Hearing Felix shout with such confidence, the girl trembled even harder, tears falling like a broken string of pearls.“You… how can you twist the truth like that…” She bit down hard on her lip, her red-rimmed eyes locked on him.“How am I twisting anything?” Felix shot back, unshaken. “You got close to me just to secure a full-time position. You’re young, but so calculating—I really fell for it! I thought you were sweet and innocent, but turns out you’re the most ambitious one of all.“You came here today to throw around wild accusations. Was it all for money?“Oh wait, that’s right! Your mom’s in the hospital, right? If you needed money, you could’ve just asked me! But no—you had to pull this stunt to extort me. You want to play this game? Fine. I’ll call the police. I’ll have you arrested for slander.”“Fine!”The girl shouted, throwing her arms in the air, her stance full of defiance—ready to go down with the ship if she had to.“Go ahead! Call the police! Have them dra
Mr. Perry Sr. looked utterly disappointed. “Felix, I’ve always known life hasn’t been easy for you. That’s why I never interfered when your father spoiled you.“But I never imagined he’d go so far, raising you into someone who’s arrogant, reckless, and completely without respect for rules or decency.”“Grandpa, I really—”“That’s enough.”Wilfred raised a hand to stop Felix. He had already seen where this was headed.If they didn’t give the girl a proper resolution today, Mr. Perry Sr. would have no problem sacrificing Felix to protect the Perry family’s reputation.Wilfred looked Mr. Perry Sr. in the eye and said solemnly, “Dad, however you decide to deal with Felix, I won’t object.”“Dad!” Felix’s face paled as he looked between them, but one sharp warning glance from Wilfred shut him up instantly.The room fell into heavy silence.Mr. Perry Sr.’s voice was raspy as he spoke slowly, “Young lady, the Perry family will make this right—we’ll compensate you… and this little brat
“Sean, did you hear? Felix is going to be your assistant!”Susan’s voice practically trembled with excitement as she clutched her son’s arm. She and Kiera had returned late and missed the fireworks firsthand but the housekeeper had already filled them in.“You’ve finally made it!” she beamed. “After the way Felix screwed up today, there's no way your grandpa will warm back up to him anytime soon. All we have to do now is stay in his good graces, and the Perry heir title is as good as yours!”Unfortunately, her triumphant words fell right into Wilfred’s ears. He had just come back in from the courtyard after making a call. Felix’s phone was still off, so he had no choice but to send bodyguards out to look for him—just in case he did something stupid again.Already frustrated, hearing that just added fuel to the fire.Wilfred’s expression darkened. “Keep dreaming.”His sudden voice made Susan jump.Sean met his father’s icy stare, not even bothering with a greeting. He just watc
“No, Sean, how could you say that about yourself? You’re not—”“Alright, you don’t have to say more.”Sean glanced in the direction Wilfred had gone, his eyes dark with determination. “Whatever’s meant to be mine, I won’t let anyone take it. One day, I’ll make sure you can hold your head high in this family.”Seeing the ambition brewing in her son’s eyes, Susan felt a deep sense of satisfaction. “I believe in you.”*The next morning, the sound of servants moving luggage stirred everyone awake in the Perry estate.Wilfred caught the butler by the arm. “What’s going on here?”“Mr. Perry Sr. is moving out to rest somewhere quieter.”“Where?” Wilfred pressed.“Not sure yet—it’s up to Mr. Lucas.”At that, Wilfred’s heart sank. Why was William Lucas suddenly involved?This couldn’t happen. If Mr. Perry Sr. left the estate and cut off contact, Sean becoming Felix’s supervisor would be locked in. There would be no reversing it.Just then, Wilfred saw the butler helping Mr. Perry S
After settling Mr. Perry Sr. into his new room at the nursing home and leaving the butler to keep watch, Layla stepped out into the hallway. In the distance, she spotted William speaking with a doctor.Perhaps sensing her gaze, William looked up and met her eyes. He then gave the doctor a polite nod to wrap things up.As the doctor walked away, Layla approached. “What were you two talking about?”“Levi asked me to bring Mr. Perry Sr.'s medical records so the staff here would have a full picture moving forward.”His eyes drifted past her, toward the room behind. “How’s he doing?”Layla tried to hold back a laugh and shot him a playful glare. “Now you care about Grandpa Perry’s feelings? Where was that concern when you sent someone to make a scene outside the house?“He’s spent his whole life protecting the family’s reputation and you used that to force him out. How do you think that made him feel?”William furrowed his brows. “You figured it out?”“Yesterday, the butler called
“One Sean is already more than enough. If Felix keeps going down the same path, I don’t think Xena can take it,” Shane muttered. “Oh, and one of my buddies told me Mr. Perry Sr. just made Felix work under Sean as his assistant.“With that temper of his, I bet that stings more than getting kicked out of the company. That’s probably why he didn’t tell Xena anything. He’s too embarrassed.”He kept rambling on, completely missing the way Mrs. Xander’s expression darkened.“Enough already,” she said, kicking Shane lightly under the table before glancing toward the stairs with a smile. “Xena, sweetheart—you’re up?”Shane froze. He snapped upright and followed Mrs. Xander’s gaze, his voice awkward, “Xena, uh… how long have you been there?”“Since the part where you were talking about Felix’s flings.”Xena stepped slowly down the stairs. “I’ve known for a while he wasn’t faithful. He’s been dodging my questions for so long. I’d already given up on expecting any kind of explanation.“You
