chapter 001 A Glimmer of Hope

"In the bustling heart of New York.

At, Eric stood at the entrance of the imposing Power Mansion, Eric stood smiling, holding twoa pair of movie tickets clutched in his hand.

At that moment and a smile gracing his lips. His gaze was fixed on the building's grand entrance, eagerly awaiting the appearance of a particular figure.Just then, a man and a woman walked out of emerged from the building, chatting and laughing.their laughter echoing in the crisp air. The man was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit with, a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch onadorning his wrist and a BMW key hangingcasually dangling from his waist, while the. The woman had a great, with her stunning figure and a decent appearance.

“attractive features, was none other than Wendy!”."Wendy!" Eric greeted her with acalled out, his smile.

The widening at the sight of her.However, the moment Wendy saw EricWendy's eyes met Eric's, her expression changed.

“morphed into one of displeasure. "You... What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to come to my company? It's so embarrassing if my colleagues see you!” Wendy seemed very displeased.

“!" she chastised, her tone sharp and biting.Eric's smile didn't falter. "Today is our two-year anniversary. I bought movie tickets to surprise you.” Eric smiled as ," he handedsaid, extending the tickets to Wendy.

The mantowards her.The suited man's eyebrows knitted together in the suit furrowed his brow. “confusion. "RelationshipAnniversary? Wendy, didn't you say you didn't have a boyfriend?”

“?"Wendy was caught off guard, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find the right words. The man, Mr. Smith, I...” Wendy suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

Mr. Smith turned his attention to Eric, his gaze toward Eric, looking him upscrutinizing and down with a disdainfulhis smile.

“ condescending. "Wendy, what kind of taste do you have? You actually found a poor guy like this to be your boyfriend? Just look at his clothes, he's nothing more than a pauper!”

!"Wendy's face changed. She felt thatflushed with embarrassment, her gaze darting between Eric was embarrassing her!

Hearing the mockery in the suit-wearing man's words,and Mr. Smith. Eric's expression also changed slightly. However, he didn't argue with the man but insteadsmile had faded, replaced by a look of quiet determination. He reached out to holdtake Wendy's hand.

“, saying, "Wendy, let's go.”

“What are you talking about, go?”."But Wendy pushed Eric'srecoiled, pushing his hand away.

“ "Mr. Smith is right! You're just a pauper. Have you ever bought me the phone or the handbag that I like? Can you afford them? Even watching a movie, you have to wait until our anniversary. What happiness can you give me?” Wendy's?" Her words were harsh, her tone was firm and biting.

“unyielding.Eric's jaw tightened, his voice strained as he responded, "Wendy,; yes, I am poor now, but... but I will work hard!” Eric said through gritted teeth.

“!"Wendy scoffed at his words, her laughter cold and derisive. "Work hard? Haha! That's a great joke! Your family is so poor, no money, no influence, no background. Even if you work hard for a lifetime, you can't compare to a single hair of Mr. Smith's little finger!” Wendy sneered.

“!"Mr. Smith chimed in, his voice dripping with mockery. "With your status, you are not even worthy of cleaning my shoes!” Mr. Smith, the suit-wearing man, added mockingly.

“!"Wendy's voice rang out once more, her tone resolute. "Eric, I've wanted to tell you a long time ago, but you are simply not deserving ofdon't deserve me! TodayAs of now, I'm breaking up with you!” Wendy's tone was resolute.!"

She then turned to Mr. Smith and smiled coquettishly.

