DARREN Knight sat in his plush bedroom at his parents’ sprawling estate, his laptop propped open on the sleek mahogany desk in front of him. The soft glow of the Christmas lights strung outside his window illuminated the room, contrasting sharply with the tension etched across his face.
He hated Christmas here. Not because he disliked the season, but because it came with a heavy dose of his parents’ relentless expectations. They had always made it clear that being the third most influential billionaire in the country wasn’t enough. It was Jared Baltimore they worshiped. Jared this, Jared that.
“You should take lessons from Jared. He knows how to make smart moves,” his father had said earlier at dinner, earning an approving nod from his mother.
The comment still stung, even hours l
