Chapter 1 The Betrothed Boy

In the Collins family's villa on Sycamore Hills in Antpelle.

"What a stupid lazy ass!

You can't even do this simple task well. Tell me, what exactly are you good at?"

Clara Collins complained as she looked at a young man in front of her with disgust.

"Why are you still standing here? Clean it up and make lunch for us.

Gosh! If it weren't for your dead parents, I'd have kicked you out of this house a long time ago. Get out of my sight!"

Eyeing the young man from head to toe, Clara scolded him again.

Lyndon Brooks, who had an expressionless face, squatted and picked up the garbage on the floor. He threw it in the trash and went into the kitchen.

Lyndon was going to turn 18. Eleven years ago, his parents betrothed him to the first daughter of the Collins family. The betrothal had caused a huge sensation in Antpelle.

It was big news because the Brooks family was rich and powerful in the city. Lyndon's parents were a force to reckon with.

Things suddenly changed when Lyndon was nine years old. The Brooks family suddenly went bankrupt. Their business and properties were lost overnight. They didn't even have a roof over their head. This sad turning of events forced Lyndon's parents to entrust him to the Collins family. They both disappeared afterward.

From that day, Lyndon became the live-in future son-in-law of the Collins family.

But he wasn't treated right at all. His life in this household was never easy.

He was no different from a servant to them. They made him do all sorts of domestic work and spoke to him like he was a nobody.

"My parents are not dead. They are alive somewhere," Lyndon said to himself once he entered the kitchen.

He immediately swung into action. Shortly after, he served the delicious dishes on the dining table.

Adrien Collins and one of his daughters, Collins were already sitting at the table by this time. They completely ignored Lyndon as he served the dishes.

"Why isn't Elena back home yet?"

Adrien asked no one in particular as he folded a newspaper and put it down.

"I wonder why she's late today. Why does she have to keep us waiting? I'm famished," Lilian complained, yawning lazily.

"It's unlike her to be this late. I guess she's busy with work today. Since you are hungry, you don't have to wait for her. You can eat first," Clara said as she walked into the dining room. Once she sat at the table, she glanced at Lyndon, who had just put down the last bowl of soup. A deep frown appeared on her face almost immediately.

"Your work is done here. Don't just stand here doing nothing. Go to the company and see what's keeping Elena," she ordered, snapping her fingers.

She then urged Adrien and Lilian to start eating.

"What's Elena doing? Why didn't she answer any of my calls?"

Lyndon sighed after turning around to leave.

"Hmmm. I guess this loser isn't a good-for-nothing. At least, he can cook well. This food is so delicious," Adrien commented between mouthfuls.

"Come on, Adrien. Why bring that disgusting boy up after I already sent him away? Don't you think it will affect our appetite?"

Lyndon was still within earshot. However, the couple's insults didn't get to him at all. He just walked out of the villa.

Insults were a daily dose for him ever since he came into this household. He was already used to it now.

Outside, Lyndon glanced at a shiny BMW that was parked in the garage. He walked to his old electric bicycle and mounted it carefully.

"Can you see that boy? He's the future son-in-law of the Collins family. I remember when he was brought to live here, he was just a small boy. Time passed so fast and now he's a young adult. From afar, one would think that he has some sense. But he's actually a useless boy."

"Gosh, I couldn't agree any less. Look at the battered electric bicycle he's riding. My maid won't even ride something like that."

"Don't let that surprise you, my dear friend. That guy has a handsome face, but he's so shameless. He doesn't care what people say about him. Many times, people have laughed at him because of his bicycle, but he has refused to stop riding it. I wonder why he still hasn't left. If I were him, I would have run away a long time ago."

The residents' gossip wafted into Lyndon's ears as he rode away. But he didn't care.

It was a common occurrence. Clara had painted him in a bad light. As a result, most of the residents talked bad about him at any given opportunity.

"All this will end in three days..." Lyndon said to himself.

His eighteenth birthday was in three days. On that day, he planned to officially discuss his marriage to Elena with the Collins family.

As Lyndon rode his bicycle in the street, a Rolls-Royce Phantom appeared from a corner and slowly halted in front of him. The door opened and an old man in his fifties got out.

"Hey, Mr. Brooks, we meet again. Are you willing to come back now?" Jax Graham asked in an expectant tone after bowing respectfully to Lyndon.

