Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

My name is Hugo Waldorf, and I'm the third son in my family.

I've always been in my brother Richard's shadow. Ever since we were kids, Richard was the star without even trying. I worked hard, but I never matched up to him.

That's why my parents favored him more. I used to get jealous, thinking he had some secret. Then I caught him studying late at night, and my feelings shifted from jealousy to resentment. He was faking it the whole time. I didn't realize he was actually trying hard.

While Richard was groomed to take over our family's business, Waldorf Enterprises, by our dad, and work alongside our brother Sean as vice president, I wasn't even allowed to step foot in the company.

I once asked Dad if I could work there too, even just to support Richard, but he shut me down immediately. He claimed I wasn't cut out for it and told me to find my own way. I couldn't understand why. I had dreamed of joining the company for as long as I could remember.

I felt rejected, as if I wasn't truly seen as part of the family.

Later on, Richard and Sean did take over the company. My other brothers, Hanzel and Mobius, found their paths in entertainment and racing, respectively. I was pushed into medicine, a field I had no love for. I Surprisingly, I had a knack for medicine and ended up establishing a hospital in Enswood. Dustan supported this venture, but I sensed it was out of guilt for how he'd steered my life.

loved and forced me

Sullivan. She was kind but carried herself with a confidence that spoke of her wealthy upbringing. It

out, she was the one who'd defended me from bullies when I was younger. Meeting her

back off and said something really important to me. She

everyone else,

here, Richard there. Everyone was in love with

I had liked her for years, so why

Richard knew I liked her. Even though he usually didn't care about women, he suddenly decided to

and I

and ended things with Richard, I held onto hope for us, but she never sought me out. sᴇaʀᴄh

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