THE SHOCKED expression of Samantha greeted August as soon as he entered the room. Daphne was right. Samantha was already wearing a pink and gold one-piece suit covered with a pink cardigan when he entered.“Samantha,” he called her in a low tone. It sounded full of regrets, hatred, and desperation at the same time.He couldn’t help it when a lone tear fell from his eyes. Samantha looked like he was afraid of her, and he didn’t know the reason behind it. All he did was to love her, so the terrified expression in Samantha’s eyes pained him.“Sam…” August called for the second time as he took steps forward towards her. The same emotions were still evident in his voice.Samantha heard it, too. Of all those years she needed to pretend that she loves August to use him, she got a gist of his personality. For her, reading August’s expression and voice was like reading a children’s book; both are easy to grasp.“August,” Samantha, who was stunned at first, finally found the strength to speak.
AUGUST BLINKED his eyes and turned his head to see who was the man who entered the other door. It was a tall man wearing a white polo shirt and pants. Despite the casual clothes, a powerful aura was evident around him. ‘Jake Sandoval,’ August thought. He was the CEO of the Sandoval Corporation and the head of the Sandoval Family. He was the mastermind of all the transactions. In all those years he worked at the Sandoval Corporation, he only saw him twice: One at the general assembly and the second at the emergency meeting when the stock prices decreased drastically because of an issue he couldn’t remember. He wasn’t active at the company, but no business transactions, especially the most crucial ones, were done without his approval. August was always intimidated every time he saw Jake, but he couldn’t help to think that Charles Remington had a more powerful and intimidating aura— yet he was comfortable with him at the same time. “F-Father…” Daphne mumbled as her hand traveled ont
“YOU TOLD me that I don’t belong here…” August mumbled which made Bruce smirk. “But why do I hear insecurity from your voice—” He wasn’t able to finish his sentence when Bruce suddenly punched into his stomach, causing him to cough as he tried to catch his breath. It was in the same position where Bruce punched the first time. In a moment, Bruce was able to determine where August would hurt the most. Samantha, who was also watching, gasped as August almost lost consciousness. Nicole and Jake had neutral expressions as they were already used to this kind of scene; blood and mess were like natural things to them. Some people were also shocked because of what Bruce did, but after a while, they were already screaming that Bruce should give August another hard punch because he deserves it. August couldn’t help but think if those people were humans— or demons pretending to be one. ‘Sick bastards,’ August thought at the back of his mind. “This is the end for you, August.” Bruce let out
HIS INTENSE declarations were followed by a massive volume of laughter within the crowd— including the Sandoval family, except for Daphne. August closed his eyes and clenched his fists, trying not to bring their laughter straight into his heart. But it was to no avail. He could feel his heart breaking. One of his hands traveled onto his chest and clutched it while breathing heavily. His chest went up and down as he did that. All of them found August's claims amusing. Nicole even held onto her stomach as she laughed hard with her eyes getting teary, the same as the other people in the place who looked at him like a clown who was giving them entertainment. "He's sick!" "Dream on, dude!" "Your dreams will come true once you die!" Their sarcastic laughter was followed by harsh insults. They were even pointing out at him. Some of them were spitting on the stage, while some were splashing their wines onto him. At that time, he regretted opening his eyes— the same as how he regretted
WITH THAT, the tables had turned immediately as he was the one who got caught off-guard. People around them gasped in shock because they knew that Daphne had a double meaning with her statements. Everyone knew that Daphne was an illegitimate child, and having a mistreatment towards illegitimate children was not much news to them, but they were shocked because all along, they thought that the Sandoval family gives Daphne the same treatment as Bruce. Lots of cameras and flashes went onto Jake, Bruce, and Nicole Sandoval. The reporters were asking what Daphne Sandoval could mean behind that sentence she spouted earlier. All of them went silent, especially B
THE ROOM WENT in silence as August heard what Charles had said. His eyes widened as he forgot to breathe for a second. His hands were about to move to fix his hair but was stopped mid-way because of shock. He wasn’t stupid to understand Charles’ statement. If he wouldn’t pretend to be his son despite inheriting Charles’ wealth, then… ‘Would I be adopted for the second time?’ August couldn’t help but ask at the back of his mind. It was the only way he could be an inheritor without pretending, but at this point, he didn’t know what to feel. The Fordman family treated him properly without any judgments, and he wasn’t sure if he would be able to let go of their surname because of this new opportunity that could help him exact revenge. He remembered his life in the orphanage back when he was a child. The other children didn’t like him— they treated him differently and bullied him. They constantly told him that he didn't belong in the orphanage because he was different, and at that time,
“WHAT WAS he even thinking? He didn’t even inform me of what we’ll do tomorrow,” August mumbled as he sat at the edge of the bed and stared at the door where Charles had gone out earlier.He looked at his body. Some parts of his body were covered with bandages. August raised the hem of his shirt and grimaced as he saw his stomach having some stitches because of what Bruce did to him yesterday.‘That’s why it pained me so much. His punch created a wound within it,’ he said at the back of his mind. He massaged the bridge of his nose as the memories from last night surged onto his mind like a tidal wave.A day had passed, but the pain from their insults lingered in his mind. He could remember how they mocked him and threw insults at him like he was a rock that wouldn’t be affected by what they said. He clenched his hand and tried to find the remote so he could watch the television.“Where is it?” August talked to himself as he removed the blankets covering the bed and even removed the p
THE SUN already rose, yet August wasn't able to get some sleep. It became hard for him to rest his mind if he wasn't in the right mood. He felt like he was prohibited from doing anything. 'Did I do the right thing?' August couldn’t help but ask that question at the back of his mind. If it wasn't for the revenge he wanted, he would have run away by now and lived the peaceful life he always wanted. He could forget everything. He could forgive them and start a new life like he did in Mrs. Johens' restaurant. But it was different right now. Everything wouldn't be able to be the same again as he also thought about Daphne who crossed the line just to help him. He would show her his gratitude some other time. “Good morning, August," Charles greeted as he entered the room. Charles thought that August would flinch or show a shocked expression because he looked like he was in deep thought when he opened the door, but August just gazed at him with his arms crossed. ‘He was conscious of his