2024-12-20 17:45:30
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Beatrix's greed
Joshua paced restlessly near the banquet table, his fingers drumming impatiently against his thigh. His eyes kept darting toward the hallway where Iris was supposed to appear, but there was still no sign of her. The lavish feast meant nothing to him—his mind was fixed on one thing only. He turned to his father, his voice tight with irritation. "Father, how much longer must we wait? She’s taking too much time. I want to take my wife and leave." Frederick sighed, dabbing his lips with a napkin before responding."Why are you in such a haste, Joshua?" he asked quietly, not wanting to draw the attention of their hosts. "Iris is already yours. The arrangement is made. A few more minutes won’t change that." Joshua’s jaw clenched. "It may seem that way, but I don’t like this delay. Something just doesn’t feel right. I have a bad feeling. I want her out of here now—before anything goes wrong."Frederick rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling heavily. "Joshua..." he began carefully, "I
The Zenith family
The next day, Madam Beatrix stood at the entrance of the Keith family mansion, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Behind her, the Keith family waited in tense silence, dressed in tailored suits and elegant dresses.The estate had been polished to perfection—lush green lawns trimmed to the inch, marbled pathways scrubbed spotless, and uniformed servants standing at attention.Then, they appeared—a fleet of black luxury cars rolling up the grand driveway. The Zenith family had arrived. The lead car—a custom-built Maybach—came to a smooth stop, and a chauffeur hurried to open the door. First came Frederick Zenith, tall and imposing in a black three-piece suit, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back, his gaze sharp.Behind him, Joshua Zenith emerged, his face wrinkled in impatience, his gaze scanning around restlessly. Madam Beatrix stepped forward, her practiced smile filled with warmth and welcome."Frederick, Joshua," she greeted. "What an honor it is to host you in our home."
The coffee meeting
Leo pulled out his phone with trembling hands, staring at the embossed business card Barry had given him. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, his breath shallow as he turned the card between his fingers. The name Barry Sullivan gleamed under the dim light of the streetlights. After a deep breath, he dialed the number. The line rang once, then twice. Barry answered on the second ring, his voice smooth and composed, as if he had been expecting this call all along. "Leo," he said, the faintest hint of amusement in his tone. "I was wondering if you'd call." Leo's grip on the phone tightened. There was no warmth in Barry's voice, no brotherly affection—just the cool detachment of a man used to controlling every situation. It made Leo's skin prickle with unease. "We need to talk," Leo said, his voice tight, barely holding back the storm of emotions swirling inside him. "Now." There was a pause on the other end, deliberate and calculated. Then, Barry responded, h
Half brothers
Leo stiffened at the unfamiliar voice, his grief swallowed by surprise. He turned sharply, his red-rimmed eyes focusing on the well-dressed stranger standing behind him. The man's polished leather shoes gleamed against the damp grass, his tailored overcoat speaking of wealth Leo couldn't even fathom."Excuse me, you must be Leo, right?" the stranger repeated.Leo rose slowly from his crouched position, wiping his muddy hands on his trousers. "Who's asking?"The man offered a tight smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "My name is Barry Sullivan."Leo's breath caught in his throat. "Barry Sullivan?" he repeated, disbelief coloring his tone. "As in... the wealthiest man in the world?"Barry gave a slight shrug, as if embarrassed by the title. "Well, that's what the magazines call me, yes."For a long moment, Leo could only stare. The wind whistled between them, carrying the scent of freshly turned earth. Finally, he found his voice again. "What... what could the wealthiest man in
The funeral
Leo's footsteps echoed hollowly as he walked through the hospital corridors, each step heavier than the last. His chest felt tight with an unnameable dread, the kind that settles in your bones when you know the world is about to end. When he reached Dr. Paul's office, his hand hovered for a moment before knocking - that brief hesitation where part of him already knew, already wanted to turn back before hearing the words that would change everything."Come in," came Dr. Paul's voice from within.The door creaked open to reveal the doctor seated behind his desk, his usually warm eyes shadowed with something Leo couldn't - didn't want to - recognize. "Good evening, Dr. Paul," Leo said, his voice sounding strangely detached even to his own ears. "I came as soon as I got your message."Dr. Paul gestured to the chair across from him. "Please, sit down, Leo. We need to talk."That phrase - 'we need to talk' - landed like a physical blow. Leo's mouth went instantly dry, his tongue stickin
A friend
The next day, after a hard day at work, Leo took the back door into Iris’s apartment, his footsteps quiet as he made his way toward the living room. "I'm home," he called softly. "Iris, where are you?" As he approached, he heard voices—one of them Iris’s, pleading with someone. Leo hesitated, then concealed himself just outside the doorway, peering into the living room. Seated regally on the sofa, her legs crossed with cold elegance, was Madam Beatrix. Iris knelt before her, her head bowed—a tradition in their family when begging for a favor from its matriarch. "Grandmother," Iris said, her voice trembling, "please, I beg you… save Leo’s mother." Madam Beatrix’s sharp eyes narrowed. "You know exactly why I refused to help him. I made him an offer, and he rejected it." "Grandmother, don’t you understand love?" "No, I don’t," Madam Beatrix snapped. "Do you think I loved your grandfather? Love is meaningless. Power, status, legacy—those matter." "But—" "Enough," Madam
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