While Felix was abroad, he had partied and messed around but he always knew where his path was. Whenever he was by Wilfred’s side, he focused all his energy on the company and had actually helped a great deal.That was why Wilfred believed that, despite his reckless ways, Felix was still worth shaping. If he could just settle down, managing the entire Perry empire would be well within his abilities.As a father, Wilfred knew it was his job to keep a tight grip on the reins and steer this wild horse of a son back onto the right path before it was too late. And right now? It was time to pull hard.“Your grandfather’s health is failing,” Wilfred said, “and no one knows how much longer he has. This is the most important time for you to show him who you are. You can’t afford to give up now.“If he doesn’t leave a will, the company might need to hold an internal vote to choose the next heir. Are you confident you can beat Sean?“Felix, the only way forward is winning your grandf
“The older you get, the more you find yourself chewing on old regrets. Over and over—like gum. And eventually, there’s just nothing sweet left.“But really, what’s the use? What’s done is done.”Mr. Perry Sr. looked up at the sky. A quiet calm settled in his eyes.“What I should’ve wished for… was for you to have a better life. Truth is, the Perry family never deserved you.”Layla remained silent.There was really no point in continuing this conversation. She and Sean had ended a long time ago. In these past three years, she had gradually forgotten the little details about them—so much so that she could no longer remember what made her fall for him in the first place.Now, Sean meant less to her than a stranger.Suddenly, a voice rang out behind them.“Grandpa!”A blur of motion darted across the garden. Felix dropped to his knees with a loud thump in front of Mr. Perry Sr., gift boxes spilling at Mr. Perry Sr.’s feet.A group of bodyguards moved quickly, closing in. Layla
It had been over a month since William left the Lucas estate.During that time, Mr. Lucas Sr. never once mentioned his name. It was as if, by refusing to speak of him, he could pretend that son of his didn’t exist at all.But everyone in the house could tell Mr. Lucas Sr. wasn’t doing well. He seemed irritable every day, constantly nitpicking and losing his temper over the smallest things.The staff couldn’t help but miss the days when William was still living at home. Back then, Mr. Lucas Sr. had always been in good spirits, smiling often and treating them kindly.Of course, Lucien noticed Mr. Lucas Sr.’s bad mood too. No matter how busy he was, he always made time to keep Mr. Lucas Sr. company, playing chess and casually bringing up company matters while he was at it.With William gone, Lucien had been working overtime to win his father over. He figured that as long as he put in enough effort, one day, he might just take William’s place in his father’s heart.Until one afternoo
Nearly a month had passed. Today, Shane heard that Carly was finally attending a class reunion, and he wasted no time getting himself cleaned up and ready to see her.Following the tip from a friend, he quickly found the private room where Carly was.With his usual bright, confident grin, Shane pushed open the door. “Hey, everyone!”For years now, everyone knew Shane had been chasing after Carly. His arrival instantly set off a round of playful teasing.“Well, well, here comes Shane looking for Carly again! Who spilled the beans to you this time?”“Guess that means we’re drinking on Shane’s tab tonight!”Laughter broke out around the room.Shane was completely unfazed. He laughed heartily. “No problem! Tonight, it’s all on me!”“Thanks, Shane!”Amid all the laughter and cheers, Shane made his way straight toward Carly.The moment he sat down beside her, Carly abruptly stood up. Shane quickly grabbed her wrist.Shane tightened his grip, his tone turning a little pleading. “Co
After hearing what Felix said, Mr. Xander’s expression darkened.Ever since Layla had come back alive, their family had never gone out of their way to mess with her. But her very existence kept getting in their way. And now, she was even standing in the way of Xena’s marriage.Seeing Mr. Xander hesitate, Felix quickly pressed his advantage. “Mr. Xander, you are Layla’s father. Maybe... you could talk to her? Maybe she’d give you some face and agree to let me see my grandpa.“If Grandpa gives us his blessing, I promise I’ll marry Xena properly right away. She won’t have to wait any longer.”That kind of promise was hard for Mr. Xander to resist.After a long pause, he finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do.”Felix beamed. “Great! I’ll wait for your good news then, Mr. Xander.”Mrs. Xander had been sitting nearby, watching this whole exchange. Once Felix left, she quickly walked over to Mr. Xander’s side. “Are you really planning to go see her?”“Chris and Shane tried l
