2024-10-18 23:43:25
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 234; Agreement to sign with Tether
Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Four; Agreement to sign with Tether Loreta was still fuming as she left the boardroom, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floors of the building. Her chest tightened with frustration. The audacity of those men from Tether had pushed her beyond her limits, and as much as she wanted to maintain her professional demeanor, their hollow apology and dismissive attitude grated at her.She couldn’t believe Gareth had arranged that meeting without giving her a proper heads-up, though she knew his intentions were good. Still, she wasn’t going to let them bully her into accepting a deal that felt like a trap. Not on her terms. Not when they had treated her so disrespectfully.As she reached the elevator, one of the Tether representatives, Edward, suddenly appeared beside her, his hand reaching out to stop the doors from closing.“Miss Loreta, a word, if you don’t mind?” he said smoothly, his voice trying to maintain its cool, business-like charm, but s
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 235; The Escape
Chapter Two Hundred and 235: The Escape Loreta stepped out of the building where she had just met with the representatives of Tether. The cool evening air did little to soothe the storm brewing inside her. She had agreed to their terms, but every fiber of her being felt like she had been forced into a corner. Her career was at stake no doubt about that—but the feeling of being trapped left a sour taste in her mouth. She wanted to scream, to yell at the world for making her feel like a puppet on a string. But there was no one to hear her, and even if there was, who would understand? Being a star wasn’t as glamorous as people thought. It came with a price, and tonight, that price felt too high. Loreta’s first instinct was to go home, lock herself in her apartment, and stew in her thoughts. But she quickly dismissed the idea. She couldn’t stand the thought of sitting in silence, letting her mind replay every word from that meeting. She needed to clear her head, to escape from i
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 236 A Turn of events
Chapter Two hundred and Thirty Six: A Turn of EventsLoreta’s heart raced as she inched closer to the side door. Something about the scene unsettled her, but she couldn’t turn away. The muffled voices she heard coming from inside were tense, low but heated. She hesitated, unsure whether to continue or retreat, but her curiosity won out. As she reached the slightly ajar door, she peered through the small opening. What she saw made her blood run cold.Inside, a young woman stood cornered by a man, her back against the wall. She looked terrified, her hands pressed against her chest as though trying to shield herself. The man, tall and rough-looking, had an air of entitlement about him, a smug grin on his face as he loomed over her.“Come on, Emma,” the man coaxed, his voice sickly sweet but dripping with malice. “I got you this job, didn’t I? All I’m asking for is a little payback.”The woman shook her head vehemently, her voice trembling as she spoke. “I don’t have any money rig
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 237. A Familiar Story
Chapter Two Hundred and thirty seven: A Familiar Face Loreta’s heart skipped a beat at Emma’s words. A celebrity being harassed, interrupted just in time, this story felt all too familiar. Emma sighed deeply, rubbing her arms as if trying to shake off the weight of the memory. “It was just a regular day at the restaurant, or at least I thought it was. I was working at one of those high-end places, you know? The kind where the rich and famous come and go, and we’re not supposed to acknowledge them unless they ask for something.” Loreta nodded, her curiosity piqued. She’d been to plenty of places like that, where the unspoken rule was to let people live their lives in peace. “Go on.” Emma continued, her voice steady, though there was a clear bitterness to her tone. “One day, I was told to bring a bottle of wine to one of the VIP rooms. I didn’t think much of it—just another task, right? But when I opened the door, I saw them. A group of men, drunk and laughing, and in the mi
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 238: A New Better Job
Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty right: A New Better JobLoreta led Emma back to her home, their steps slow as they processed the heavy conversation that had unfolded between them. The cool night air felt fresh, almost like a promise of something new, and for the first time in a long while, Loreta felt a sense of peace begin to settle over her.Inside the house, Loreta motioned for Emma to sit down at the dining table. The room was bathed in a soft, warm glow from the lamp overhead, casting long shadows against the walls. Emma hesitated for a moment before sitting down, still unsure of how to handle the weight of everything that had just happened.“I meant it when I said I want to help,” Loreta began, her voice quiet but resolute. She took a seat across from Emma, folding her hands in her lap. “Not because I feel like I owe you, but because it’s the right thing to do. You’ve been through so much because of something that happened to me, and I can’t just let that go.”Emma rubbed her
