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?"

behind him. "This manor is usually empty, so we had to hire temporary

I were working as a staff, so what? People who work hard deserve respect. What

making a guess, so

was also behind him. When he heard what I said, he looked sternly at me. "William, let's be clear-we don't look

a living is one thing,

scoffed. "I am fake?

could finish, my phone buzzed, and I saw it was Mom calling.

a look before stepping away to meet with

she saw

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

was all that mattered. I couldn't care less what others thought,

had a lot of help from some top talents. Without them,

deep down, I knew even without their help, I would've

her arm with mine as we walked. "Anyway, I've

for all the top industry people from

second one is for your friends, right

in the front courtyard, which Sophia is in charge of. It's for your classmates

younger crowd on your own. I'm

Mom

aged incredible for her

much so that

thought she was an actress I'd hired for

proudly introduced me to everyone, singing my

enough to indulge her, and before long, I'd exchanged numbers with

small talk and red wine, Mom excused herself, claiming she couldn't handle any more

a few people, and headed

I was about to decide whether to go in, I heard Joshua's voice ring out. "Don't worry, guys! I'm bringing out

to see what he was

a car resembling Mom's Koenigsegg pulled up to the