“After I found out I was pregnant, I really thought maybe I’d get to have you back,” Xena whispered. “But look at you… you’ve been dragging your feet about the divorce this whole time. Sure, you can wait for the perfect timing, wait for the right excuse to leave her…“But me? I can’t wait. My belly’s getting bigger every day. Sooner or later, people are going to notice. And when that happens, what am I supposed to do?”She sniffled quietly, sounding fragile and heartbroken but her eyes were completely dry, filled with nothing but calculation.Sean sat there, only hearing the tears in her voice, guilt instantly softening his tone. “Xena, I told you… I’m not going to let you down again. I’m just waiting for Kiera to come back.”“And once she’s back, you’ll divorce her?” Xena pressed.“I will. I swear I will,” Sean replied, hesitating just a little. “But divorce takes time. It’s not something I can just snap my fingers and do overnight, you know that.”“Fine then.” Xena let out a
At the Xander estate, Xena stared at her phone, almost able to picture Sean fuming on the other end of the line. The faint curve of her lips betrayed her satisfaction.“Xena, stop staring at your phone. It’s not good for the baby,” Mrs. Xander said, her eyes glued to Xena’s belly like it was the most precious thing in the world. She looked both thrilled and content.Earlier today, it was Felix who had personally driven Xena back to the Xander estate. Even before heading to the nursing home, he had reminded her over and over to take good care of herself. The way he fussed over her was something Mrs. Xander had never seen before.Clearly, that baby meant everything to Felix. And with that child, Xena marrying into the Perry family was practically guaranteed.“Mom, the radiation from a phone is not going to hurt the baby. Don’t overthink it,” Xena replied with a soft chuckle.“Still, you need to take better care of yourself. A healthy baby means a happy relationship with Felic, remem
Sean didn’t even spare Felix a glance. Instead, he shot Kiera an irritated look. “Since you love chatting so much, go right ahead.”With that, Sean turned and walked off, clearly fuming. Watching his retreating back, Kiera only felt an overwhelming emptiness settle over her heart.Felix, however, wasn’t done running his mouth. “What’s the matter, Sean? Leaving already? Not even gonna congratulate me?”He deliberately raised his voice, calling after Sean, “Getting mad won’t change anything. What matters is having kids!”“That’s enough.” Wilfred finally cut in, his tone sharp. Then, turning to Kiera, he softened a little. “You must be tired after the long flight. Go get some rest.”“Okay.” Kiera nodded politely before heading upstairs.But before she even reached the room, she could already hear Susan’s voice behind the closed door.“Did you see him? Felix is practically glowing with pride. If Xena really has that baby, there won’t be a place left for us in this family.”“Mom, ke
At the Perry estate, Felix stormed back from the nursing home, still fuming with anger. Wilfred, who had heard enough of his ranting over the years, was already growing impatient.“Alright, enough already. If you’ve got the guts, go yell at William Lucas instead,” Wilfred said flatly.“Dad, don’t think I won’t!” Felix snapped, still riding his temper. “William’s not even the president of Lucas Corporation anymore! For all we know, the Lucas family might’ve already cut him off. To me, he’s nothing now!“I’m gonna find out exactly where he’s hiding, and I’ll go confront him myself! Who does he think he is, locking up Grandpa like that? Refusing to let us see him? That’s illegal!”Wilfred shot him an unimpressed look. “Did you forget Grandpa left with him willingly? If you go kicking up a fuss and Grandpa ends up defending him, aren’t you just making a fool of yourself?”Felix snorted, completely unconvinced. “This time’s different! I’ve got something big to tell Grandpa. He’s going
These kids had spent their whole lives being overlooked. But now, for the first time, being part of this video shoot made them feel needed. Every single one of them threw themselves into it with everything they had.And Ryan noticed it all.He didn’t say much, but deep down, he had already accepted Layla and William. Maybe even liked them a little. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered coming over and striking up conversation like this.“Got it,” Ryan replied casually. Then he glanced at William and added, “I’m gonna head over. If you get bored, come hang out with us.”With that, he ran off with the other little boy, disappearing into the distance.William watched them go, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The caller ID showed it was Mike.William pressed the phone to his ear. “What is it?”“Mr. Lucas, Felix showed up at the nursing home today. He wants to see Mr. Perry Sr.,” Mike reported. “He says he’s got good news. A
Once Layla’s crew arrived in town, the promo shoot finally started moving forward step by step.Layla was so busy she barely had time to catch her breath, let alone chat with William. Most nights, the moment her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.As for William, he spent his days quietly hanging around the edge of the filming site, keeping his presence as low-key as possible.But even so, that didn’t stop her crew from whispering among themselves.“Hey, do you think Mr. Lucas and Miss Xander are a thing?”“Who knows? But I gotta say, look at Mr. Lucas showing up here every single day. That level of dedication? Tell me that’s not romantic.”“Pfft. That’s such a double standard. If he’s handsome, it’s romantic. If he’s ugly, it’s creepy.”“True, true.”Bits and pieces of gossip drifted into Layla’s ears, but with so much work to juggle and such a tight deadline, she really didn’t have the energy to care.Besides, deep down, she knew perfectly well that she was already gettin