Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

"Let's make a toast to our new company's milestone!" A matured female voice was heard, and what followed after was the sound of glass cups clanging.

The woman who had just spoken was Maria Steele, and the whole family were gathered there to celeberate their new company's achievement.

"I can't believe we managed to generate a total profit worth $2 million dollars for this month." Another lady's voice was heard as she sipped wine from her glass cup.

The woman was Amanda Donovan, a good friend and business partner of the Steele's family.

"At first, sales this month was kinda slow, but i am glad we managed to emerge victorious and next month we would make far more than this." Maria spoke in a joyful tone as she took another sip.

Even if the Elite Company that was run by the Steeles wasn't one of the big companies in Purple Hills city, it wasn't one of the smallest either. The Steeles family are truly doing a good job in making the company flourish despite all other big companies around, and soon they would begin a partnership with Echelon Industries, the biggest company in the whole of the city.

Echelon Industries hardly accept any partnership from other companies due to how successful they were already, but once in a while they sign contracts with few companies below them who they deem to have some potential.

"Soon, we will be dining with the Ceo of Echelon Industries, and part of our firm would be signed under their name. So, drink and merry everyone, today is a joyful night!" Maria declared, and the whole crowd erupted in a collective joyful cheer.

While everyone were busy drinking and having fun, the entrance door of the place swung open and in came a middle aged man.

"I heard about the news, Mother, congratulation." The man who just walked in named, Owen Sinclair, spoke in an innocent tone.

The whole crowd gazed at him from head to toe before breaking out in loud laughter.

"And who said i need a congratulation from a beggar like you, Owen?" Maria snorted, shooting Owen with disgustful glares.

"Why is he even here in the first place? This is no gathering for a low-life like him." Amanda roared from where she sat, taking pleasure in humilating Owen.

"Hey, that's enough." A soft female's voice sounded from behind, causing everyone to turn their heads, and all they saw was a striking beautiful woman.

"Remember Owen is still apart of this family, so he's welcomed in this gathering also." The woman known as Kate uttered with a frown.

Kate was Owen's wife, and she often felt bad with the way her whole family treats her husband. But no matter how hard she tries to stop them, they just wouldn't listen just because Owen was poor.

"Kate, stay out of this. I still don't get why you still choose to be together with such loser when there's a wealthy man like, Chiris Mclean, seeking for your hand in marriage." Maria retorted with a frown, annoyed by her daughter's words.

The Chris she spoke of was indeed a wealthy young man. He held a high position in the Echelon Industries, and Maria knew that if her daughter should get married to such a man then a contract with the Echelon Industries would be guaranteed.

But no matter how hard Chris and Maria tried to seperate Kate from Owen, she still remained adamant and refused to divorce Owen.

"I can't get married to Chris just because of what? Money?" Kate voiced out, walking towards Owen and standing beside him before holding his arm.

"Do you even hear yourself? What could this poor orphan possibly offer you? Look at the trash, he doesn't have a single shame wearing those rags right now and yet you choose him over a prestigious man like Chris?" Maria roared in boiling anger.

"Listen to your mother, Kate." Amanda spoke up with a sneer. "This loser has nothing to offer. He is just a poor orphaned waiter who belongs in the gutter and not with you." She added, glaring at Owen in disgust.

"Since's he's a waiter, he should have been here early to arrange this place and also bring in the drinks and foods, and in the end we pay him a few dollars." A woman who has been sitting in silence the whole time began to tag along in Owen's humiliation.

The woman was Kate's distant relative who is also staying in the same mansion as the family. Her name was Benedicta Steele.

Benedicta is also among the people who makes Owen's life a living hell in the mansion. Benedicta and her husband, Tom, never misses any opportunity to make Owen feel less of a man just because he was poor.

Owen clenched his fists tightly as the whole crowd collaborated in his humiliation. If not for the fact that it was pretty late in the night and had no where else to go, he would have left their sights.

The only shelter Owen had right now was the Steele's mansion since his supposed Step- Mother, Tamara, ripped him off his wealth and sent him packing from his father's house.

Owen was once a rich young man, even the Steele's family and other families treated him with care and respect. But his whole world turned upside down when his father died in a plane crash.

His stepmother who has been pretending to love him the whole time his father was alive finally showed her true colors when Gabriel Sinclair, Owen's father died.

She began to treat him like trash and she went to the extent to create a fake will and transfered all Owen's father's wealth to her name and her only son, Daniel.

No matter how many times Owen took her to court for justice, Tamara still found her way to emerge victorious after bribing the judges with money. In the end, she kicked Owen out and he was forced to live with his in-laws, the Steele family.

The Steele family who had always treated Owen with respect, also revealed their true colors after finding out Owen lost everything and was now as poor as a church rat.

"You actually spoke some sense, honey. Owen should have been present earlier to clean the place and prepare everything for this gathering." Tom spoke mokingly. "Well, it's all good, he can always take out the trash when we are done." He added, trying to add more to Owen's humiliation.

Tom had always had an eye for Kate and wished to marry her. But when the news of Kate being married to Owen reached him, he became angry and hated Owen since then.

Tom stood no chance against Owen in riches back then and would often stay silent when Owen was around, but now that he had nothing with him, he grew some confidence and would rather die than skip any opportunity he could get to ridicule Owen.

"What do you mean pick up the trash later? He can begin his job right now." Amanda then turned her cup upside down and spilled her wine on the tiled floor.

"Hey, trash, take off your rag-like cloth and clean this mess off." Amanda declared in a mocking tone.