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One hour later,
*In the Hawthorne mansion*
Derek slammed the door behind him, his face flushed with anger. His fists clenched as he stormed into the living room, barely noticing the expensive furniture around him. The house was silent, but his rage filled the space.
“This is unbelievable!” Derek growled, pacing back and forth. “He was supposed to be in jail! Allvar was supposed to be finished!”
Derek paced the room, his anger simmering beneath the surface. His fists clenched, his breathing shallow as he struggled to control the frustration boiling within him.
“Fuck it!” he muttered, barely noticing the sharp creak of the door opening behind him.
Victor, his father, stepped in, the older man’s presence immediately commanding attention. His graying hair and impeccable suit were symbols of authority, but the coldness in his eyes was what truly unsettled Derek.
He had heard what happened.
“Do you realize what kind of mess you’ve made, Derek?” Victor’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made Derek’s stomach twist. “Your uncle was just fired in front of everyone. The whole town’s talking about it. Do you have any idea what this is going to do to our family’s reputation?”
Derek flinched but tried to hold his ground. “It wasn’t supposed to go down like that. Tom messed it up! If he’d just handled Allvar the way I told him to, none of this would’ve happened.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare try to blame this on Tom. This is your doing. You’re the one who pushed for this ridiculous scheme, and now our family name is in the mud because of it.”
Derek’s jaw tightened. “Allvar deserves everything coming to him. He’s always getting away with things he shouldn’t. This was supposed to put him in his place.”
Victor crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “And now look where we are. Tom’s out of a job, and you’ve managed to embarrass yourself in front of the entire town. Do you honestly think that’s something I can just sweep under the rug?”
Derek’s frustration boiled over. “I’ll fix it. I’ll make sure Allvar pays for this. I don’t care what it takes!” Victor raised an eyebrow, finally showing a hint of interest. “And how do you plan to do that? Because from where I’m standing, all you’ve managed to do is make things worse.”
Derek’s eyes flashed with determination. “Allvar’s not untouchable. That woman won’t be around forever, and when she’s out of the picture, I’ll make my move. I’ll ruin him.”
Victor studied his son for a moment, the room silent except for Derek’s heavy breathing. Finally, Victor spoke, his voice low and calculating. “You’re not entirely wrong. Allvar could be a problem. He’s too bold, and people are starting to notice him. That’s dangerous. We can’t let him gain any more influence.”
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Derek’s heart raced. His father was actually listening, considering his plan. “Exactly. If we don’t take him down now, he’ll only get stronger. I know I can do it, but I’ll need your help.”
Victor was quiet for a long moment before he gave a slow nod. “Fine. I’ll support you. But this time, we do things my way. No more reckless moves. If we’re going to take down Allvar, we need to be smart about it.”
Derek’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Thank you, Dad. I swear, I’ll make him pay for what he’s done.”
Victor’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Don’t thank me yet. You’d better succeed this time, or it won’t just be your reputation on the line.”
At that moment, Derek’s phone buzzed loudly in his pocket, cutting through the tension. He fished it out, glancing at the screen before answering.
“Serena?” he greeted, curious but impatient.
On the other end, Serena’s voice was practically bubbling with excitement. “Derek, you are not going to believe this! The rumor’s gone viral–like, really viral.”
Derek’s frustration evaporated in an instant, replaced by a surge of satisfaction. “Viral? What do mean?”
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Serena giggled, her voice full of triumph. “I mean, everyone is talking about it. Our little friend Allvar? He’s trending. People are eating it up. The whole town thinks he’s some gold–digging gigolo now.”