"What about the condition I gave the last time? Did they agree?" Lyndon inquired, ignoring Jax's question. He stared at him intently.

"Well..."

Jax scratched his head and avoided Lyndon's eyes. He stuttered, "The thing is... You know Mr. Moran Brooks well. Back then..."

"Enough!" Lyndon waved his hand dismissively. "That man is the cause of most of my problems today. Not only did he expel my parents from the Brooks family, but he also didn't allow their memorial headstones to be placed in the family's ancestral mausoleum. What did they do to deserve such disrespect?

The Brooks family is currently one big mess because the young generation is fighting for fame and fortune. Everyone is out for each other's heads. Why should I go back there at this time? What do I have to gain?

I have lived without any help from my relatives for the past nine years. I don't mind living like this. Moran must place my parents' headstones in the family's ancestral mausoleum. If not, I'll cut all ties with the Brooks family and also make sure that I won't be included in the family tree.

Besides, I'm aware that many of my relatives want me to continue living like a loser. Why should I risk my life for the people that never gave a damn about me? I might as well fulfill their wishes by staying with the Collins family."

Lyndon started his bicycle as he spoke his last words. Before Jax could say anything, he bypassed him and rode away.

"Alas! He inherited his father's temper. What a stubborn young lad," Jax murmured helplessly as he stared at Lyndon's back.

"Do you think that your father will be happy to see you like this if he was still around?"

Jax shouted politely. Unbeknown to him, a smile appeared on Lyndon's face as he rode away without looking back.

When Lyndon went out of sight, Jax shook his head and made a phone call.

"Hello, Mr. Brooks. I just met him. He refused to come back. I'm sorry to disappoint you again."

A long silence was the first response that came from the other end of the line. All of a sudden, an old voice came. "Okay, just tell him that I've agreed to his condition.

But do this in secret. Make sure no one knows about this. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I'll do as you have said."

A trace of shock appeared on Jax's face when he heard Moran's command. He stared at his phone for a long time after hanging up. It was rather surprising that the authoritative Moran Brooks could give in to Lyndon.

Meanwhile, Lyndon arrived at Elena's company some minutes later. He parked his rickety bicycle and took a deep breath before walking to the entrance of the towering building.

"Stop right there! Who are you and why are you here?"

Two security guards stopped Lyndon once he got to the entrance door. They had sized him up within seconds. Since he was dressed in cheap clothes, they concluded that he was out of place here.

"Good day, I'm looking for Elena Collins," Lyndon said calmly.

One of the security guards frowned slightly as soon as he heard Lyndon's words.

"Do you have an appointment?"

Lyndon shook his head in response. He had been here before. But this was the first time he was attempting to enter inside. In the past, he only stood in a distance and watched Elena enter. As a result, the security guards didn't know him.

"Bumpkin, do you think this is some kind of playground? Did you just say you want to see our president? What makes you think you can see her whenever you want?"

"Newsflash! No one can see her without an appointment. Get out of here now!"

The face of the other security guard darkened. He pointed in the direction that Lyndon came as he spoke angrily.

"What's going on here? Why the noise?"

The angry voices of the security guards had drawn the attention of the people inside the company. A crowd had begun to gather when a cold female voice suddenly came from a few meters away. The next second, the clinking sound of high-heeled shoes was heard. A beautiful lady came over to the entrance.

She was dressed in a formal grey suit that accentuated her curves. The pair of heels she had on made her look beautiful and intimidating at the same time. There was a slight frown on her face and a cold glint in her bright eyes. Her gait was elegant but arrogant.

"Miss Morrison, this bumpkin appeared out of nowhere and said that he wants to see Miss Collins. He doesn't have an appointment, so we were about to kick him out."

One of the security guards hurried to Tess Morrison and explained the situation to her. The security guards' rudeness disappeared now that a manager was here. They put their hands behind their backs and spoke to her respectfully.

Tess looked at Lyndon from head to toe. Disgust and hatred appeared on her face once she recognized him.

"So, it's you. What are you doing here?" she asked coldly, folding her arms over her chest.

As Elena's best friend and direct subordinate, she knew Lyndon pretty well.

"What else would I be doing here if not to see Elena?"

Tess's lips parted in shock when she heard Lyndon's sarcastic answer. However, she quickly got over the shock and shot him a searing glare.

"Come with me," she finally uttered, reluctantly.