The light rain outside dampened my face, making me look even more disheveled. I wiped the water from my forehead and kept walking, my mind cloudy with frustration. Suddenly, a limited edition Rolls-Royce pulled up beside me, its sleek black exterior shining in the rain.
A maid stepped out, holding an umbrella.
“Mr. Nicholson, I’m Ms. Livingstone’s housekeeper. She would like to invite you for a drink,” she said.
Ms. Livingstone... She was seventy years old and still insisting on being called 'Miss?'
Ridiculous!
Before I could even speak to refuse, several burly bodyguards rushed over, covered my mouth, and forcefully dragged me into the car.
I struggled, but my vision began to blur, and shortly after, I lost consciousness.
When I finally woke up, I realized I was completely naked.
Panic flooded through me, my heart pounding in my chest.
Standing in front of me was a seventy-year-old woman, her wide smile as she assessed me. She looked just like the rich old woman from the intimate photos that had circulated in the media.
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
'It’s over. Don’t tell me… it happened again. What a damned miserable life!'
“Not bad! Not bad at all!” she chirped. “You’ve got a fine, strong body, young man.”
Then, she gave me a thumbs-up and turned to the maid and instructed, “Get this young man a new outfit and send him to his new place."
After that, the old woman added, “And make sure the Nicholsons know. The engagement party’s happening the day after tomorrow. I’ll be inviting all the local elites.”
With that, she turned and walked off.
The maid rushed to get me dressed and pushed me into the car.
Through the tinted windows, I caught a glimpse of the old woman and a young girl in the living room, both looking at me. I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
"Unbelievable," I muttered. "A woman her age still trying to seduce younger guys, and right in front of her granddaughter, no less?"
The car suddenly came to a stop. The bodyguards in the front and passenger seats turned to look at me, their faces showing shock and uncertainty.
I froze, instinctively shutting my mouth.
I didn’t want to end up in the ocean, feeding the fish, simply because of their impulsiveness.
When we finally arrived at the place, I was stunned.
It was a huge manor, ten times larger than my family’s villa.
Everywhere I looked, I saw gardenias—my favorite flower—planted all around.
I hadn’t been there long when Irene arrived, walking in with a frown of disgust.
“Well, Gregory,” she said, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction, “You looked like you were on the verge of death earlier, but now you’re living in a manor prepared by the old woman. I can’t believe I wasted my time trying to come up with a plan to help you avoid all this.”
I honestly couldn't believe she had the nerve to say such things.
She spoke as if she were the one who had been wronged, as if I hadn’t been humiliated, betrayed, and forced into this nightmare.
“What kind of plan did you come up with?” I asked, my curiosity piqued despite my anger.
“As long as you’re willing to stay by my side without any title,” Irene began, her voice lowering, “I can hide you away. I’ll erase your identity, and no one will be able to find you.”
Then, she narrowed her eyes and smiled, that familiar, calculating smile. “But the condition is, you must transfer your company shares to Chester.”
A dull ache formed in my chest.
So, that was her big plan to keep me locked up and owned, with nothing of my own. Or this was another way to help Chester get the company shares.
“How about it? Are you satisfied?” Irene’s smile grew wider as she handed me an agreement. “Sign this, and the three of us can live happily together.”
Her eyes revealed no guilt, only a desire for control.
I took a deep breath, raised my hand, and swiped the agreement off the table, knocking it into the air.
Under Irene’s surprised gaze, I said clearly, word by word, “I’m willing to marry the rich woman."
“What?” Irene was stunned, her mouth opening and closing as she processed my firm response.
Then, a knowing smile spread across her face, as if she had seen through everything.
“Oh, come on. I know you better than that,” Irene said. “You only get one chance. Don’t throw it away out of spite.”
Her confidence was nearly laughable. She still believed I was stuck deep in my love for her and still saw me as her obedient fool.
But my heart was already dead. I had nothing left to lose.
Before I could respond, my father and Chester arrived.
“You ungrateful bastard!”
My father’s face contorted with anger as he delivered a hard kick to my stomach.
