Cecil didn't trust Samuel anymore—after all, he once had tried to kill him.
Every time Cecil woke up sweaty from that nightmare, he could still see Queenie tearing him apart in a past life.
He knew her ambition wouldn't stop there—she was aiming higher.
His memories of her were just bits and pieces, but he remembered her in fancy clothes, full of pride and success.
That dream pushed him to grow up fast and focus on building the company. He was sure Queenie would get what was coming to her.
With his dad's help, Cecil turned the company around in just a few months, making it super profitable.
Cecil then faced Samuel. "You've done a lot of bad stuff, Samuel. I don't trust you. If you want my help, prove you're sorry. One year. Show me you're decent, and maybe I'll help. But right now, you've crossed Queenie, and you know she'll make your life hell."
Hearing that, Samuel was stunned into silence.
After a long pause, he muttered, "Cecil... Why do you all make her sound so terrifying?"
Cecil let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Terrifying? Of course, she is. Only when you've truly experienced that fear will you understand. Queenie isn't a human, but a demon straight out of hell! The things she orders you to do? You'll never find evidence against her. That's her brilliance—she keeps her hands spotless. But you? You won't get off that easy."
He thought, "Queenie's got guts, and she's cunning. The evidence I have on her right now isn't enough to take her down."
Cecil also knew the man Diana had mentioned had shown up. What caught him off guard was that she had decided to tell him about it. What blew his mind, though, was that the man looked exactly like Steven. That was why Cecil planned to meet Diana first thing in the morning.
"Alright, Cecil," Samuel finally said, his tone solemn. "I'll stick by your side, do things the right way. You say jump, and I'll ask how high. This year, I'm all in—whatever you and Grandma decide, I'll roll with it."
Cecil raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You want to stick with me?"
Rita, seated nearby, frowned slightly, clearly disapproving of the idea. Samuel had always been a troublemaker, and she worried he might just be playing a game of false loyalty.
Seeing how eager Samuel was, Cecil relented. "Fine. I'll give you one chance to redeem yourself. But you'll have to handle your dad on your own. If he keeps going against our company, he's only digging his own grave."
With that, Cecil lounged back into the sofa and stretched his legs out leisurely, exuding an air of effortless confidence and defiance.
Samuel couldn't help but notice the change in him—Cecil had grown calmer, more composed, almost to the point of being unrecognizable.
Still, despite the weight of everything, Samuel's face lit up with excitement. Cecil had agreed to take him under his wing. He knew that if he could learn from both Cecil and Rita, he might just turn his life around for good.
Samuel looked at Rita with sincerity and promised, "Grandma, I was foolish before and let you down despite all your kindness. But this time, I truly understand. Please, Grandma, give me one more chance."
Rita took a deep breath and pressed her lips as she looked at him. "Alright, alright. Seeing how genuine you're being, I'll forgive you this time. But I hope you don't turn out as despicable as your father - that heartless bastard."
"I'm willing to forgive you because you're young," she said sincerely. "If you change, work hard, and take things seriously, you'll be on the right track. I'm not asking for perfection, but aim to be honest, kind, and caring. Being good doesn't always mean you'll get rewards, but true blessings come to those with a good heart."
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