Chapter 639

The following day, Daniela had an important meeting lined up.

Her plan was to head to her previous villa once work wrapped up.

But before the meeting could properly start, her secretary stepped in, looking uneasy."Ms. Harper,there's a child downstairs insisting he's here to see his aunt."

Daniela frowned in confusion. "I don't have a nephew."

The secretary hesitated, biting her lip. "He says his name is Jack Harper."

Daniela's expression hardened. She hadn't even made a move towards them yet, and already they were pushing their way into her world.

The secretary went on, "For some reason, the child just dropped to his knees at the entrance.He wouldn't step inside when invited, wouldn't budge when told to leave-just stayed there sobbing, chanting your name.The press caught wind of it, and now they're swarming the place, cameras flashing non-stop. A crowd has gathered, saying the boy was innocent and branding you as cold-hearted. They're whispering that since you can't have children, this boy is meant to be your future caretaker. They're questioning how you can be so harsh just because you have some money."

The secretary's fists clenched in anger.

Those people were taking advantage of Daniela's situation, pushing their luck too far.

It was infuriating!

Frustration burned in the secretary's eyes, making them glossy with unshed tears.

Daniela remained unfazed. "If they want a performance, let them put on their little play.We have business to handle-let's carry on with the meeting."

Outside, Jack knelt on the cold pavement, his small frame weighed down by an old, oversized backpack -deliberately chosen to look pitiful.

The backpack was so ragged, the spines of battered books peeked through the torn fabric.

The six-year-old boy hunched over, sobbing, his little shoulders shaking with each exaggerated sniffle.

Onlookers, their hearts softening, offered snacks and reached out to help him up. But Jack ignored them all, burying his face deeper and letting his sobs grow louder.

Fat tears rolled down his cheeks as he whimpered over and over, "I want Aunt Daniela! I need my aunt!Aunt Daniela, I'm Jack-your nephew!"

Before he came, his grandfather and mother had drilled into him the importance of patience-he had to keep his true nature under wraps.

No tantrums, no spitting, no outbursts-he had to play the part perfectly.

He needed to look helpless, pitiful-just enough to stir sympathy in the hearts of onlookers.

That way,they could squeeze Daniela into footing the bill for his costly private education.

Jack couldn't grasp why schooling even mattered when that massive company would belong to him one day.

But his mother had made it clear that Daniela was rich,and their family planned to thrive off her fortune.

Jack found that logic sound enough.

But he was exhausted. His fake sobs had drained him,and he glanced to the company's elevator. Where was that woman, Daniela? Why hadn't she shown up yet?

His knees throbbed, numb from kneeling for so long

He scanned the crowd and locked eyes with a woman wrapped in a scarf. She sent him a silent signal.

He understood the message. She meant, "Sweetheart don't stand up! Cry louder! Even louder! People will definitely sympathize with you because you're just a child."

Jack forced his voice to crack, releasing a high-pitched wail. No tears, just noise.

Joyce,watching from the side, smirked in approval.

That was exactly what she wanted.

Public pressure was their weapon, their ticket to an easy life at Daniela's expense.

Daniela couldn't have kids.

Perfect. That meant she could raise Jack instead.

That thought made Joyce regret not popping out a few more kids.

Jack kept up the act, howling until his energy ran dry.

He shot a pleading look at Joyce, but she clenche her fists, silently ordering him to stay down.

Jack, his round face glistening with sweat, baked under the relentless sun.

This time, the tears were real.

He just wanted to go home.

He longed for the cool embrace of the villa's air conditioning.

"Are you Jack?" A man stepped up, offering a business card. "I'm the principal of Hope Academy.Take this to your mother. If your family is truly in financial trouble and unable to pay for school,she can reach out to me-I'll make sure your tuition is covered."

Jack narrowed his already tiny eyes, scrutinizing the man. "Hope Academy? What a boring name.Is it even a private school?"

The principal blinked in surprise before shaking his head. "No, but Ms. Harper has funded this school to support children who can't afford an education.Enrolling in Hope Academy would be as if your aunt was personally giving you a helping hand."

A smug grin stretched across Jack's round face."You've got to be joking, old man! I'm Jack Harper,the rightful heir to Elite Lux. Who do you think you're fooling? You're telling me my aunt donated money to your school? Did she bother asking me first? That's my money, and I won't have it wasted on a bunch of nobodies. Hand back every last penny!

Jack had been spoiled into greed from the start.and at his age, he didn't even know how to mask it.

The principal stared at him, stunned into silence.

Jack let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes "Get lost!"

The principal's eyes widened. "Hey! Where are your manners, kid? I'm offering you an opportunity,and you throw insults? Who exactly are you calling poor?"

Joyce clicked her tongue in irritation,pushed through the crowd, and jabbed a finger at the principal's face."You! Yes, you! My son's just telling it like it is. You people are broke! Can't make money, can't improve your lives, but you sure know how to leech off the Harper family's fortune. And you, Mr. Principal, acting all self-righteous about education. Don't tell me you're not pocketing a little extra on the side! Did you skim off the donations my family gave to Hope Academy?"

The principal's face darkened with outrage at her accusation.

Joyce smirked, tilting her chin up. "Listen closely. One day,Elite Lux will be Jack's. So don't even dream of taking advantage."