Peak of Life novel Chapter 1

As night fell in California, the Assex's residence was filled with brilliant light and cheerful noises.

Today marked the birthday of Madame Claire of the Assex family. Despite her age, she was still the epitome of elegance and beauty. More remarkably, was the beauty and grace of her two daughters. One 0 f them was deemed California's most beautiful; and the other was said to be the best looking in her college. Countless men who had been drooling over their beauty seized the opportunity, and came to wish Madame Claire a happy birthday.

"Madame Claire, I present to you, The Pearl of the East Sea. Wearing it will help your complexion. Happy birthday!"

"Madame, I present to you, a pair of jade scepters. Wishing you eternal youth and may all your wishes come true."

As the gifts were presented to her one by one, the look of delight could not be hidden on Madame Claire's face. She was feeling overjoyed.

Like a bolt from the blue, a young man wearing a pair 0 f worn out jeans rushed into the villa looking distressed. He said to Madame Claire, "Mum, my mother is very sick and needs immediate attention. Could you please lend me half a million dollars?"

Everyone was in shock and stared at the young man. The disgust on their faces was apparent. He had the audacity to not only come in empty-handed, but to ask for half a million dollars of hand out. Had he gone insane?

A faint voice in the crowd asked, "Who is this person?"

A man in a suit arrogantly said, "Who else can it be? H e is Alex Rockefeller, the son-in-law of the Assex family. The useless husband of Lady Dorothy! He is but a husband only in name, Lady Dorothy is a virgin. Otherwise, none of us will be here today!"

The villa was bursting with laughter as he finished his sentence.

A beautiful lady sitting on the couch looked at Alex with disappointment. She was Alex's wife, Lady Dorothy Assex. They had been married for almost a year, but Alex's status in the family was worse than that of a nanny. He was never even allowed to enter his wife's room.

A year ago, on the day of their wedding, Alex's parents were involved in a traffic accident. His father, William Rockefeller, was pronounced dead on the spot; his mother had been in a coma up till now. To make matters worse, his father was framed for corruption, and his company as well as all the properties had been seized. Alex was expelled from the house of Rockefeller. A man who was once treated as a young prince had turned into a nobody overnight. Naturally, his money-loving mother-in-law despised him to his very core. 2

In order to afford his mother's medical bills, he had to sell off the only house that he had under his legal ownership, and it was still nowhere near enough to pay for the exorbitant fees incurred by her treatment. He had just been notified by the hospital that he had t 0 come up with half a million dollars for a critical operation immediately, otherwise, his mother would only have three days of life left. Alex had exhausted all other options, he had no choice but to come to beg the Assex family for money.

Looking at Alex’s desperate begging, embarrassing her in front of her guests on her birthday, Madame Claire's face turned red with fury. She took a piece of her birthday cake and threw it at Alex and said, "You are such garbage, the only thing you know how to do i s beg for money from us every day. Do you think our money grows on trees? Is it not enough that we give you a stipend of ten thousand dollars every month? You dare to come here begging for half a million dollars? Your mother's medical expenses are like a bottomless pit. There’s no need for an operation, just prepare for her funeral already!"

Alex immediately let go of his tightly held hands.