"Pay all Aaron's debt and call him. Invite him properly to return to Castell Corporation," Lily said boldly."Do I really need to do that?" Edward replied with annoyance. He felt humiliated to even think about doing it.Back then, Aaron left the company stubbornly even after Edward offered to raise his salary. Edward even threatened Aaron, warning him that Castell won't help him if he ever got into trouble with his new company. Yet, Aaron still walked away and left Castell Corporation in confidence, truly believing that his talent and his capability alone would be enough for him to start his own business. Strangely, despite how impossible it sounded back then, Aaron managed to prove that he was right. Aeroxx was established without any help from Castell Corporation. But a father was a father after all. Later on, after Aeroxx's name began to rise inside the business industry, Edward slowly transferred some funds to the company in order to support his son. He lowered his ego and wanted
That night, Edward made a phone call to his son, Aaron. Strangely that man answered his call straight away as if he was expecting it. Usually, Aaron wouldn't even pick up his call. Even if he was to pick it up, he would wait until it was like the fifth time Edward call before he did so."Hmm..." Aaron just hummed as a greeting, having lost the sense of respect or closeness with his father."Your mother came to see me this morning. We discussed a few things," Edward said awkwardly, didn't know how to start the conversation."Hmm... okay," Aaron replied simply, well aware of it because his mother informed him this morning too. Lily reminded him to tell her if his father didn't call him tonight. Looked like the old man listened to his wife and that made Aaron feel a bit amused. That meant his mother still had her strong charm of influencing his father's mind."Come to the company whenever you're ready. The CEO position is all yours. And... don't worry about the debt, I had informed Noah
"Sorry to bother you," Adrian added, sensing Aaron's hostility. He scratched his head a bit looking shy for some reason.He was four years younger than Aaron. They grew up almost together but Aaron was never friendly to him. Back then, Adrian couldn't understand why Aaron hated him. But as he grew older, he gradually saw the reason and he began to accept it. He tried to be understanding and never took it to heart whenever Aaron shunned him away, refusing to make any connection or interaction with him. The day their father requested Lily Castell to allow him to work in Castell Corporation, Aaron left the company.Adrian never hoped much of getting a chance to work there. In fact, he thought he didn't deserve it. But then a few years later, Lily suddenly gave the green light for him to join the company. Originally, back then he was supposed to be the Managing Director. But since Aaron left, their father gave him the CEO position.Adrian always knew that it was not really his right to ta
"Are you really going to be like this again, Liam? Why did you always question me whenever I did something good for the company? The other day, you questioned me after I got ten project collaborations for Campbell. And now, you want to question me again about my microchip project?" She retorted calmly."It's not your project, isn't it? You stole it from someone," Liam accused her directly."Excuse me?" She chuckled in disbelief, looking at him with her eyes flaring with annoyance."Of course, it's my project! Do you think it's easy for me to find a group of engineers working on some potentially profitable microchip project? It wasn't easy and I worked hard to find it for our company so we didn't have to beg Aeroxx for their microchip like you did before. Are you a dog? Begging for their food as if Campbell aren't capable enough to have our very own microchip project?" She insulted his past action critically and that made Liam slightly offended.He scoffed at her and shook his head in
His eyes became reddened and he tried hard to hinder his tears from falling. His breath was getting heavy as he tried to mention his apology to her."I'm... sorry, Kathy. I'm so... sorry that you... had to go through that," he looked down only towards the table, feeling truly ashamed to even meet her gaze. He felt so bad for her. He felt horrible inside knowing Nora did all those things to her. He was there right beside Nora all this time. They lived in the same house, they went to work at the same company, so how could he not notice any of it? How could he not know anything about the scheme?"Please... I know I might sound shameless right now... But could you let it slide this time...?" Liam begged.He had a sudden thought about their father. That old man won't be able to accept this situation. If what Nora did get exposed, not just their father but the whole Campbell Corporation could fall to the ground. This was a high-profile crime and Nora was not messing with just anybody. It wa
The next morning, Liam Campbell came to the office and saw a list of invitations on his desk. It was for the microchip launching event that would be held by the end of the week at Emerald Hotel. He scanned all the companies that were invited there and didn't see Castell Corporation or Aeroxx Corporation. His brows knitted, wondering why Castell was not invited. Amidst his thought, Nora suddenly entered his office without knocking."I won't invite Castell. They're only going to ruin the mood with their moody attitudes. That family don't like getting beaten," she said with no apparent reason as if she could read Liam's mind."How about Aeroxx Corporation?" Liam asked, seeming uninterested in the matter, but still asking just in case Kathleen was asked to attend the event later by their father."Aeroxx?" Nora burst out laughing."Yeah, Aeroxx. What about them?" Liam kept his serious gaze."Aeroxx had closed down, in case you forgot. There is no more company named Aeroxx in our country,"
On the night of the launching event day, Aaron told Kathleen that he had an unexpected meeting at Castell Corporation. While Kathleen said she had promised to hang out with Tiara at the mall. Aaron left the house first, wearing his normal suit to work. Kathleen left half an hour after, wearing a navy blue evening dress. She tried to dress simple so she wouldn't attract any attention during the launching event later. The last thing she wanted was for her picture to be taken by some photographers while she was not aware and got posted online. If that happened, her true identity would be exposed and Aaron would know instantly. She also brought some spare clothes with her, casual ones for her to change after the event ended. That would be her clothes when she came home so Aaron won't suspect anything.Aaron was on his way to Emerald Hotel for the microchip launching event. He arrived there early, but he waited inside the car, still thinking whether he should go in or not. Somehow, after A
