Chapter 1
“Lord Todd, please…”
“The master instructed me to make sure you go back with me on this trip.”
In the spacious hall, an elderly man in a traditional Chinese robe bowed deeply, his tone filled with utmost respect.
“The affairs of the Elcy family have nothing to do with me.”
On the sofa, Todd Elsey gently swayed the glass of red wine in his hand.
Underneath the calm tone, there was an undeniable sense of authority.
Looking at the handsome figure ahead, the bodyguards who had come with the old man wore strange expressions.
Mr. Connie is the undisputed head steward of the clan, holding a position of great respect.
Why be so subservient to a young guy like that?
Yet they didn’t realize that, in the eyes of others, the Berlin Elsie family was undoubtedly a towering force to be reckoned with.
But for Todd Elsey, it was utterly humbling.
Because he was, after all, the only heir designated by the clan.
Moreover, he was an invincible war god whose fame reverberated across the world, inspiring awe in all who heard of him.
With remarkable military achievements and supreme power over the world, he truly stands out as a legend through the ages, enjoying unparalleled glory!
“Young Master Todd… if you’re not present at this clan meeting…”
Mr. Connie still wouldn’t give up. With a trembling voice, he pleaded, “Our family will never be able to rise again after this.”
“Do you really want to stand by and do nothing?”
Suddenly, the handsome figure on the sofa underwent a transformation, becoming as majestic as a mountain.
An invisible pressure spread everywhere, heavy as a thousand weights, silencing Mr. Connie and the others completely.
Turning a blind eye to someone in need of help…
Muttering those four words to himself, Todd Elsey curled his lips into a smile.
Yet in those deep, pitch-black eyes, not a trace of laughter could be seen—only icy coldness.
Ten years ago, as a commoner without any special status, I was driven out of my home in front of everyone…
Who else stood up to say a word against him for not helping when someone was in need?
Todd Elsey glanced around slowly, his eyes sharp as knives.
At the mere sight of those eyes, everyone bowed their heads, trembling with fear and drenched in sweat.
After a long while, he sneered and slowly spat out one word: “Get lost!”
Mr. Connie and the others, who had been terrified, felt as though they had been granted a great mercy.
One by one, they fled in panic, without anyone daring to look back.
When only Todd Elsey was left, the phone suddenly rang.
“Boss, everything’s taken care of.”
“The time is three days from now, and the location is…”
The man on the other end immediately reported back, in a very loyal tone.
“Not bad,” Todd Elsey replied indifferently.
“Yes!”
On the other end, it instantly became excited, as if it had received the highest honor possible.
After hanging up the phone, Todd Elsey took out a yellowed, old banknote.
In that moment, it seemed as though those beautiful words echoed in my ears once again:
“Big brother, consider this money as a loan to you. You can pay me back later.”
Ten years ago, on that snowy night, I was starving and cold, shivering on the street.
A small figure approached through the snow, warming his whole being with a pure smile.
“It’s been so long since we last met. I wonder if you still remember me.”
Todd Elsey’s lips curved slowly into a smile, as enchanting as the spring breeze.
Now is the time for me to repay what I owe.
……
Three days later, Mannheim, Mingxuan Hotel.
The banquet hall was decorated with flowers and lights everywhere, creating a festive atmosphere.
Today is the grand ceremony where the Hazlitt family, one of Mannheim’s four prominent families, publicly selects a husband for their daughter.
The guests present were all either wealthy or noble. All the important people from Mannheim’s upper-class circles were there.
Upon closer observation, it becomes apparent that many people’s expressions reveal mockery and derision.
Because anyone with eyes can see that today was nothing short of a full-blown family drama, with both open and hidden struggles.
Pamela Hazlitt, the head of the Hazlitt family, had only two sons. The eldest son was Steven Hazlitt, and the younger son was Horval Hazlitt.
Since ancient times, there have always been conflicts between younger and older siblings. The younger brother can never defeat the older brother.
As Mr. Hazlitt retired from the public eye, all the power fell into the hands of Steven Hazlitt.
As for Hovar Hazlitt, he spent his entire life in misery, always living at the mercy of his older brother.
But by the time the couple’s children were born, the situation began to turn around.
As Hovard Hazlitt’s only daughter, Juliet Hazlitt was born intelligent and beautiful, and was deeply loved by her father.
After joining the Hazlitt Group, she achieved remarkable results and made countless contributions.
At a age of less than twenty, being appointed as the group’s president by Mr. Hazlitt is considered a beautiful story in Mannheim.
Seeing that his younger brother’s family was starting to improve their situation, Steven Hazlitt could no longer sit idly by.
This public matchmaking event for Juliet Hazlitt was actually orchestrated by him, after he persuaded Mr. Hazlitt to go along with it.
