58 (unedited)

James Carnell was a poor retired army veteran with the title of lieutenant general. He was the silent type that was friendly when spoken to but he never took the initiative making others thing that he was boring.

He was boring to others but Athen fell crazy in love at first sight and pursed him to the end of the world. James who had never been pursued so relentlessly finally agreed but he didn't know that from the moment she caught Athen's eye he had lost his freedom completely.

Because of Athen's crazy yandere type of love she insisted to marry this money who had no money apart from bare minimum retirement fund.

Mr Bardin refused and even threw an expensive vase at James who didn't dodge but Athen leapt forward blocking the vase.

Its struck her forehead and shattered into pieces leaving a gush slightly above her hairline. With blood dripping down her face she threatened to jump from the top of Apex headquarters, her and him and with her death she would reveal all their shady businesses.

The old man almost dies of anger seeing how stubborn his daughter was. He gave up trying to control her and decided to let them marry but she was disqualified as a future heir.

The old man didn't like Leif because he was the seed of that worthless man who couldn't even stand up against his wife and only knew how to run like a coward.

He didn't care to intervene when his daughter was being excessive and besides his youngest son, Carl had a son as well. A son he even named after him.

His favour for Logan Barden junior was apparent and he raised him with his own hands to be the next to take over power as his son Carl was so spoilt by his mother that he only thought of drinking and sleeping around with anything that had two legs and could talk.

But as they grew older Old man Bardin started seeing his namesake's shortcomings. Leif far exceeded him when it came to talent and intellectual intelligence.

When the company ran into major trouble the old man blackmailed Leif with his father's life and dragged into the office of the president o fix the problem.

Without any knowledge in the weapons manufacturing industry he had to take on the mantle and stop the house from burning.

Those were the second most darkest days in Leif's life but it didn't take him long to crash the enemies in the concord trying to crush Apex and plunder the spoils of war.

Now that the crisis was over the old man was shameless enough to boot Leif out and retrieve his seat but he never anticipated that his grandson would have gained every shareholder's loyalty and built a private mercenary group behind his back.

His cheap grandson was now a behemoth that couldn't be touched thus he could only back down and find other ways to strip him of his power.

He tried using other families to attack him and force of his seat but like an all seeing eye Leif saw it all coming and foiled their plans. After that the old man's health started to decline drastically and in a last ditch effort to screw his grandson over he wrote that the president of Apex should be married by the age of twenty five in legit relationship.

What could be defined as the criteria used to determine a legit relationship? That was up his wife who also happened to despise Leif. It was obvious that Leif was screwed either way.

This is why Carl wasn't too happy with out come. He honestly thought that brat wouldn't be able to find someone and even if he does he would be willing to be touched by her make a scene just like his crazy father.

Yet when he woke in a bed full of naked beauties instead of admiring them, he was caught off guard by his son's endless phone calls and messages.

When he heard what happened he didn't even wash the filth of last night and ran over to confront his mother and sister.

Athen chuckled softly as she said, "Little bro, where exactly were you last night? Huh?... because you smell like cheap beer, cigarettes and…*sniff* an orgy," while pausing deliberately for dramatic effect.

"Shut the hell up. Don't you have a crazy husband to torture? Fuck off," he replied and their mother had finally had enough.

"Shut up, the both of you!" she said after banging the arm rest hard bringing their argument to an abrupt end.

"Tell him to send he wedding invitation. I will meet his bride at the wedding. Whether their relationship is fake or not I will determine it then. If they are putting on an act and I find out, he still has to marry her, understood?"

Athen quirked the corner of her lips into a smug smile before standing up to leave. After she was gone the full grown middle aged man with grandchildren of his own whined to his mother like a toddler voicing their grievances.

"… mum, you promised me. You said my son will take over the company," he said and the old lady ruffled his air with tender affection, something Athen had never received from her.

"I will deal with Leif just be patient. Like you said their relationship should be fake. Who can like such a lifeless puppet? If he is paying her then I will find out and ruin him," she said coaxing her last born but in her heart she felt like Logan wasn't ruthless enough and smart enough to take over family business matters.

If she let that grandson of his take control wont he burn the company to the ground in less than a year? Who would protect her precious son when she is gone.

With a doting look on her face she stared at him before saying, "You should play less. You aren't getting any younger. Mum is not saying what you are doing is wrong but I am just trying to protect you."

Carl frowned but he didn't say anything. He knew his mother was right but he enjoyed it very much and he was addicted to playing too much.