Kathleen looked at Nora without saying a word. She was truly baffled to see how much Nora could pull up an act right now as if she never hurt her before. To be able to remain reserved and behaved like she was sinless, Nora was really such a terrifying person.Kathleen's mind slowly rolled back to the past when they were just young teenage girls. When Nora entered college to take a fashion design course, Kathleen had always looked up to her, having admired her sister and hoping that someday she could take the same course too. But her father had a different plan for her and she was forced to study business. Strangely, learning business was actually where her talent was. But the point was, back then Nora wasn't like this. She was not someone who would scheme on people. She loved helping her friends, especially those who studied fashion design together with her. 'What happened to you?' Kathleen wondered what was the reason that triggered Nora to change her attitude drastically. She was re
"You must be the less popular Castell, you didn't seem to be able to find anyone to mingle with at this party," Liam approached Adrian Castell from behind. The man turned around instantly at his words and scoffed when he realized it was Liam."So did you. The only Campbell who got invited," Adrian jested back."I talked with Aaron a bit just now," Liam went to stand beside him and offered to clink their drink glasses together, as a sign of affinity. Adrian just went along with it and then they sipped on their drinks while staring at the exact same spot, Sandra and her friends."She probably going to be my sister-in-law in the future. So I ought to come to her birthday party and make peace with her," Adrian remarked."Are you sure? Has Aaron introduced her to your family?""Not yet. Actually, he didn't really seem to give much thought to dating this woman... I mean, he had his entire focus on the company development, I don't think he had the time to date around.""So, why do you think
When Aaron left Sandra alone heartlessly, Seth Martin approached her. He took out a small velvet box from his suit and gave it to her. It looked like a ring box because it was small. Sandra thought it was a ring so she didn't dare to accept it."Just open it first," Seth said solemnly. He didn't put her birthday present on the gift table along with the other presents she got from her friends before. That was because he wanted to give it to her by himself.She took it carefully and glanced at Aaron that now stood so far away. The guy didn't seem to care about what she was doing. Sandra sighed heavily and opened the small box from Seth. There was a pair of pink crystal earrings inside."I thought it might match your personality. You always wore pink ballerina dress when you're teaching your students at the academy," Seth remarked."Thank you..." She replied slowly, showing almost no reaction after seeing the earrings. Her heart was still a bit disappointed that Aaron hadn't thought abou
Instantly, the word 'marriage' came up in Liam's mind. 'Did he mean having a truce through marriage?' He wondered. Aaron turned around and was about to leave him alone."Regardless, you won't be able to get back with Kathy. She didn't use our family name. So, she would be out of the picture for the truce arrangement," Liam said to die our Aaron's expectation of having a chance to be with Kathleen again."Really? Then, there's still Nora. Let's see what Kathy would think seeing her ex-husband marrying her half-sister. Let's just be one big happy family," Aaron emphasized his last sentence purposely, to piss off Liam."So, you're going to just agree to marry someone who steal from you before and ruined your company despite having a girlfriend right now? Look at Sandra right there. She's all happy thinking you love her wholeheartedly. But here you are plotting revenge on my family through a marriage arrangement. You're really a heartless guy, Aaron. Kathy would be so disappointed with yo
In the same week, Liam suddenly got an invitation to go to a birthday party at a local clubhouse owned by Castell Corporation, The Heritage. He felt odd about it because he didn't know who the person celebrating the birthday was. It was actually Sandra Wilson.A few months after Kathleen left, Aaron got back together with Sandra. He did it out of frustration, trying to find a way out of his feelings for Kathleen. The relationship went well but he never go intimate with Sandra. He still kept his boundary with her despite people starting to notice their relationship. In fact, he never made any special announcement or declaration saying that Sandra was his new partner. They were just together casually.On a Tuesday night, he held a surprise birthday party for Sandra. It was her thirtieth birthday party and Aaron invited all her friends and his friends too. Even Liam was included in the invitation. Certainly, Aaron deliberately did that to show Liam how well he moved on from his past marr
Rodney just shook his head as a response and all the policemen left his private room, giving him some privacy to rest. He was about to lie down on the bed again but his phone rang. He took it out from his suit that was placed on the bedside table, thinking that it might be a call from his family. But when he checked the caller ID, it was Nora Campbell."Fuck you! I'm not going to fucking answer that," he cursed alone while just throwing the phone back on his suit. He didn't dare to answer the call because it might be a test from Liam. Who knows what kind of trouble he might get into again if he answers the call from Nora? He had promised Liam last night that he won't bother Nora nor Kathleen again so from this moment forward, he had obstinately decided to never be in contact with any of the women at least for a few months.***"Are you sure about this?" Liam was on the phone with Kathleen. It had been two months since she left the country."Yeah... I think it would be better this way.
