Chapter 1

The afternoon sun was at its peak when a midnight black Koenigsegg Jesko, sleek and extremely fast, drove into Springdale Ville.

The windows of the car were tinted, but inside it was a man in a meticulously tailored military uniform behind the wheels.

Seated in the passenger's seat was a man in a black shirt and matching khaki trousers.

His build was sturdy, and there was a certain ruggedness in his features.

Ethan Black held up an almost fading picture in his hand with a gentle look in his eyes.

Six years ago, his family involved her in a feud that had nothing to do with her. He was young and gullible. So how could he have known he was drugged and led into a room that wasn't his in the middle of the night where he raped a young woman who was fast asleep?

At that time, Chloe William wasn't just the most beautiful woman in Springdale Ville, she was also the most highly sought after wife by every man in Springdale.

As if that wasn't enough, Chloe majored in business administration and was always the top of her class. Elderly Mrs. William, Chloe's grandmother was so pleased with Chloe that she made her the manager of the family's company.

However, after he violated her, the video of that night was anonymously leaked the next morning and her life was ruined. That same morning, Elderly Mrs. William had a stroke and died.

He didn't have a life to begin with, but seeing how his family ruined Chloe's life in a bid to damn him, he vowed to become strong and powerful in order to protect her.

So he left two days later without telling anyone joined the army. Whenever he was in a death threatening position, his resolve to return back all he took from her would overshadow his fear of death.

In six years, he surpassed everyone around him including his superiors and became the man whose name alone sent shivers down the spine of his enemies—The Commander of Death.

The military man behind the wheels caught the small smile on the corner of Ethan's lips and almost lost control of the vehicle.

Six years and this was the first time he was seeing the Commander smile.

"Command—Ethan, where are we going?"

Even though the Commander had told him times without number to call him by his name since they had fought together for the past six years, Kane Wood still found it difficult to do so.

"To Stellar Corporation."

Stellar Corporation.

Inside the two-storey building, a small crowd of employees were gathered on the top floor.

“Tsk! Can't you even do this one thing properly? Chloe William, you've got to have another talent besides being useless. I mean, life is that easy!” A loud Lewis William sneered.

Thereafter, there was a loud thud and everyone around burst into laughter. Lewis' was the loudest. From all indications, he seemed to be having the most fun.

“Now you're just being dramatic. I didn't even push you that hard, and you fell all the way to the floor. If a stranger sees you like this, they'd be forced to think I'm bullying you.”

In the middle of the crowd were two people. One of them was a man and the other was a frail-looking woman who was sprawled on the floor.

The man was Lewis William, while the lady was Chloe William. And they were biological cousins.

Lewis had an impatient look on his face as seconds went by without Chloe reaching out to hold his outstretched hand.

“Don't be rude, Chloe. I know I didn't push you, but I'm not that heartless to let you remain on the floor. Come on, let me help you up.” He urged with a heavy sigh.

Chloe pushed her blonde hair to the side of her face as she helped herself up. “I can help myself up, Lewis.”

Lewis raised a brow as the pretensive smile on his face disappeared instantly. “Lewis? This is why you shouldn't be so nice to people beneath you. But then again, you've never really agreed you're beneath me, have you?”

Chloe raised her eyes to meet his for a few seconds before looking away. She was used to him gathering the employees of Stellar Corporation to watch him humiliate her. It fueled his ego knowing he now held a superior position compared to her.

And while she would have opted to work anywhere else besides her family's company where she was treated like a slave, she couldn't do it since it meant her family would be kicked out of the William family.

“Okay, how about this.” Lewis smiled lewdly, “I heard you've been owing your daughter's school ever since the William family decided you were old enough to cater to your needs and that of your daughter's.”

“I heard it's almost a year now. Well, I'll pay up your debt if you take up that water and empty it on your body.” He concluded, pointing at the water she had used in mopping the floor they were currently standing on.

The employees around were quick to start praising him for being so 'generous'.

“That's so generous of you, Mr. William! I heard the fee for a term is over $5000. I'd do it without hesitation if he offered me such!”

“That's $15,000 for all three terms. Only a fool would pass on such a tempting offer!”

“The water might be dirty, but at least she'd be getting $15,000 as a reward. It's not like he's asking her to throw herself off a cliff.”

The corners of Lewis' lips curled up into a proud smile, hearing their praises as he fixed his eyes on an expressionless Chloe.

