Chapter 1647
Desiree couldnât help but feel the sting of envy. If only her family had been among the top three in the Capital, things would have been different. The Meador family was already esteemed, but they paled in comparison to the Riverasâ grandeur.
Had her familyâs status been just a bit higher, she would have been the one betrothed to Zavier. Instead, that privilege had fallen to some girl from Southern Port-a nobody in Desireeâs eyes. Deep down, Desiree knew the truth, but she couldnât let it go. She stubbornly blamed everything on Skyler..
Meanwhile.
Zavier had gathered his entourage and headed to his spacious loft near campus. Itâs a sprawling 2,000-square-foot sanctuary he had purchased during his freshman year. It served as his primary residence during the academic year.
Zavier had converted the space to suit his lifestyle, keeping only one bedroom intact. He had opened the rest into a massive gaming den, where he and his classmates spent countless hours under the guise of âtesting new games,â which was free labor in disguise.
Years ago, Zavier and a handful of like-minded friends had developed a few indie games, making a tidy sum. But to Hudson, his grand-father, this was mere childâs play, a distraction from more serious pursuits. Only his older brother, Brodie, saw the potential.e2
âZavierâs got a real knack for making money at such a young age; thatâs a big deal. How can anyone call it a waste?â Brodie would encourage him.
Zavier admitted, âGrandpa always says Iâm not as good as you. I wish I could be as outstandingâ¦â
âBeing good at making games is outstanding,â Brodie said, ruffling Zavierâs hair. âThink of how many people love gaming. Itâs definitely lucrative. Doing what you love and making a fortune? Thatâs my dream.â
Naively, Zavier missed the regret in his brotherâs voice and asked, âYou like business, right, Brodie?â
Brodie smiled. âYeah. And remember, Zavier, Iâve got your back. Do whatever you want, and donât mind what others sayâ
Encouraged, Zavier and his team dove into their gaming projects. Their latest release went viral instantly.
Elated, Zavier rushed home to share the news with Brodie, his staunchest supporter. But on his way, he was blindsided by the news of Brodieâs passing-a sickness that took him swiftly and silentlyâ¦
A year after its release, Zavierâs game boasted an incredible three hundred million registered users worldwide, with daily active users hitting the sixty million mark. The game was a phenomenon, and the revenue was astronomical. Yet the one person who believed in his success couldnât witness it.
Zavierâs net worth now made the Rivera family inheritance seem trivial, but he couldnât just walk away.
Brodie had been groomed from birth to take over Rivera Inc., to bolster the familyâs power and legacy. With Brodie gone, there were few in their generation up to the task. The company would surely decline if Hudson handed Rivera Inc. over to them.
That would dishonor Brodieâs memory. So, Zavier had to step up and take the reins of Rivera Inc., to fulfill his brotherâs dream. To honor Brodieâs legacy, heâd have to grow stronger, and until then, heâd have to abide by Hudsonâs wishes-even if it meant entering a marriage arranged by his grand-father.