I went to prison for my girlfriend, taking the fall for her for three years. I even handed over my multi-billion dollar company for her to manage. She promised we’d get married the day I got out. I was a model inmate, and on the day I got out early, I grabbed the first bike I saw and pedaled like crazy, eager to surprise her at home. But the facial recognition system at the mansion didn’t recognize me. The property management hadn’t even had a chance to contact the owner yet. Then a man, wearing *my* pajamas, walked to the door, a three-year-old girl in his arms. He took one look at me, rolled his eyes in disgust, pulled out a crumpled bill, and flicked it at my face. “Go beg somewhere else!” “And don’t you dare try to stick around here!” I looked at the hundred-dollar bill on the ground and just started laughing. When did my mansion get a new owner? … Mr. Davies picked up the fallen bill and practically shoved it into my hand. “You’re a lucky man today, running into someone as kind as Mr. Caleb.” “Considering you just got out, I won’t call security. Just go.” As he spoke, the stranger clutched the child tighter and stumbled back several steps, his face a clear mask of disgust. “I’m looking for Serena. She’s my girlfriend.” At that, the stranger’s face instantly twisted, as if he was about to snap something back. Mr. Davies shot him a look, then turned to me. “Ms. Serena? Your girlfriend? Don’t be ridiculous. Not in broad daylight.” He was about to throw me out without another word. I struggled, ready to defend myself. “Sir, you’re back.” I looked up. It was Martha, our housekeeper, just coming out to take the trash. Martha vouched for me to Mr. Davies, and he started apologizing profusely. I gave a bitter laugh. “If Martha hadn’t shown up, I’d probably be sleeping on the streets tonight.” Martha quickly smoothed things over and ushered me inside. Inside, the stranger remained silent. Martha hurried ahead, practically sprinting, as if afraid I’d ask her something. As the door opened, Serena’s familiar voice drifted out. “Caleb, the formula’s ready. It’s time to feed…” But then she saw me. She froze, stammering, “Blake? Why are you out early? You didn’t tell me!” No enthusiastic hug, just a strange chill settling in my chest. I looked around, and everything had changed. The sofa was now my least favorite orange, piled high with baby supplies. And all my old things? Gone. Serena quickly grabbed my arm, explaining, “This is my new assistant, Caleb Stone. His wife… she passed away during childbirth. As his boss, I’m just helping him out by looking after his daughter for a bit, out of sympathy.” The next second, Caleb was practically plastered to me, fawning. “So *you’re* the brother-in-law! My apologies, I didn’t recognize greatness when I saw it.” He was a completely different person from the arrogant man who’d just been here. I ignored him, turning coldly to Serena. “Where are my things?” She said, her voice overly sweet, “I was afraid Daisy might break them, so I packed them up and put them in the study. I’ll get them for you.” I walked straight to the study and opened the door. Inside, it was filled with photos of that child: her hundred-day celebration, her first birthday, second birthday… Serena had thoughtfully written dates and loving messages on them. Meanwhile, my belongings were shoved in a dusty corner, forgotten. I turned to her. “Anyone would think you were her real mother.” Serena’s face darkened. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m just trying to keep talented people at the company!” The air grew thick with silence, then shattered by the baby’s cries. Serena rushed over, cooing to the child and offering a bottle. Caleb murmured, “There’s no other way. Daisy’s always been fed by Serena since she was tiny.” I watched her, saying nothing. Once the crying stopped, Serena immediately handed Daisy back to Caleb, as if desperately trying to prove something to me. But Caleb turned, walking towards me. “Brother-in-law, want to hold her? She’s really cute.” I was about to refuse, but he just placed her directly into my arms. Suddenly, her little face turned bright red, and she began to wail uncontrollably. Serena instantly shoved me away, scooped up the child, and soothed her gently in her arms. Caleb, meanwhile, gave me a knowing smirk. Serena shot me a reproachful look. “Daisy is shy with strangers. For her sake, why don’t you stay in a hotel for now? I’ll have Mr. Jenkins drive you.” She paused for a few seconds. “I’ll come find you later.” Seeing the child still whimpering, clinging to Serena’s shoulder, I kept my temper. I turned and walked towards Mr. Jenkins, who was waiting. As I looked up, I froze for a moment. The car was still the business sedan I’d bought before, but it had been repainted red. “But you hate