Chapter 9: Young Xavier met Young Quentin
1097 Words
Xavier forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Quentin, did you upset your bride with that stunt at the wedding yesterday? Did you really sleep together last night?"
Just thinking about Jennifer made Quentin feel a burning anger within him.
The memory of her haunted him, an unsettling mix of emotions swirling within. The way she had looked at him, not with fear, but with something close to defiance—it rattled him in a way he couldn’t explain. The reckless, unspeakable things he did the previous night shocked even him. Angrily, he snapped, "What does that have to do with you? Get out and leave me alone."
Xavier, sensing Quentin's rising anger, was eager to leave. Quentin had always claimed he didn’t care about marrying that woman, but his intense reaction now suggested otherwise.
He knew Quentin well enough to see when something was bothering him, and this was more than just irritation—it was a deep-seated rage that he hadn’t seen in Quentin for years. What was it about Jennifer that provoked such a strong reaction? As Xavier made a hasty retreat, Quentin called after him, "Wait. Did you find out anything about this Jennifer? Especially her activities and history abroad. I need detailed information."
"Still investigating," Xavier replied, turning back. "Did you notice something strange about her last night? She's quite the looker for an Anderson family daughter. Mrs. Eleanor first wanted Emily Anderson, but the Anderson family wouldn’t part with her and said they had another daughter abroad. If Mrs. Eleanor agreed, she must be something special, prettier than Emily..."
"Enough with the chatter. Get out," Quentin snapped, his expression darkening. He wasn’t really angry at Xavier but at himself. He prided himself on his self-control, so why did he lose it around this woman?
It wasn’t just the physical attraction—there was something else, something that gnawed at him, challenging the control he prided himself on. Jennifer was different from any other woman he had encountered, and that unnerved him more than he cared to admit.
Xavier quickly escaped the tense atmosphere of the office, exhaling in relief once outside. Just as he sat down in the lounge, a staff member greeted him, "Good day, Mr. President McCarty."
"Good day," Xavier replied warmly.
While Xavier was the public face of the Soar Group, high-level employees knew there was a mysterious boss behind the scenes, the true power in the company. Though Xavier was approachable and friendly, he never revealed anything about the elusive owner.
Xavier and Quentin were distant relatives, their families linked in the past. During the McCarty family's heyday, Xavier was lucky enough to get financial support to study abroad. But after just one year in university, the McCarty family went bankrupt.
Without financial backing, Xavier couldn’t afford the high tuition fees and had to survive by working illegal jobs, drifting from place to place.
Eventually, someone brought him to a sanatorium in England, where he met the young Quentin Tyler.
That encounter changed the course of his life. He had been on the verge of giving up, ready to return home in disgrace, when he found himself face-to-face with Quentin. The boy’s cold, calculating eyes had pierced through him, reading him like an open book. There was no pity in Quentin’s gaze, only a steely determination that both scared and intrigued Xavier.
He clearly remembered that first encounter. Despite being only thirteen or fourteen, Quentin already had a mature and serious demeanor that was strikingly adult.
Young Quentin Tyler had been blunt when they first met. "The McCarty Group has been completely taken over by the Tyler Family. My mother’s car accident was no accident; someone orchestrated it. I want revenge, and I need your help."
His voice was cold and emotionless, making Xavier McCarty uneasy. Still, seeing that Quentin was just a teenager, he had laughed dismissively, "Why should I help you? You’re a Tyler, not a McCarty."
Quentin remained unfazed. "Don’t you want to finish your education? Or do you prefer working illegal jobs, risking getting caught and deported, ending up a nobody?"
Xavier shrugged. "As long as I’m making money, I don’t mind."
"And your mother back home? She thinks you’re studying hard. Why bother faking those campus photos and videos if you don’t care?"
Xavier’s fingers clenched. Quentin’s cold gaze made it clear he wasn’t taking no for an answer. After considering, he realized helping Quentin might benefit him, too.
"Fine, I’ll help you."
Quentin gave him a knowing look. "Did you really have a choice?"
From that moment, Xavier became Quentin's ally, following the younger boy’s lead.
As time passed, Xavier realized just how dangerous Quentin was. His plans were meticulous, his resolve unshakeable. Quentin’s need for revenge was more than just a goal; it was an obsession, and Xavier found himself drawn into it, unable to escape the gravity of Quentin’s ambition.
Later, Xavier discovered that after Sylvia McCarty’s death, Quentin had secretly inherited a hidden fortune from the McCarty family. This was a well-kept secret by Sylvia, ensuring her son had a safety net.
Using this inheritance, with Xavier as the frontman and Quentin working from the shadows, they founded the Soar Group.
The company, initially just a modest trade firm, rapidly expanded into a multinational corporation across various industries, becoming a business miracle in Sunset Ridge City.
Looking back, Xavier couldn’t believe how far they had come. What started as a quest for revenge had evolved into something far greater—a legacy that neither of them could have predicted. But at the heart of it all, Quentin’s thirst for vengeance remained, a driving force that kept them both on edge, always one step ahead of the game.*
Rumors circulated that the fallen McCarty Family was rising again through Xavier’s efforts. Posing as Quentin’s cousin, he frequently visited the Tyler Family, supposedly to look after Quentin as his late aunt’s wish, without raising any suspicion.
Reflecting on their journey, Xavier received a message from Quentin, "Come to the office and take me back."
Typical. After telling him to get out, Quentin now wanted him back in the office. What a master.
Xavier chuckled to himself, shaking his head. Quentin was always like this—demanding, unpredictable, but undeniably brilliant. No matter how frustrating he could be, Xavier knew that sticking by Quentin’s side was the smartest decision he had ever made.
Oh well, Xavier thought, he's the one with the money. He checked the time, realizing it was indeed time to drive Quentin back to the Tyler Family.
- Writer
