chapter 2
1246 Words
"Your Lordship! How was your meeting with your wife? I should have contacted you, but you told me not to disturb you because you would be reuniting with her," the subordinate said.
Bryan exhaled as he gripped the phone tightly. "I want you to bring the Crestview Group to New York City, right now." Crestview was the commercial company he had created three years after joining the military.
Crestview wasn't just any company. It was a multi-billion-dollar empire he had built from the ground up — an untouchable conglomerate with a global reach. Governments consulted them, corporations feared their influence, and markets shifted at their command.
"Okay, sir. At your command," the subordinate replied.
"And I want you to bring a highly skilled and reliable person who can assist with my wife's finances," Bryan added.
"At your command, Your Lordship. I'll do that right away," the subordinate said, as Bryan hung up the call.
He muttered, "My revenge is about to begin, and I will make sure they bow before you, Tracy."
He then made his way to the bathroom to freshen up and dress neatly. He planned to attend his grandfather's birthday, having overheard about the celebration. As he was about to leave, the television flashed a news report.
*The arrival of Crestview, the most powerful conglomerate in the world, has plunged New York into a frenzy of panic and anticipation, with financial institutions bracing for its impact. Crestview isn’t just another company — it's a force capable of toppling industries.*
He glanced at the news before walking out.
***
**At Tracy's Grandfather's Birthday Party**
Tracy entered the room quietly, taking in the elegant decorations. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow over the polished marble floors. A grand table in the center was covered with vibrant flower bouquets and a towering seven-tier cake. Family members and many guests were gathered around Mr. Collins, engaged in lively conversation. As Tracy walked in, their chatter paused, and all eyes turned to her.
She approached her grandfather and said, “Happy birthday, Father!”
Mr. Collins looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Why are you arriving so late?”
“I’m sorry, Father,” Tracy replied, “I got caught up with some things.”
“A hectic day on my birthday?” he said, visibly displeased. Tracy knew it was time to present her gift, so she handed him a carefully wrapped scarf. “Please accept this as your birthday gift.”
Mr. Collins took one look at the scarf and laughed. “What is this? A scarf as a birthday gift?”
Tracy responded, “Father, I knitted this myself. It was made with love and care, using your favorite materials. It comes from my heart.”
Mr. Collins scowled. “This? It looks old and shabby. How could you think this is an appropriate gift? It’s of such low quality!”.
Tracy took a deep breath and said, “I know this scarf may not be valuable in the way you’re used to, but it’s precious to me because every stitch represents my love and dedication. It’s not about its material worth, but the heartfelt effort behind it.”.
“Crap! Who cares about heartfelt!, All I care about is something valuable, worthy and rich, something that reflects my worthiness and classiness!”.
Laughter erupted among the guests. Tracy had spent over two months knitting the scarf, investing her time and effort, only to have it dismissed as worthless by her grandfather.
Dylan, one of her cousins who had always disliked Mr. Collins, sneered, “Seriously, Tracy? That scarf looks like it came from a thrift store. Just like how your husband’s instability reflects poorly on you.”
The room erupted in laughter again. Hurt and frustrated, Tracy angrily tossed it into the fireplace.
“Is this acceptable now?” she asked, heading towards a seat. Just as she was about to sit, Mr. Collins’s stern voice stopped her.
“No, there’s no seat for you. Seating is determined by the value of the gifts given to me.”
“What!”.
“Yeah, that's it!, You have the lowest gifts here and it's of no use, so you deserve no seat”.
Tracy was stunned by his words. She felt the sting of discrimination, which she knew it was all because of her love for Bryan. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but she managed to keep them in check.
“Then, where will I sit?” she asked, trying to maintain her composure.
“Stand,” Mr. Collins replied coldly. “You don’t deserve a seat. Stand over there.”
Tracy let out a bitter chuckle, feeling lost for words as she stood.
Tracy stood awkwardly on the sidelines, a stark contrast to the jovial atmosphere around her. The guests, emboldened by Mr. Collins’s approval, began to make cruel jabs.
Dylan, with a smirk, said, “Look at her over there, like a lost puppy. I guess she’s used to being out of place—just like her husband.”
Another guest chimed in, “What a joke. She actually thought a homemade scarf could impress anyone here? How stupid of her.”
“Seriously,” a third guest sneered, “does she not understand that this family has standards? It’s almost pathetic how she tries so hard to fit in with her poor taste.”
Tracy’s face burned with humiliation as another guest continued. “How did she even get into this family? A family everyone is praying to be!”.
What hurt her the most was her mother’s comment: “She is such a disgraceful daughter!”
“She doesn’t deserve any respect! She and her imbecile husband contribute nothing to the family,” Mr. Collins declared loudly.
“Yeah, she didn’t earn it and shouldn’t be given it!” Dylan chimed in.
“If I were to contribute a billion dollars, would she then be respected?” a voice suddenly interrupted from the doorway. Silence fell as everyone turned to see where the voice had come from.
Behold!. It was Bryan!, standing on the doorstep in a perfectly tailored shirt and trousers, his hair styled slick and curly. His appearance was strikingly different, and everyone was taken aback, Their voice hung up in the air.
The silence was broken by Dylan’s laughter. “Wow, that nearly had me. I can’t believe Tracy brought this mentally unstable husband here!”
“At least he dreams big—one billion dollars, my a*s!”
Mr. Collins slammed his hand on the table. “You keep disgracing me! Now this imbecile is here to disrupt my party!”
“You did a great job making him look good—something he can never be! A lowlife retard!” another family member sneered.
“Guard!” Mr. Collins shouted, and security immediately rushed in. “Remove this trash right now!”
As the guards moved to drag Bryan away, he said as he stepped, “Babe, Tracy.”
“Bryan?” Tracy, taken aback by his transformation, was stunned. “Is that really you?”
Bryan smiled as he stepped forward, holding out his ring. “You shouldn’t have lost this,” he said, sliding the ring onto his finger.
Tracy sniffled, “Bryan! Is it really you?”
“Yes, it’s me! I’m back, and I’m fully myself again!” Bryan declared.
- Writer