red, don’t you?” I shot back. Serena shrugged dismissively. “I lent it to Caleb ages ago. It’s easier for him to pick up and drop off Daisy.” Then, without another glance, she went back inside, already humming a lullaby to put the baby to sleep. Watching her disappear, a hot, bitter wave washed over me. That sedan was the gift I’d given her for our two-year anniversary. We’d promised each other we’d take a road trip every year, see every corner of the world. She’d completely forgotten. The car was crammed with stuffed animals, only one small corner free enough for someone to sit. I told Mr. Jenkins, “Mr. Jenkins, I need to go to the nursing home first, if you don’t mind dropping me off there.” My father passed away young, and my mother was my only living relative. I didn’t want her to worry, so I never told her about my imprisonment. Three years without seeing her. I missed her terribly. “If we go to the nursing home and then the hotel, there won’t be enough time. Ms. Serena wants me to pick them up for the amusement park later.” A doubt gnawed at me: What could a three-year-old possibly do at an amusement park? I didn’t press Mr. Jenkins. I just told him to drop me at the nursing home. He then handed me a hotel key card. I looked at it. It was for a run-down motel outside the city limits, barely even a hotel. The smallest stuffed animal in that car was probably worth more than the entire place. I gave a self-deprecating laugh and walked towards the nursing home entrance. I looked up and saw an old woman with white hair, sitting helplessly by the side of the road. Around her lay a scattered roll of bedding. It was covered in large patches of mold, dirty and torn. Bystanders nearby murmured, “Either she has no kids, or the ones she has are absolute animals.” I walked closer, focusing my gaze. It was my mother, Eleanor! The bystanders’ words echoed in my mind, filling me with a fresh wave of shame. I rushed to help her up. “Mom, why aren’t you in the nursing home?” My mother’s eyes welled up with tears when she saw me. “They kicked me out, son. You’re finally back.” I led my mother into Ms. Thorne’s office, demanding, “Don’t you know who she is? Why did you kick her out?” Ms. Thorne adjusted her glasses. “Eleanor Harrison hasn’t paid her fees in over a month. We notified her family repeatedly to come and pick her up, but no one ever showed. We had no choice but to evict her, according to policy.” I stood there, stunned, unable to speak. Before I went to prison, I had voluntarily given Serena my CEO position and all my assets. She promised she’d take good care of my mother in the nursing home. At first, she’d send me videos of Mom during every visit, which put my mind at ease. I never imagined my mother would end up in such a state. Swallowing my anger, I called Serena. She whined, “I’m so busy running the company all by myself! I’ll have accounting transfer three hundred thousand dollars over right away.” Then, I heard her whisper, “Leo, don’t tell Caleb about this money. Otherwise, he’ll say I’m making decisions behind his back again.” The line went dead, but I felt as if a giant boulder had landed on my chest, making it hard to even breathe. The nursing home quickly confirmed receiving the money. I hurried with my mother back to her old room, helping her pack her belongings. Just as I finished packing and was about to take Mom to dinner, three or five security guards burst in, demanding we leave. Without a word, the guards started throwing Mom’s clothes onto the floor. Ms. Thorne sneered, “Well, I’ve heard about folks from rough places, but you’re a special kind of trouble, aren’t you?” “We just paid the fees! Why are you kicking us out?” I demanded, furious. “The money came in, and right after that, we got a threat to send it back or face a lawsuit. Not calling the police directly was me being merciful.” As Ms. Thorne spoke, she played a recording. Caleb’s voice boomed from her phone. “On behalf of Ascend Group, I demand you return that payment immediately. Otherwise, our legal team will sue you.” “Ms. Serena is beautiful and kind-hearted; she doesn’t care about these small amounts. But *I* have to protect her interests and ensure no one tries to take advantage of her.” My hands shaking, I pulled out my phone to call Serena, but I couldn’t get through. My mother, however, collapsed onto the sofa, clutching her chest, exhausted by the ordeal. Seeing her condition, I had no choice but to plead with Ms. Thorne. “Director, I’m Blake Harrison, the former CEO of Ascend Group. The Ms. Serena he mentioned is my fiancée. Can you please make an exception and let my mother stay here for now?” “As soon as I reach her, I’ll bring the money.” Ms. Thorne gave me a dismissive look, waving her hand. “You don’t look like you’re in charge, no matter how I