From Rags to God of War

Piece of Cake

Nicholas dropped Isabella off at a hotel. Then he left.

The next morning, promptly at eight, Nicholas picked her up to take the girl home.

As they entered the gates, several waiting guards immediately apprehended Nicholas. Four other guards quickly restrained his arms, while two more pointed guns at his head.

Nicholas didn't resist. He allowed himself to be arrested.

Isabella's eyes widened. "What are you doing?! Let him go!"

Adam, Sonia, and Elsa were already waiting in the living room. Their faces were tense. Elsa smirked at the sight. Isabella was immediately dragged inside, and Nicholas was forced to his knees, two pistols pressed against either side of his head.

"What's going on here?" Isabella asked, trying to get closer.

"What's going on?" Elsa laughed, cynically. "Gossip about you has spread all over City A, Isabella! The Weber family's daughter committing adultery with a vagrant! It's the talk of the town everywhere! Do you know how shameful this is?"

Isabella looked at Elsa, then at Adam, who now stared at her with a wounded and angry gaze. Sonia sat on the sofa, sobbing.

"Nicholas is nothing more than a pest that needs to be eradicated," Adam said, his voice heavy and filled with fury. "You've brought great shame upon our family."

"Shame?" Isabella countered. "I didn't commit adultery."

"Photos of you going to the hotel with this vagrant have been spread around. You've ruined our good name?!" Adam bellowed. He raised his hand and slapped Isabella hard across the face.

The sound of the slap cracked loudly. Isabella's head snapped to the side, leaving a bright red mark on her cheek. Nicholas, kneeling with two guns pointed at his head, simply held back. His jaw tightened, but he didn't react.

Isabella looked at her father, then shifted her gaze to Nicholas, who was still kneeling.

Isabella stepped forward, pushing aside one of the guards who was aiming a weapon at Nicholas. "Stand up, Nicholas," she commanded.

Nicholas rose to his feet. The pistols remained pressed against his head.

Isabella looked at her entire family one by one. She took a step forward, cupped Nicholas's face in both her hands, and kissed him passionately. The kiss was deep, long, and very deliberate.

After a few seconds, Isabella broke the kiss. She looked at her family, her gaze defiant.

"If you all already think I committed adultery last night, fine!" Isabella said, her voice loud and clear. "I'll just say yes. We committed adultery. In that case, the only way to clear our family's good name is for us to get married. Immediately!"

Adam approached Isabella, trying to restrain himself from slapping his daughter again. "I already have a suitor for you! Sebastian Wright!"

Hearing that name, Isabella snorted in disgust. "Sebastian Wright? You want to sell me off to that jerk? No way! I will never marry him!"

Sonia tried to persuade her. "Sebastian is rich. He can give you a decent life. You won't have to worry about anything."

"A decent life?!" Isabella practically screamed. "Have you forgotten that three years ago Sebastian was involved in a harassment scandal with a model? And there are rumors he has a child with another woman! You think I don't know that? You think I'm that stupid? You want me to marry a filthy man like him?"

Isabella's revelation silenced Adam and Sonia. They had indeed known the rumors but tried to turn a blind eye for business gain.

"Those rumors aren't necessarily true," Adam tried to argue, his tone a little softer. "Maybe it's just a scheme by his enemies. Besides, he's the son of a conglomerate, it's easy for him to be slandered."

"Nonsense!" Isabella yelled. "That's not a rumor! And I refuse to marry a man whose hands are dirty from harassing women!"

Nicholas laughed at them.

"What are you laughing at, you bastard!" Elsa snapped.

Nicholas shifted his gaze to Isabella. "Sebastian Wright is useless. You'll look like cheap pimps if you force Isabella to marry him."

Adam flinched. "How dare you speak like that!"

"I'm speaking the truth," Nicholas retorted, his gaze cold.

"Fine!" Elsa shrieked, her voice shrill. "If you're really going to marry my sister, I want the most lavish wedding party ever! We're talking about a party that will be the talk of the entire country! And for the dowry, our family wants the Rare Jade of this nation's Five-Star General! We want that as the dowry!"

"You have one month!" Elsa added.

The entire room fell silent instantly. The General's Rare Jade? An object that was not only priceless but also impossible for ordinary people to obtain. It was heavily guarded at the General's residence, never for sale, and a source of national pride. Elsa had mentioned it deliberately to humiliate Nicholas, to make him back down.

They were all certain Nicholas would back down.

However, Nicholas suddenly smiled. The smile was wide, even a little chilling. He looked at Elsa, then Adam, and Sonia. Then, a loud laugh erupted from his lips.

Adam looked at Nicholas, disbelieving the man's reaction. "What's so funny, you bastard?!"

"It's hilarious," Nicholas retorted, his laughter still lingering slightly. He looked at Adam. "You think all that is difficult?"

Elsa snorted. "So, what? Are you backing down? Are you giving up?!"

"I don't need a month." Nicholas looked at them one by one, his eyes gleaming sharply. "I'll fulfill all those requests in one day!"

...

Nicholas exited the Weber house and called Martin Luther, his assistant.

"Yes, General?" Martin asked.

"Mr. Luther, I need you to find the most luxurious venue in this city. It needs to be secured by tomorrow morning."

"Understood, General!" Martin got to work. The next morning he provided the address of the venue, and they met there.

"General, this is the Sky Grand Ballroom, the most exclusive in the city," Martin explained.

Nicholas didn't say much. His eyes scanned every corner of the room, observing the details. A marketing manager immediately approached them.

"Good morning, Sir. I'm Albert Smith, at your service," he said, bowing. "Our ballroom can accommodate thousands of guests, equipped with the most advanced lighting system, world-class catering, and fully customizable decor. Your wedding party will surely be legendary."

Nicholas merely nodded, his gaze still surveying the room. After the manager finished explaining the fantastic facilities, Nicholas pulled out his phone.

"I need to talk to her," Nicholas told Martin, without taking his eyes off the main stage.

Martin nodded quickly, then handed him the connected phone. Nicholas put the phone to his ear.

"Hello, Isabella?" Nicholas spoke directly, without preamble. "I've secured the venue. It's the most luxurious place you can imagine. I want to make sure you like it or not."

On the other end of the line, Isabella was surprised. She still hadn't fully processed all the events from yesterday, and now Nicholas was acting this fast? She fell silent for a moment.

"What? You mean you've already taken care of it?" Isabella couldn't hide her surprised tone. Her brain hadn't fully caught up with Nicholas's speed.

"Yes, the luxurious venue as the first condition. I've found it. Come here to decide if you like it or not."

Isabella muttered under her breath. "I'll kill you if this is just a joke!"