The Carlton Hotel was a four-star hotel. Its ambiance, interior, and service were tip-top. Still, it was one star less than the Collis Hotel, and that one star made a whole lot of difference. Austin never thought that that person would stay in a hotel like this. After parking the car, he went into the hotel, his expression grave all the while. He had no idea why that person would come here at this moment, but since he'd come here, Austin had no reason to avoid him. It involved his deceased mother, after all. The bell chimed, and the elevator doors opened. Austin stepped out of the elevator and walked along the corridor until he found Suite 99999. He raised his hand and rapped on the door. A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Terry standing in the doorway. Terry looked much paler than before when they met at the capital. He seemed to lack the air of viciousness he previously had. "You're here," said Terry without much of an expression as he moved out of the way
After Terry placed the teacups on the table, Itijah slowly opened his mouth to speak. "Your mother's gone," he told Austin. "Even so, she's still a part of the Emerson family.""She's not," said Austin curtly. A vein pulsed on his temple, and he felt anger rising within him. "My mom goes by the name Dahlia Campbell." Itijah laughed heartily. "But the blood that flowed in her veins makes her a part of the Emerson family." "So what?" Austin spat. The smile on Itijah's face vanished without a trace, replaced by sorrow and sadness. "I should've told you about this during the funeral," he explained. "But your father was emotionally unstable at that time. I had to keep it a secret from you until this day." He looked up and stared into Austin's eyes. "Dahlia was born in the Emerson family. Although she's gone, she's still a part of our family. I was wrong for treating her so badly back then."He continued, "She's no longer alive, but I've wronged her and want to atone for my s
The door closed with a resounding bang. The room was once again thrown into pin-drop silence. Itijah and Terry were frozen at the spot. Austin just said that engraving Dahlia's name on the plaque in the Emerson family's mausoleum meant nothing to him. How could a person be so pompous? The Emersons weren't as affluent as the Campbells, but that didn't give Austin the right to insult them as he wished!Not only did Austin insult the Emersons, but he also humiliated their ancestors. His words echoed in Itijah's and Terry's minds. To them, Austin was too full of himself. He was too proud and conceited for his own good! It was as if Austin saw himself as a deity and thought he had the right to look down on the entire Emerson family. "Dad, Austin is too full of himself!" Terry seethed. "I just don't get it. Why did you try to get on his good side?" His face was red from the rage swelling within him. The words Austin spat before leaving just now hurt him as if someone had jus
The fury in Itijah's voice showed just how much he looked down on Terry and his brothers. "Thanks to Austin's strength of character and his abilities, he was favored by the former head of our family," Itijah said. "Even if he doesn't see himself as a part of our family, with his power and support from the Campbell family, he could ensure that our family remains the richest in the capital." He continued, "With him on our side, no one in the capital regardless of their wealth and status, would have the courage to mess with our family. He's the only person who can protect us and shield us from harm!" Itijah raised his voice when he spoke. He was practically yelling when he said the last sentence. Due to how emotional he got, his body started trembling again. At this point, even his face had turned beet red. All of a sudden, he spat blood. The crimson liquid that spurted from his mouth splattered onto the ground and also on Terry's face. Terry's heart leaped into his throat, an
After half an hour, Austin and Vincent met up at the cafe downstairs. "Do you want to hear the good news first or the bad news?" Vincent grinned after taking a sip from his cup of coffee. "The bad news first," said Austin calmly. Vincent lifted an eyebrow. "Okay. I thought you'd wish to hear the good news first." "Hearing the bad news first makes the good news better. If I get the good before the bad, I'll be disappointed afterward," said Austin jokingly with a smile. "Okay then." Vincent rubbed his hands together, picked up his cup, and took another sip of coffee. Vincent must've been in a hurry to get here because there was a sheen of sweat coating his forehead. He must've rushed here after getting off the plane. After taking another sip of coffee, he put his cup down and smiled. "The bad news is that Fiona didn't actually leave the entertainment industry," he revealed. "After going home, she got support from her family and started an entertainment company of her own
Vincent's comment did not cheer up Austin at all.On the contrary, Austin's face became much gloomier than before. He seemed to have cleared up the doubts in his mind as he muttered, "I see. I knew that the Emersons never had good intentions to begin with.""What do you mean?" asked Vincent."Mr. Emerson Senior and his son, Mr. Terry, are already in the city, and I just met both of them. Mr. Emerson Senior even said that he'd like me to bring my mother's grave to join the Emerson family's cemetery as compensation for all 20 years of her wrongful treatment by the family."Austin shrugged his shoulders and continued, "Just who the hell do they think they are? They really think that moving her grave next to theirs is enough to repay their debts after 20 whole years of mistreatment?"Vincent's eyes widened in shock as he realized the implications. "The fuck? How is that even compensation? They're clearly just trying to fool themselves into thinking they've done the right thing so th
Terry did not understand the severity of the situation.And neither did the rest of the Emersons.They'd all gotten used to living the high life and being arrogant and conceited. They all assumed that even when the pillar that was the Emerson family collapsed, they would still be able to stand above everyone else just from the rubble alone.But Itijah knew better than anyone else that the Emersons were in danger from the forces lurking in the shadows. Everything may have seemed fine on the surface, but there was already a group of wolves hiding in the shadows, sharpening their claws and waiting only for the opportunity to strike.The entire city was closely watching and waiting for the Emersons to reach their end.They would swarm up against the Emersons the moment a weakness was revealed. Once everything was over, the Emersons would be nothing less than a de-feathered chicken. However immense their wealth may be, it would still not be enough to tide them over such a crisis.No
For the past 3 years, It was all Cecily had been waiting for. It was all she had ever wanted.To hold Austin's hand, be by his side, and grow old together.Austin pulled Cecily around to head back to the house. "Let's go home."As they arrived at the door, they were met with Aldus running out of the house in a hurry. "Sir, bad news," said Aldus."What's wrong?" asked Austin."Security just informed us that there's a luxury car blocking Heavensgate Residence's entrance and was asking for you by name. They've made it clear that they will not move until you show up."Austin grinned and replied, "What's up with Jacob's security team… Have they really become so easily intimidated by just anyone?"He still remembered how the security team stopped Harvey from barging through Heavensgate Residence with his Audi A4 by ramming his car head-on with their own.On the other hand, Austin realized that the current guest must be leagues above Harvey if the security guards were hesitant to dr