In the suburban cemetery, Xavier brought a bouquet of white roses to visit his mother's grave. The faded photo on the headstone captured her radiant smile, frozen in time before she reached thirty —a period that should have been the best years of her life.
Xavier's mother had suffered at the hands of the Montgomery family. Even in death, she was denied a place in their family graveyard.
Xavier lingered at the cemetery until dusk approached.
Mason had been waiting outside for a long time, and it wasn't until Xavier emerged that he approached him with a phone in hand. "Mr. Montgomery, Patrick has been calling several times, inviting you to dinner tonight."
"The address," Xavier's voice was ice cold.
"International Hotel." Mason, Xavier's long-time companion, was adept at understanding his preferences and anticipating his next question, often having all the necessary details prepared in advance.
"No. Tell Patrick to move the dinner to Montgomery Manor, and I'll consider it," Xavier instructed.
The Montgomery family had been waiting at the front door while Grace stood at the behind the group.
Montgomery Manor stood tall and formidable. The concealed darkness within its polished facade exuded a stifling atmosphere.
Although the meeting was set for eight o'clock, Xavier's arrival was delayed until ten o'clock, leaving the Montgomery family waiting in the chilly wind for two hours.
Having waited in the wind for two hours, the Montgomery family had some complaints.
Patrick greeted Xavier personally, opened the car door, and invited him inside, "Xavier, please come in."
Observing the imposing figure in the darkness, thinking if she had known this man would come, she should have found an excuse to get away.
This was the first time Xavier had returned to Montgomery Manor since he left at the age of fourteen.
When he was brought to Montgomery Manor as a child, by his mother, everyone called him a bastard. Kids his own age made him crawl like a dog and bark, even making him sleep in a doghouse.
There was even a time when Xavier's father was on a business trip and the Montgomery family didn't provide him with any food. They would rather toss the leftovers or feed them to the dog than give anything to Xavier.
During this challenging period, Xavier was fortunate to encounter a little girl. For a week straight, she brought him meals, even arranging the food into simple words of encouragement. Although he had never seen her face, Xavier was convinced that she was beautiful. In return, he left the only memento his mother had left him in the cleaned meal box for the girl.
Now, Xavier had returned not only to visit his mother's grave but also to hold the Montgomery family accountable for their years of arrogance. Above all, he wanted to find that girl.
Snapping back to the present moment, Xavier caught sight of a woman standing farthest nehind the group, her gaze fixed on him. Grace had an unassuming face, but her eyes were exceptionally attractive.
"Grace, come here," Xavier beckoned with a wave of his hand. Suddenly, everyone turned to look at Grace.
With no choice, Grace walked over to Xavier and softly said, "Mr. Montgomery."
Xavier gestured, and Mason immediately brought over an item housed within an exquisite box that appeared to be a piece of jewelry.
"This is a gift for you," he announced.
Patrick was taken aback; this was the painting from the auction that a mystery buyer had purchased for two hundred million dollars. He had not been able to outbid the person at the time.
He had no idea that Xavier had been the winner of that exclusive piece.
"Quick, thank Grace for the wedding gift that Xavier gave you!" Patrick urged Ryan to receive the gift.
When Ryan approached, Mason withheld it. "Mr. Montgomery said this is for Ms. Lewis," he clarified.
Grace didn't move. She knew the contents were valuable and understood what Xavier was implying. He was trying to settle their affair from the night before with money.
"Grace, why haven't you taken it?" Patrick pressed her.
If it really was that painting, Patrick thought, he would find a way in the future to get it from Grace.
With all eyes on her and no real choice in the matter, Grace graciously accepted the gift. "Thank you, Mr. Montgomery."
Xavier gave a slight nod of his head, then walked into the party that the Montgomery family had prepared in his honor.
"Xavier, it's been so long since you've been home. I've had your room cleaned, it's always more comfortable at home, isn't it?" Patrick said,
Xavier paused, his eyes drifting to the doghouse outside.
The doghouse of today is nothing like what it was over a decade ago. To call it a doghouse might be misleading—it's essentially a little house built for dogs. It's big enough that even a person could sleep in it comfortably.
He had lived there for half a month.
Xavier's thin lips parted slightly and his gaze icy. "I think the doghouse over there looks quite good, doesn't it?"
In an instant, Patrick broke out in a cold sweat. Reminded of back when Xavier was in his teens, Patrick had someone force Xavier to sleep in the doghouse.
What did Xavier mean by that?
"Yeah... Yeah, I think it's nice too," Patrick replied, nervously.
"Since you think it's so nice, why don't you sleep there tonight?" Xavier suggested, allofly.
Patrick's complexion changed. He was the head of the Montgomery family; if word got out that he was sleeping in a doghouse, it would be a total laughingstock.
Before he could speak up, Ryan started shouting. "What gives you the right? If you like it so much, why don't you go sleep there yourself? Who do you think you are, telling my dad to sleep in a doghouse?"
Ryan was already uncomfortable because of today's engagement party, and after waiting for two hours, he was at his breaking point with the humiliation from Xavier.
Ryan wasn't yet in charge of the Montgomery family's company and was unaware of the family's current circumstances. He didn't understand why Patrick was so afraid of Xavier.
Due to Ryan’s oblivious state, he didn’t fear Xavier!
"Shut up!" Patrick's face turned as he scolded his son loudly.