Chapter One

The grand dining room of the Adams’ lavish mansion buzzed with an air of importance and wealth. The crystal chandeliers cast a shimmering glow upon the room, illuminating the faces of the distinguished guests and the members of the Adams family.

Charles, averaged height with a gentle demeanor, stood at the side, clad in a grey shirt. He was married to Emma, the daughter of this wealthy family, and as status dictated, he played the role of a mere servant during family business meetings.

The grand dining hall was bathed in luxury. Tonight, it served as a place for a business meeting that would shape the future of the Adams family’s vast empire.

Charles stood at a corner, holding a bottle of wine. The room buzzed with anticipation as the guests, settled into their seats. Charles’s heart raced, for he had been given strict instructions to attend to their every need.

His eyes darted from guest to guest, aware of the examining gaze that followed his every move. As the meeting commenced, Charles skillfully poured wine into delicate crystal glasses, his hands steady despite the unease that gnawed at his insides.

However, amidst the clinking of cutlery and murmurs of business deals, whispers of laughter filtered through the air. Charles’s ears pricked up, and he turned towards the source of the mockery.

A short man with a mustache sneered, his voice filling the room. “Look at the son-in-law, playing servant! How hilarious!”

Laughter erupted, fueled by the bitter prejudice that plagued some of the guests. Charles felt his face flush with embarrassment, his hands tightening around the bottle he held.

It was not the first time he had been subjected to such ridicule, but it never really bothered him. His love for Emma overshadowed the way he was being treated.

Another guest, a scornful woman, deliberately tilted her glass, splashing red wine onto Charles’s shoes. She giggled, relishing in her cruel act. “Oops! My apologies, Charles. Looks like you’ll need to find a new pair of shoes.”

Charles fought to maintain his composure, his jaw clenched tightly. The guests reveled in their power to belittle him, using every opportunity to degrade him further.

The room flooded with contempt. As the mocking continued, Emma, his wife, remained silent, her gaze fixed on her own reflection in a nearby mirror. She did not come to his defense, nor did she rebuke the guests for their offensive behaviors.

Instead, Emma’s voice boomed across the room, laced with a cold fury. “Charles, leave now. You have no place here. Know your station.”

The words struck Charles like lightning, for they all painted the notion that he was merely a pawn in their affluent world. Just as he began to retreat, Emma’s mother, a formidable presence, rose from her seat. The room fell into an uneasy silence as all eyes turned toward her.

“Charles,” she began, her tone commanding. “Stay.”

A collective gasp sounded through the room, accompanied by raised eyebrows and surprised murmurs. Charles’s heart skipped a beat, for this was unusual from the norm. Never before had they considered him as anything more than a servant.

With a little hesitation, Charles took a seat at the edge of the table, his eyes flickering between Emma’s mother and the guests who had previously scorned him. He wondered what could possibly warrant his inclusion in this important gathering.

Emma’s mother’s steely gaze swept across the room, her voice resonating with authority. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement that concerns Charles, my son-in-law.”

A deafening silence descended in the room, and Charles leaned forward, his senses heightened by a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

In that moment, Charles could not help but think that the Adams family, blinded by their own prejudice, had failed to recognize the potential within him.

But now, with the support of Emma’s mother, his life might probably take an unexpected turn, propelling him onto a path where his talents would be acknowledged more and his aspirations realized, he thought.

The room hung in suspense as Emma’s mother paused for effect before continuing. Charles anxiously awaited the announcement, and seated at the grand mahogany table, he glanced around the opulent room filled with portraits of generations past.

The air was filled with tension, as if the heavy decorations and antique furniture held the weight of the family’s expectations. Just then, the double doors swung open, and Michael, Emma’s older brother and the eldest son majestically walked in, clad in a fancily tailored tuxedo that hugged his athletic frame.

