Chapter 2

"Shut-up, Phantom! You have to do this! You bring shame upon our family." The elderly woman's voice boomed through the room as she directed her anger towards her son.

The man appeared to be listening to the mother's words, but in truth, they seemed to pass through one ear and out the other without leaving any lasting impression.

He sneered at his mother, his lips curling into a contemptuous smile. Phantom vehemently denied his stepmother's proposal. Not a muscle twitched on his face as she spoke.

Phantom Claude Hyperion's keen perception allowed him to discern that the elderly woman's actions were motivated by a desire to maintain the family's influence.

Ignoring her plea, he watched as the old woman turned to Phantom's father for assistance.

"Dear! Look at our son! He isn't paying attention to his mother!" She let out a sigh of frustration, her lips curling into a frown as she voiced her discontent. Phantom took a long drag of his cigarette, the smoke curling around his lips as he grinned mischievously.

'Mother, your face!' He thought to himself.

The thirty-year-old Phantom Claude won't be fooled again, just like his young self. With a sharp intellect and unwavering confidence, he navigates through life with purpose and determination.

The elderly gentleman took a sip of his coffee and let out a deep sigh before turning his gaze towards his offspring.

"Phantom, pay attention to your mother. You should go away for a time. Simply ensure that the tidings disseminated by that woman fade into obscurity," he instructed. The words of his father echoed in his mind.

A heavy sigh escaped the man's lips. 'Why is this old man so submissive to his wife?' Phantom couldn't help but wonder if he was blind to the fact that they were essentially identical and that his words were directed towards both of them. Phantom took a sip of his coffee, lost in thought as he extinguished his cigarette.

As he sipped his coffee, a deep frown etched itself onto the man's face. The man appeared indifferent to the latest happenings, his attention seemingly uninterested in the current events. The man's anger was ignited by the woman's actions, which is the issue his stepmother is nagging about, leading him to believe that she was at fault.

Such was the cost of persisting in one's pursuit of him. 'Why did I think of what happened? It makes my day miserable. I must proceed to my office. I have a plethora of paperwork,' he stated.

The man rose to his feet, his intentions veiled behind a stoic expression. He made a move towards the door, but his stepmother intercepted him once more, her voice laced with concern.

"Phantom! Get back here! I am well aware of your profession as a lawyer, but that does not necessarily imply a lack of respect for us," she said with a hint of caution in her voice. Her screams echoed through the empty halls, piercing the silence like a knife.

Phantom pivoted on his heel and fixed a withering gaze on his stepmother. "What in the devil do you want!? Whether I concur or not, the choice to follow is yours, but not this time! I will do whatever I want!" He retorted.

The elderly woman acted promptly in front of her husband to reprimand Phantom.

"You're exaggerating, Phantom; don't yell at your mother!" The young man winced as his father's voice boomed through the room, scolding him with sudden ferocity.

With a derisive snort, Phantom expressed his contempt. "Am I truly overdoing it, father? How many years have I existed in your eyes, yet you continue to exert control over me? For Christ's sake, I am thirty years old! He exclaimed, his voice rising in frustration. "I am perfectly capable of managing my own affairs." His blood boiled as he glared at them, unable to suppress the seething anger within.

His gaze fixated on them. Their faces contorted in disbelief as his words echoed in the room. He was a dutiful son, always following his parents' wishes within the confines of their home. However, beyond the walls of their abode, he exuded an air of aloofness and haughtiness.

His callous disregard for others was palpable. His selfishness was palpable, evident in the way he always put his own needs above those of others. He was undoubtedly the most skilled and accomplished lawyer in all of the Philippines, and his reputation preceded him wherever he went.

His clients knew that he would leave no stone unturned in his pursuit of justice and that he would fight tooth and nail to ensure that their interests were protected. However, there was a darker side to his work that few knew about.

Once the payment had been made and the case had been resolved, he seemed to lose all interest in his clients and would often leave them to fend for themselves without so much as a second thought. It was a troubling aspect of his character, one that left many wondering whether his commitment to justice was truly genuine or whether it was all just a facade.

As he stormed out of the house, he couldn't resist the urge to give the door a swift kick. His unexpected behaviour surprised even his parents and the servants.

Thus, it was evident that he had only one solitary friend. The company of hypocrites is shunned by many friends. Phantom harboured no fondness for anyone, regardless of how intimate his stepmother was with her friends' children.

No matter how many times he was admonished for his poor conduct, he remained indifferent. He refused to let anyone dictate the course of his life. With a confident stride, the man made his way to the sleek and powerful Aston Martin One-77.

He slid into the driver's seat, his hands gripping the leather-wrapped steering wheel with ease. The engine roared to life, its deep rumble echoing through the quiet street. With a press of the accelerator, the car surged forward, effortlessly gliding away into the night. Despite his profession as a lawyer, he appeared to have little regard for the rules of the road.

The news of his ownership of the largest law firm in the country spread like wildfire. His father was a man of enterprise. His father had never been fond of his law practise, a fact that could be traced back to the instigation of his real mother in the past.

Due to his unyielding desire, he refused to exercise restraint on this matter. With a heart heavy with betrayal, he could no longer bear the weight of his father's deceit. The woman his father had married was none other than his father's mistress. The revelation was a bitter pill to swallow, and it ignited a fire within him that he had never felt before. He began to rebel against everything he had ever known, unable to reconcile the truth with the lies he had been fed his entire life.

"Sh*t!" Swearing under his breath, he made his way towards the parking lot of his workplace.

At his young age, he had already achieved the pinnacle of success, affording him the privilege of arrogance.

