2025-02-21 11:00:35Adrian Stratton entered one of his favorite private clubs, a place he often escaped to when the world felt too suffocating. His steps were heavy, his face was tense, and his mind was filled with anger and disappointment.
After failing to secure a partnership with Xoldex, he certainly didn’t dare to go home. His grandmother’s cold gaze terrified him. He didn’t want to show his failure to anyone at this moment.
In the corner of the room, on a large sofa surrounded by beautiful women, sat Varel Luthan. He was both Adrian’s best friend and business partner—someone who always managed to find an opportunity in any situation. Varel turned and grinned widely as he saw Adrian approaching.
“Adrian!” he called out before chuckling. “You look like someone who just lost everything. Did you lose a bet again?”
Adrian scoffed and sat beside Varel without saying a word. With a sour expression, he poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp.
“So?” Varel tilted his head, scrutinizing Adrian. “What is it this time? Don’t tell me it’s about Celeste again.”
Adrian’s movements halted for a moment. His jaw tightened, and he let out a deep sigh.
“Shut up,” he snapped. “I have never been defeated by anyone, including my sister! It’s just... this time, I need to rethink my strategy.”
Varel smirked. He knew Adrian was too arrogant to admit failure. “So, it’s about Novatek. You still haven’t secured an investment from Lawrence Lincoln’s Xoldex, have you?”
Adrian slammed his glass onto the table, making some of the women around them flinch. “Do you think I want to talk about that right now?” he grumbled in frustration.
Roughly, Adrian pulled one of the women sitting on Varel’s lap and kissed her. The woman looked surprised but did not resist, simply letting Adrian vent his emotions.
Varel merely laughed. “Adrian, you’re going nowhere if you keep acting like this. If you want, I can give you some advice on how to take down Celeste.”
Adrian immediately stopped and looked at Varel with eyes burning with anger. “What do you mean?” he asked sharply.
Seeing an opportunity, Varel waved his hand, signaling the women around them to leave. Once they were alone, Varel leaned closer to Adrian.
“Listen carefully,” Varel said seriously. “Your biggest mistake was driving Celeste out of Novatek. No matter what, she was the one who built that company from the ground up. I know your sister’s character well. She’s stubborn and won’t give up easily.”
Adrian scoffed cynically. “Listen to you, praising her. Do you still want her as your wife, huh?”
Varel’s face stiffened slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. “This isn’t about that,” he replied firmly. “If you want to secure the investment from Xoldex, you have to bring Celeste back to Novatek. She’s the only one who can convince Lawrence Lincoln to sign the contract with you.”
Adrian slammed his fist on the table. “Are you insane? There’s no way I’m begging Celeste to come back! I already fired her!”
“Then prepare to fail again,” Varel replied calmly. “You know Lawrence Lincoln will never work with you without Celeste. So use your brain. Bring her back to Novatek, sign the contract with Xoldex, and after that, you can get rid of Celeste again.”
Adrian fell silent. His anger boiled over, but Varel’s words started to make sense. He knew Varel was right. Without Celeste, Novatek would never secure Xoldex’s investment.
But his pride screamed in protest, refusing the idea of begging his sister. “I’ll look like a loser in front of her!” Adrian protested.
Varel chuckled. “You already look like one now, Adrian. Trust me, this is the only way.”
*
Two hours later, Adrian was standing in front of his parents’ house, accompanied by two personal bodyguards. His right hand clenched into a fist, hesitating to knock. Celeste and Damien were living there temporarily, even though they were already married.
After being slapped by Damien last time, Adrian had become cautious. That was why he specifically hired two large, muscular men to accompany him.
Adrian took a deep breath. He knew what was going to happen. Celeste would not welcome him warmly. She would be furious, maybe even humiliate him for daring to show up after everything he had done.
But he had no other choice. Varel’s words echoed in his mind. If he wanted to save Novatek, he had to bring Celeste back.
Finally, with a heavy heart, Adrian knocked on the door.
A few moments later, footsteps were heard from inside. The door opened, and there stood his mother, her face a mix of surprise and joy. When Adrian decided to leave home and live in a luxurious apartment alone, she was the most heartbroken.
“Adrian?” she called enthusiastically, wanting to hug him.
Instead of welcoming his mother’s greeting with happiness, Adrian scowled and pushed her aside. Eleanor was even more confused when she saw the two men with her son, their faces unfriendly.
“I want to talk to Celeste!” Adrian snapped.
Eleanor looked disappointed, but she always tolerated Adrian’s behavior. “Are you drunk? You smell awful. Did something happen to you? And who are they?”
“Celeste!” Adrian shouted harshly, ignoring his mother. “Come out! I want to talk to you!”
Hearing the commotion, Celeste, who was about to sleep, was startled.
“Why is Adrian here? He always hated this house. Even as a teenager, he preferred living with Grandmother, who spoiled him. So why did he come today?”
Damien grabbed Celeste’s hand. “Let’s go out and see.”
Seeing Celeste coming down from her room, Adrian, who had been arrogant moments ago, suddenly laughed, trying to ease the tension. His two bodyguards stood at the door, making it clear that no one could leave until Adrian got what he wanted.
“Hey, Sis! Are you mad at me? I came to clear up a misunderstanding at the office. About your dismissal... you know... it was just a mistake.”
Celeste let out a small laugh, but there was no warmth in it.
Adrian clenched his fists, trying to suppress his embarrassment. “My staff were idiots. How could they fire you? Haha... Come on, Celeste, don’t be mad anymore. That’s why I came. I want you to return to the company tomorrow and sign the business contract with Xoldex. You said Novatek was valuable, right? At least hand it over to me after signing the contract with Mr. Lawrence.”
Eleanor, who had been ignored, finally spoke up. “Wait... Adrian, what did you just say? You fired your sister? What’s going on between you two?”
“Stay out of this, Mom! This has nothing to do with you!” Adrian snapped in anger. “You’re not even my real mother! You were just a servant in the Stratton family who got promoted to a mistress. Why are you so nosy?”
Eleanor’s face turned red with shock. She may not have given birth to Celeste and Adrian, but she had raised and cared for them since they were babies after their biological mother passed away. She loved them as her own. Adrian’s words deeply wounded her.
Smack!
A loud slap rang out, jolting everyone back to reality. It all happened so fast. Before anyone realized it, Adrian had already fallen to the floor, struck by Damien.
“Did your mouth never go to school? How dare you speak so rudely to my mother-in-law?”
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