“, her smile coquettish as she took his arm. "Mr. Smith, let's go. I've already made the arrangements at the hotel, and I'm even wearing that outfit you like...” She said as she took hold of his arm...."Mr. Smith's eyes lit up at her words, and he shot Eric a triumphant look. "A poor boy doesn't deserve love, understand?!" With that, he led Wendy toward a nearby BMW, leaving Eric standing alone at the entrance of the Power Mansion.As Eric watched them disappear, his heart clenched with a mix of sadness, anger, and helplessness. "Just because I'm poor, our two-year relationship ended like this?" he muttered to himself, his fingers digging into his palms until they drew blood.Eric and Wendy had known each other since high school, their friendship blossoming into a romantic relationship after graduation. Back then, Wendy was still innocent, untouched by the materialistic desires that now consumed her. Eric had been accepted into a local university while Wendy, unable to secure a spot in her desired college, had joined the workforce. It was then that she began to change, her innocence replaced by a growing materialism.Eric made no move to chase after Wendy or plead for her to stay. He knew he couldn't compete with someone like Mr. Smith. He also realized that he had finally seen Wendy for who she truly was. Despite the countless contemptuous glances and unfair treatment he had endured over the years due to his poor status, Eric's resolve remained unbroken."Wendy, the way you look down on me today, I will make sure you can't reach my level in the future!" he vowed, his eyes burning with determination. "And Mr. Smith, one day when I have power, I'll show you!"...In the slums of New York, where society's underprivileged resided, Eric's family made their humble abode. As he trudged home, his mind was consumed with thoughts of how to make money, but he was just an ordinary undergraduate student from a poor family, and the prospect of earning big money seemed like an impossible task.The harsh reality of society's unfairness weighed heavily on him. Even if he worked hard for a lifetime, he might never surpass the privileged children of the rich.

Mr. Smith's eyes lit up, and he looked at Eric with a condescending smile.

“A poor boy doesn't deserve love! Understand?!” After saying that, Tom Smith grabbed Wendy's hand and walked her to a nearby BMW.

As Eric watched them disappear,approached his heart clenched with sadness, anger and helplessness...

“Just because I'm poor, our two-year relationship ended like this?”

Eric lowered his head, his nails digging into the palms of his tightly clenched fists, drawing blood.

Eric and Wendy knew each other in high school, after graduating from senior year, they confirmed their romantic relationship. Wendy was still innocent at that time.

Eric was accepted into the local university, while Wendy failed to get into her desired college and entered the workforce. Since then, Wendy had gradually changed, becoming quite materialistic.

Eric decided not to chase after Wendy or try to keep her because he, a poor boy, had no right to compete with someone like Mr. Smith. He also now saw through Wendy.

To be honest, Eric didn't know how many contemptuous glances he had received or all the unfair treatment he had endured over the years, because of his poor status.

“Wendy, the way you look down on me today, I will make sure you can't reach my level in the future!” Eric's eyes flashed with determination.

“And Mr. Smith, one day when I have power, I'll show you!”

...

New York slums.

Most people living here were the underprivileged of society, including Eric's family.

On his way home, Eric kept thinking about making money. After much thought, he hadn’t come up with any ideas. He was just an ordinary undergraduate student from a poor family. Wanting to earn big money felt like an impossible task.

Society was unfair. Even if you worked hard for a lifetime, you might not be able to surpass a rich person's child.

As Eric arrived home, he saw a his eyes were drawn to a Bentley parked there. Theoutside. Its license plate washailed from the provincial capitalIllinois.

“Why is this The sight of such a luxury carvehicle parked outside my house?”

Eric his modest home was perplexing. "Why would such a car be parked here?" he wondered.

His pace quickened his pace and, curiosity and apprehension fueling his steps as he entered his home with trepidation.

Upon entering.Inside, he sawfound his mother and in the company of an elderly man, clad in a suit. The old man had an incredibly strong presence.

“exuded an aura of authority that was hard to ignore. "Grandson!”

!" the man greeted him with a smile. The old man smiled at Eric.

These two words immediately left Eric bewildered.

“word hung in the air, leaving Eric in a state of bewilderment."Mom, what... what's going on?” he asked?" Eric questioned, his gaze shifting between his mother .

and the stranger.His mother sighed, “ deeply, her eyes filled with regret. "Eric, all these years... I've been lying to you. Your grandfather didn't die, this. This man is your biological grandfather. When I wanted to be with your father, your grandfather disagreed, so your father and I eloped…”

This sudden news…"The revelation left Eric feeling dizzy. Did he really have reeling. He had a grandfather? So, hisHis parents had eloped in pursuit offor love?

