Beauty and the Grinch

The streets have always been cruel, but on that particular night, they seemed heartless. Ember was in labor, and no one seemed to care. She pushed and pushed on the cold concrete floor until she gave birth. But just after her last push, she passed away, leaving behind a baby boy. Luckily for him, an ambulance passed by and helped them. After treatment, he was placed in an orphanage, the Goodwill Orphanage. It was during the holidays that Mr. and Mrs. Jenson, who had been trying to have a child for a long time but couldn't, decided to adopt. They were looking for a baby, one who could grow up as their own, and would later be told the truth. After searching three orphanages, they found themselves at the doors of the Goodwill Orphanage. Just as Mrs. Jenson started to lose hope, the receptionist told them they were lucky, as the orphanage had just received a two-week-old baby. Without hesitation or even seeing the baby, she agreed to take him in, and after two days of paperwork, they adopted him and named him Rowan. "He's our little Rowan Jenson, successor of our family business and name," she said. He was their Christmas miracle, adopted just a few days before Christmas. The Jensons went all out for every holiday, birthday, and event, especially Christmas, which signified something very important to the family. Fifteen years passed, and Rowan grew into a loving, caring, and warm-hearted person. His mother made sure he was taught respect and manners. Even though the Jensons were extremely wealthy, Rowan was humble and treated everyone as equals, just like his parents. It would soon be Christmas, and just like every year, Rowan looked forward to it. There house was always filled with color event or no event Mrs Jensen always made sure to make her house warm and welcoming, you could imagine what she did for the festive season.She always had three huge trees and the brightest lights. But this particular holiday was different, as his parents had gone out for a business meeting. He wasn't so sad, as he still had his extended family with him, he's uncle Kai and he's daughter Indie they were almost the same age so they got along just well but he couldn't help feeling sad, as it was the first Christmas without them. However, Mr. and Mrs. Jenson had planned on getting back just in time for Christmas dinner. As Mr. Jenson drove, he lost control of the car on the ice, and it flipped over and over before coming to a stop. After two days in the hospital, they both died of internal injuries. Rowan was devastated it was like a dark cloud had hovered over him and all the color in he’s eyes had changed to black and white and everything was blunt, but he didn't react. He just stood there, numb, like nothing had happened. He never cried or talked to anyone about it; he just chose to bottle everything up and ignore the news. This accident had changed everything for him. After the burial, Rowan was declared the new owner and boss of the Jenson estate, from businesses to lands and small companies. His destiny had changed at just 15 years old. Rowan moved in with Uncle Kai and Indie, as he was still underage. Kai tried to recreate the life Rowan had with Mr. and Mrs. Jenson, decorating his room exactly as it was before. He even went as far as celebrating each holiday with the same traditions, but this only made Rowan grow bitter and resent each holiday. The spark in his eyes had dimmed, replaced by a dull emptiness. He resented Christmas the most, as it only reminded him that his parents would never be there to celebrate with him again. Rowan's transformation was striking. He went from being a loving, caring, and kind person to being rude, bitter, and nonchalant. Kai, who was in charge of the business until Rowan came of age, attended business meetings and allowed Rowan to contribute his ideas. The Jenson's enterprise had always allocated a budget for charity and Christmas events, particularly supporting the Home of Love orphanage. When Rowan turned eighteen, he took over the family business. His first order was to paint the walls grey, black, and white, erasing the bright blue walls and big yellow chandelier his mother had chosen. The new color scheme was a reflection of his somber mood. He also changed the staff's uniforms from baby pink golf T-shirts to black or white tops and black bottoms. Everything about the business became serious and formal under Rowan's leadership. As he prepared for his first budget planning meeting, Kai wondered what changes Rowan would make. Rowan's decision to cut the charity fund, citing the company's debt, shocked Kai. Kai tried to interrupt, explaining that the charity fund was his mother's legacy, but Rowan refused to listen. Kai whispered to himself, "If only you knew you were also adopted, maybe then you'd understand why that account was made." But he didn't dare share this secret, unsure of how to reveal it. Rowan also suggested canceling the annual Christmas ball, a grand party the Jenson's hosted, featuring fundraising entertainment from the children of Home of Love orphanage. Uncle Kai intervened, arguing that the ball was an essential networking opportunity, as many prominent businessmen attended. However, Kai's true hope was that the Christmas ball would bring back some of Rowan's old spark, reminding him of the joy he once felt during the holidays. Rowan, as the boss, had taken the company to unprecedented heights, surpassing his father's legacy and becoming the wealthiest businessman in the industry. He threw himself into his work, often spending 12-hour days at the office. Kai, who had grown concerned about Rowan's well-being, believed that his relentless work ethic was a coping mechanism for the pain of losing his parents. Rowan had become a recluse, avoiding family gatherings and social events. He had no friends to speak of, and his only relationships were with his business colleagues. He would often tell himself, "There are some prices to pay for greatness" or "A true businessman doesn't need friends, only colleagues." Kai feared that Rowan would end up a lonely man, with no one to share his success with. As Christmas approached, Kai decided to take matters into his own hands. He had been secretly planning the annual Christmas ball, hoping to bring some joy back into Rowan's life. Kai had stolen Mrs. Jenson's old Christmas decoration plans and had been working tirelessly to recreate the magical atmosphere of Rowan's childhood. However, Rowan had other plans. He hated the idea of the Christmas ball, seeing it as a frivolous waste of time. But he knew that attending the ball would provide valuable networking opportunities with other prominent businessmen. So, he reluctantly agreed to attend. Kai had spared no expense in planning the ball. The hall was transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with a towering Christmas tree covered in lights and decorations. The room was filled with the sweet scent of pine and the sound of festive music. But Rowan had one final trick up his sleeve. As soon as Kai left the hall, Rowan brought in his own team to redecorate the space. They replaced the colorful decorations with dull, white, and silver ones, stripping the hall of its festive atmosphere. The Christmas tree was replaced with a smaller, more subdued one, and the music was changed to a more subdued, instrumental playlist. Kai was devastated when he saw the changes. The businessmen who attended the ball were also disappointed, having expected a more festive atmosphere. The evening felt more like a formal business meeting than a Christmas celebration.