The class heartthrob just landed the heiress of the richest family in town and decided to throw a massive engagement party. Of course, he made a big announcement in our class group chat, but went out of his way to call me out specifically.
"Tomorrow I’ll be serving tea to Mr. Josh Wilson at our engagement banquet. Certain people with ulterior motives should stay away—no need to show up just to turn green with envy."
The audacity of it made my blood boil. After all, it all started when someone caught me lightly kissing Sandra Wilson’s forehead and calling her “my sweet girl.” That one innocent moment got twisted into a scandal. And guess who led the charge? That same heartthrob, turning the whole class against me and bullying me mercilessly for two years like I was some homewrecker.
Still, I kept my cool and replied calmly, “Can’t make it anyway. My family’s got a younger one getting engaged and I’m needed to oversee the event.”
The next day, I was enjoying a hearty meal at our own engagement banquet—until they showed up. A group of them surrounded me, shouting like madmen.
“You really don’t want to live, huh? Stealing someone’s girl and crashing her engagement banquet?!”
They weren’t just angry—they were savage. They killed my beloved cat, shattered both my arms and then poured chili oil between my legs before locking me up in a dog cage.
Later that night, that same class heartthrob knelt on the ground, holding a cup of tea with trembling hands. He waited, hoping for Grandpa Josh to accept the tea offering. But the seat reserved for Grandpa remained empty the entire night. He stayed kneeling until his legs gave out, sobbing and begging for Grandpa Josh to appear and accept the cup. Too bad for him... I wasn’t available. My arms were broken. I couldn’t drink that tea even if I wanted to.
——
The ever-cold and untouchable Sandra—usually the epitome of elegance—was now kneeling respectfully before me like a docile little kitten.
“My fiancé, Tommy Scott, is so thoughtful and obedient. I brought him here today so Great Uncle could meet him. We hope he earns your blessing to join the Wilson Family. We’ll both be at your service from now on.”
Obedient? Thoughtful? I remembered the awful things Tommy had said about me in the group chat. My brows furrowed. Her grandfather—his hair already silver from age—sensed my displeasure. He quickly dropped to his knees beside her.
“Even if the younger generation likes the new son-in-law, if you, Uncle Wilson, don’t approve, then he’s not worthy of marrying into the Wilson Family.”
In the Wilson Family—an aristocratic clan with a hundred-year legacy—rules were sacred. Even though I was the youngest, I ranked highest in the family hierarchy. That meant I held the power—every resource, every secret, every decision.
To the outside world, I was the venerable Grandpa Josh, feared and revered. But behind closed doors, everyone bowed to me.
I smirked and motioned for him to rise. “Relax. Let’s see how things unfold.”
You wanted to keep me from the engagement banquet, Tommy? Then I’ll enjoy watching you try to marry into the Wilson Family without my permission.
After the crowd respectfully left, a message popped up on my phone from a contact saved as Domineering Lady Meryl Streep.
[Hey handsome, when are we going public? If you keep hiding me, I might just show up uninvited and demand answers]
She wasn’t joking. Meryl wasn’t just anybody—she was the head of the elite council that ruled over Las Vegas’s Four Great Families, including ours. A woman known as the Jade-Faced Hell Lord. Feared by all, except when she got clingy and started acting all cutesy—it made your skin crawl.
I couldn’t help but tease back.
[Then come on over.]
After wrapping up my messages, my stomach grumbled. I picked up my chubby little cat, Oliver and wandered around the estate.
The banquet hall was already being prepped with engagement decorations. The evening event hadn’t started yet and guests were still arriving. People were bustling about in the side hall. But as I walked into the main hall, I noticed something strange—lunch was long past, yet the food hadn’t been cleared.
Then it hit me, no one dared to touch the meal until I had eaten. So I sat down and dug in. I had barely taken two bites when something slammed hard against the back of my head, almost dunking my face into the bowl.
A sharp, shrill voice screamed in my ear.
“You filthy beggar! Even I haven’t eaten yet and you’re already stealing food?!”
Clutching my aching head, I looked up—only to lock eyes with Tommy. There he stood in a tailored designer suit I had personally picked out, looking every bit the polished gentleman—yet his eyes were full of contempt.
“Danny Wilson, are you really this desperate? We told you not to come and yet here you are, sneaking in to freeload like a stray dog.”
