"What are you talking about now? Can't you see I'm working?" Stanley snapped, not even bothering to look up from his screen.
"See! That's exactly what I mean!" Neville huffed, arms crossed, eyes wide with mock hurt. "You're even shouting at me now! What happened to all the good times we had together, huh? You're breaking my heart, bro."
"Neville Jolie!"
"Yup! Present!" Neville chirped, completely unfazed by the irritation in Stanley's voice.
The man who had stormed into the office like a category five hurricane was none other than Neville Lavine—a name both infamous and unforgettable.
Neville wasn't just loud. He was loud and rich. After inheriting a massive fortune when his parents tragically passed in an accident, Neville had built a reputation—not for business savvy, not for philanthropy, but for flaunting his luxurious lifestyle all over social media. Private jets, gold watches, absurdly expensive shoes—his posts were a constant stream of envy for thousands. And despite his reputation as a walking headache, he had one connection that mattered today: he was Natellie's best friend from college.
Stanley sighed deeply, his fingers still tapping restlessly against the keyboard. "Who the hell told you I'm married now?" he asked, his tone tired, eyes never leaving the screen.
Neville gasped in exaggerated shock. "Isn't that the case? I mean, you already have a daughter! What else am I supposed to think? Unless—wait…" He leaned closer, eyes wide with faux drama. "Unless you've become a monk and adopted a little girl to train as your successor. Is that it?"
Stanley stared at him blankly. "What daughter?"
Neville grinned like he'd caught him red-handed. "The one who posted all those silly things on your account yesterday!" he said, practically bouncing on his heels. "Come on, I saw the posts. She's hilarious. I want to meet her! I just know she's cute—I can feel it in my gut."
Stanley didn't respond right away. Instead, he finally lifted his gaze, scanning the room. His eyes landed on the very child who had been pestering him earlier, the one who had gone suspiciously quiet.
He snorted under his breath and casually pointed without emotion. "There she is. You probably hit her when you barged in and swung the door open like a lunatic."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned back to his laptop, already halfway immersed in his data again.
Neville, confused, turned around.
And there she was.
A little girl, laying flat on the carpet like a starfish. She hadn't moved an inch. Her tiny arms and legs were splayed out, her backpack still strapped on, her turtle shell softly rising with each breath. Her lips were pouted, and her round cheeks puffed slightly, like someone had just stolen her favorite toy. Her eyes looked distant, her energy completely drained—as if the whole world had disappointed her in the last five minutes.
Neville blinked.
"…Oh," he murmured. "I did hit her."
When Neville finally shook off his surprise, his gaze snapped first to Stanley. The dirty look he shot his friend said it all—how could Stanley just stand there, utterly unmoved, while his daughter had just been knocked down by a door? Not a single flinch of concern, not a hand reaching out to help. It was clear to Neville now—Stanley was even colder, even more ruthless than he had ever thought. The sight made Neville roll his eyes in frustration. If Stanley wasn't going to step up, then Neville might as well be the better person in this room.
With a deep breath, Neville crouched down and approached the little girl still lying flat on the carpeted floor, her tiny body stretched out like a helpless little turtle flipped on its back. She didn't move, didn't cry—just stayed there, lost in her own quiet world. Gently, Neville reached out, carefully helping her sit up, then stood her on her feet. He fussed lightly with the turtle onesie she wore, trying to straighten the wrinkled fabric. After all, he was her self-proclaimed uncle. He needed to make a good impression on her, even if Stanley wouldn't.
But then, as Neville looked closer at her face, the smile he had been holding onto slowly faded. His brow furrowed, confusion washing over his features. The little girl's face was hauntingly familiar.
"N-Natellie?" Neville blurted, barely able to believe what he was seeing.
How could he forget that face? Despite his often gruff and selfish ways, Neville's memory was sharp when it came to certain things. This little girl was unmistakably a mini version of Natellie—the woman who had vanished from their lives six years ago without a trace.
Vivi's eyes grew wide with surprise at the mention of her mother's name, and she exclaimed softly, "She is Vivi's mommy!"
Neville felt a sudden chill run down his spine. Could it really be true? Natellie's daughter? That woman, gone for so long, now had a child who was already big enough to be standing here in Stanley's office? The years added up, the timeline was impossible to ignore. But what was even more pressing was the question burning in Neville's mind: What was Natellie's daughter doing here, with Stanley? Was Natellie back? And was Stanley hiding her from them all this time?
Turning sharply, Neville fixed Stanley with a hard glare. This was exactly what he had feared—their brotherhood was as fragile as glass. Stanley had dared to keep something this important a secret. If Neville hadn't decided on a whim to come by today, he would have never found out.
Stanley, feeling the weight of Neville's stare, finally lifted his head from the laptop screen. His eyes met Neville's, but instead of guilt or surprise, there was only a bored, indifferent expression staring back
"What?" Neville asked, his voice sharp with disbelief.
"Natellie is the woman you secretly married?!" he pressed, unable to hide his shock.
Stanley blinked, caught off guard by the directness of the question.
"... Ah?" he murmured, clearly confused.
Neville wasn't done yet. "I'm asking if you married Natellie in secret and deliberately hid the truth? Did you and Natellie lie to me and Joshua? Did you keep this from us on purpose?" His tone was accusatory, as if demanding answers for a betrayal.
Introducing Neville Jolie
Father 2 – Daddy Nev-ee
Role: Heir of JollityJunction Interactive
Background: Though born into wealth, Neville chose not to rely on his inheritance. He built his own gaming company from scratch to prove himself, turning passion into success. He's playful, bold, and driven by the need to earn respect on his own terms.
Looks: Blonde-haired, brown-eyed heartthrob in leather jackets with a mischievous grin.
Personality: Loud, flashy, a prankster with a surprisingly soft center.
Likes: Bikes, racing games, teasing Vivi, and being the "fun dad."
Dislikes: Losing, disloyalty, and getting emotionally cornered.