“No, no, we won’t. Rest assured, Derek,” the Nash family assured him. Derek snorted dismissively and hung up
The Nash family members sighed in relief but quickly grew angry. “What a bitch! I was puzzled by how comfortably Marissa was living. Her flower shop had been closed for so long, yet she wasn’t worried. It turns out she’s found a very profitable scheme.”
“It’s infuriating that she’s enjoying such a lavish lifestyle but keeping us in the dark while sticking us in a plain apartment. She’s so cold-hearted.”
“We can’t let her enjoy this alone. We’ll make her buy us a mansion and a limousine and provide a hefty sum for living expenses. If not, we’ll expose her, get her kicked out of that wealthy family, and take her to court.”
Together, they devised what they believed was a perfect plan
After his call, Derek boasted, “Marissa, don’t think you’re untouchable just because you have my uncle’s support. I’m looking forward to seeing you fall.”
Subsequently, Neil and Lorna brought Foley into Derek’s room
“Dad, Mom, Foley,” Derek greeted them, standing promptly. Since discovering Foley’s scheme, Derek had become more cautious around him, no longer as presumptuous as when he first connected with them, nor as forthright with Foley
“Derek, why did you suddenly release a video clearing the air? Were you really in a relationship with that village girl named Denise?” Neil asked
“No, no. I posted that video merely to avoid trouble. That family can be tough to handle. If they feel harassed online, they might overreact. I’m worried that if this escalates, it could negatively impact our future plans.”
“If that’s the case, you’ve been very considerate and did the right thing,” Neil said, patting Derek’s shoulder with approval
“I always knew my boys were clever,” Lorna beamed with pride
Derek sneaked a look at Foley, noticing jealousy in his gaze. Before Derek’s return, Foley had been the sole heir, enjoying all the family’s wealth and privileges. Now, with Derek around, Foley feared losing some of those advantages and was scheming against Derek. Derek knew he had to stay wary of Foley from here on out
Neil and Lorna were unaware of the covert rivalry between their sons. Foley had always portrayed a loving relationship with his brother, which comforted Neil and Lorna
After a brief pause, Neil said, “Derek, seeing how you are today, I think you’re almost back to your old self. I have something important to tell you.”
Upon hearing that his parents wanted to discuss something important, Derek quickly responded, “Dad, go ahead.”
“This concerns our family’s very survival. Listen closely,” Neil said gravely
“Okay.” Derek felt a twinge of nervousness
“Derek, the Daniels family is the wealthiest and most influential. We possess immense wealth. But your mom and I are capitalizing on your return and exaggerating it to lay the groundwork for our livestream sales business. Do you understand why we are doing that?”
Derek opened his mouth but remained silent. He had always been puzzled about this. His family was the wealthiest, and his uncle was the richest man. He couldn’t grasp why his parents would bother earning money through being influencers and running a livestream business. Initially, Derek assumed that no amount of money would be too much for his parents, but he was beginning to see that this was not the case
“You’ve just returned. You’re not fully aware of the Daniels family dynamics. Let me explain,” Neil continued. “When your great-grandfather was alive, he established a rule: apart from the family head, no one could manage the family business or enter competing sectors. Others only receive monthly allowances. Right now, your Uncle Connor is sitting on a fortune in the billions, while our family only pulls in two million dollars each month. To ordinary people, that’s a lot of money, but to rich and powerful families like us, it’s barely anything, and it’s humiliating. Though we’re financially secure with our two million dollars monthly, it means we can’t achieve anything noteworthy. You and your brother will always be beneath your Uncle Connor’s children. As your father, I find this unacceptable. I’m determined to secure a better future for you.”
Derek replied, “I understand. Dad, you want to earn more to support me and Foley.”
“Derek, you’re missing the bigger picture.” Neil shook his head. “I don’t just want you to surpass Connor’s children. I want to surpass Connor, too. Our aim in amassing wealth is to use it to bring down Connor.”
Derek suddenly shivered with fear, picturing Connor’s formidable presence. He couldn’t imagine confronting such a terrifying figure. Noticing Derek’s frightened expression, Neil frowned and scolded, “What are you scared of?”
