Growing up, his love life was the one and only thing he had ever rebelled against his family over.
When his parents disapproved, he moved out, willing to wait them out whether they came around or not.
No matter what, he was absolutely going to marry his girlfriend.
"If you're not busy, come home for a bit. Tiffany is here."
Beatrice used his aunt as leverage to force him back.
Hearing that she was visiting, Alvin hesitated.
His aunt had always been incredibly good to him, keeping him in mind for every little thing since he was a child.
"Did something happen to her?" he asked, knowing his mother wouldn't normally call for no reason.
"It's Owen. He's demanding a divorce. Alvin, you need to come back and talk some sense into her."
Alvin realized this was a massive crisis.
He quickly apologized to his girlfriend, explaining that he had to go home today.
She was understanding and told him to go ahead.
"Alvin, if your family is really going to force us to break up, maybe we should just..."
End it now.
She honestly didn't want to keep fighting this battle. If it weren't for Alvin, she would never have stayed in Cabinda.
Surviving in this city was already hard enough without all the family drama.
"Let's just get married!" Alvin's eyes lit up with determination. "I've been meaning to do this for a while anyway."
"We don't even need all the family paperwork anymore. We can go straight to City Hall tomorrow!"
His girlfriend stared at him.
Was that really what she had meant?
"Alvin, your family doesn't like me. Even if we get married, we won't have their blessing."
Alvin didn't care in the slightest. "As long as I love you, that's all that matters. If they don't like you, I just won't bring you home."
"I just hope you won't resent me for not being able to give you a proper family reception."
Alvin had made up his mind. Whether his parents objected or not, he was marrying her.
He refused to be an ungrateful jerk who abandoned the woman he loved!
So, when Alvin finally went home
and heard his mother suggest he try to pursue the Churchill family's granddaughter, he felt physically sick.
"Mom, what are you even thinking? Do you really think someone like her is approachable?"
"She's engaged to Dane. How am I supposed to compete with Mr. Green?"
Beatrice knew she was grasping at straws, but she was too stubborn to admit it.
"Why can't you compete?"
"How are you any less than Dane?"
"All he has is a little extra money!"
Alvin sighed heavily. His mother made it sound so trivial.
It wasn't just a "little extra money."
The man was unfathomably wealthy and powerful!
Tiffany, however, found her nephew's rational response quite refreshing.
"Alvin, don't listen to your mother's If you actually dared.
make a move on t
probably lose your job. lose your job." .net>
Alvin offered a bitter smile. "I know, Tiffany."
Since entering the workforce, Alvin had learned exactly who he could and couldn't afford to offend.
Meanwhile, Claire had been sneezing non-stop all day. She didn't feel sick, so she had no idea what was causing it.
Beatrice's ridiculous scheming never stood a chance, while Tiffany continued her extended stay at the Byron residence.
Not a single person from her husband's side had called to ask her to come back.
Over the past few days, Claire had accompanied Yolande on two massive shopping sprees, buying a mountain of designer goods.
But even retail therapy couldn't extinguish the fire of betrayal burning in Yolande's heart.
The reality that her own mother was willing to sell her out for personal gain had left a devastating wound.
"Yolande, try not to overthink it.
What she did was completely ouet
line,
fat doesn't the rest of the
have your back?" "Content"
"Just ignore whatever she tries to pull."
As long as you stop expecting maternal love, you stop getting hurt.