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 239. The picture that could change everything
Chapter Two hundred and thirty nine: The Picture That Could Change EverythingLoreta’s eyes were fixed on Emma’s phone as the younger woman nervously tapped the screen. A few quick swipes, and there it was, the photograph Emma had taken that night, the one that had cost her job. Loreta felt her breath hitch as she leaned in to get a closer look.The image was grainy, the dim lighting of the VIP room casting shadows over the men’s faces, but their postures told the story as clearly as if it were in high definition. Two men—powerful, entitled—closing in on a figure pressed against the wall. The figure, a woman, her hands raised in defense, her body tense with fear.A sick feeling pooled in Loreta’s stomach as she recognized the scene. It was her. That night she’d tried so hard to forget. She could almost feel the cold pressure of the wall against her back, the overwhelming stench of cologne mixed with sweat. But now, looking at this image, she felt something else—a spark of anger
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 240. Missing star
Chapter 240: The Missing StarThe atmosphere in the grand hall was electric, every inch of space filled with a carefully orchestrated sense of anticipation. Rows of sleek, metallic chairs were lined up before a stage adorned with banners bearing Tether’s emblematic logo, an elegant fusion of corporate prestige and youthful energy. Photographers clutched their cameras, lenses gleaming under the polished spotlights, while journalists held notebooks at the ready, murmuring excitedly amongst themselves.It was a big day for Tether—the unveiling of their most ambitious celebrity endorsement yet. Loreta, the face of countless successful campaigns, was set to become their brand ambassador, and today was supposed to be her moment. They had pulled every string to make this event an extravagant display of power and promise. Behind the scenes, executives and publicists paced, checking their watches and exchanging anxious glances. Every detail had been rehearsed to perfection, every photo angle
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 241. The silent arrest
Chapter Two hundred and forty one: The Silent arrest The morning light filtered gently through Loreta’s apartment windows, casting a soft glow over her tidy living room. She moved around, humming quietly as she watered her plants and sipped her coffee, an expression of calm contentment on her face. There was no trace of the whirlwind that had descended on her life the day before—no sign of the media frenzy, the missed signing, or the countless messages piling up on her phone. She moved through her morning as though the world outside her door didn’t exist.A sudden, firm knock interrupted her peaceful routine, echoing through the stillness of her home. She paused, setting her coffee cup down, and moved to the door without a hint of hesitation. When she opened it, she found two police officers standing in uniform, their expressions serious. Behind them, a representative from Tether looked on, his gaze a mixture of anger and bewilderment.“Loreta Mendez?” one of the officers asked,
Latest Chapter
363: The Echoes of Devotion
Chapter 363: The Echoes of Devotion The engine hummed beneath his fingers, but Chris couldn’t move. Not because of the pressure from the unseen force in the car, but because just before he shifted the gear, he heard it—faint, fragile… yet deeply familiar. “Master…” It wasn’t a voice. It was many. “Please, don’t leave us.”He was sure that was Jack stone’s voice. But it was so faint and strained among many others. “You showed us the way.” “They’ll find us, and we’ll die.” Their cries wrapped around his mind like tendrils of smoke—voices from the shadows, the ones he had liberated in the hidden planes, broken from slavery, given direction and hope. They were calling him. Not Connor. Not the council. Not the Ultimate. Him. And they were in pain. Chris gritted his teeth, hands frozen over the wheel. Whoever sat beside him, whoever had locked his body in place, didn’t speak again. It was as if this puppet master knew he was no longer the one in control. Chris’s
362; The Summoning
Chapter 362; The Summoning The roads blurred as Chris obeyed, his hands firm on the wheel though they no longer felt like his own. Each turn he took felt pre-determined, like the very city had been carved for this detour—a route pulled out of time and logic. Street signs began to fade into smoke. The sky above blackened, even though it was early evening. Then, the GPS on the dashboard flickered, glitched, then shut off entirely. His heart beat slower. Time seemed to still. Chris wasn’t just driving anymore. He was being summoned. The tires came to a halt in front of a crumbling cathedral at the edge of the old city—one that didn’t exist on any map. Stone gargoyles lined the archway, all facing forward except one. That one turned its head. Chris watched. Didn’t flinch. He stepped out of the car. The moment his foot touched the ground, the pressure vanished. His limbs were free, but the weight of what waited inside bore down on him heavier than ever. A cloaked figure sto
361: The Breaking Point.