Derek bit his lip, too afraid to speak
“Connor is indeed terrifying, but if he were gone, what would there be to fear?” Neil added. “If we eliminate Connor before he has any children, I will naturally inherit everything of the Daniels family. Then, our family will truly become the wealthiest and most influential family. Understand?”
Trembling with fear, Derek nodded. He was too scared to utter a clear yes or no. When Derek was poor, he had felt an innate fear of Connor, wanting to yield even to his photos. Now, Neil was asking Derek to join him in a plot against the person he revered as a godlike figure. The thought terrified Derek
“You look like a complete loser,” Neil said. “Look at your brother. He’s far braver than you.”
Derek sneaked another glance at Foley, who flashed him a defiant smile
Neil continued, “You’re my son. I don’t need to hide things from you. I killed your grandparents and one of your uncles, and crippled your Uncle Glenn. Anyone who blocks my path to becoming the head of the Daniels family will meet the same fate.”
Derek’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the sofa. He had once naively thought that life in a wealthy family was about enjoying fame and riches, never realizing it was riddled with such brutal conflicts
Looking at Derek, Neil continued, “My ambition is to lead the Daniels family, dominate all the influential circles in Blebert, and control the world. As my sons, you and Foley should do everything to support me. Understand?”
At that moment, Neil had a menacing look about him, resembling a wicked high official from ancient times scheming to seize power
Seized by panic, Derek blurted out, “Dad, for the sake of power and wealth, you’ve even harmed your own parents and siblings. So, could there come a day when you’d kill me, your son, for your ambitions?”
After asking his question, Derek immediately regretted it. Since meeting his biological father, Neil had been kind to him. Only now did Derek realize that his father was capable of extreme cruelty. Neil had even gone so far as to murder his own family members to achieve his ambitions. As his son, Derek felt vulnerable and realized it was pointless to have asked his question
Not only was he unlikely to get the answers he wanted, but he also risked provoking Neil. Caught up in his thoughts and worries, Derek was jolted back to reality when Neil chuckled softly and said, “Don’t worry. As long as you obey and follow my commands, I won’t harm you.” Neil’s eyes narrowed with a trace of bitterness as he continued, “I was driven to those harsh actions because my family members treated me unfairly. I’m the eldest son, and by rights, the leadership should have been mine. But your grandparents preferred your uncle and planned to make him the successor. I had no choice but to eliminate him in a fire. I thought that by removing him, I would automatically become the only heir. But then your grandparents had Glenn and Connor. Glenn, being 19 years my junior, and Connor, 23 years, didn’t seem like threats initially. However, your grandparents began grooming one of them to take over the family leadership. I had to act again. The car accident was meant to be flawless, eliminating your grandparents, Glenn, and Connor all at once. But Glenn shielded Connor with his body, and your great-grandmother took Connor under her wing, thwarting my plans.”
As he recalled the past, Neil’s face twisted in pain and unresolved bitterness while a deep-seated hatred simmered beneath the surface. “I don’t get it. Why did they underestimate me? They’d rather prepare Connor than choose me as the successor. They showed him favoritism and treated me unfairly. So, they shouldn’t be surprised by my ruthlessness! So what if they made Connor the head of the family? I still have ways to bring him down and damn him to hell!” Neil was so enraged that he kicked the coffee table next to him
Sitting on the sofa beside the table, Derek was so terrified that he froze. Foley attempted to calm Neil. “Dad, please don’t be angry. Whatever you decide, I’ll back you up.”
“Okay.” Neil nodded, pleased with the support. Then, turning to Derek, he said, “Did you hear what your brother just said? I have never been liked by my parents since childhood, leaving me isolated. As my son, you should stand by me. If you betray me…”
“No, I wouldn’t dare! I definitely won’t!” Derek quickly assured him
“Good,” Neil responded, nodding again with satisfaction. “You are my sons. The power and wealth I’ve secured will one day be yours. If you stand with me, your future is bright. Our family must unite to pull off this grand scheme, understand?”
“Understood,” Foley responded dutifully
“Yes, Dad. I understand!” Derek reluctantly agreed
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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