Chapter 1

The enormous hall of the Johnson mansion glowed with grandeur. Crystal chandeliers threw a warm, golden glow over the nicely designed room. The walls were covered with white and gold drape, and the aroma of fresh roses filled the air.

Lady Bella Johnson, the esteemed leader of the Johnson family, held her 70th birthday banquet tonight. Guests mixed, their laughter and chatting creating a lively atmosphere.

Each carried lavish gifts, anxious to impress the others. The room was a symbol of wealth and influence, a place where the elite came to show off their treasures.

Clara and Andrew stood at the fringe of the crowd, watching the spectacle. Clara tightened her grip on Andrew's arm as they watched the procession of riches pass in front of them.

"Look, there's Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright," Clara said quietly. "They brought a diamond-encrusted watch for Grandma."

Andrew nodded and scanned the room. He experienced the usual pain of humiliation. They had arrived empty-handed, in stark contrast to the extravagant gifts being distributed.

Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright approached, their gift wrapped in silver paper. "Congratulations to Lady Johnson. This is a little gift of our appreciation: a limited edition Patek Philippe watch.

Lady Johnson grinned and graciously accepted the present. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright. "Your generosity is overwhelming."

The Millers approached next, with an even more lavish gift. "Lady Johnson, we wanted to give you something truly special—a trip to the Maldives, all expenses paid," Mrs. Miller declared, her voice beaming with joy.

Lady Bella's eyes shone brightly. "Whoa, the Maldives! "Thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. Miller."

The parade of gifts proceeded from the guests, each one grander than the last. The Andersons have a premium sports car, the Smiths have a yacht, and the Whitmores own a rare vintage wine collection. As each gift was shown, there was an aura of envy and awe throughout the room.

Lady Johnson was delighted as she was showered with a luxurious gift. She sat on a throne-like chair, encircled by her grandchildren and their spouses, who began presenting her with their own luxurious gifts as well.

"Grandma, I know you like rare perfumes," her eldest grandson, Aden, remarked as he presented her with a wonderfully carved crystal bottle. "This is a limited edition scent from Paris, worth nine hundred thousand dollars."

Lady Johnson smiled as she accepted the gift. "Thank you, dear." "You have always been so thoughtful."

Another grandchild, David, approached, accompanied by his wife, Emily. "Grandma, you are a dedicated Buddhist. "This Buddha sculpture is carved from an authentic Italian cafe and is worth six hundred thousand dollars," he said as he unveiled the magnificent sculpture.

Lady Johnson's eyes twinkled with delight as the visitors murmured their adoration. "It's gorgeous. "Thank you so much."

Sarah, her granddaughter, and Daniel, her fiance, arrived next, and they presented her with a magnificent fur cloak. "Grandma, this is a sable fur coat from Russia that is worth $200,000." It's the softest and best fur you can find.``

Lady Johnson caressed the coat, her smile widening. "What great taste. "Thank you, my dear."

Then came Ethan Steven, a family favorite known for his business savvy and compassion. "Lady Jonhson, I know you love the opera," Ethan remarked, stepping forward with a flourish.

"So, I've scheduled a special performance by the world-renowned tenor, Luciano Morelli, right here at the mansion. And this," he said, presenting an elegant box, "is an invitation to the private opera gala in Vienna, complete with a custom-designed gown." The complete set is worth more than one million dollars."

The entire room gasped in unison, and Lady Jonhson's eyes shone with delight. "Oh, Ethan, you always manage to make me smile. This is just fantastic. "Thank you."

Andrew felt a knot forming in his throat. They have nothing to give. He looked at Clara, who smiled comfortingly, but he could feel the pain in her eyes.

They seemed out of place here, a reminder of their supposed inferiority. Lady Jonhson's voice rang out across the room as the final gift was handed. "And how about you, Andrew?" "What did you bring for me?"

The room grew silent, and all eyes turned to Andrew and Clara. Andrew's face blushed with humiliation. He opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out.

Aden took the opportunity, his voice full of scorn. the live-in grandson-in-law who was both outrageous and daring, smirked. "Oh, I'm sure whatever it is, it's... unique."

The subsequent laughter was brutal, reverberating in Andrew's ears. Clara squeezed his hand, but it did little to relieve the pain of embarrassment.

Andrew's phone buzzed at that exact time. He looked at the screen, his heart sinking as he saw the hospital number. He replied, his voice shaking. "Hello?"

"Mr. Blackwood, this is about your mother. We need $3 million for her surgery. If you can't prepare it immediately, prepare for the worst."

Andrew's world swirled. Despair clawed at him. He turned to Lady Johnson and swallowed his pride. "Please, Grandma Jonhson, I need your assistance. My Adoptive mother needs surgery, but I don't have the money."

Ethan Steven, whose family is one of the prominent corporations in Beverly Hills, seized the moment, his voice dripping with contempt. "Not only did you not bring or prepare a gift for Lady Johnson on her birthday, but you actually had the audacity to ask her for three million dollars!"

Lady Johnson's laugh was icy. "Losers! Are you here to celebrate my birthday or borrow money? No, Andrew. "You and your mother can suffer for all I care."

Clara rushed forward and stated, "Grandma, Andrew isn't thinking well. "Please forgive him." She then drew her husband away in embarrassment.

Michael's wife, Rebecca, sneered. "That's pathetic. Begging for money during a party. Have you got no shame?"

Emily, David's wife, said with a chuckle, "Maybe he thought he could guilt-trip us into giving him money. So desperate."

“We are both grandsons-in-law of the Johnson family. If you can’t afford to be here, maybe you should simply leave. You are an embarrassment to the family.” Daniel, who is Sarah’s spouse and also the son of a wealthy family in town, added sternly.

Aden, Sarah's brother, and Clara's cousin, sneered in disdain, "Yes, he is such a disgrace to our family. Or perhaps you are not happy with Grandma's birthday, and your intention was to ruin it by wanting to borrow money and spoil the joyful ambiance we are in."

The room burst into laughter once more. Andrew's rage grew as the entire Johnson family humiliated and ridiculed him, but he was powerless.

"I'm going to the hospital to see the doctor about what to do next," he said as he attempted to stride out of the hall, ignoring the jeers and derision.

Clara said worriedly, “I will go with you,” and she instantly hurried to follow him. Her heart ached for her husband, and she couldn’t bear to watch him suffer alone. Even though her cousins had always been biased against them, taking any chance they could to criticize Andrew.

But before she could take a step, Lady Bella's strong, demanding voice rang out. "Clara, if you follow that man out of this hall, you will be removed from the family trust with your parents. "You'll lose everything."