CHAPTER 2

"Whoa, hold up! Where on earth do you think you're coming from? You must be out of your mind pulling that stunt at Mum's birthday!"

Her voice filled with anger, she seethed, "All my parents ever did was rescue you from your miserable life, thanks to my love for you. And this is how you repay them? By acting like an ungrateful son-in-law?"

Harvey's mind was racing with everything he had just learned about his relationship with Crawford. He had to restrain himself from losing control and hurting Serena right then and there.

"Serena, I never asked you to marry me. You forced yourself on me. You knew I never loved you. For what it's worth, you were just a rebound. I settled for you because I couldn't have Halle. So deal with it."

Serena was devastated. She knew the marriage was a sham, but his words cut through her like a sharp blade.

As she raised her hands to slap him, he swiftly grabbed her wrist. "Don't you ever dare! And as for your precious family, I'm coming for all of you," he declared, forcefully pushing her back, causing her to crash onto the ground.

Serena couldn't fathom what had gotten into Harvey. The audacity, she couldn't help but chuckle. "Let's see just how brave he really is once I strip him of his privileges for a while. The nerve of him to act like he's still the same old Harvey Price!"

Serena, the first daughter and heiress of the mighty Crawford Empire, had been secretly infatuated with Harvey since she was sixteen. But she was always invincible to him. So when he lost everything, she eagerly hopped on board with the plan.

she had the chance to be Harvey's wife, to control his life. Who would've thought? She even threatened her sister to make it happen, knowing Harvey would never love her. But she didn't care. She believed he was nothing without her. That power over his life was all she craved. 

Suddenly, she sprang up from the floor, grabbed the phone and made a call. "Mom, something's off. Harvey is acting strange. We need to figure out why. It must be because of Halle's visit yesterday." "There's no telling what she said to him. My helper mentioned she left in a frenzy."

"That stupid girl, I never get why she can't be more like you. Don't worry, my dear, I'll take over from here. And Serena, I've told you countless times, you should leave this marriage while you still can.

Harvey's got nothing to offer you anymore. You know Richard's been after you. Think about what you can accomplish with his support. You two could become the most powerful couple in the city if you formed an alliance through marriage.

Margaret only cared about two things: power and money. She didn't hesitate to get rid of anyone who stood in her way. Marriage, believed that marriage was nothing more than an arrangement, a business alliance. If you happen to fall in love, well, that's a bonus."

With all the information he had, he was left bewildered that no one had a clue about Monica's disappearance. Everyone claimed she had landed a better job overseas and left, but he knew she would never have left without saying goodbye to him.

She did express that she was troubled before she vanished. But when he thought about it, who would truly benefit from her sudden disappearance?

Harvey locked himself in, pacing back and forth, the weight of his failure sinking in. He had promised to protect her, and he had turned to her for help with a dangerous assignment that may have cost her life.

For all he knew, Monica had stumbled upon something important. On the night of her disappearance, she texted him to meet up, mentioning that she had found something he would be interested in. Filled with self-frustration, he punched the wall until his knuckles bled.

He pulled up the floor tiles, revealing the hidden briefcase. He grabbed one in particular, filled with cash. No way he could withdraw the needed funds without raising suspicion.

That's when he thought of dialing the lady from the car. She might have info on Monica. Then, his eyes caught sight of certain documents. They hinted at the possibility of his mom being alive, despite his dad claiming she died during childbirth.

Tears welled up as he realized his last memory of his father was a hurtful argument about his mother. He said things he shouldn't have. But now, he didn't know what to believe anymore. With limited funds, he had to ensure his plan worked. He was betting everything he had on it.

He made up his mind to pay the lady a visit, knowing she would be an invaluable ally. Little did he know, Margaret had him followed. She didn't take Serena's concerns lightly.

He led her all the way to a hotel room, where he entered with a woman. Margaret was seething with anger. She contemplated storming in and beating the shit out of his mistress, but that would cause her to expose their family's dirty laundry. Instead, she decided to wait for him.

After hours passed, he finally emerged alone. Margaret had instructed her driver to threaten him, ready to run him over. Just as he was about to throw a punch at the driver, she stepped out and delivered a resounding slap.

 realizing what was happening, he got scared, thinking she was already on to him. "I can explain, Margaret," he asserted, his voice kept calm.

"Save it, you peasant! You've made a sham out of my daughter, and it ends here," she spat out, her eyes filled with anger and disappointment. "Listen to me, boy, my family and I want nothing to do with you anymore."

"So here's what's gonna happen," she continued, her tone dripping with disdain. "You will leave Serena alone. It's time she moved on to something better. I will give you the sum of fifty million dollars to get out of this city, go breathe and waste your life somewhere else."

His face twisted with defiance, he retorted, "I won't leave, Margaret. I don't care for you or your family, and I most certainly don't care for Serena. But I won't leave the city."

"This city is my whole life, where my father and his lineage lived and died," he passionately expressed.

 "You can't cast me out, and this isn't about you thinking I cheated on Serena. Can you honestly say she isn't having affairs with your firm's clients?"

"I know my wife, and you know your daughter," he retorted, his voice growing stronger and more defiant. "She's a slut. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Margaret reacted with another hard slap to his face, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "You thought you had a choice," she chuckled.

"Harvey, you lost your opinions and options when you married Serena. So get your stuff and get out of my face, you good-for-nothing imbecile," she sneered, her brows furrowing in disapproval.

"This ain't over, Margaret. Mark my words," he warned, his voice filled with determination. But before he could say anything else, four burly men surrounded him, following Margaret's orders to remove him.

They swiftly covered his face with a sack and knocked him out, dragging him to the back of the truck.

"That foolish boy, thinking he can go up against me, Margaret Crawford! He must be itching to reunite with his father," she smirked proudly, getting into her car.

The woman who was with Harvey, hid behind a tree as she witnessed it all unfold. She had been gathering evidence against Margaret, undeniable proof that would ensure Margaret rots in jail for life. Not even her power and wealth will save her now.

Margaret had done wicked things to people, but they were too scared to speak up, fearing for their safety and that of their families.