2025-10-08 02:15:04The silence was deafening. But then Kathleen walked up to Richard and gave him a resounding slap across his cheek.
"Who do you think you are!?" She berated him in a loud angry voice. She raised her hand to slap him again, but surprisingly, Richard held her hand in place.
"Diane will not like to see Mister Lawrence here. If he was here to apologize for what he did to my wife, then it's long overdue, but if he's here to make trouble, then I must insist he leaves." Richard replied with a firm voice. Meanwhile Kathleen was shocked, Richard had never stopped her before, nor talked back at her. Just what was happening.
Brian Lawrence stood up, an amused expression on his face, but one could see the flames of anger in his eyes. Never before has he been so humiliated, and by a nobody no less.
"Mr and Mrs Warren, it seems I am not welcome here, I will take my leave now." He said, and the let out an exaggerated sigh, "And just when I was thinking of helping you get the Denali Clean Energy contract." He shook his head, feigning disappointment.
"No! Young master Brian, you should calm down, don't let the words of this good-for-nothing fool you. He is nothing but a dog in this family, not even worth being part of our family." Kathleen hurriedly spoke. She then turned to Richard with a furious glare, "You, get in there and pack your things! You're leaving this house, and by tomorrow you will get divorced!" She hollered, her spittle almost touching Richard.
CLICK!
Diane had just returned, and walked in on a scene she never expected to see. She stared from her angry mother who standing so close to Richard as if challenging him to an MMA fight, to her relatives who never thought twice about condemning and abandoning her when the scandal surfaced, then finally she saw him, the man who was responsible for her life almost being in shambles.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" She shouted. Richard on the other hand raised an eyebrow to Kathleen, as if to say "I told you so."
"Dear daughter, The young master came bearing gifts, he's a changed man and wants to make amends." Gerald spoke to Diane in a fatherly tone, trying to coax her to understand.
"He's here to ask for your hand in marriage." Richard blurted out without thinking. Even he didn't know where he found the courage to contradict his father-in-law.
"The gall on that dog!" One of the relatives said
"Gerald should have tossed him back to the streets before now, if it was me, I'd not even let him sleep in my house for a single night." Another chimed in.
Richard heard all these, he knew these hypocritics were simply here to get a share of whatever benefits Brian Lawrence will give to his wife's parents.
"Diane Darling, Brian here just wants to make amends, and he's even willing to prove it by bringing the Denali contract to our family." She then left Richard and went to stand in front of Diane, taking her hands in hers, "We all know Brian has always fancied you from the very first time he saw you. Don't you think it's time to give him a chance?" She spoke so soothingly one would believe she's actually trying to help her daughter.. well, perhaps that's what she thinks.
"You can't be serious! I am married, and even I wasn't, I won't even think of accepting that snake!" Diane retorted as she withdraw her hands from her mother's.
Brian grimaced. He had just been insulted again. He was really angry this time. He turned to Gerald, "I am leaving, don't call me until you've settled things. And concerning the contract, I don't think I will be extending a hand as I previously promised!" He walked towards the door, turned around and stared at Richard, who actually returned the glare, and then he left the house. Kathleen attempted to plead with him but he walked to his car, got in and drove off.
Seeing that Brian had left, Kathleen walked back into house and went straight for Richard, but Diane was a step faster, she stood in front of Richard, shielding him from her mother.
"You ingrate!!! Do you have any idea what you just caused!?" She hollered angrily. "You not only caused me to lose a wealthy son-in-law, but also caused my family to lose any hope of acquiring a contract worth fifty million dollars!, tell me, how will you be able to compensate this family!?"
Meanwhile Richard had a frown on his face as he stared at the holographic panel in front him that was invisible to others.
«Ding!
Congratulations to Host on getting a quest for the first time. $10,000 has been awarded to Host.»
«Ding!
New Quest: Face slap
Description: Host has just gone against a rival, and won, but the cost of this victory is immense. Host needs to recoup the losses and face slap everyone who made fun of him.
Job: Get the Denali Clean Energy contract.
Time limit: 14 days (Two weeks)
Reward: $1,000,000 + 60% share of all Denali Corporation revenue.
Failure penalty: Host will be deemed unworthy by everyone, including the system + loss of the system.»
"Well I'll be damned!" Richard muttered under his breath. He then cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, which worked.
"What?" Kathleen said with a scowl.
"I will get you the Denali contract." Richard said with a firm voice.
Silence at first, then a sudden row of laughter. Diane turned to him with shock on her face. "Don't say stupid things." She berated him with an annoyed look on her face.
"Did the dog just say he will fly?" A relative said and everyone burst into laughter again.
"Listen here you good-for-nothing. The Denali is owned by Robertson Family, they are people even the Lawrence family dare not mess with.. and you, you're saying you're getting to get a contract from them? Don't make me laugh." Kathleen spoke with pure disdain. But Richard simply looked at Diane in the eye, "Trust me on this, I will get you that contract, no matter what it takes. Before two weeks, the Denali Clean Energy contract will be handed over to you." Richard spoke with confidence, even though he didn't know how he will do it, but he trusted the system.. besides, if he didn't do it, he stood a chance to lose everything.
"Don't say such nonsense." Gerald finally spoke up. Meanwhile Kathleen's eyes suddenly went wide and a smile played on her face. She walked up to Richard, "Let us make a bet, if you are able to get that contract on two weeks, then I will fully accept you, but if you fail.. you divorce my daughter and forget everything about us." Kathleen said with an evil smirk.
"No!" Diane spoke out, but her mother didn't even spare her a glance, rather she stared at Richard.. indicating the final decision was his to make.
