Chapter - 1

In the opulent Rayvond estate, the air was thick with anticipation and unspoken tension. The grandeur of the mansion, with its ornate furnishings and polished marble floors, seemed almost to reflect the turmoil brewing within its walls. Aaron Rayvond, heir to the Rayvond fortune, had been dreading this moment. His father, Carman Rayvond, had called him into his study for what Aaron knew would be an unsettling announcement.

Carman, a man known for his charm and imposing presence, stood behind a large mahogany desk cluttered with papers and family photographs. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch across the walls. Aaron entered, his face a mask of stoicism, though beneath it simmered a storm of emotions.

“Aaron,” Carman began, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of nervousness, “there’s something important I need to discuss with you.”
Aaron’s eyes were sharp, his posture rigid. “What is it, Father?”

Carman hesitated for a moment before continuing. “I’m getting married. To Alyssa Jones.”

The name struck Aaron like a physical blow. Alyssa Jones was his father’s secretary, a woman Aaron had seen around the estate but knew little about. His mother, Lisa Rayvond, had passed away some years ago, and Carman’s decision to remarry had been a topic of quiet speculation among the household staff. But Aaron had always hoped that his father would remain loyal to his late mother’s memory.