August 16, 2024. Chapter 2-2. Thank you very much for waiting. Finally, the truth is out, but it looks like Adrian is not done yet. Guys, I know you want more chapters, but author-san requires a longer break. I'm taking Sat-Sun off and will resume updating on Monday. Happy weekend ahead!
After seeing all their rivals escorted out of the ballroom, Riley watched as Adrian announced, "I know this is all very shocking for most of you and at some point frightening, but rest assured; the changes can only get better from here.""The growth of the King's Medical Center is a testament to that, and my goal is only to enrich the company," Adrian promised. "So, worry not. In today's affair, we will not only celebrate The King's Enterprises' anniversary, but all directors, including me, will also share our plans for next year and the years to come. For now, I ask for your patience as we go through the formal program of the anniversary party."Adrian gave the floor to the host, and he, Riley, and Charles exited the stage. As they made their way back to the tables assigned to them, Riley could hear the host say, "Ladies and gentlemen, that was an explosive pre-opening. It was heart-pumping, jaw-dropping, and electrifying!"Riley laughed at the description. She asked Adrian, "Was it
"We are glad to announce the official partnership of the Wright Diamond Corporation, Dowel Landmasters, ACE Construction Firm, and the King's Enterprises!" Anthony King proudly said before the podium. Pictures were taken to capture the moment as all the leaders of the said companies smiled before the cameras on stage. Then, they all signed the contract together, with Clint assisting the CEOs in reviewing it. Adrian signed all the documents first, followed by Kyle and Charles. Then, Anthony and the directors of the King's Enterprises joined in the picture-taking. More than an hour had passed since the big revelations, and the anniversary party was already in full swing. A famous band took over the stage and played popular songs everyone effortlessly sang or danced to. More food and drinks were served, further delighting the stomachs of all the guests within the grand ballroom of the Marriot Hotel. At one table, Riley embraced Renee, saying, "Are you happy it's all over, Aunt?"Rene
At Northgate Penitentiary. “Mr. Cross! Mr. Cross! Why has no one come to see me?” Calvin asked the new prison warden as the latter toured the prison cells on a Saturday morning. He was inside his cell, holding the round metal bars that contained him. “I have been expecting visitors since the other day! Why have you not allowed any visitations?”The prison warden calmly turned to Calvin and replied, “Calvin Eros. Visitations will open this afternoon. You will have visitors later, and you’ll be glad to see them.”“Is it Jasper?” Calvin asked, referring to one of his paid men outside. “I would not know, Mr. Eros,” the warden said, resuming his walk.A hiss left Calvin’s lips. Four days ago, Northgate Penitentiary’s old prison warden was dismissed. Since then, the leniency Calvin enjoyed in lockup was no longer given to him. His prison account was now capped with a daily spending limit, restricted to purchases of food and personal hygiene items.Calvin had a hundred thousand dollars in
“No! No!” Calvin’s screams sent chills down Riley’s spine. Even in his shocked state, Calvin had a sinister look, with cold eyes beneath heavy brows. Unlike her father, he had darker features—dark brown hair streaked with gray and brown eyes. However, his skin was fair, as if he hadn’t seen the sun in years.“You can’t keep me locked up, Charles! I have to get out of here!” Calvin shrieked while he was being read his rights and restrained. ‘Wasn’t it enough, Charles, that you took everything away from me? Do you have to keep putting me down like this?” Calvin barked like a madman. “So you blame me? You blame me when this was all on you!” Charles retorted. “All I wanted was to be with the woman that I loved. You came in between us and resorted to separating me from my daughter too!”Because of the heated exchange in the room, the jail warden decided to take Calvin back to his cell. As Calvin walked past Riley, he studied her from head to toe. His lips quivered as if he wanted to say
“Are you ready, Honey?” Riley asked Adrian in excitement. “Not really the kind of bonding I was hoping for, Honey,” Adrian hissed as he sat beside his wife. Riley ignored her husband’s lack of interest. Instead, she turned to her father with a gleeful smile and said, “This is going to be so relaxing, Dad, and didn’t you say you’d like to relax?”“I -” Charles’ brows met. While in his seat, he turned to Riley with a complicated expression and answered, “I - I trust you, my daughter.”Riley and Adrian had been with Charles in Dowel City for two days. On the first day, they focused on gathering feedback from Charles’ doctor to understand how best to support him. The following day, they visited Raelyn’s grave. In the evening, they enjoyed a delightful dinner at the city’s top restaurant.Charles’ psychiatrist advised that spending quality time was the best way to support a family member dealing with depression. For Riley, the most effective way to do this was to enjoy a foot spa together
"So, you never got to see Mom's body, right?" Riley asked Charles. "No, she was already buried in Sever Port's cemetery when I found her. The police confirmed it was her through her belongings, and they said that -" Charles frowned, trying to recall the day that he discovered Raelyn's death. "The police said someone identified Raelyn - a neighbor.""There was—" Charles paused yet again. His hand covered his mouth as he explained, "There was no DNA I could compare Raelyn's body to, so I couldn't do that confirmatory test.""But the police," Charles resumed. "They reassured me it was her. I checked the documented identifications. They had Raelyn's driver's license and social security ID."The moment Charles said that, dead air fell upon the room. Almost everyone looked at each other and came to the same conclusion. "The police were in on it," Adrian suggested. Instead of going to Dowel City, the couple returned to Adrian's villa, regrouping after Ramona requested freedom. Renee and Ab
"Leni was here earlier," Charles revealed on the phone. "She came to pick up the rest of her things.""How did you feel about seeing her again?" Riley inquired as she exited her car. She had just arrived home from checking the Adley store when her father called."I was okay. I feel sorry for Leni, but she really needs to stand on her own two feet now," Charles described. "She begged me to help her get another endorsement.""Oh, " Riley said, making a face. "You are right, then. She does need to learn to stand on her own."Quickly shifting the discussion, she reminded, "Adrian and I will be in Dowel tomorrow. You said the results for the DNA test would be out by then, right?"Yes, they had, in fact, exhumed Raelyn's body. It had already been ten days since Ramona had dropped the big bomb on them, and it had been seven days since they had dug up Raelyn's remains. Despite waiting for the test, they had already begun searching for other properties that belonged to Calvin, Ramona, or any o
Riley observed her father as he scanned the results, his face draining of color before a storm of anger erupted. His voice trembled with fury as he exclaimed, “Calvin, how could you?!”Charles’ hand trembled as he turned to Riley. He revealed, “Riley, the person in your mother’s tomb did not match your DNA, nor did it have any match to Renee!”“That means Ramona could be telling the truth,” Riley muttered. “And my mother could still be alive?”“Oh, my goodness, my sister is alive,” Renee remarked. She almost fainted at the news that Anthony supported her weight. “Are you okay?” Anthony asked, and Renee balanced herself again with her walking crane. “Dad,” Riley cried out, rushing into her father’s arms and holding him close. “I know this is devastating, but on the bright side, Mom might still be alive!”Charles nodded as tears stung his eyes. He pulled away and said, “We need to find your mother as soon as possible.”“We will double our search and use all our resources,” Adrian offe