“ The room seemed to spin around him."Son, your grandfather is Sean Williams.” His," his mother continued.

“ "Sean Williams!”!" Eric's facial muscles twitched.

Of course, he had heard thisface contorted in shock. The name before.was not unfamiliar to him. Sean was the richestwealthiest man in the whole state of Illinois, and renowned througout the country.and his fame extended throughout the country, not to mention within the province itself!

In the province of. From their base in Chicago, Sean Williams' Power Group had a strong presenceheld sway in every city, including New York, where they had significant business operations.

“"You... Aare you really Sean Williams, the chairman of the Power Group?”?" Eric stared at Sean asked, his eyes wide with wide eyes.

Eric could hardly believe it.disbelief. Was hHis biological grandfather turned out to be such a prominent figure?

“"That's right, my dear grandson!” He said!" Sean confirmed, his smile broadening as he approached smiling and wantingmoved to embrace Eric.

However, Eric took a step, however, stepped back.

“ "Why didn't you come forward all these years? If yYou're so rich, why did you let my mom suffer like this?” Eric angrily asked.

It didn't matter if Eric’s life had been difficult, but his?" His anger was palpable. His father had passed away when Eriche was young and, leaving his mother had been raisingto raise him alone all these years.. He knew how tough itthe hardships she had been for her.

“endured."Eric, your mother is stubborn and refused all the money I’ve tried to send all these years. She even refused to let me acknowledge you. I have wanted to be in your life all these years. After all, you're my only grandson!”!" Sean explained helplessly.

“, his voice tinged with helplessness."Mom, is this true?”?" Eric looked atturned to his mother.

, seeking confirmation.His mother nodded and said, “. "Yes. I denied him access to you your whole life, but now I've realized my decisions should not have affected you. I think you should be acknowledged by him. I hope you can accept it; you deserve it.”

“.""My dear grandson!”!" Sean huggedreached out to Eric with a smile.

Thisagain, this time, Eric didn't dodge.

“ successfully pulling him into a hug. "You've suffered all these years. Don't worry, Grandpa will definitely compensate you well!” Sean reassured as he took out !" He produced a bank card and handed it to Eric.

“ "There's one billion US dollars in the account for your pocket money. Use it for now, and if it's not enough, ask Grandpa for more!”

“!""One... one billion US dollars!”

!" Eric's hand trembled, almost stumblinghis legs nearly giving out from the shock.

To Erichim, this was an astronomical figure. He, one he had never imagined he would have so much money.possessing. And to Sean, it was justmerely pocket money?

“"Haha, one billion US dollars is nothing for your Grandma and me, you know.”." Sean laughed, stuffingpressing the card into Eric's hand. “"Furthermore, I have handed over all of my New York businesses to you...”

“...""Given Handed it to me? But I'm still in college, and besides... I have no experience in business,”," Eric shrugged.

“protested."That's not a problem. The business in New York is stable, and there's a management team in place. All you need to do is be a figurehead chairman and continue with your studies. You can even use the money earned by the New York's branch,”," Sean said.

“assured him."Okay!”!" Eric agreed.

After what happened with Wendy today, Eric deeply understoodhis recent experiences, he had come to understand the importance of wealth and status!

. He also realizedremembered that Wendy, who had just broken up with him, worked at the front desk of the Power Group's New York's branch, a of the Power Group. And that was also where Mr. Smith was also from New York's branchworked! The thought of their surprised expressions when they discovered he was their new chairman brought a smile to his face.

And soon, he would become the chairman of this company. This made Eric look forward to it as he thought of the surprised expressions Wendy and Mr. Smith would have when they found out he was their companies new chairman….

"