The Man Behind The Empire

Chapter 5

Harvey took a long breath. His fingers kept moving across the phone screen, completely ignoring the three people now standing right beside him.

“Judy, looks like besides being a beggar, he’s gone deaf too.” Kane’s voice cut through the late-afternoon air, thick with deliberate mockery and loud enough for nearby park-goers to hear.

Kane stood tall and arrogant, one arm wrapped around Judy’s waist as she smirked beside him. Lily stood between them. The little girl wore a brand-new designer dress Kane had bought her, her small hand tightly holding his instead of even glancing at her real father.

Harvey looked up slowly. His eyes swept over the scene in front of him without a single flicker of offense.

What he felt wasn’t anger, it was pure irritation. Their presence was interrupting the global server encryption test he was monitoring.

“Wrong place if you’re looking for an audience for your cheap little drama. I’m busy. Leave.” His voice was calm, weightless. He dropped his gaze back to the phone.

Judy let out a sharp huff, folding her arms and lifting her chin.

“Busy? Busy counting spare change on the street? Wake up. That act isn’t going to make me feel sorry for you. You’re just a useless man frustrated because you’ll never reach Kane’s level.”

“She’s right,” Kane added with a wide, irritating grin. He crouched down to Lily’s height and gently ruffled the top of her head.

“Look at your own daughter. She’s even ashamed to admit a guy dressed like this is her father.” He straightened up again.

Harvey stopped tapping the screen. He turned his head slowly and looked straight at his daughter.

“Lily.” His voice was soft as he reached for her small fingers.

But before their hands could touch, the little girl yanked hers back. She hid behind Kane’s body, staring at Harvey with a cold, hateful look, one that had clearly been planted by Judy at home.

“Don’t touch me! Your hands are dirty! I don’t have a beggar for a dad! Uncle Kane is way better and richer than you!” Lily’s voice was sharp and cutting.

Any father’s heart would have shaken. Harvey’s face stayed frozen like ice. His gaze shifted to Kane, who was now laughing in open satisfaction at his pain.

“You hear that, Harvey? Even your own daughter knows who deserves to be called ‘Dad.’” Kane was clearly enjoying every second of the humiliation.

“That’s why you shouldn’t have gotten cocky. Acting all high and mighty about the divorce. Now you’re wandering the streets. You regret it, don’t you?” Judy piled on.

Harvey gave a bitter little smile and looked at his ex-wife. “Regret it? Sorry. I don’t regret it at all.”

Judy scowled at the answer. “Please. You’re just too proud to admit it. But you’d better know, my patience has limits. I’m sick of that entitled attitude of yours!”

“Thanks for the honesty. Don’t worry. I won’t interfere in your life again.” Harvey’s voice stayed calm, but every word carried quiet certainty.

“Fine! Hold you to that. Don’t expect me to ever open the door for you again. I’m marrying Kane soon. Hope you don’t regret it!”

Harvey let out a soft chuckle. “Is that so? Congratulations to both of you. I hope you’re happy.”

Judy grew more irritated. The man who used to be her husband was far too calm. She had expected him to regret everything and beg to come back.

‘What game is he playing? Why isn’t he begging to come back to me?’ she wondered, confused.

Kane reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, and handed it to Lily.

“Sweetheart, give this to the poor man in front of you. Think of it as charity from our family so he can eat today.”

Lily took the money with proud, shining eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, the little girl stepped forward and threw the bill straight at her father’s face. The hundred-dollar bill floated down and landed in Harvey’s lap.

“Here’s money so you can go home! Don’t ever come near me again! Uncle Kane is going to take care of me!” Lily shouted without a shred of guilt.

The sidewalk around them went quiet. A few passersby started glancing over and whispering.

Kane and Judy smiled in pure triumph, savoring the moment Harvey’s last scraps of dignity were crushed.

But his reaction wasn’t what they expected. He didn’t get angry. He didn’t even pick up the money sitting in his lap. He simply raised one eyebrow, then slowly curved his lips into a thin, terrifying smile, a smile with no warmth in it at all. Cold. Absolute.

Before Harvey could open his mouth to reply, the phone inside Judy’s bag suddenly rang.

She frowned, annoyed at the interruption in the middle of her victory. She pulled the phone out with one hand, still staring at Harvey with disgust.

“Hello?” She answered sharply.

“Ma’am! Sorry to interrupt. There’s important information I have to tell you!” Her personal assistant’s voice was rushed.

Judy rolled her eyes, irritated. “What is it? Don’t yell in my ear. I’m outside.”

“The ‘Mr. H’ account, the cyber master every billionaire in the world has been looking for, just came back online after six years of being completely dark!”

The color drained from Judy’s face. Her blood ran cold, making the phone tremble in her grip.

“What? Mr. H is back online?”