chapter 1


    MAXIMILIAN Lee took a deep breath as he entered the olddy Griffith’s house. The in and boring


    ce that he used to know looked different from thest time he had been there. There were


    decorations such as balloons and flowers all over the house; cars parked inside and out of the


    residence. It was the olddy Griffith’s birthday. It has been the family’s tradition to be present on that


    special asion. The first to the third generation of the family will be attending. Of course, Maximilian


    himself had to attend, for he was married to one of Griffith’s grandchildren.


    “Max!” He looked in the direction of the voice and found his wife Victoria walking towards him. She


    went there ahead of him to help with the preparations. “What took you so long? I’ve been calling you,


    but you’re not answering your phone.”


    “I’m sorry. I was in the middle of driving when you called.”


    “Oh.” Victoria adjusted her tie. “Why didn’t you wear the suit that I bought for you?”


    “You know I feel bad whenever you buy me a new suit.”


    “You can’t stop me, though.” She smiled at him. Maximilian grabbed his wife’s hand and kissed her


    knuckles. “Let’s go. The party started minutes ago.”


    Victoria clutched on his arm and ushered him to the banquet.


    The children and grandchildren of Mrs. Griffith were already presenting their gifts to the olddy when


    they got to the backyard where the banquet was being held. His wife leaned closer to him and


    whispered, “You should apany me when I give my gift to Granny.”


    He shook his head. “I will just wait for you here.”


    She looked at him with furrowed brows, and after a few seconds, she sighed. Victoria conceded. After


    all, his wife could not force him. He preferred to just stand there and watched them from afar.


    If truth be told, Maximilian did not want to attend the banquet. Ever since he became part of the Griffith


    family when he married Victoria, each one of them made him feel that he does not belong with them.


    They saw him as a loser, a waste, just because he was an orphan. He has nothing to give his wife,


    unlike the other sons-inw of the Griffith family, who came from high profile families of the society. But


    he had to force himself to attend the birthday celebration of his wife’s grandmother because he has an


    important agenda.


    He got himself something to drink and waited for Mrs. Griffith’s family to finish the gift-giving.


    “I hope this one would help me muster the courage,” he said after one big gulp of champagne from the


    flute. “I badly needed that...”


    Maximilian heaved a sigh and loosened his tie. He was not sure how things would turn out. But still, he


    should try.


    OLD Mrs. Griffith was sitting alone behind the table. She just finished a bounty meal fit for a queen


    when Maximilian came and greeted her.


    “Happy birthday, Mrs. Griffith.” He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.


    Mrs. Griffith just looked at him with a crooked brow. Well, he was not even expecting her to say thanks.


    Maximilian pulled the chair across the old woman and sat there. He stared at Mrs. Griffith straight in the


    eyes. It took him quite some time before he was able to say what he had to say.


    “I... I don’t want to ruin your mood on this happy asion, but I’m desperate right now, and you’re the


    only person I know who could be of help.” Maximilian took a deep breath. He had to swallow the little


    pride left in him because he was really desperate. “Could you lend me 500 thousand dors? My—”


    “What?! 500 thousand dors?” The old woman’s voice was too loud; it caught the others’ attention.


    Everyone was looking at them now. “And who do you think you are to ask me for such amount of


    money?” Mrs. Griffith sneered. She looked at him as though he was a huge piece of trash in front of


    her.


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    His hands clenched and unclenched above the table when he saw the old woman’s family walking


    towards them one by one, including his wife Victoria, who chose to stand behind him. Her hands


    grasped her shoulders.


    “What’s happening?” Victoria asked worriedly.


    “That husband of yours was asking 500 thousand dors from me, Victoria.” There was a hint of


    annoyance in the old woman’s voice. “Can you imagine that? How dare he ask me for—”


    “I need that money for my mother’s medical expenses because she was thermally ill,” Maximilian said


    through gritted teeth.


    “And how can you pay her back when you can’t even buy yourself a suit,” Franklin Griffith fished


    something from his pocket and threw it in his direction. “Take it, every cent count, Max.”


    His gave reverted on the dor coin thatnded on the table. The Griffiths were always like that,


    making fun of him.


    “Franklin, enough!” his wife butt in. Victoria pulled him up. “You shouldn’t be doing this to him. He is my


    husband.”


    “Didn’t I tell you not to marry someone like him?” Old Mrs. Griffith rose from her seat. “Look at him? He


    is such a loser to ask his wife’s family for money for his mother’s medical expenses. If only Xiao did not


    raise him like that. He is a good-for-nothing bastard!”


    “You should leave, Maximilian,” said Iris Griffith. “You ruined Granny’s mood on her very special day.”


    And now, they were driving him out as if the humiliation in front of everyone was not enough.