2023-12-27 02:23:36In the aftermath of Michael's confrontation with Logan, the air within the Ashford mansion crackled with tension. The patriarch, Valentine's father, sat in his study, a storm brewing behind his eyes. The news of Michael's ascension to heir left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"The old man still wants to give my brother's son the title of heir!" he exclaimed, his anger palpable. The sound of a wooden chair shattering echoed in the room. His resentment seeped through every word. "This is all because that woman, your mother, didn't give me a son. Instead, she gave birth to you." His voice dripped with disdain for Valentine's mother, a feeble woman in his eyes, unfit to rule the family.
Valentine, standing before her father, felt the weight of his disappointment. She dared not meet his gaze, always haunted by the knowledge that she never fulfilled his expectations.
"I'm...... I'm......sorry father." It was so pitiful, she had to apologise for being a girl, Her head bowed, she listened in silence, her heart heavy with the burden of her gender. Her father ignored her apology and she wished, she could erase her femininity, wishing she were a boy to bring happiness to her father.
"So, he intends to make that child heir," he chuckled manically, revealing the dark path he was willing to tread. "Well, I just have to kill him like I did his parents." Valentine winced at the callous statement. Her father's gaze turned to her, and she felt a shiver crawl down her spine.
"Don't be too hostile to him," he instructed, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Make sure you are on good terms with him. I don't want anyone to see this coming. Are you listening to me?"
"I... I was already rude to him in the beginning," she stammered, attempting to explain herself. "But don't worry, Father, I will take care of it. I won't—"
Before she could finish her sentence, he slapped her across the face once again, the sharp sound echoing in the room. Stunned, she touched her cheek, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and pain.
"Foolish girl!" he berated, his voice a venomous hiss. "You insist on making everything hard for me. After killing my brother and his wife, I thought it would be easy for you to become the heir, but you are still so useless. You are so damn useless. Leave now!"
His words hung in the air, a cruel reminder of her perceived failure. As she left the room, she couldn't shake the feeling of her father's disappointment, the weight of her inadequacy heavy on her shoulders. If only she could change who she was in his eyes, erase the stigma of being a girl that clouded her father's judgment. But she knew it was an impossible wish, but she braced herself for the challenges that lay ahead.
Meanwhile, Michael stood outside Luke's hospital room, gazing at his younger brother through the glass. They had faced so much together, and now circumstances forced them apart. Turning to Harrison, Michael questioned the reasoning behind Reginald's decision to keep them apart."Why did Grandpa Reginald say that I have to leave him alone? Why can't Luke live with me?" he inquired, searching for answers. Harrison, ever composed, provided an explanation, "Young master, right now your position in the family isn't so great. If Luke were to start living with you, it would create issues. He isn't a member of the family, and his relationship can be used against you in any time of crisis. Master Reginald wanted you to leave him so he could protect him."
A heavy sigh escaped Michael's lips as he absorbed the complexity of the situation. "So, that's why, huh?" he murmured, a tinge of sadness in his voice. Harrison nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of family dynamics.
"Let's go. Tomorrow is going to be a long day," Harrison suggested, steering Michael away from the hospital room. "You are going for the annual CEO meeting for the first time."
"That sounds intimidating." Micheal said and Harrison giggled.
"It always is." They exited the hospital entering the black car as it rode off to the family mansion.