He saw the conflicted look on her face and knew it was only a matter of seconds before she gave in.

“Do I have your word that you'd really pay off Honey's school fees?” Chloe finally said, thinking only about her five-year-old and not about the dirty water she was about to bathe in.

“I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a liar, Chloe.” Lewis lied through his teeth.

Having her bathe in dirty water and not paying her daughter's fee was enough humiliation. He even had a feeling she'd cause a scene if he did so, and the thought of it got him more excited.

Chloe had a contemplative look in her eyes as she looked him over. For some reason, she knew he was lying, but it was worth a try since her daughter's school had caused her enough embarrassments because of the fees.

She couldn't even hold up her face in public anymore because the whole of Springdale Ville knew she was owing her daughter's school.

Chloe turned and headed toward the bucket of water. She had just taken it up to splash on herself when a figure squeezed her way through the crowd and rushed up to her.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?!” Claire William had a furious look on her face as she pushed down the bucket of water, spilling it all over the floor.

Chloe's face first contorted into fear before it changed to that of anger. She grabbed Claire's hand firmly and spoke, “Stay out of this, Claire.”

Claire snatched her hand away and angrily marched up to Lewis.

“Are you so scared my sister will find a way to get back at you in the future that you'll stop at nothing to demean her now that she's nothing? And I thought the position of manager would make you a little more intelligent!”

“Listen to your elder sister and stay the hell out of this!” Lewis' proud smile stiffened as her words got to him. He had nothing to say in defense other than angrily scream at Claire.

Who in Springdale Ville didn't know about the two beautiful daughters born to the useless first son of the William family?

During their time in school, they always came out as the best overall student in everything. And him, no one even knew he existed.

If Chloe hadn't slept with that pauper six years ago, his current position in the family's company and Ville in general would be something he could only dream of.

“My sister cares too much about other people and would rather be humiliated so the rest of us can survive. I, on the other hand, simply do not care!” Claire hollered back.

Blood rushed to Lewis' nose when he realized he was too angry to speak. Claire William and her damn provoking fiery personality!

He pulled out his phone and held it up threatening, “Then do you suggest I call grandpa and tell him all about how your sister has been stealing from the company?”

Chloe frowned heavily. Claire hissed. A set-up.

Just like he expected, Claire no longer said anything. The last thing she wanted was for Chloe's efforts to be in vain.

“You're calm now. Good.” Lewis scoffed and shifted his attention to Chloe, “Thanks to your sister, I've changed my mind.”

Claire didn't know when she exhaled in relief, but that was only for a moment as she heard Lewis add, “Now you drink it.”

“You demon!" She lost her cool without realizing it and reached for his phone, but he was three inches taller and had no problem keeping it away from her.

When she kept loitering close to him, he reached out and pushed her backward.

Claire gritted her teeth angrily. “You're a heartless bastard for asking your cousin to do something like that. She's never doing it!”

“I'll do it if your promise of paying Honey's school fees still stands.” Chloe interrupted, not sparing Claire a glance.

“Don't do it, Chloe. We can find a way around this.” Claire immediately shook her head disapprovingly.

“I thought so too, but it's been a year already and nothing's working out, Claire. Honey can't keep living like this.” Chloe sighed.

Claire swallowed hearing her. While Chloe was totally right, she also knew it wasn't her talking. It was Honey's mother talking.

“Don't be a fool, Chloe. All Lewis has ever done since that incident six years ago is mock and look down on you and our family in general. What makes you think he'd really hold up to his end of the bargain if you do this?”

Chloe met Lewis' eyes. “He promised.”

“Yes, that's exactly why he won't do it. Promising and making you humiliate yourself, then ending up not doing it sounds like a classic humiliation that only Lewis William can think of.”

Chloe curled her fingers, her eyes flickering around in hesitation before she exhaled, “It's at least worth a try.”

Seeing there was nothing else she could say to stop her, Claire reached to spill the second bucket, which was filled halfway with dirty water.

“You touch it and I will really call grandpa.” Lewis threatened. “You know very well what would happen to you and your family if I tell grandpa your sister stole from the company, don't you?”

“You're heartless.” Claire mumbled bitterly.

"I couldn't care less about your opinion of me." He spat back.

Chloe strode towards the bucket close to Claire and lifted it with both hands to her lips.

However, a strong presence suddenly filled the room as the bucket was kicked out of her hand.