He gave out an air of confidence and sophistication that seemed to belong to a different world compared to Charles'. Michael’s sharp features and slicked-back hair added to his distinguished appearance, contrasting clearly with Charles’ more understated presence.

“Ah, Michael,” his mother greeted, her voice carrying a mix of warmth and tolerance. “You’re just in time. Please, join us.”

With a smirk playing on his lips, Michael took a seat next to Charles, purposefully emphasizing the contrast between their attire and demeanor. “Mother, everyone, I hope you’re ready for some extraordinary tales of my success,” he announced, his voice filled with a self-assuredness that displayed his arrogance.

Charles clenched his fists beneath the table, his anger simmering just below the surface. He knew that speaking out against Michael’s taunts would only escalate the tension, and he couldn't risk jeopardizing his relationship with Emma. Respecting her wishes meant enduring the mockery that Michael so effortlessly gave out.

As the conversation flowed, Michael took center stage, indulging the family with stories of his business achievements and the enormous profits he had amassed.

He gestured with his hands as he talked, captivating everyone’s attention. The more Michael spoke, the more Charles felt like an outsider, a servant in this luxury world.

Amidst the talking, Emma’s mother interrupted Michael’s boasts, rising to her feet again. The room fell into a sudden hush, anticipation hanging heavy in the air. Mrs. Adams glanced at Charles briefly, her eyes conveying a mixture of pity and contempt.

“My dear family and business partners,” she began, her voice carrying a touch of sarcasm. “It is time for us to make an announcement regarding Emma’s future.”

Charles’ heart skipped a beat, anxiety coursing through his veins. His love for Emma was unwavering, but he was all too aware of the invisible walls that separated them.

The memory of Emma’s grandfather arranging their marriage, only to leave Charles to face the harshness of the Adams family, still lingered painfully.

Emma’s mother continued, her voice steady, “Emma will be entering into matrimony with the distinguished Jerry, our soon to be business partner.”

A wave of disappointment washed over Charles, threatening to drown him in a sea of unfulfilled dreams. He had hoped that his unwavering devotion and the depths of his love for Emma would be enough to bridge the gap between their social statuses.

But the decision had been made, and Charles felt his world crumble around him. Though a rush of emotions raged within him, Charles tried hard to maintain his composure, his face a mask of insensitivity.

He stole a quick glance at Emma, searching for any signs of resistance or objection, but she shifted her gaze, her silence confirming the divide that had been drawn between them.

The room fell silent after Emma’s mother made the shocking announcement. Charles rose from his seat in a sudden jolt of disbelief.

He turned to face Emma again, hoping to find some reassurance, but her expression remained unchanged. There was no trace of surprise, only a cold indifference. The realization hit Charles like a wave crashing against a rocky shore.

A dreadful understanding settled upon him, seeping into the depths of his being. Everyone in the room, the entire family, had already been aware of the arrangement. How had he been so blind? The air seemed to thicken with the weight of their shared knowledge.

“Why, Emma?” Charles stammered, his voice trembling. “Why would you want to marry another man?”

Emma’s eyes, normally filled with warmth and tenderness, hardened as she met Charles’ gaze. Her words cut through the heavy silence like a razor-sharp blade.

“Because you are too wretched for me, Charles,” she replied straightly, her voice absent of any emotion. “I want to marry someone who is not a failure, someone who can take care of me.”

Charles stood there, dumbfounded, as the bitter truth echoed in his ears. Emma, the very essence of his hopes and dreams, had become a stranger to him.

Michael, Emma's older brother, with his pompous figure, burst into laughter, the sound dripping with mockery. “You see, Charles,” Michael smirked, his eyes gleaming with superiority. “Emma knows her worth. She knows she deserves better than a pathetic failure like you.”

The room seemed to spin around Charles, his world shattered into countless shards of pain and disappointment. In that moment, he saw the true faces of those he surrounded himself with. Feelings of betrayal and humiliation mingled in his heart, and he found himself longing for an escape from his cruel reality.