silence settled between them.The manager maintained a respectful distance, though tension lingered in his posture.Martha Matthews slowly exhaled.Her sharp eyes shifted toward the direction the couple had been escorted. She turned back to Benjamin, studying him more carefully.There was no trace of embarrassment in his demeanor. Martha felt a flicker of something unfamiliar.“You did not mention,” she said slowly.“Wasn’t much of big deal,” Benjamin shrugged.The manager’s throat tightened.He had personally supervised the removal of the couple. He had done so to protect the hotel’s image and,

Both Benjamin and Martha walked through the grand entrance of the Golden Front Hotel without another word about the Lawsons.Behind them, Martha’s bodyguard maintained a respectful distance, his posture alert but unobtrusive. He had accompanied her for years and understood every unspoken rule. The intern who had arrived with them earlier remained in the lobby as instructed. She had not yet been introduced to Benjamin. For now, she only knew that her CEO had come personally to meet with the owner of company.The lobby lights shimmered against polished marble floors as the elevator doors opened. Garett himself had ensured that no one else would share the lift. Silence settled as they both stepped inside.Perfection was never a preference for Martha. It was a standard.And when it came to Benjamin, that standard rose even higher.Unlike Benjamin, who could disappear into a crowd without drawing attention, Martha carried an aura that commanded space without demanding it. Her style was no

“No, not yet.”Benjamin shook his head.Martha Matthews stared at him across the polished dining table, her fingers still loosely wrapped around the stem of her glass. The private dining room of the Golden Front Hotel was quiet, insulated from any noise outside. Crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow over the table, reflecting against silver cutlery and pristine plates.Her expression shifted subtly. Surprise was rare for her, but it was present now.“Not yet?” she repeated.It was clear to her what Terence Lin was attempting. This move—whatever it was—within the company had not been random. This was definitely deliberate.If Benjamin gave the word, she could remove the Lin family’s influence by morning.All she needed was his approval.Benjamin picked up his fork calmly and cut into the steak in front of him as though they were discussing something far less significant.“I said not yet,” he replied evenly.Martha leaned back slightly in her chair, studying him. “With respect,” she bega