Chapter 3

"Since when did my wife become your servant, Peyton?" I demanded.

I yanked the watch from Peyton's wrist. "This was a birthday present I bought for Gwen. Why is it on your wrist? I'd like an explanation about her bedroom and her job too!"

I was, after all, the Young family's biological son. I assumed that if I showed Peyton I wasn't someone to be trifled with, she—an adopted daughter of the family—would think twice before crossing me. To my dismay, she remained completely unfazed.

She rushed forward and snatched the watch back. "Dad gave it to me. If you have a problem, take it up with him."

She didn't bother showing me the slightest respect in front of all the household staff. Instead, she shot back at me with open hostility.

"Your father's still alive. He's still the head of this family, so you have no right to call the shots around here!"

Behind me, Gwen was anxiously tugging at the hem of my shirt. Sobbing, she cried, "Forget it, honey. I'm okay. Let's not upset Peyton."

The sight of her cowering before Peyton broke my heart. I was determined to uncover the truth today no matter what.

Ignoring Peyton's defiant attitude, I snatched the watch from her once again. I yanked so hard that I nearly sent her tumbling to the floor.

"Why did you take the executive position I had arranged for my wife? Why did she end up having to work at a nightclub?" I demanded. "After you kicked her out of her own bedroom, where exactly did you make her sleep?"

After a brief pause, I went on, "And what about all the designer clothes and handbags I've bought for Gwen over the years? Why are they in your walk-in closet? Explain yourself right now!"

When the household staff gathered around us, I turned my attention toward them and shouted, "Have all of you gone mute? I'm the heir to the Young family. Do none of you have the courage to tell me what's going on?"

Peyton let out a derisive laugh before turning around to threaten the staff. "This is a private affair. None of you have the right to interfere. Anyone who utters a single word to him will have to answer to me."

She was acting as though she was the lady of the house. I couldn't believe the kind of person my father had turned this orphan into after years of indulging her.

When I found myself at a loss for words, Peyton smugly pulled out her phone.

"I'm the Young family's only daughter. Dad has already said that he'll leave the entire family fortune to me. I don't need to explain myself to you!" she declared. "How dare you raise your voice at me? I'll call Dad right now and ask him to stand up for me!"

The moment the call went through, she burst into tears and accused Gwen and me of ganging up on her. To make matters even more ridiculous, my own father, who hadn't bothered to pick me up at the airport, actually returned home within ten minutes.

The moment he walked through the door, he caught sight of Peyton and her phony tears. Not bothering to figure out what was going on, he hugged her and angrily jabbed a finger in my direction.

"You ungrateful bastard! You just returned home today, and you're already picking on your sister!" he roared.

"And you!" he continued, turning toward Gwen. "What kind of lies have you been telling my son, Gwendolyn Shaw?"

The moment my father raised his hand, Gwen let out a terrified scream and dropped to her knees.

"I'm sorry, Jeremy! Please don't hit me. I-I didn't tell him anything. I didn't say anything, I swear!"

As I watched Gwen grovel for mercy, I could roughly imagine what she'd been subjected to all these years.

Gritting my teeth, I raised my Black Card high in the air.

"The person who tells me what really happened in this house gets a villa. I'll pay for it right now! Don't worry. The Young family's businesses and assets are all under my control. I'm the one who calls the shots in this family!"

I'd always been a dutiful and respectful son. I couldn't believe that I'd been forced to say something so disrespectful. Fortunately, the promise of such a generous reward convinced someone to speak up.

After whispering amongst themselves for several minutes, two members of the household staff finally stepped forward.

"Mr. Theodore, I-I recorded some terrible things on my phone. I can show you the videos…" one of them said.

Peyton's face instantly turned red. "You bitch! How dare you stick your nose into our private family affairs? You—"

"You're nothing but a beggar from an orphanage. What makes you think you're a member of the Young family?" I cut Peyton off coldly.

Then, I motioned for my bodyguards to come in and restrain her and my father, leaving them no chance to interfere.

Upon seeing this, the household staff finally stepped forward and handed me her phone.

"You should prepare yourself for what you're about to see, Mr. Theodore…"