Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Step-Uncle's Plaything: Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 87

LanceFor several days now, I have been locked inside this room.But I knew this place belonged to my father—just one of the many private properties quietly hidden under the Richardson family name. Houses that were only used for vacations or discreet business matters.Outside the door, two men were always standing guard.My father’s men.It was obvious they had strict orders not to let me leave.I had no phone.No laptop.Nothing I could use to communicate with the outside world.And with every passing hour, there was only one person on my mind.Alice.I didn’t know what she was feeling right now. I didn’t know if she had already seen the news about my supposed engagement to Jeraldine. I didn’t know if she believed any of it… or if she was already furious with me.And the worst part of all, I had no way to explain anything to her.I was standing by the window, staring out at the dark yard, when the door suddenly opened.I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.Dad.He wal

AliceI didn’t even realize how quickly the drive to the penthouse passed.All I knew was that during the entire ride, I couldn’t sit still. Even though the car's interior was quiet and traffic was unusually smooth, every minute still felt painfully slow.My mind kept replaying what Uncle Lemuel had told me.Lance was already at the penthouse, and he wanted me to be there.After everything that had happened—his sudden disappearance, the news spreading across the media, the press conference—I was finally going to see him again.I didn’t know what the first thing I would say to him would be.I didn’t know if I would hug him… or punch him out of frustration for disappearing for several days.But there was only one thing I was absolutely certain about.I wanted to see him and be with him.When the car finally stopped in front of the MobTech building, my heart began beating even faster.A few moments later, I was already inside the elevator that led directly to the penthouse.The elevator

LanceSeveral weeks had passed since my life had completely changed direction.Everything had happened so quickly that sometimes it still felt unreal.My days were now filled with endless meetings, legal consultations, and long hours spent reviewing stacks of documents that seemed to multiply whenever a problem was uncovered.Piece by piece, the truth that had been buried inside the company for years was beginning to surface.What started as a family dispute had evolved into something far larger. This was no longer simply about personal conflict. It had become a full-scale corporate investigation.The legal team, along with members of the board, began a thorough examination of Richardson Foods' financial records. Every file, every transaction, every approval record was carefully reviewed.That was when the irregularities began to appear.Transactions that had bypassed proper authorization. Projects that had been approved without the board’s consent. Company funds had mysteriously move

AliceI never imagined that this day would arrive so quickly.Inside the bridal suite of the luxurious ballroom hotel where Lance and I were about to get married, I sat quietly in front of a large mirror while the stylist fixed the final details of my hair.The room was calm, almost peaceful, but faint sounds from outside occasionally slipped through the door—staff members moving around, voices giving instructions, the distant clatter of preparations happening in the reception hall.Through the wide window of the suite, I could see the bright morning sky. Below, on the garden terrace, the elegant glass aisle had already been set up for the ceremony.A hotel wedding.Before, I had imagined something much simpler. But Lance insisted that this day should be special for both of us.And he certainly didn’t fall short of that promise.The ballroom had been transformed into a scene from a fairy tale—white flowers everywhere, crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling, and long receptio