Chapter 3

The Ledger family prepared for breakfast in the dining room. The servants were busy putting out large plates of food. Two maids, meanwhile, were on special duty pouring water into glasses and preparing cutlery.

The long, gleaming table was made of thick glass and covered in antique mahogany, worth hundreds of millions. It was decorated with luxurious carvings on the edge of the table. There were ten chairs facing each other. The food served on the dining table was varied and plentiful. Everything was luxurious and delicious.

Aldrich came and joined them. "Good morning," he greeted Berthan and Claire kindly.

"Morning," Berthan replied. He raised his right hand, inviting Aldrich to sit on one of the empty dining table chairs.

"Ow, who is this coming? As far as I know, Rhodes' butler always wakes up earlier than us." Charlotte quipped at Aldrich for waking up late.

Claire, Berthan's wife rolled her eyes. "What a life you've had? Born a poor man, suddenly transformed into a prince in a rich family."

Charlotte grinned. She was happy to hear her mother's words that also cornered Aldrich.

Claire did not like Aldrich. She had never lived a hard life. The thought of someone else easily hitting the jackpot like Aldrich who would soon become part of the Ledger family, made her very upset.

Charlotte snorted in annoyance. Her appetite had suddenly disappeared. She gulped down the water in her glass, then thought of an idea in her head.

"Hey, get me some water over there." Charlotte gave Aldrich a cold look as she pointed at the kettle near her father.

Aldrich was silent. There were so many servants in this house, he didn't think it was an order for him. Casually, Aldrich cut the steak on his plate.

Claire was ticked off. "Hey, are you deaf? You're just staying here, but you won't do anything. Hurry up and get some water for my daughter!"

Charlotte leaned forward slightly. "It's you, butler's son!"

Aldrich got up from his chair and picked up the kettle near Berthan. He casually poured water into Charlotte's glass without the manner of a servant.

All eyes were on Aldrich. Charlotte grinned. "Rhodes must have taught you well how to pour water into a glass, right?"

Aldrich raised the kettle slightly higher than the mouth of the glass, just like he had learned in the manners class in the dining hall.

Aldrich poured the water well without spilling any. "I did."

Aldrich emphasized his words, then was about to go back to his chair.

Charlotte grinned. She nudged Aldirch's arm, intentionally spilling it onto the floor. "Oh, I didn't mean to."

Aldrich looked sharply at the woman beside him. Clearly he knew that Charlotte had nudged him on purpose. The sly woman who was almost his wife looked like a stupid little child.

Charlotte grinned as she folded her arms. "Look, the floor is dirty. Why are you doing nothing? Hurry up and clean it!"

Selena, who had just come to the dining room, saw the incident.

"Aldrich, I want to talk to you about our wedding."

"Where are you going? Come, join us for breakfast." Berthan smiled kindly at his daughter from another woman.

Claire snorted in annoyance. "What do you mean by inviting her to join us here? She's used to eating after we're done!"

Claire had made that decision in the Ledger family since Selena's arrival in this house. 

Selena looked at Berthan fixedly. "I'm sorry, but I have important business to discuss with him, Father."

Berthan raised his hand. "All right, go ahead."

Charlotte snorted in annoyance. Her plan to embarrass Aldrich had failed because of Selena. She racked her brains, then nudged her glass until it shattered to the floor, right by Aldrich's feet who was about to leave.

"Oh, no. I accidentally dropped the glass again. Can you clean it up first before leaving? You have to clean it, just like the other servants." Charlotte grinned.

"But he's not a servant." Selena tried to defend Aldrich.

Charlotte stood up, glaring at Selena and Aldirch defiantly. "You dare contradict me, you bastard!"

Charlotte raised her hand, about to slap Selena. Aldrich quickly restrained the woman's hand.

Charlotte brushed off Aldirch's hand, but Aldrich's grip was tighter, making her wince in pain. Aldrich quickly released his grip.

