Chapter 2

2

A leech?

My hand froze on the doorknob, but I didn't argue. I closed the door quietly.

Apparently, everyone around Lyra believed I was nothing more than a bottomless pit draining her dry.

Her company would have collapsed in its infancy if I hadn't injected millions behind the scenes.

Lyra knew the truth, yet whenever outsiders ridiculed me, she never said a single word in my defense.

I helped her rise to the top, and now she truly believed I was a useless bum riding her coattails.

Seven whole years. She had completely forgotten how she once begged me for connections and funding.

When exactly did she change?

Maybe it was four years ago when my parents retired and handed their conglomerates over to professional managers. Or maybe it was a year ago when they moved from their luxury penthouse into a quiet, historic neighborhood.

What she didn't know was that I was the shadow director steering our family empire. My parents had only moved because they wanted a peaceful, simple life in their old age.

I packed a small suitcase and went straight to my parents' place. Seeing my luggage, they both frowned. "What happened?"

"I'm getting a divorce."

"A divorce? After seven years, just like that?" My mother sighed. "Marriage takes patience, son. Try to understand each other."

I exhaled deeply and shook my head. "She thinks I'm completely worthless now."

"What? She thinks our family is broke, so she's dumping you after using you up?" My father scowled. "Does she seriously think she's been feeding our whole family?"

I nodded, choosing not to mention the infidelity to my parents.

I wanted to preserve at least a shred of dignity for the past seven years.

My father went quiet for a long moment before clapping me on the shoulder and leading me upstairs.

He pulled a black titanium card from his desk drawer. "I know it hasn't been easy managing our assets quietly while taking care of that girl's business. This is from my private account―your mother doesn't know about it. Take it as my personal investment in you. Show them what a Vance can do."

I pushed it back. "Dad, I don't need it. The family businesses have been steady, and I have plenty of funds."

They were getting older; I couldn't take their retirement money.

"I'm your father! If I tell you to take it, you take it! It's only two hundred million dollars, pocket change! Do you think your mother and I rely on this petty cash to survive?"

I stared at the card in my hand, completely dumbfounded. Two hundred million in pocket change?

"Thanks, Dad."

"I was saving this for my future grandchild, but now..."

My father sighed, looking at his graying temples. A surge of guilt tightened in my chest.

As their only son, I had let them down.

Back then, my parents disapproved of my marriage to Lyra because our social standings were worlds apart. But because I loved her, they welcomed her like their own daughter.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll expand our empire and make you proud!"