001. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Ornamental and expensive flashy lights brightened up the living room of the flamboyant Fallon mansion. The place was always beautiful but that evening, they had made extra efforts to make it even more appealing to the eyes.

The reason for it was because that day was the 75th birthday of Rosa Fallon, the oldest woman in the family who also happened to be the head of the Fallons.

Her children and grandchildren all gathered around, along with some extended family members to celebrate her and shower her with luxurious gifts.

"Oh wow, is this really you Miss Fallon?" An older woman approached a young woman, a bright smile plastered across her face that had obviously been altered with plastic surgery. Even though the younger woman was married, and it was a well known fact, she still addressed her as Miss, rather than the normal Mrs used when addressing married women.

"My, you haven't aged a bit Mrs Cornelius." The younger lady smiled just as energetically.

"Oh you flatter me dear, how is your mother?"

"She's doing very well. She's over by the cocktail stand if you would like to have a word with her."

"Oh is she? Well maybe I'll just go ahead and say hi then."

"Alright then."

She bowed her head slightly as a sign of respect as she watched the woman leave, then almost immediately, her eyes fell on another man walking past her. "Ah Mr Hernandez, it's been a while…"

Fake.

Everything was fake.

The smiles, the friendliness, the hugs and kisses, even the congratulations. They were all fake. Even the people at the party were fake.

The young woman who was busy greeting everyone around was Ciara Fallon, the youngest child and only daughter of the Fallon family, one of the most powerful and influential household in the entire city.

Her beauty was enchanting and her voice was even more captivating. Some people even believed that she was the most beautiful woman in the city… he believed it too.

An old but expensively decorated woman waltzed into the large living room, a look of delight on her face. After all, she was the star of the show.

"Happy birthday Gram." Ciara rushed to the old woman's side and linked her arm with hers. "Wow, you look so beautiful. You really are the belle of the ball."

"Thank you dear, you look very lovely as well."

"Thank you Gram."

"Happy birthday Gram," a slender, well dressed man walked up to the old woman. "I got you this diamond necklace, it's made with real diamonds and it's worth over ten million dollars."

"Oh thank you George."

George Fallon, the youngest millionaire of the family and also the elder brother to Ciara. Apparently he was really smart and he was able to come up with a code at age fifteen and was also able to sell for millions of dollars.

He didn't believe it though, for someone to be able to create a code that could be worth millions, he would need an extremely high level of intelligence and George… well, he was lacking in that aspect.

"Happy birthday Gram Fallon." Another man said, holding a large box in his hands. "This is a fur coat, I assure you it's the real deal, guaranteed to make you look and feel good on any occasion."

"Thank you David."

"Happy birthday Gram Fallon, oh and may I borrow five million dollars?"

"What?!" The entire Fallon family gasped in shock and all eyes turned to him, a look of bewilderment on their decorated faces.

Dominic Shay was the live- in son- in -law of the Fallon family, he was also Ciara's husband.

Two years ago, Ciara's grandfather found him and decided to take him in. He also demanded that Dominic be married to Ciara, even though Dominic was as poor and measly as a beggar.

"This live- in son-in -law sure is something!" David said, a frown on his face. "Not only did he not prepare a present for Gram, he has the audacity to beg for money too."

"Wow, Ciara you really have a trashy husband." Another lady stated. Though Dominic had no idea who she was, since the family was quite big it was impossible for him to keep up with every cousin and son- in- law.

"Please Gram, forgive him." His wife, Ciara apologized on his behalf but Dominic wasn't feeling apologetic at all. "He must be joking."

"I'm not. I really need the money, and I know you can give it to me Gram."

Unfortunately, Ciara's grandfather passed away just a few months after their wedding and ever since then, everyone in the family had been plotting different schemes to drive him out. However, Dominic was impervious and nonchalant just like a statue despite all the ridicule and insults. Spending his days as the quiet live -in son- in- law of the Fallon family.

He had run out of all options and was in a desperate need of a loan from Gram Fallon.

Mrs Jameson, the woman who had kindly helped him before he came across the Fallon family was sick and in need of at least five million dollars for a heart transplant. He had no hope elsewhere so he decided to beseech Ciara's grandmother, the breadwinner of the Fallon family.

His intention was that her cheerful birthday mood would have enabled her to show some mercy and render her assistance. But he was wrong.

The old woman had been laughing merrily with her guests when her lips suddenly curved downwards and her brows furrowed out of shape to gift him with a deep scowl.

She flung the wine glass in her hands angrily at Dominic but he easily evaded it. "You bastard! How dare you ask me for such amount? And on my birthday too."

"Oh Ciara, how unlucky you really are." Ciara's cousin, Maria, sneered in disdain. "Just look at my boyfriend, Tomas, we're not even married yet and even he prepared a gift for Gram. It's like, they're both son- in- laws of the Fallon family, but your husband is a useless one." She finished with a slight laugh, and a few of the Fallons joined in.

If it wasn't for the reason he was asking, Dominic would have excused himself from the horrible party, but Mrs Jameson was far too important to him so he just stood there and endured it all. After all, it wasn't the first time they would make him a subject of ridicule.

"Gram, this is a very urgent matter, I beg you to show mercy."

"Keep your mouth shut! Why on earth would you try to ruin our merry time with such an outrageous request? Besides, who the hell do you think you are to ask our Gram for money?"

The person speaking was none other than George, his brother -in -law who despised him deeply. He hated the fact that a nobody like Dominic could end up with his sister so he made sure to attack him whenever the opportunity arose.

"I really am sorry everyone, Dominic just has some rather... expensive jokes sometimes." Ciara linked her arm with her husband's, trying to urge him out of the room when gram Fallon spoke up.

"Since it's my birthday and I'm feeling generous… I'll help you." Gram Fallon said, a sinister smile on her face. "You asked for five million right? Well I'm going to give you ten."

It wasn't like Gram Fallon to be so generous, unless she had an ulterior motive and whatever it was that she was planning, Dominic already knew he wasn't going to like it.

"Leave my granddaughter and my house and I am going to give you ten million dollars right here, right now!"