He saw Liam staring at him with some kind of menacing expression. Rodney got an instant reaction of trying to escape the room. He stood up and went after the door, but Liam was faster to block the exit."Not so fast..." Liam said with a sinister laugh."You just arrived..." he added and pushed Rodney's chest, making the man sit down again."I... I... I think I can't be too long here. I'm sure my parents won't let me stay out too late," Rodney stuttered in his words, trying to find some excuse to escape."Oh... come on Rodney. We're of the same age. I'm sure you could find some better excuse than that," Liam replied snickeringly."Why do you want to meet up with me anyway? We aren't that close. If this is about Kathy, I swear I never bother her anymore after she broke the engagement. I really never bother or pester her anymore. I swear," Rodney begged to be spare as Liam leaned his body closer to him and his collar was grabbed."You should have walked away silently after Kathy found y
"What did you say? What's his name again?" The man seemed in a state of disbelief. He wished that he just heard it wrongly."Aaron Castell," but Luffy repeated the same name.Liam was speechless. He glanced at his stepmother and the woman could see from his expression that something was wrong."Why?" She asked in anxiousness."Aaron came," Liam murmured to her in an almost inaudible voice."Sir?" Luffy was still in the line, waiting for the next order from Liam."Don't let him in. I'm coming there," Liam said and put down the phone.Victoria wanted to follow him out of the house but he told her to just stay inside. She was not in a stable condition right now and he feared she might lash out at Aaron for hurting Kathleen before. He didn't want the situation to get worse as their family were already enemies with the Castell.Aaron stood beside his car that stopped right in front of the main gate of Campbell's manor. He was waiting for the gate to be opened but the guard said he was not
"It's Aaron."The answer Liam gave made her sigh heavily. She felt like she wanted to berate Kathleen for making such a major decision without discussing it with her. Aaron Castell was the only legitimate heir of Castell Corporation. Even though that young man was not yet in charge of the company right now, everyone knew he would be the one who would replace Edward Castell to take control of Castell Corporation later. In short, Aaron was not someone that anyone would want to mess with. Now her daughter had been associated closely with that man, even to the extent of having married together. If Kenneth knew about this, Victoria was sure her husband would surely accuse Kathleen of trying to betray Campbell Corporation."This is bad. Don't tell your dad about this. I don't want the other Campbell to pick on Kathleen again. Are you sure they had really divorced? Why did they divorce? Wait... during the microchip launching event... we did introduce Kathy to Aaron. Did he not know that she
Later that evening when it was time to clock out from work, Aaron received a call from Detective Leon. He didn't hope to get much news about Kathleen that soon because he just hired the investigator this morning."Mr Castell, I'd check and saw your wife's car driving around the city about three days ago in the morning. And then later that day she parked in front of a hotel, I'm guessing she stayed there for a day. The next day, her car was seen driving into the Campbell's manor. And it never gets out from there until today. I think she's probably there inside that residential," Detective Leon explained through the phone.Aaron was silent to hear that information. But a smirk slowly appeared on his face. 'So, you're not that innocent after all. In the end, you returned to your vile family again,' he muttered internally, slightly having his mind assuming the bad about Kathleen again. He felt a bit disappointed that she left him before, thinking that maybe he was wrong. But after the det