Winner Takes All

Under the blanket of the sunset.

The afterglow of the sunset covered Jack and Amber as they moved closer to each other. This entire scene was like a picture and at this moment, an untimely voice blurted out.

"I... should I excuse myself?" The picture perfect moment was immediately shattered.

Amber's body shivered and leaped up like a startled deer. She quickly walked over to the swing with her head drooped down and blushed in red. She sat down totally embarrassed and didn't dare to look in the direction of the voice.

This... was so awkward.

Jack frowned angrily and looked at Brent who was standing at the staircase. They walked all over the villa and didn't see him. Why did he appear at this moment?

"What do you think?"

Brent scratched his head awkwardly and then said softly, "Then you continue, I'll take my leave."

He then turned to leave.

"Come back here!" Jack called out to Brent. It took him so much effort to cultivate the moment which was dashed by what he said. What could be achieved now even if he excused himself? Even if he wanted to continue, Amber would not agree to it.

Jack asked Brent angrily, "Where were you just now?"

Brent's face was slightly red and felt guilty. He didn't think that he would interrupt Master Hughes' intimate moment. Had he known that something was about to happen, he would have never come up to the terrace. He would have waited for at least half an hour.

But now that Jack had called out to him, he replied, "We were short of one massage chair and I went to buy it just now." He remembered Jack's instructions that when there were others present, he was not to address him as Master and his tone must be as he was talking to a friend.

"Massage chair!" Jack narrowed his eyes and tightly ground his teeth. A massage chair ruined his moment!

He scoffed, "I saw a few bricks on the garden, since you have nothing to do, go and tidy the garden."

"There aren't any bricks." Brent shook his head doubtfully. The garden was meticulously designed and done by the designer. How could bricks be laying around the garden?

Jack rolled his eyes, "I said there are!"

Brent, "..."

After Brent left, the atmosphere at the terrace became tensed. The air was thick with awkwardness. The sunset was just nice and the scenery was beautiful. Everything was perfect and waiting for them. Who would expect Brent to show up!

Jack rubbed his temples as he felt his head throb. He looked towards Amber and it was obvious that she was feeling incredibly awkward.

At that moment, Amber was sitting on the swing and drooped her head shyly. She looked at the distant sunset and swayed slightly on the swing while fidgeting with her toes.

"Eh hum..." Jack tried to break the silence, "Do you... want to continue?"

It was like Amber was struck by lightning and trembled. She swiftly turned and glared at Jack, "You scoundrel!" After she said, she stood up and ran downstairs. Jack laughed helplessly, Brent, damn you!

Because of the embarrassing situation, Amber ran downstairs and didn't feel comfortable staying around and drove off in her Porsche 911.

Jack was at a loss.

Brent awkwardly apologized, "Master Hughes, I really didn't do it on purpose."

"We should have dinner before leaving," Jack said helplessly but he didn't blame Brent. He took it as he and Amber hadn't reached that extent of their relationship.

After wiping his face, Jack said, "Brent, let's go again to Underground Fight Club."

"Master Hughes, George had gone back to his family. I broke one of his legs and it will take him at least a couple of months to recover." Brent said.

It was clear that when Jack went all out to learn martial arts, it was because of the fight with George. That was why he was so intent on getting stronger and learned to fight to make up for the differences with George.

Jack's expression changed and smiled, "I train because I want to better myself and not because I want to compete with George. He is unworthy of my efforts." His words were imposing, defiant, and arrogant. It made Brent's pupil constrict and after hesitating for a second, he nodded, "Okay."

At the same moment.

Katherine walked home in a daze. Her eyes were swollen from all the crying. At that moment, she was absolutely devastated. She totally didn't expect that her plan to ruin Jack's reputation would backfire by what Jack said.

"Where did I go wrong? Why was I wrong to take the two hundred thousand from his mother to help my brother? He intentionally set me up. I'm the victim here. Why did they blame me?" She walked home while repeating this to herself.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Night fell.

She was finally at the front door of her house. She was exhausted and leaned on the door. She was so tired that she didn't have the strength to take out her keys. Thus, she gently knocked on the door with her forehead.

The door opened soon after.

"Sis..." Tommy looked at the sorry state that Katherine was in and noticed her strange expression. Katherine also noticed the upset in Tommy's eyes.

She asked angrily, "What's the matter?" She asked as she dragged herself tiredly into the house.

But...

"Katherine, you've embarrassed our entire family!" Elissa's scream hammered onto Katherine's eardrums.

Katherine was stunned. Suddenly she watched the news which showed her causing a scene at the Dragon Garden! And then, because of what Jack said, some people started to speak up against her.

Large attention-grabbing words flashed on the screen. "She disregarded the life of her mother-in-law just because of her brother, what an evil woman!"

It was blunt and effective in drawing attention. But this was enough to shame the entire Parry family and cause them to be despised by the entire city!

Katherine's body shivered and her mind was blank. If it wasn't Tommy who held onto her, she would have collapsed onto the ground.

Elissa and Kieran's faces turned blue. Kieran covered his face with both of his hands and repeatedly sighed, "Misfortune has befallen the family... misfortune has befallen..."

Elissa who cherished her face value also erupted.

Her chest expanded and yelled angrily at Katherine, "Look at what you had done! You've ruined our family reputation! Katherine... how did I, how did I give birth to a useless creature like you?"

"Mom..."

Katherine felt dizzy and was totally devastated. She said weakly, "I... I went to make a scene trying to get some money for Tommy... that was what you wanted me to do..." "Sis, that's not the way to do it!"

Tommy said with grief, "Do you know that I was playing with my friends today and all of them know about this incident. All of them are now laughing at me." "I..." Katherine didn't know what to say.

She was about to say something when she saw Elissa take out the phone angrily to make a call. She suddenly felt dizzy like she was being struck by lightning.

At this moment, Elissa's expression transformed to smile happily and tenderly said, "Oh son-in-law, it's my daughter Kate who had offended you. Please forgive her."☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