All Chapters of When the Lights Went Out: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Have you made up your mind?"My brother's voice was deep over the phone. There was no hint of blame in it.I looked at the luxury watches piled around my room.For the past three years, whenever Claire Smith hurt my feelings, she would have her assistant buy me something expensive and leave it on my desk."I have. I overestimated myself. And I overestimated how much she cared about me.""Okay. Your place at home has always been waiting for you. Come back whenever you are ready."After I hung up, I started clearing out everything I had.Claire's mother, Fiona Bruny, walked into the living room with Claire's younger brother, Wade Smith.When Fiona saw me sorting through my files, she crossed her arms and gave a cold, mocking laugh. "What? Living off our family for free isn't enough? Now you're coming to the company just to give me attitude?"Wade immediately piled on, saying, "Mom, look at him! Yesterday, I only asked him to run an errand and buy me something. He actually had t

After spending time with my grandmother back home, I returned feeling completely lost.At the hospital, she had held my hand the entire time, asking why I had come back alone. All I could do was grit my teeth and tell her Claire was too busy with work.Three years of swallowing my anger and putting up with everything had gotten me nothing but disrespect.Two days later, I went back home to make the final preparations. When I arrived at the house, Claire happened to be coming home at the same time."Why are you back so soon? I was actually planning to fly over tonight.""No need. There's no point." My voice was completely emotionless."Then I'll go next time." She paused, then smiled. "I have a surprise for you."She handed me a pregnancy test report. "I'm pregnant." Her voice was soft as she looked at me.I took the paper, my fingertips going slightly numb. Right there in the diagnosis section were the words: [Pregnancy, four weeks.]For a moment, my mind went completely bla

Fiona was the first to react. She burst out laughing, her eyes full of contempt and mockery. She folded her arms across her chest, lifted her chin, and let out a sharp, grating laugh."Mr. Garcia? A private jet? Steven, you really are willing to spend money just to protect that pathetic little bit of pride. Have you even looked at yourself? You really think you are some big shot?"You've been mooching off the Smith family for three years. Even the decent clothes on your back were bought by Claire. And now, you're putting on this little rich-family-heir act? Are you not afraid people will laugh themselves sick when they hear about it?"Wade joined in, reaching out to tug at the fabric of the lead bodyguard's suit. His face was full of arrogance. "Come on, let me see. How much does a suit like this cost to rent for a day? Hey, buddy, did he even pay you guys?"I think by the time this is over, he won't even have enough money for a ride home, and you will all have to sleep on the stre

Smith Group's crisis escalated faster than I had expected.Without me pulling the strings behind the scenes, Hank's incompetence was finally exposed.Desperate to prove himself to the Smith family, Hank signed a massive purchase contract with an overseas company on behalf of Smith Group without conducting a single risk assessment.It turned out the company was nothing but a shell.After collecting a two-million-dollar advance payment, they vanished without a trace. They even shut down their website.The missing two million dollars immediately created a massive cash-flow problem, which triggered a crisis of confidence in Smith Group. The banks began pulling their loans. Suppliers crowded outside the company, demanding payment.One senior executive after another handed in their resignation.That afternoon, I had just walked out of the Garcia Group building on my way to a business and political dinner when I saw Claire waiting outside.It had only been a week since I had last seen

The bidding ceremony officially began, and every eye in the room turned toward the stage.The spotlight fell on me, making me shine beneath the bright lights.Down below, Claire's grandfather stared at me, his lips twitching slightly.Fiona's face had gone as pale as paper. The whispers around her cut so deeply that she could barely lift her head.Wade slumped against the back of his chair, his face ashen. The papers in his hands had scattered all over the floor.Claire...She stared blankly at me onstage, tears rolling down her cheeks like a broken string of pearls.Only now did she finally understand what kind of untouchable figure the man they had treated like a servant for three years had really been.I adjusted the microphone and swept my eyes across the room. Eventually, my gaze stopped on the Smith family's table."Regarding Smith Group's bid..." My voice echoed throughout the entire convention hall."First, the company has a massive funding gap and has already been