"Oh, look, Father. He's hurting me!" Charlotte complained, as if her arm was badly injured.

Aldrich looked at Berthan's face expressionlessly. "I'm not holding you that hard."

Claire raised her hand. "Don't you dare hurt my daughter!"

Charlotte grinned. The atmosphere in the dining room turned chaotic. The few servants looked at each other watching the Ledger family's chaos.

Selena looked at Berthan. "Father, Aldrich and I need to leave now. We want to talk about the wedding."

"You guys are having a wedding too? Why didn't you tell me?" Berthan asked.

Selena had not yet discussed it with her father because it was still impossible for her.

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "A party? You're only going to get married in the civil registry and it's going to be a small party with no more than 100$."

Claire laughed. "They, right, don't have any money. A servant's son like him can't possibly afford a wedding."

Berthan put down his fork and spoon. "That's it, be quiet!"

Berthan looked at Aldrich and Selena in turn. "Should I give you extra money to help with your wedding?"

Aldrich shook his head. "No need, sir. We can handle it ourselves. I have enough money for our wedding."

Charlotte frowned. "Oh, what an arrogant fool this man is. He's been offered help, but he's acting like he's refusing."

Claire pointed her index finger at Aldrich and Selena. "What an unlucky couple! You should be thanking my husband for helping pay for the wedding of lowlifes like you!"

Charlotte chuckled. "Where would a poor couple like you get the money without our help? You ungrateful lowlifes!"

Claire and Charlotte laughed together. Making Selena pensive. Although Selena was Berthan's daughter, the treatment she received was very different.

Berthan massaged her dizzy forehead. "Never mind, you can go."

Selena nodded her head and immediately led Aldrich out of the house. Aldrich complied, following Selena into the car.

Selena drove the car quite far away from the housing complex, then stopped at the side of the road. She looked distracted and upset. Selena got out of the car, followed by Aldrich.

"What were you doing earlier? You told them you could handle our marriage?" Selena stared intently at the face of the man before her.

"I can handle it."

Selena tapped her forehead. "It's useless. We won't be able to fight them. We're both at rock bottom. You know that, right?"

Aldrich shook his head. "No, you're wrong. We can fight them. Just trust me."

Selena bit her lower lip while tapping her forehead. She didn't know how to convince Aldirch that their position was very weak, unable to fight back.

Selena rubbed her face roughly. "Never mind, I'm sick of hearing your words."

Selena got back into her car and drove away leaving Aldrich alone on the side of the road. Not long after, a luxury car pulled up right in front of Aldrich.

A 40-year-old man in a black suit got out of the luxury car. His messy brown hair glistened in the sunlight.

"Good morning, Master Aldrich Walton," greeted Jose, the waiter specially prepared to serve Aldrich.

The man smiled kindly while bowing half of his body, respectfully to Aldrich. Aldrich only responded with a nod of his head.

The Walton family was a family that liked to work in silence. They didn't like to be publicized, and no one really knew who the members of the Walton family were, apart from Alex Walton, the founder. 

But when it comes to their assets, it's always the number one big news story in the media. No page is missing when it comes to the Walton family's wealth. They have invested quite a lot of shares in almost all major companies in several cities.

"I have come to serve you, Master." Jose was very respectful to his master, even though Aldrich had not asked him for anything.

Aldrich remembered something. "Can you prepare all the marvelous things for my wedding?"

Jose's brow furrowed. "Extraordinary things?"

Aldrich nodded. "Yes. I want my wedding to be the most extravagant wedding that no one can forget. From the decorations and everything, it has to be extraordinary. Can you do that?"

Jose nodded, but he would do anything for Aldrich. Luxurious and expensive things, of course, came first. He was quite understanding of Aldrich's request.

Aldrich held up his index finger. "One more thing, please send lots of gifts for Selena. Make sure they are expensive and luxurious."

"Yes, Master." Jose agreed without asking again