“Kia,” Maria began, her voice barely above a whisper. “What are you doing here? You weren’t invited.”Rene met her eyes, his gaze unwavering. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, elegant envelope. The golden seal glinted under the chandelier's light, and he handed it to her with a soft smile.“Mr. Gunnar didn't see me as useless after all,” he said quietly, but with a hint of pride. “He sent my invitation later than the rest of the family, and I kept it a secret because I wanted to surprise you. I wanted to make you proud of me.”Tears prickled at the corners of Maria’s eyes as she took the envelope. She could feel the weight of the moment, the tension in the room, the stares from her family and the guests. But all that mattered was the man standing in front of her, the man who had always been by her side despite everything.“Are you proud of me now, Maria?” Rene asked, his voice gentle as he brushed a tear from her cheek. “I know I may not be up to their standar
The smirk on Ron's face widened as he lifted his shoe slightly, raising a brow at Rene, and mumbled, "Go ahead and amend for your mistake. Lick it."The room was cold with silence and some guest anxiously waited with a mocking smile, their eyes glinting with a cruel interest. Within the blink of an eye, the tip of Rene's shoe slammed into his neck, bringing Ron to his knees with a choked gurgle.Before he could catch his breath, Rene grabbed him by the neck, snatching the smashed Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs off the floor, squeezing his neck till his mouth opened wide enough, and then he shoved the egg into his mouth.When Rene let go, Ron dropped to the floor, choking for air, his eyes widening in horror, unable to speak as he desperately tried to take another breath.The look of horror on the guests' faces deepened, and no one dared move for a while as they watched.A frown finally crossed Leonardo's face, and a bloodthirsty look settled there. He was about to take a step when his fat
As the initial shock of the confrontation began to wear off, the murmurs in the room grew louder, each guest grappling with the unexpected turn of events. The members of the Rossi family exchanged bewildered glances, their faces reflecting a mix of shock and concern.“Did you see that? Mr. Gunnar just sided with that... that son-in-law of ours against the Varga family. This is a disaster!” Vittoria's eyes were wide as she whispered to her husband, her voice trembling with disbelief. Josh’s face was pale as he looked around, trying to make sense of the situation. “How could he? This will only anger the Varga family more. They won’t forget this. We’re in serious trouble.”Staring at her parents, Layla couldn’t contain her disbelief. “Did Mr. Gunnar really just back him up?""He's new in the business circle and he dares make enemies with the Vargas. How foolish... He is in for a rude awakening. A lot of people may not want to work with him now." Mr. Abett mumbled with a sigh.Mr. Rossi,
The room buzzed with whispers and hushed conversations as the Fords entered. The sudden appearance of such powerful figures sent ripples of shock and curiosity through the gathered guests. Gunnar's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Rome Ford, Catherine, Mr. Ford, and Mr. Miller make their way through the crowd. He could feel the weight of their presence, their reputations preceding them.When Rome finally approached him, Gunnar instinctively bowed slightly, a gesture of respect mingled with nerves. But to his surprise, Rome extended a hand, grasping Gunnar's in a firm shake. The tension in Gunnar's shoulders eased just a fraction as he straightened up."So, you are the young fellow making bold moves recently," Rome said, his voice carrying a mixture of curiosity and approval.Gunnar tried to stay humble, his voice steady but respectful. "Yes, sir. It's an honor to meet you. Thank you for coming."Rome gave a small nod, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I've been hearing q
The room was abuzz with excitement and expectation as Gunnar stood at the front, a confident smile on his face. He cleared his throat, and the conversations gradually quieted down.“Ladies and gentlemen,” Gunnar began, his voice steady and commanding, “thank you all for coming. Tonight is a significant night for us as we announce new partnerships that will shape the future of our company.”He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the audience. Rome Ford and his family stood to one side, their presence adding gravity to the moment. Rene and Maria were close by, their expressions calm but watchful.“I am proud to announce that the first of these partnerships will be with the Ford family.” Gunnar gestured towards Rome, who nodded his head slightly, acknowledging the announcement.Applause erupted from the guests, mingled with murmurs of approval. Gunnar waited for the noise to die down before continuing.“The Ford family has a legacy of excellence and integrity, and the
At nine sharp on the dot, the broad room of the Rossi enterprise was occupied with every member of the family, seated at the oval table except for Maria and Carlo Rossi.With his sharp suit and tighter expression, Jason sat near the head of the table, his gaze darting towards the door every few moments. Suddenly, the large double doors swung open with a creak and Mr. Rossi entered with his usual commanding presence. His face was set in a grim expression as he looked around until his eyes locked onto his grandson and his scowl deepened.Jason's fist tightened as his grandfather strode over and sat down, giving him a piercing glare that held no warmth or welcome."Last night was a complete disaster," Mr. Rossi began, his voice firm and filled with disappointment. The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in as he addressed his family.Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his earlier bravado diminished under the weight of his grandfather’s gaze. He tried to maintain his
In the tense atmosphere of the boardroom, Antonio leaned forward, breaking the silence that Jason's departure had left. "Father, what are you planning to do about Maria?" he asked, his voice tinged with impatience. "Are you thinking about having her head the partnership with ReF Inc.?"Raising his gaze to his son's, Mr. Rossi’s expression remained unreadable, and he didn’t immediately respond. The pause stretched out, and Antonio’s scowl deepened. "Giving Maria the position would be like rewarding her bad behavior," he pressed. "And don't forget, she's supposed to marry Leonardo Varga for our future benefit with the Varga. There was already tension last night between the Vargas and Mr. Gunnar. If Maria directly spearheads the partnership, it will create even more hard feelings between us and the Vargas."Mr. Rossi's eyes flicked to Antonio, measuring him. "And what is your suggestion, then?" he finally asked.Antonio took a deep breath, clearly ready for this moment. "If we want to
Maria’s eyes were fiery as she continued, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her. “Why don’t we give Kia a position in the company and have him head the partnership with ReF Inc.?""What? What did you just say?" Josh blurted out, wondering if he had misheard her words. Sighing, Maria bit back her tongue for a moment and then said, "It was explicitly stated in the marriage contract that Kia would have a role in the company. He has a relationship with Mr. Gunnar, and this could help us more than just making a quick move with Antonio. Kia’s involvement would honor our promises and potentially strengthen our position with ReF Inc.”A murmur of surprise rippled through the room. The idea of giving Kia a leading role was unexpected, and Mr. Rossi’s eyebrows furrowed as he considered the implications. Antonio’s expression darkened with irritation, clearly disliking the challenge to his proposal.Josh’s face turned red with a mix of anger and disappointment. He glared at M