Chapter 1

Patrick stood up from his executive office seat, having finished the day's work.

At 8 p.m. sharp, his personal assistant, Jeff Hudson, knocked and stepped into his executive office, painted in ash grey, to see him.

"Good evening, boss. Are you leaving for home now?" Jeff asked.

Patrick silently stepped out from his seat, picked up his black coat hanging on the chair, and wore it to shield his cool, dark skin from the cold wind. He adjusted his necktie, grabbed his briefcase from the desk, and left.

With a final glance, Patrick exited his office on the eighth floor of his ten-story multimillion-dollar hotel in the state.

He entered the elevator, which took him down to the ground floor of his luxurious hotel.

Patrick stepped out and made his way to his black SUV. His bodyguards opened and shut the car door for him as he entered the back seat.

Patrick owned a vast array of secret businesses in the state. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts ranging from his parents urging him to bring home a wife to the list of competitors aiming to dethrone him in the business world.

Patrick maintained multiple hidden identities, with no one knowing the real Patrick Anderson, keeping his business strategies a secret.

Patrick looked ahead at Jeff, who was rushing to join him in the car. Jeff slid into the driver's seat, as he was also Patrick's driver.

Jeff started the SUV's engine and drove out of the luxurious hotel.

Jeff arrived at the gates of the Anderson mansion, and the security personnel opened the huge black gate. He drove the SUV into the mansion's premises and parked.

Patrick got out of the SUV and walked towards the four-story mansion. He was angry, his blood boiling as he clicked his black shoes on the cemented ground and entered the living room.

The new maid, Loveth Logan, was mopping the tiled floor of the living room. She looked up at Patrick as he entered and greeted him, "Good evening, sir. Welcome home."

Patrick didn't respond to Loveth's greeting. He frowned, looked away, and walked to the milk-colored couch in the living room to drop his briefcase.

Patrick took off his black coat, hung it over his shoulder, and felt the warmth from the heater on his cool, dark skin.

He picked up his briefcase and headed to the elevator to retire upstairs to his chamber. He wore a red pocket shirt with black trousers and had short black hair.

Just then, Patrick's mother, Mrs. Eleanor Anderson, a 70-year-old woman suffering from kneecap pain, stepped out from her room. She saw Loveth mopping the floor, frowned, and then noticed Patrick about to enter the elevator.

"Son," Mrs. Eleanor called him back.

Patrick paused and looked at his mother. He met her smiling gaze, sighed, and walked towards her. She wore a long blue gown and walked to meet him.

"Good evening, Mother," Patrick greeted as he approached her and hugged her. He walked with her to the couch, being her only son with four older sisters.

Patrick knew his parents wanted nothing more than a grandchild from him.

His four older sisters were married and much older than him, as his aged mother had him ten years after his immediate elder sister's birth.

"Welcome, son. How was work today?" Mrs. Eleanor asked.

"Fine, Mother," Patrick replied and sat down with her on the couch.

"When will you finally marry? You know your father and I aren't getting any younger. Or don't you want us to see the next heir of Anderson Corporations?" Mrs. Eleanor asked.

Patrick frowned and sighed, "Hmm."

"Son," his mother called again, and Patrick replied, "Mom, you don't have to worry about your death yet, okay? I'll think about a bride soon, probably this week or next."

"Okay, son," Mrs. Eleanor replied with a smile. Patrick stood up from the couch to go to his chamber, feeling heartbroken.

"But what about your girlfriend, Willow Albert? Why not arrange to marry her at once, or what's the matter?" Mrs. Eleanor asked again, worried about Patrick and Willow's relationship.

Patrick felt his forehead sweat from his mother's questions. He looked away, made eye contact with Loveth Logan, who blushed and smiled as she mopped.

Patrick's eyes scanned her waist in her pink maid uniform, noting her beauty and wondering who hired her for the mansion.

Patrick quickly looked away from Loveth, faced his mother, and replied, "Mom, Willow traveled without informing me and refused to explain."

Patrick couldn't tell his mother the truth about why he broke up with Willow Albert, who was unfaithful.

Mrs. Eleanor sighed and said, "I spoke to Willow yesterday, and she said you both are fine."

"Mom," Patrick stiffened, forcing a fake smile, "I'm very tired now and need to return to my room."

"Okay, son," Mrs. Eleanor replied, watching him walk away to the elevator.

Mrs. Eleanor saw Loveth and called Patrick back, "Son, have you met Loveth Logan? She's the new maid from Westwood, and her mother is a charitable woman contributing to the economy."

"Hmm," Patrick paused and looked at Loveth, who had finished mopping and bowed to him under his cold gaze.

"What do you think, Patrick? Your eldest sister Isabel recommended her, and she's like a daughter to me, helping a lot. Come, Loveth," Mrs. Eleanor signaled to Loveth.

"Loveth, meet my son, Master Patrick Anderson, sole heir to Anderson Corporation."

Loveth stood before Patrick, bowed respectfully, and said, "It's an honor to meet you, sir."

Patrick froze, lost in thought.

Was this a temptation or setup by his mother?

Her eyes were shiny black like a cat's. Her nose was sharp, her lips naturally pink, and her long blonde hair was tied in a ponytail.

Her skin looked flawless, like milk and honey mixed. Patrick noted Loveth's beauty until his mother's words snapped him out of his assessment.

"I see you like her, my son. She's a good cook, and I feel younger and love her more."

"Hmm," Patrick's eyes narrowed at Loveth.

He looked at his mother and said, "Okay, Mom. It's good she's taking care of you. I have to go upstairs now for an online business meeting at 10 p.m."

Patrick walked away to the elevator, not waiting for his mother's response, and went up to the fourth floor.

Patrick arrived at the fourth floor, stepped out of the elevator into his sitting room, and cursed, "FÙCK!" He was annoyed and didn't want to marry someone unfaithful.

Patrick approached his couch, dropped his briefcase and coat, and went to the bar for a drink, angry at Willow's betrayal with his rival, Tony Miles.

Patrick took a bottle of wine, opened it, and drank directly from the bottle.

Feeling the wine's effect, he staggered, sat on a stool, finished the bottle, and opened another, cursing Willow.

Just then, Patrick heard the door open and saw a maid enter with a tray of his meal.