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CHAPTER 11: POWER MOVES
Micheal, maintaining a calm exterior, sat across from Victoria as she provided a brief history of her family's fortune derived from crude oil. The Rockford family's rise had been fueled by the support of the Ashford family, establishing a mutually beneficial relationship.However, the atmosphere shifted when Victoria, with a mischievous giggle, slid a set of documents across the table."What are these papers?" Micheal asked and she prompted him to take a look, as Micheal perused the termination contract between their families, his eyes widened in disbelief."This is a termination contract between our two families, of course there is clause stating that if I have to do this, I would have to pay 10 trillion dollars but that's not an issue as I have found a better business partner." The termination of a long-standing alliance was unprecedented, and he struggled to comprehend the motives behind such a move.Unable to locate Reginald or even Valentine in the bustling room, Micheal felt a
CHAPTER 10: POWER PLAY
As the private jet descended, Micheal's mind churned with thoughts. The impending challenge, the cryptic nature of Valentine's apology, and the weight of family expectations weighed heavily on his shoulders."You look nervous grandson." Reginald said holding his signature walking cane."Shouldn't I be?" Micheal asked a pragmatic question and Reginald slowly chuckled."You are right to be nervous, it means you understand the gravity of this meeting. This meeting is a collection of most of the powerful bodies in the world, we determine what direction the world is going, be it entertainment, fashion and consumables. You, Micheal are a part of that now." The jet smoothly touched down, signaling the beginning of a crucial juncture in Micheal's journey.Exiting the jet, they were greeted by a team of executives from the hosting company. The meeting venue was a grand conference hall, filled with influential figures from various giant enterprises. The atmosphere buzzed with business discuss
CHAPTER 9: HEIR'S CHALLENGE
Micheal woke up early to a life of luxury, his clothes and breakfast prepared by the diligent maids. Though unfamiliar, he felt surprisingly at ease in this new lifestyle. Harrison, appearing beside him with a tablet in hand, relayed Reginald's plans for the day as Micheal ate his breakfast in his expensive suit."Master Reginald has a list of things he wants you to do with him. Today, you'll be meeting all the CEOs of the giant enterprises across the world. The private jet is bring prepped as we speak, and by the time we get there. It should be ready to take off."Micheal's reaction was immediate, a fit of coughing at the mention of a private jet."Did you just say, a private jet?" Harrison looked puzzled, wondering if he had misspoken. Clarifying, he confirmed that indeed they would be using a private jet."Indeed, that is how we plan to get there in time." He replied simply and Micheal looked at Harrison eyes wide opened."But those things cost a fortune, millions to multi-millio
CHAPTER 8: HIDDEN SHADOWS
In the aftermath of Michael's confrontation with Logan, the air within the Ashford mansion crackled with tension. The patriarch, Valentine's father, sat in his study, a storm brewing behind his eyes. The news of Michael's ascension to heir left a bitter taste in his mouth."The old man still wants to give my brother's son the title of heir!" he exclaimed, his anger palpable. The sound of a wooden chair shattering echoed in the room. His resentment seeped through every word. "This is all because that woman, your mother, didn't give me a son. Instead, she gave birth to you." His voice dripped with disdain for Valentine's mother, a feeble woman in his eyes, unfit to rule the family.Valentine, standing before her father, felt the weight of his disappointment. She dared not meet his gaze, always haunted by the knowledge that she never fulfilled his expectations."I'm...... I'm......sorry father." It was so pitiful, she had to apologise for being a girl, Her head bowed, she listened in sil
CHAPTER 7: REVENGE AND GOODBYE
A day had passed since Michael's release from jail, and determination fueled his every thought. Throughout the night, he mulled over his future. The first step on his agenda was to confront Logan, the man responsible for his adopted father's death, a man who posed a threat to Luke's safety.Entering Reginald's room, Michael found his grandfather with Harrison. Greetings exchanged, Michael informed them of his decision to become the heir, emphasizing the need to handle the Logan situation first. He recounted the events leading to Logan's threat against him and Luke, explaining the urgency."Seems like you have had tougher than I thought." Reginald said without looking away from the documents."We should probably just use the police to arrest them."Reginald suggested involving the police, but Michael, fueled by a desire for Logan's suffering, disagreed. "I don't want the police to interfere with this, I want to handle this alone. I want Logan to suffer in pain.""Master, young master
CHAPTER 6: EMBRACE OF DESTINY
Elizabeth led Michael upstairs, the grandeur of the family mansion enveloping them. The air held a mixture of anticipation and nostalgia as they approached his deceased parents' room. It had been meticulously preserved by his grandfather, frozen in time from 21 years ago."Here," Elizabeth said, ushering him into the room. The space felt both familiar and alien to Michael. A large, luxuriously decorated table stood at the center, adorned with a meticulously maintained photo album.Elizabeth picked up the album, her eyes filled with affection as she handed it to Michael. As he flipped through the pages, he saw glimpses of the faces that had shaped his existence—the real father and mother who had tragically left this world.Tears welled up in Michael's eyes, and he sniffed, embracing the album tightly. He sat on the bed, his emotions bubbling beneath the surface. "I was alone. My adopted father abused me, made my adopted mom commit suicide, and Luke, oh my God..." His voice trailed off
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