look at you. The person on the phone sounds a lot more authoritative than you.” “If you can’t afford to stay, then leave. This isn’t a charity, and I’m no saint.” With that, she was about to order the guards to throw us out. I slowly helped my mother to her feet and we left. The scorching sun beat down, and fine beads of sweat constantly broke out on my mother’s forehead. I looked around, desperate to find somewhere to get her out of the heat. With a soft thud, my mother’s legs gave out, and she collapsed. I immediately called 911 and rushed her to the hospital. At the hospital, we were left in the corridor, ignored. But I overheard nurses whispering, “Apparently, some big shot came in, and her assistant just has a common cold, but she’s got all the doctors tied up in a consultation for him.” Watching my mother struggle to breathe with the oxygen mask, I ran straight to the consultation room. I burst through the doors. Serena was sitting amidst a group of doctors. She looked at me, startled. Ignoring my anger, I said frantically, “My mom collapsed! She’s downstairs right now! Can someone please get a doctor to see her?” Serena hesitated for a second, then Caleb, lying nearby, suddenly started coughing non-stop. She quickly changed her tone. “What? That’s impossible! Isn’t your mother perfectly fine at the nursing home?” Then she practically dragged me towards the door. “Blake, don’t get the wrong idea. Caleb has a very serious illness, and we’re in the middle of discussing his condition.” I scoffed. “A common cold isn’t going to kill anyone, Serena.” She looked at me, utterly incredulous. “What if she catches it? Daisy wouldn’t be able to handle it!” “So my mother’s life means nothing?” I yelled, furious. She just decided I was being unreasonable, shoving a wad of cash into my hand. “Stop being dramatic, go home. Once Caleb is better, I’ll go with you to see your mother.” Then she pushed me out, locking the door from the inside. No matter how hard I knocked, she wouldn’t open it. Disheartened, I returned to the corridor. My mother had opened her eyes. A nurse nearby explained, “She’s just malnourished and has heatstroke. A good recovery at home should do the trick.” Leaving the hospital, I found a better hotel and settled my mother in. Seeing her pale, frail face, I clenched my fists, a fierce determination hardening inside me. The next day, I arrived at the company early, only to find that my former office was now Caleb’s. The door even had a keypad lock. Through the glass, I saw the office had been transformed into a gaming room, littered with action figures and gaming gear. It looked nothing like a workspace. I looked up and saw Caleb sauntering into the office, wearing flip-flops and carrying a bag of breakfast. He sat down, pushed aside the stack of documents on his desk, and casually started gaming with his subordinate, talking into his headset. “Caleb Stone, who gave you the authority to stop my mother’s nursing home payments? And where’s Serena?” I demanded, my patience snapped. He looked up at me, giving me a sneering, provocative smile. “Serena’s on a business trip. I’m just looking out for her, making sure no one can accuse her of embezzling company funds or abusing her power.” The next second, his subordinate, Troy, hurled his half-eaten breakfast at me. “Who the hell are you? You think you’re fit to lecture our CEO Caleb?” I dodged, refusing to stoop to his level. I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Mr. Harrison, I’m at the office. Can you come down here, please?” He readily agreed. After I hung up, Caleb sneered, “Brother-in-law, if you want to leave, I’ll have the driver take you.” I said coldly, “Mr. Harrison? You don’t know him? He’ll be here soon to remind you exactly who I am.” They exchanged a look, then both laughed. Troy instantly chimed in, sucking up, “Oh, if you know Mr. Harrison, then I know Mr. Harrison’s dad!” I was about to retort when I noticed a certificate — the one from when I led my team to win an international award — being used to prop up a table leg. Months of late nights and hard work, all for that honor, now treated with such utter contempt. I kicked the gaming desk aside, grabbed the certificate, and demanded, “Do you even know what this is?!” “Just some trash for the junk heap, I guess.” Caleb said, his face utterly indifferent. My patience snapped. I reached out and grabbed his collar, tightening my grip. The next second, Troy kicked me hard in the lower back. I cried out in pain and let go. I scrambled to my feet, ready to fight back, but Caleb and Troy ganged up on me, pinning me down. Caleb put his foot on my head and spat at me. “You useless leech, living off women! Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson!”
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