Chapter I: The CEO's Initiative

Roy.

"Roy William Miller! How dare you not answer your mother's phone call? Don't you dare hang up on me because you know what I'm capable of."

My mother's voice paralyzed me as I read the report I had just been given to sign, while glaring at my assistant, Fletcher.

I had tried to ignore the calls from Mrs. Miller, the goddess and queen of our kingdom. Those aren't my words, but my father's. After more than twenty years of marriage, he was still as in love with her as he was on the first day. But, as you can see, my mother always gets her way. Faced with the offense of her eldest son ignoring her—as if that were possible—she called my assistant. Unfortunately for him, his job could be in jeopardy if my father found out that his goddess had been ignored, so he had to take it.

All this talk about my parents' love and their great love story was really my problem—or rather, the reason why I had to move the Miller Group's headquarters to London.

My siblings and I grew up hearing my parents' story. While my little brother, Marcus, and I didn't care about it, my impressionable sisters, especially my twin, Ailan Caroline, grew up believing those stories. That's why Ailan, stubborn as ever, threw caution to the wind. Despite the advice of the men in the family, especially my overbearing father, she moved to London to live like a normal, hardworking girl, far from the life of luxury she had known since childhood.

At first, none of us were concerned, but when she got married without telling me—her twin brother and true best friend—that's when I decided to move to London to manage the Miller Group and keep a closer eye on Walter.

I never liked that idiot. No man who got close to my sisters had the approval of my father, brother, or me—but that's another matter. Now, we're talking about that bastard. I don't know why, but it had something to do with my twin sister. I had a feeling she wasn't happy, and there's only one person to blame: Walter Patel.

"I wouldn't do it, but I was busy..." As always, that woman had the last word and wouldn't let me speak.

"The day you think you can fool me, Roy William Miller, that day your mother will have left this world. I carried you inside me. I know you better than you know yourself, so stop making excuses and explain why your sister called to tell me you won't leave her alone. What have you done, Roy? I want the truth," my mother said. Ailan took her time calling my mother, but I had anticipated that. Thankfully, I had my father's secret support in this matter.

"I just investigated her stupid husband, but that idiot doesn't want to believe me. She's so blinded by him that she won't listen to reason." I told Ailan that I wasn't going to tell my mother what I had discovered because she would most likely show up in London to beat up her son-in-law. I certainly wasn't going to tell my father either because he would end up in jail for killing him.

My protection of my sisters encompassed everything, even shielding them from my parents' reaction when they found out how her husband and his family treated her.

I tried to make Ailan see this, but, as I told my mother, she was completely blind, especially when it came to the love of her life.

"I don't care what you've discovered. Your sister loves him, and I trust her. For you, your father, and your brother Marcus, there's no one who's good enough for your sisters. That's why I support Ailan's decision to seek her own future and love. If I hadn't met your father, who knows what..." I didn't listen any further.

I handed the phone to my assistant so he could listen to the rest of my mother's story about her great love. He bowed and left my office with the phone while my mother's voice could still be heard, lost in her story. I knew it by heart and didn't want to hear it again. Then, I picked up my phone and sent two blunt messages to two different numbers.

Whether it's a good or bad thing, I've inherited my father's cold, determined, unsociable, and uncompromising character. When I don't like something, I simply say so.

"Mr. Miller, take care of your wife. I can't run the Miller empire and take care of my sister, your eldest daughter, if I get one of your complaints every time I do something. Do your job, and I'll do mine." I sent my first message to my father, who is also responsible for my being in London now. I've treated him this way since I was a child. We are the worst business rivals because neither of us will give in.

"Ailan Caroline Miller, I don't care how many times you call Mom. I'm going to protect you from that pig, despite yourself. So call her as many times as you want. Another thing: It would be interesting if you stopped by the Grand Hotel Miller Continental tonight. I'm sure you'll be interested in what you'll see there." The second message was for my sister.

I knew it would take a while for both replies to arrive, so I told my secretary to have my Lamborghini waiting for me at the entrance. I had to go home to change for the evening. I wasn't surprised when my cell phone rang repeatedly after the two messages arrived.

"Understood. I'll hide the cell phones. And remember, CEO, your duty. By the way, I love you,” said the first message. It was from my father and made me smile. It was a combination of an order and a sweet note, which is typical of Norman Miller.

He is the coldest, most calculating, and most serious person I know in business and to the rest of the world. He was a fearsome white shark, and those who sought to harm his loved ones never escaped his jaws.

With his family, especially his wife, his goddess, however, he was like a damn puppy, a big cuddly bear. I understood it in part. Overprotecting my loved ones was an inherited trait. I was born with it. I couldn't let anyone hurt them.

"Idiot! Stop meddling in my life! You're so annoying, Roy. See you tonight. I hope it's not one of your stupid ideas. You know how I am. By the way, my name is Ailan Caroline Patel. Don't forget,” my sister complained.

Our parents raised us to defend ourselves in life, not just at work or with our inheritance, but also in our relationships with others and in not depending solely on money. They especially taught the women in my family to defend themselves physically. It was a requirement of Mrs. Miller.

Since we were children, we have practiced different sports and martial arts, each specializing in the martial art we like best. Eighteen-year-old Marcus Philip is in his last year of high school and will go to college next year, although he doesn't know what he wants to study yet. He is an expert in Pangkur and Kickboxing and has won many awards in the latter. Amelia Paola, twenty-two, is a physical therapy student. She is an expert in jiu-jitsu and cardio boxing, and she is the least feminine of my sisters. She hits like a boxer.

Then there is Ailan Caroline, who works as the head of the design and architecture department at the Miller Group. Like twins, we tend to practice the same sports, but she excels in boxing and aikido.

I'm better at full contact and Krav Maga. So, based on my experience, when one of my sisters says she's going to make you pay, it means it's going to hurt—and a lot.

But tonight, I had to open my sister's eyes once and for all. That bastard couldn't keep deceiving her. I had to open her eyes once and for all.

Author's note: If you're not familiar with the story of her parents, I recommend reading it first. It's my best novel and the one that people like the most. It's called The Night You Became the Mother of My Children, and it's available on this platform. Greetings to everyone!