Riches in Disguise

Chapter 10

Sophia? The name rang a bell, but I couldn't quite place it.

"No need for that, I'll make my way there myself," I told her.

There were already too many rumors flying around about me being some kept man by a sugar mommy. If another flashy car showed up for me, driven by a female chauffeur who wasn't even the same one as last time, people would have even wilder things to say.

I hailed a cab and headed straight to the estate. As I approached the gate, I noticed a group of familiar faces standing by the roadside-they were Joshua and his crew.

Joshua spotted me first and let out a mocking laugh. "William? What, did you change your mind and come to beg me to let you in?"

Lina frowned, her expression full of disdain. "William, please have some self- respect."

I wasn't in the mood to argue, so I walked straight toward the entrance.

Zack's voice called out from behind, "Wait, is William trying to sneak in by pretending to be Joshua's roommate?"

"How can he be so shameless? Unbelievable!"

I was speechless after hearing that. I needed to use Joshua's name to get into my manor? What kind of backward logic was that?

Without a word, I pulled out my keycard and swiped it at the gate.

This card was one of only three in existence-one for me, one for my mom, and one for Sophia, Vincent's daughter.

I was curious about how Joshua had gotten in, so I lingered near the gate to find out.

About ten minutes later, the gate opened again, and I saw clearly that Joshua was holding a keycard! He had swiped his way in!

I was stunned. Where did he get that card from? Could it be that after I stopped financially supporting Joshua, Mom secretly stepped in again?

As I stood there, lost in thought, Joshua and his group approached me.

"Well, I didn't expect that you made it inside. But let me guess you're working as part of the staff for tonight's event, right?"

the teachers and classmates behind him. "This manor is usually empty, so we had to hire

I were working as a staff, so what? People who work hard deserve respect. What gives you the right to look down on them,

"Calm down, William. I was just making a guess, so you don't need to

me. "William, let's be clear-we

is one thing,

scoffed. "I am fake? Isn't that you

and I saw it was Mom calling. I shot

a look before stepping away to meet

as she saw me, she immediately hugged

in first but completely dominated the competition. Dad couldn't stop bragging about you at his business dinners!

to my face. As long as Dad was happy, that was all that mattered. I couldn't care less what others thought, but I never wanted to

wasn't that impressive, Mom. I had a lot of help from some top talents. Without them, my project

down, I knew even without their help, I would've still won-just not by

of me." Mom linked her arm with mine

the top industry people from Welsington

is for your friends, right

third area is in the front courtyard, which Sophia is in charge of. It's for

handle the younger crowd on your own. I'm too old to

almost laughed. Mom looked

aged incredible for her

much so that

often thought she was an

where Mom proudly introduced me to everyone,

and before

red wine, Mom excused herself, claiming she

a

about to decide whether to go in, I heard Joshua's voice ring out. "Don't worry, guys! I'm bringing out my Koenigsegg. We'll take turns

I wanted to see what he was playing

long after, a car resembling Mom's Koenigsegg pulled up