Diane sharply turned to Richard and looked at him with pleading eyes, silently begging him not to do so, but contrary to what she wanted..
"Deal." Richard said.
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CHAPTER 137: A Joyous Room
Morning came with grey clouds and heavy air.The kind of morning that made even strong people feel small.Richard stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie slowly. His face looked calm, but his eyes carried weight. Not fear. Not yet. Just deep focus, like a man walking into fire with his head up.Behind him, Diane watched quietly.“You don’t have to look so calm,” she said softly. “It’s okay to show that you’re human.”He smiled faintly. “If I show them I’m afraid, they will feed on it.”She stepped closer. “And if you’re not afraid?”“Then they’ll try to make me afraid,” he replied.Downstairs, Victor was already on his third cup of coffee. His screens were alive with feeds, legal updates, security pings, social media heat, and quiet messages from people who were watching the board meeting closely.Andrew paced like a restless lion.“They smile too much in those rooms,” he muttered. “I hate rooms where people smile before they strike.”Kathleen held her Bible close to her chest
Chapter 136
Morning arrived without warmth.The safe house felt smaller than it had the night before, as if the walls had shifted inward while they slept. The television was muted now, flashing headlines in bold red banners:MARKET UNCERTAINTY DEEPENSMAJOR FOUNDATIONS UNDER REVIEWFINANCIAL INTEGRITY QUESTIONS RAISEDThey never mentioned Richard by name.They didn’t need to.Victor stood near the dining table, a tablet in his hand, reading through overnight updates. His expression was controlled, but his jaw was tight.Andrew paced.Kathleen hadn’t slept.Gerald was trying to look composed and failing.Diane walked into the room quietly, her hair tied back, her face pale but steady. She looked at Richard first.He was already awake. Already dressed. Already thinking.He hadn’t slept either.“They’ve escalated,” Victor said finally.Richard nodded once. “Tell me.”“The audit panel expanded its authority at midnight. They’re requesting emergency compliance hearings within seventy-two hours.”Andre
CHAPTER 135: The Weight of Silence
Night settled like a heavy blanket over the city, thick and restless.At the safe house, the air felt tight, as if even breathing too loudly might trigger something terrible. The television played quietly in the background, showing news anchors discussing “ongoing investigations,” “powerful families,” and “possible financial misconduct.” They never said names, but everyone in the room knew exactly who they meant.Diane stood by the window again, the same place she had been in the morning. The city lights blinked like distant stars, cold and indifferent.Kathleen sat close to Gerald this time, her hand gripping his arm as if she feared he might disappear.Andrew leaned forward in a chair, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on the floor.Victor worked silently, typing, listening, watching.Richard stood near the center, arms crossed, listening to everything and everyone, but saying very little.The silence was finally broken by Kathleen.“I can’t take this,” she whispered. “Every sound mak
Chapter 134: Uncovered Secret
Morning did not come with peace.It came with tension that crawled under the skin and refused to leave.At the safe house, no one had truly slept. Even when their eyes closed, their minds stayed awake, running through possibilities, dangers, and silent threats.Diane stood by the window, watching the sun rise slowly between buildings. The light was beautiful, but it did nothing to ease her heart.Kathleen sat on the couch, holding a warm cup of tea she had not touched. Her hands shook slightly.Gerald paced the room, stopping every few steps to check his phone, then starting again.Andrew leaned against the wall, arms crossed, jaw tight.Victor sat before his screens, eyes sharp, fingers ready.And Richard… Richard stood in the center of them all, calm on the surface, but carrying the weight of everyone’s fear inside his chest.The silence was heavy.Then Victor spoke.“He’s reacting.”Everyone turned.“Sean?” Richard asked.“Yes,” Victor said. “His network is moving. Quietly. But fas
CHAPTER 133: Meeting In The Dark
Night wrapped the city in a thick, uneasy silence.The rain had stopped, but the streets were still wet, reflecting lights like broken mirrors. Cars moved slowly. People hurried under umbrellas. Nobody knew that, in one quiet corner of the city, two powerful forces were about to sit across from each other.Richard arrived first.The place was an old private lounge on the top floor of a hotel that no longer welcomed the public. It was clean, quiet, and empty, except for one table and two chairs facing each other. Soft yellow light hung from the ceiling. Thick curtains covered the windows.Victor had insisted on checking everything.“No listening devices. No hidden cameras. No extra staff,” Victor had said through the earpiece. “But remember, with men like Brian, the real danger is never in the room. It’s in what they already planned before they walked in.”Richard answered calmly, “I know.”He stood by the table, hands in his pockets, his face unreadable.A few minutes later, the door
CHAPTER 132: Breaking the silence
Rain fell harder through the night.Not the soft, gentle kind, but the kind that beat against windows and roofs like impatient fingers. Inside the safe house, no one slept. The storm outside matched the storm inside their hearts.Victor’s screens glowed in the dark like watchful eyes. Lines of data moved, messages popped in and out, calls were made, calls were ignored, calls were returned in low, urgent voices.Diane sat curled on the couch, her arms around her knees. She watched Richard stand by the window, unmoving, staring into the rain like he could see the future written in it.She finally spoke. “When you said you would talk to Brian… what exactly do you plan to say?”Richard didn’t turn at first. “I plan to remind him who his real enemy is.”Andrew scoffed softly. “He thinks you are his enemy.”Richard nodded. “Yes. And that is why he will listen. Because he believes I am strong enough to hurt him. Men like Brian only respect danger.”Kathleen shifted in her seat. “But he hates
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