Betrayal and Revelation
The annual charity gala hosted by the Collins Group was a power parade.
Under chandeliers, the glittering ballroom echoed with the laughter of politicians, tycoons, and celebrities..
Leon stood near the back, dressed in a simple black suit.
To the guests, he was invisible—just the Collins family's unwanted son-in-law.
Emily walked ahead of him, radiant in a sapphire gown. She held her chin high, but her eyes darted nervously whenever they brushed against Leon.
Miranda hovered at Emily's side like a hawk. Brandon moved through the crowd with a champagne glass, his smile sharp as a knife.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Harold's voice rang out as he stepped onto the stage. "Tonight, the Collins Group pledges its continued strength and commitment to the city.
My daughter Emily will now introduce our new development partnership."
Applause. Emily stepped forward, a faint tremor in her hands as she held the microphone.
"Thank you, Father," she said smoothly. "Tonight, I am proud to announce that Collins Group has secured a joint venture with—"
Her voice faltered for a second. Leon's eyes narrowed.
"—with Sterling Enterprises."
Gasps rippled through the room.
Sterling—the company Leon had destroyed from the shadows.
Brandon smirked, whispering loudly enough for nearby guests to hear: "Of course, our useless brother-in-law had no part in this. Emily is the face of our family, not the dishwasher."
Laughter followed. Emily forced a smile, though her eyes flickered toward Leon briefly—hesitant, guilty.
The humiliation cut sharper than usual. Not because of Brandon's words, but because Emily herself had chosen Sterling. Chosen, the very enemy Leon had warned about.
He stood in silence, jaw tight, heart steady.
The System pulsed softly in his pocket.
[Quest Triggered: Betrayal in the Bloodline.]
Condition: Public humiliation acknowledged. Response required.]
Leon's eyes cooled. His silence tonight would not be weakness. It would be a blade.
The Hidden Shareholder
After the gala, the family gathered in Harold's private lounge. The air was tense.
"Emily," Harold said, his voice hard. "Do you realize what you've done? Sterling is collapsing. Their stocks are toxic. This partnership could ruin us."
Emily's face paled. "But—Father, Brandon told me—"
"Don't blame me!" Brandon snapped. "I told you Sterling had problems. You insisted!"
"That's a lie!" Emily shot back.
The argument spiraled, voices rising.
Leon stood at the edge of the room, watching. Then, calmly, he stepped forward.
"Sterling's finished," he said softly. "The partnership will fail before it begins."
Miranda scoffed. "Here comes the prophet again. Why should we listen to you?"
Leon's gaze was steady. "Because I'm not just your son-in-law."
He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and laid it on the table. The screen displayed a stockholder's certificate, Collins Group emblazoned in bold.
Gasps erupted.
Harold froze. "This… this can't be real."
Leon's voice was calm, cold. "I now own fifteen percent of Collins Group. More than Brandon. More than Emily. Enough to vote."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Emily's lips parted, her eyes wide. "Leon… what have you done?"
Brandon surged forward, fury twisting his face. "You snake! You bought shares behind our backs?"
Leon's gaze cut to him like steel. "I bought what you were too blind to protect."
The System pulsed.
[Quest Progress: 70%.]
Reward Pending.]
The Collins family was no longer laughing.
The Silent Avenger
The meeting descended into chaos. Miranda screamed, Brandon cursed, and Harold shouted for silence.
With his hands in his pockets, however, Leon stood composed.
"You mocked me for years," he said evenly. "Called me useless. Trash. A burden. But out of arrogance, you sold me the exact thing you walk on."
Harold's fists trembled on the table. "You think you can control this family?"
Leon leaned forward slightly, his voice low, dangerous. "I don't need to control it. I only need to own it. Piece by piece."
Emily flinched, her heart pounding. She searched his eyes, but found no trace of the meek man she once ignored. Only ice. Only resolve.
Miranda's voice cracked. "You… you planned this from the start."
Leon's lips curved faintly. "No. You planned it for me—with every insult, every humiliation. The System simply kept score."
Brandon lunged forward, but Harold held him back. The older man's sharp eyes locked on Leon. For the first time, there was no dismissal—only fear.
The System chimed softly in Leon's pocket.
[Quest Completed: Betrayal in the Bloodline.]
Reward: Skill Upgrade – Negotiator's Edge Lv 2.]
New Quest Unlocked: Blood Ties, Broken Chains.]
Leon straightened, turning toward the door.
Emily's voice followed him, breaking, trembling. "Leon—wait. Please… tell me the truth. Who are you?"
He stopped with his back to her in the doorway. The silver watch gleamed in the dim light.
"He muttered, "I'm the man you chose to betray." "And the guy who'll make you regret it."
He walked out, leaving the Collins family fractured, Emily trembling, and the shadows of his empire growing ever larger.