Chapter 2

"When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life, now that I am old I know that it is."

-Oscar Wilde-

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"How is everything? I want to make sure all the preparations go as I asked. Don't try to alter anything without my permission, do you understand?"

Vian went back and forth on her phone between different calls with the event organizer whom they had assigned to take care of the family party. It was their annual family gathering that was held at the end of the year.

It was a mix celebration for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Because her family was a prestigious family in the city, they always became the party host each year. Besides family member, there would also be a few close family friends and some whale business partners invited. Of course, if they could kill three birds with one stone they would definitely do it. They were after all, the Sterling.

Their family history had always been quite complex. Her family, The Sterling is a well-known upper class family in Houston. They came from old money and have remained in the high society since her great grandfather time who immigrated from England to the United States during the first world war.

He was the youngest child of five siblings and went through hardships his entire life until he started his own family business but it was not until his grandfather’s time did the family actually gained an abundance of wealth and fame. His grandfather married her grandmother who was twelve years younger than him.

The man had passed away long ago, but the household wealth remained under her grandmother’s control. Each family members were successful individuals, some were renowned politicians, lawyers, doctors, models, engineers or business magnates. They all lived in prestigious neighborhood all across Northern America and Europe, but their family main manor was located in Houston. Family relation is still considered important for them and their grandma as the eldest member was the most respected person in the household.

Unfortunately for her, her grandmother, Greta Wilhelm Sterling was an absolutely insufferable old woman. She was far from your typical sweet loving grandmother. She came from an aristocratic so she had always been in a sheltered environment, someone who had never known hardship and was raised in a society where people were not considered equal due to their race or social class, she had a tendency to look down on people she considered commoners.

When her father who was the youngest of her three sons decided to marry a mere commoner woman, her mother who came from an ordinary background, all hell ties broke loose, Greta was completely against it but her father was too in love with her mother and decided to marry her anyway despite her disapproval.

It was from the on did her family became the black sheep in the household, it took years before her grandmother was willing to accept her father again. Her birth did have somewhat of an effect on her. She allowed their family to reside in the household with them instead of the crappy apartment they were staying at and ever since she had been living in the right wing of the family’s manor.

It was common for old school wealthy people to have generations of family living together in the same house. They simply had a lot of space there.

One of her uncle’s family lived on their own in a neighborhood near Houston. While the other one, the eldest remained in the same house but they stayed in the left wing area which had more space than hers.

Even from an early age she could tell that her family was definitely treated differently. Her grandmother paid less attention and respect to them to begin with but it became far worse when she ended up in an arranged marriage with Adonis. That one truly upsets her grandmother and she had been acting cold to her ever since despite being one of her grandchild.

It was why she needed to gain back her favor because as long as she was alive, the woman would play a huge role in her life and in the household. Of course she had thought of moving before but when she realized Adonis could not be relied on, she was not able to. It was difficult enough for her to sustain herself. Her career was thriving but if she could save money on mortgage, why wouldn’t she?

Each year one of the family member would be in charge and responsible for the preparation, last year it was her first cousin Cynthia who held the party and everyone praised her fr the work, the party was one of the most successful one the family had held in a while and the woman had gained favor in their grandma’s eyes. It was not an easy task trying to surpass her but Vian was doing her best. She made sure everything was perfect, especially considering how special that year’s party would be.

The party would serve as an opening ceremony for the inheritance battle of the household. Greta’s health had worsened each year and she knew she would only have a few years left to leave at most.

She was old and lived a fulfilled life already so she was not complaining, but she also knew that if she had no made all the inheritance rules clear there would literally be bloodshed in the family. So she had announced she would make a system where one family would be the main inheritance of the whole Sterling fortune, while the rest received whatever was left.

Everyone thought it was unfair and the family fortune should be split equally among the children but her grandmother had another idea. The inheritance should be given to the most capable family. The one she knew would never ruin their long legacy of wealth. It had to be someone smart enough to manage the wealth and grow it as well.

Vivianne’s parents had long been disqualified from receiving the inheritance simply because they had been distancing themselves. However, she was different. For her it was not exactly for the amount of wealth she could gain, but her intention was to restore her family’s honor as well. She was already at a disadvantageous position.

Because she was the least favorable grandchild, but she thought if she could impress her grandmother throughout the year and convinced her she was capable, maybe she stood a chance.

She was planning everything when suddenly someone tapped her shoulder, she turned around and saw Adonis there. Ah yes, sometimes she almost forgot that she was married with a husband already, for some strange reason Adonis appeared invisible to her.

“What do you want?” she asked him. He informed her that he had cleaned everything and cooked dinner for her. Yes, because she was always busy with her work and Adonis had nothing to do he had tried to help out with the housework a bit. They had staffs and maids around in the house but he wanted to prove himself somewhat useful and contributed when he could.

She sighed and turned off her phone, stood up and gave him a small nod and a forced smile with a whisper of thank you thrown in between. Sometimes she wondered why she even married him to begin with, perhaps it was due to her respect for her mother or maybe it was because she wanted to escape him, either way, sometimes she regretted it a bit although as a husband he was quite caring and attentive. Or perhaps it was because he had nothing better to do around.

This time during dinner, she decided to discuss the party matter with him.

“So, do you have anything to wear this year? Make sure you get a fine, well-tailored suit. We don’t want them to think you don’t know how to dress for the occasion. This year grandma will be opening the chance for the inheritance. We have to make sure we impress her enough. I need to restore my family’s name in everyone’s eyes and this is the best possible way to do that. Do you understand?”

Adonis looked a bit bothered when she mentioned the party. He knew exactly what the gathering would mean for him. It would be the first year he attended the party since their marriage had only lasted for a year but he could already tell it would be a challenge for him.

In his mind, he was already preparing himself for the worst.