Chapter 2

My husband, William Huber, hurried over and whispered, "Victoria, aren't you being a bit impulsive? He's still just a kid..."

"A kid?" I shot him a cold look. "He's twenty-five, not five. William, all these years you've been so wrapped up in your research, you've spoiled him rotten. If I don't knock some sense into him, he'll end up burying the whole Huber family with his reckless choices."

I took a deep breath, scanned the room, and slipped back into my role as the lady of the house.

I said, "Sorry, everyone, you had to witness that. Every family has someone who's lost their way, but that's just how it goes. Out with the old, in with the new. Let's get this party back on track."

With that, I turned and headed for the lounge in the corner. Rueben and a few trusted aides followed me inside.

He reported, "Mrs. Huber, we've prepared three plans for the New Seedling Project. Plan A is to identify outstanding descendants from the Huber family's extended bloodline worldwide.

"Plan B is to screen and adopt orphans worldwide with exceptional intelligence, character, and health through official channels. Plan C is..."

I waved him off. "Run both Plan A and Plan B in parallel. I want the candidate list on my desk as soon as possible."

"Understood," Rueben replied.

"And put out a ban across the industry," I said, my gaze turning cold. "I don't want to see Isaac's name on the roster of any legitimate company. Let him see for himself what he's really made of, now that he's lost the Huber family's golden boy status."

Isaac and Tiana left the hotel, still wearing that tragic, heroic vibe.

Isaac was sure I was blowing off steam.

'At most, three days. No, one day! She'll call me, begging me to come back. After all, she loves me so much,' Isaac thought.

Isaac headed straight for the city's top restaurant, planning to cheer up his girlfriend Tiana with a lavish dinner after all she'd been through.

"Relax, Tiana," Isaac said, trying to sound reassuring. "My mom's got a sharp tongue but a soft heart. I'm her only son. There's no way she'd really cut me off."

He handed over his unlimited black card with all the confidence of a VIP.

The waiter accepted it respectfully, but returned a few minutes later with an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, sir, but your card is currently frozen," the waiter said.

Isaac's smile stiffened.

"Frozen? That can't be right! Try it again!" Isaac insisted.

The waiter tried again, but it was still declined.

Other diners cast curious looks their way, clearly enjoying the show.

"Are you kidding me? Let me try another one!" Isaac muttered, getting frustrated.

He pulled out his wallet and ran every card through the machine.

All of them were frozen.

Rueben truly had impressive efficiency. I would double his year-end bonus.

Tiana's face fell. "Isaac, what's going on? Didn't you say your mom always spoils you?"

"I... I have no idea!" Isaac stammered, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. For the first time ever, he was genuinely scared.

He called me right there, in front of the waiter.

I was in the lounge, calmly sipping my coffee as I reviewed the first batch of candidate profiles Rueben handed over.

My phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and hit mute without a second thought.

Trying to beg now? Too late. I gave him his chance, and he didn't take it.

When the call was cut off, Isaac's face went ashen with embarrassment.

His last bit of dignity was shattered, right there with everyone watching.

Tiana finally couldn't take it anymore. She stood up, lowered her voice, and said, "Isaac, are you for real? You can't even pay for dinner?"

"I..." Isaac stammered.

He was flat broke. The one hundred dollars in his wallet wouldn't even cover the appetizers.

In the end, Tiana gritted her teeth and paid with her own credit card.

As they walked out of the restaurant, the night air made Isaac shiver.

Without thinking, he headed straight for the parking lot to grab his limited-edition Pagani.

But as soon as he reached his spot, he saw a bunch of uniformed guys slapping a sticker on his ride.

"What the hell are you doing? That's my car!" Isaac yelled, rushing over.

The guy in charge waved a document and said seriously, "Mr. Huber, acting on Mrs. Victoria Huber's orders, we're here to seize all your assets. This car, and every other vehicle in your garage, is being taken back."

Isaac felt like he'd been hit by a bolt out of the blue.

Tiana stared in disbelief as the sports car she'd dreamed about for years got hauled away. She shrieked, "Why? That's Isaac's car! This is robbery!"