Chapter 4 Arrival Of Luke Walker

• "...Mr. Luke Walker!"
• The smile on Oliver and Zora’s faces vanished in an instant.
• Miranda’s grin only widened. Zora turned to her, her brows knitting together.
• “Mom… what is all this?”
• Miranda didn’t answer. She just kept smiling, like she was savoring the tension.
• Oliver, still reeling from her announcement, glanced over his shoulder to see who this Luke Walker was—and froze. The billionaire himself was striding toward the stage, flanked by two sharply dressed bodyguards.
• Luke Walker… here?
• Oliver’s eyes flicked over the man’s tailored suit, the heavy gold necklace catching the light—a piece that had to be worth at least fifty million dollars. Luke’s hands stayed casually in his pockets as he approached, each step deliberate, confident.
• “Mom,” Zora said again, her voice tight, “why is Luke here? You told me—” She stopped, remembering Luke’s last words to her grandfather: Take your granddaughter, Ronald Carson. I don’t want anything to do with her again.
• But here he was.
• Miranda’s expression softened in satisfaction. This was no surprise to her. In fact, she had been counting on it. Luke Walker was the man Ronald Carson had once chosen for Zora to marry straight after college. His family—the C Group—was powerful. Marrying him would have meant expansion for the Carson family business. But Zora had refused him over and over, until Luke finally walked away.
• Last night, Miranda had reached out again, desperate for his help to extend the Carson business empire. Luke agreed—on one condition: she would announce him as her son-in-law during the awards presentation and ensure his engagement to Zora.
• Luke stepped onto the stage, greeting Miranda warmly. When he turned to Zora, she refused his handshake without hesitation.
• Miranda’s eyes hardened. She forced Zora to take the award with him. Reluctantly, Zora complied, just not to cause further drama in the scene.
• The presenter was just about to hand them the award when a voice rang out.
• “Hold on!”
• Heads turned. Gasps rose from the crowd as Oliver strode to the stage.
• Miranda’s gaze snapped to him, sharp enough to cut but Oliver wasn't scared.
• Murmurs rippled through the audience.
• “What’s he doing?” someone whispered.
• Oliver reached Luke, grasping his hand firmly. They locked eyes.
• “I am Zora’s husband,” Oliver declared, his voice steady. “That makes me the only son-in-law in the Carson household. Not Luke Walker.”
• A stunned silence fell over the room. No one had expected him to say that aloud.
• Luke’s bodyguards moved instantly, but he held up a hand.
• “Do you know what you are?” Luke’s voice was cold, deliberate. “A good-for-nothing fool. How dare you…”
• “You can save your threats,” Oliver cut in. “Today, I’ll receive the award with Mom.”
• Their glares clashed like drawn swords. Oliver was young, yes but Luke was only three years older. They were peers, equals in age, though worlds apart in power.
• The presenter shifted uncomfortably.
• “Mrs. Carson, can you please clarify who your son-in-law is? We need to move on to the next category—”
• Miranda started to speak. “Like I said…”
• “No, Mom!” Oliver raised his voice. “Let the truth be told!”
• Luke acted up immediately after Zora, signaling to one of his men, who handed him a sleek black suitcase. Luke popped it open just enough for the contents to show. They were stacks of cash. Dollars!
• He stretched the briefcase to Miranda, saying.
• “I’ll support this award with one million dollars,” he said smoothly, passing the case to Miranda.
• Oliver’s breath caught. His eyes darted between Luke and Miranda. The air around him seemed to thin.
• “Come on, Oliver. Beat my price if you can,” Luke taunted. “But you won’t. You’re just an average heir who doesn’t know his place.”
• Miranda’s hands closed around the suitcase like it was a long-lost treasure. Oliver tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat.
• “Money isn’t everything,” he managed to say finally. “You can’t brag about that money with you there. And also, you can't buy—”
• “Then you shouldn’t have bothered impregnating my daughter, you bastard!” Miranda’s voice cracked like a whip, echoing through the hall.
• Oliver’s jaw locked. He said nothing more.
• Turning to the presenter, Miranda declared, “Luke Walker is my son-in-law. We’ll collect the award together.”
• Zora had no choice but to join her mother and Luke. Oliver stood just offstage, watching, his hands clenched.
• After the award was presented, Miranda addressed the crowd again.
• She turned to them, smiling as though she won the lottery. Well, she just did! The suitcase was more than a lottery ~
• “You may be surprised,” she said with a smile, “but my daughter will soon marry Luke Walker, son of the chairman of C Group.”
• Applause erupted.
• Oliver took a step forward, anger tightening his voice, as his voice echoed in the banquet.
• “What are you talking about, Mom? I am your son-in-law, not Luke Walker….”
• Oliver hadn't even completed his words when Miranda raised her hand and gave him an excruciating slap on his face!