Revenge is best served cold

Chapter 1882
Adler and I were like night and day, two brothers living in completely different worlds. He had no clue I existed, yet I spent every
day watching his life unfold. Little did he know, we went to the same elementary, middle, and high schools. But since I was older,
our paths never crossed. I was the kid who zoomed through grades, while Adler was the one who rarely showed up. His father, a
big-shot businessman and a school board member, made sure no one dared to question him. Adler waltzed his way to a diploma
without a hitch.

Back then, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of future awaited someone so careless. Yet, to my shock, Adler topped his class.
He even aced all the big exams that year. That stoked the fires of my jealousy. He seemed born with everything handed to him
on a silver platter; the Tredgold family's universe spun around him. He had the world's most legitimate standing-his father's son
and heir.
Meanwhile, I had lost my mom, leaving me with nothing. During that time, I was simmering with resentment and anger. The
deeper my hatred grew, the more composed I became on the outside. Dad used to say that keeping a poker face made you
unreadable, the perfect disguise for your true self. I was a natural at it.
After college, I followed the path my father had charted for me. Diving into the entertainment world, I was set to become the next
big thing, using my fame to pull in resources for The Silent Shadows. Mingling with the elite and maybe even tricking some naive
girls into spreading The Silent Shadows' message. It was like a cult, influencing the masses; the more power you had, the more
people you could sway.
But then came an unexpected twist-Sophie. Russell Entertainment called, wanting me at their office. I turned them down flat.
Unless they were ready to tear up my contract, I wasn't going anywhere. I expected them to bench me, and that's exactly what I
planned for. There's no juicier story than a rising star being sidelined by the industry, leading to a tragic family loss.
The first time I met Sophie, I was already in the room, tipped off that she was coming to see me. I'd only skimmed her file before;
she was Russell Entertainment's heiress. Her resume didn't stand out, except she was James's new bride. Beyond that, she was
a non-factor.
When the door opened, Sophie's look was odd, a mix of pity and guilt. I thought that expression suited me more. I was using
Russell Entertainment to build my stairway to fame. Once I hit the big time, Russell Entertainment would face a storm of bad
press. I figured they'd be bankrupt in under two years.

Sophie greeted me with warmth, but I wasn't in the mood to chat. Sure, she was pretty, but the world's full of pretty faces. Maybe
she was here to make me some offer, so I kept my cool. "What do you want?"