Chapter 361: The Breaking PointThe had passed in slow motion.Stephany hd been a mess, for the past three days, she refused to eat, sleep or take a bath.She had been thinking about the turn out of events Chris didn’t show up on the news again. He didn’t call. Didn’t send messages. And yet Stephany knew he was watching. Somewhere in the corners of her solitude, she could feel his presence. She’d booked the hotel suite in a moment of desperation, barely hearing the receptionist confirm her room as she kept her dark shades on to hide the tears. She wasn’t crying anymore, though. She was empty. The whole world felt like a staged lie. Her father had manipulated her. Her mother had pushed her toward a man she didn’t know. Her best friend, Sandra, had stood by Chris’s side all this time, lying by omission. And Chris… Chris, the man she married thinking he needed saving, had never needed her at all. He was the storm in the shadows. And she was just… collateral. The wh
360; The Breaking Point
Chapter 360: The Breaking Point It’s the next day after Chris presented himself to the world in his full glory, the media has carried the news both far and near and the Preston’s were still in shock of the revelation. The Preston boardroom was unusually quiet that morning. Sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows, casting golden stripes across the dark mahogany table. The chairs were all filled—executives, advisors, partners from subsidiaries. But one seat at the head of the table remained empty. Stephany’s seat. Eleanor sat in her usual place, fingers steepled, a slight crease in her brow. She glanced at her watch again. Still no word. Still no daughter. Still no leadership. It had been two days since the gala. Two days since the world discovered that Chris Brown—the quiet son-in-law they mocked—was actually the president of MTD and the force behind Sterling Heritage. Two days since Stephany had vanished. “She’s taking time to think,” Eleanor said qui
359: Stephany’s Spiral
Chapter 359: Stephany’s Spiral Stephnay stepped our. And Chris followed her. The air outside the ballroom was colder than it should’ve been. Stephany’s heels clicked furiously against the marble as she stormed down the corridor, the silk of her gown swishing violently behind her. Her breath came in shallow bursts, not from exertion, but from the ache building in her chest, from the burn in her throat she couldn’t swallow. Everyone had lied to her. Everyone. Her father… who paraded around like he was the reason for the deal, when he was nothing more than a shadow. Her mother… who, for all her sharpness, had encouraged her to chase a stranger, unaware he was already sleeping in her daughter’s bed. Sandra… her friend, her confidante, who had stood by and said nothing while Stephany wept and doubted and begged. And Chris. Chris. The man she insulted. Defended. Hated. Loved. The man who, it turned out, had been ten steps ahead of her the entire time. She pushed
358; after the lights
Chapter 359: After the Lights The ballroom lights dimmed slowly, the last echoes of applause fading into the glittering hush of evening elegance. The crowd had dispersed into small clusters some lingering around the champagne bar, others whispering in stunned awe near the media walls. The air was thick with disbelief, admiration… and a new respect that hadn’t been there before. Chris Brown stepped off the stage like a man who had just laid his past to rest. His face was composed. His shoulders straight. But inside? A storm raged. He didn’t look for her in the crowd. He didn’t need to. He felt her. Stephany. And she was coming. Each step she took echoed like a countdown. He turned slowly to face her, meeting her eyes across the polished marble floor, under chandeliers that suddenly seemed too bright. Her heels clicked to a stop three feet in front of him. She didn’t speak at first. Didn’t blink. She just looked at him like she was seeing a ghost. No… like she was seei
357 the speech
Chapter 358: The Speech The ballroom, moments before electric with noise, now pulsed with stunned silence. The man everyone had ignored, mocked, and dismissed… stood before them. No longer in the shadows. No longer “just a son-in-law.” Chris Brown. The President of MTD Enterprises.If not because Sandra herself introduced him, no one would believe he was the owner of Sterling, the one calling the shots. The man who had, without the Preston name, without favors or inheritance, built a corporate empire that now stood at the helm of Preston Holdings’ salvation. He stepped up to the stage, his black tux catching the soft gold light of the chandeliers above. Calm, composed, magnetic. He didn’t need a grand entrance. He was the moment. The microphone felt cool in his hand as he brought it close. “Good evening,” he began, his voice smooth, quiet, but undeniably strong. The crowd leaned in. “I’ll keep this brief,” he continued. “I know the wine is flowing, and so
356; president on a bike
Chapter 356: The President on a Bike The Grand New York Ballroom shimmered with opulence. Glittering chandeliers hung like frozen stars above the gold-accented floor. Guests milled about in tuxedos and flowing gowns, laughter and polite applause filling the space as media crews tried to capture every angle. Business moguls, celebrities, and dignitaries gathered, sipping champagne and posing for press photos beneath the towering banners that read: “The New Preston Empire – Gala of Legacy and Innovation.” Charles Preston stood front and center, basking in the glow of attention. His tailored white suit gleamed under the lights, and he wore a practiced smile that hadn’t wavered since the event began. Every reporter, every business associate—he greeted them all with open arms and exaggerated humility. “I just did what any visionary would do,” Charles said during an interview, brushing invisible lint off his shoulder. “The expansion was necessary. And thanks to our trusted par
355; a night of glass And gold
Chapter 355: A night of glass and gold. Add her mother pushes her to welcome him The Grand New York Ballroom shimmered like a crown jewel in the heart of Manhattan. Crystal chandeliers dripped light onto mirrored floors, casting glittering illusions across a sea of tuxedos and couture gowns. The air was thick with cologne, champagne, and the sharp undercurrent of ambition. It was a night carved out for legends. And Charles Preston was ready to claim it. "Smile, Mr. Preston!" "Over here, Charles!" "The face behind Preston’s comeback!" Charles grinned wide, adjusting his cufflinks as camera flashes burst in succession. Reporters flanked the red carpet, microphones stretched forward like spears as he paused just long enough for the spotlight to settle comfortably on him. “Yes,” he said with polished ease, “we’re very proud of the progress Preston Holdings has made this year. Tonight is about celebrating that growth—and the vision that brought us here.”