Despite his stepmother's insistence, he remained disinterested in women. This presented a significant problem, as it seemed that no amount of coercion could change his mind.

He emerged from the sleek vehicle and strode purposefully towards the towering edifice that housed his office, his gaze fixed resolutely ahead. The bustling throng of employees that surrounded him were but a blur in his peripheral vision, their presence barely registering as he made his way towards the entrance.

The employees were well aware of their boss's demeanour. When he failed to even cast a fleeting glance in their direction, they knew it was a foreboding morning. They were merely carrying out their duties.

Phantom strode into his office, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of intrusion. As he approached his table, his eyes fell on an unexpected sight. A figure was already seated in the chair directly facing him. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, betraying his recognition of the person at the door.

He sat up straight. A grin spread across the face of the individual standing before him. "Is it your parents again?" The man asked.

The Phantom let out a low grumble. The man chuckled. "I shouldn't have asked," he said.

Phantom let out a small sigh and reached for his pen, ready to begin his work. "Why are you in this place, Johannes? My workload is enormous. Leave this place at once!" he exclaimed with a commanding tone. He spoke without glancing at his companion.

Phantom had no confidant quite like Eugene Johannes. He was the one person in the world whom Phantom trusted above all others. Though they were of the same age, Eugene exuded a warmth that Phantom lacked. The latter, aloof and arrogant, reserved his affections only for those who met his exacting standards.

Eugene remarked, "Ouch, I still made an effort to come here early to advise you." This caused his friend to feel guilty.

Phantom gave the impression of disinterest, but he was actually paying attention to what his companion was saying.

Eugene couldn't help but smirk as he thought about the reason he had come here. It was all because of his friend's problem. Phantom found himself increasingly drawn to the suggestion, and the constant obstruction of the Media had left him feeling weary and frustrated.

That Eugene's men were there to protect their subject today was a stroke of luck for Phantom. The Johaness Security Agency was renowned for their unparalleled commitment to ensuring the safety of their clients.

It stood as the sole bastion of security in the vicinity, permitting only those who had availed themselves of its services to pass through its gates. None could breach its impregnable walls.

The papers and documents before him were of the utmost sensitivity and importance. He knew all too well that the delicate matter at hand could not be so easily exposed to the public eye. His clients' affairs were of the utmost importance, and he could not risk any unwanted meddling from outsiders.

"My dear friend, do you truly have no desire to heed my humble suggestion? This would prove to be a significant aid, particularly in evading the incessant haranguing of your parents." As soon as Eugene uttered those final words, Phantom's gaze snapped towards him.

Phantom's friend sat before him, a grin spreading across his face as he eagerly anticipated the moment when Phantom would finally open his ears.

The man's eyes shifted from the papers he was signing to Eugene, and he stopped signing. He had an unwavering trust in his best friend, knowing that he would never be the cause of his downfall.

He fixed his gaze on Eugene and spoke in a serious tone, "You better have told me that one."

The grin on his friend's face deepened, but he still hadn't revealed the plan; instead, he seemed to be gauging his friend's level of desperation.

The Phantom let out a derisive snort at his companion. He was intimately familiar with him. "Should your intentions be nothing but jest, Eugene, I implore you to vacate my office with haste. I have an appointment with a client later," he stated firmly.

With a sly smile, Eugene Johanness turned to his friend. Perhaps his friend would not take kindly to his proposal. He will still receive praise.

He placed the object delicately on the polished surface of the table. A deep frown was etched across Phantom's face. What in the devil is this? As he posed the question, a sudden realisation dawned on him. He comprehended the scheme his closest confidant had concocted.

Eugene rose from his seat. No explanation was necessary for the object that stood before the man. The fate of this matter rested solely in the hands of the Phantom.

Eugene stated to Phantom, "What's on your desk? That's my plan," as he left the office, but Phantom's unexpected visitor came out, and that problem is the person who entered the office.

Phantom's friend came to a sudden halt at the threshold, taken aback by the presence of an unanticipated guest.

The incident unfolded with alarming speed as the woman burst into the room and proceeded to menace his employees with threats. The guards' faces were ashen, betraying their fear. Phantom's icy gaze bore into the woman, causing her to gulp nervously.

"The litigation I've filed against you will be dropped if we get married." The woman spoke with a directness that was meant to convey her seriousness, but Phantom merely chuckled in response.

"Let's bring this to the court, woman, that I didn't even remember the name. We'll find out who triumphs soon enough." Phantom rose from his seat, flashing a grin. "It's like punching the moon when you emerge victorious," he remarked.

With a swift motion, he snatched the item his friend had left on the table and strode past the woman, leaving her in a state of shock. Phantom's hand landed on her shoulder with a weighty emphasis. The sting of the man's slap still lingered on her cheek, but it was not enough to satiate his desire for humiliation.

"This is the first time a woman has ever survived making such a claim against me, so tread carefully." With a grim whisper, he warned of the fate that had befallen those who had come before.

They had squandered their wealth and ended up locked away in jail. And with that, he left his own office, leaving behind a sense of foreboding.

Phantom remained unfazed by the mushroom-like woman who seemed to materialise out of thin air, her ominous presence a constant threat. Despite her attempts to intimidate him, he refused to be cowed by her menacing demeanour.

Phantom cast a longing gaze towards his friend and let out a deep sigh. He's been stressful, so now it's time for Eugene's plan to go into effect (even if he had no strategy). However, these were the very things that fueled his drive. He tapped Eugene's shoulder.

"I guess you won't be able to convince me again. Take care of business in the office."