Meanwhile, in the dressing room, a girl dressed in gorgeous attire had a stunningly beautiful face, breathtakingly lovely.
But those beautiful eyes were now completely red, with traces of tears still remaining.
"Dad, is there really no way out?"
Juliet Hazlitt turned her head, looking at her father, Horwald Hazlitt, with heartbroken eyes.
“My daughter really doesn’t want to marry a stranger she’s never met before…”
Watching his beloved daughter on the verge of tears, Horval Hazlitt hesitated for a long time before finally saying helplessly:
"Juliet, don’t blame your father. He has no control over this either."
“You know, as long as your grandfather and uncle are around, the Hazlitt family will never give me a chance to speak.”
Mrs. Hazlitt, who was standing nearby, couldn’t stand it any longer. She cried out, choked with sobs:
“Can’t you see? This is clearly your elder brother’s scheme!”
It’s supposedly done to attract talented people and good husbands for the daughter, but in reality, who becomes the son-in-law isn’t decided by the couple at all.
From beginning to end, the list of candidates was firmly in the hands of my uncle Steven Hazlitt.
As a result, those who made the cut were nothing but mediocre and incompetent people.
Among them were many who were divorced and supporting families. There were even a few old bachelors who couldn’t read a word…
Such actions are clearly meant to ruin their own daughter’s life, bring her reputation to ruin, and turn her into the laughingstock of .
Hovar Hazlitt, as a father, was fully aware of the other party’s sinister intentions. Yet, he was powerless to do anything about it.
Faced with his wife’s questioning, he could only lower his head and say, “I really have no idea what to do.”
Mrs. Hazlitt completely collapsed in tears, wailing, “Hovar Hazlitt! How could I have been so blind as to marry you, you good-for-nothing!”
“Can’t even protect your own daughter? How can you even be called a man?”
Glancing at the servant beside him, Horval Hazlitt, feeling humiliated, gritted his teeth and said:
“Good! So you’re capable, aren’t you? Then come up with a solution of your own!”
“It’s easy to talk without putting in any effort. Anyone can do that with just their mouth.”
“You… you still dare to talk back!” Lady Hazlitt was furious.
The two completely lost it and argued violently in the dressing room. The servants had no choice but to pretend not to notice.
But Juliet Hazlitt couldn’t stand it anymore. She got up abruptly and stormed out the door.
She went alone to the hotel terrace and cried bitterly.
As intelligent as she is, how could she not realize that this was entirely a conspiracy against her?
She can make a name for herself in the business world and is respected by employees of all levels within the company.
Yet, they can’t even control their own simplest joys.
“Fate… this is my fate…” Juliet Hazlitt smiled bitterly, tears streaming down her face like beads that had broken their threads.
Suddenly, a sharp voice came from behind: “Juliet, how can you still have the heart to wander around like this?”
She hurriedly wiped her face, and when she turned around, her pretty face turned pale in an instant.
The man who was born plump and burly, with a suit that stretched tightly across his body, was my uncle Steven Hazlitt.
“What is it?” Juliet Hazlitt said coldly, her face expressionless as ice.
Steven Hazlitt stared at her for a long moment, a teasing smile appearing on his plump face:
“Good niece, the ceremony for choosing a husband will begin soon.”
“You still haven’t prepared properly. Otherwise, how will you be able to show yourself in public with that appearance of yours?”
The arrogance and smugness in his tone were almost overwhelming.
Juliet Hazlitt was so angry that her teeth chattered, and her fingertips turned white from gripping so tightly.
She suppressed her boiling anger and turned to leave.
Just as they passed each other, Steven Hazlitt said again:
“The family’s assets will be carefully managed by both you and your cousin…”
“Once you get married, you should be obedient to your husband and raise your children properly. That’s how you can live a comfortable life. Do you understand?”
These words are no different from outright threats.
However, she simply paused for a moment, then left without saying a word.
Once the banquet officially began, it wasn’t long before the festivities really got underway.
An old man dressed in a long robe strode confidently up to the central platform, carrying Juliet Hazlitt with him.
The guests became excited all at once—the highlight of the evening was finally about to begin.
“Lovelies and friends, guests from all over, thank you all for coming today…”
The old man leaned on his crutches, his cloudy eyes gleaming with intelligence as he delivered his opening remarks in a voice that carried authority without needing to raise his tone.
However, most of the people in the room were staring at Juliet Hazlitt, who was standing nearby.
Those gazes contained mockery, derision, sighs… every kind of emotion except envy. a
Voices of discussion kept coming in one after another. Juliet Hazlitt couldn’t help but bite her red lips tightly.
She smiled sadly, thinking to herself, “Besides accepting my fate, what other choice do I have?”
