Chapter 2: Chapter 2
The first day Don lived with the Torres, he was forcefully ushered into a small cold room by one of Hillary's guards.
"Fool, this is where you'll be sleeping for the next two days!" The guard threatened, pushing him onto the hard and cold floor with his back hitting the ground. The room was empty without a bed or chair, and it was so frigid that Don nearly froze in place.
It was one of the rooms Hillary reserved to punish his offenders, but Don was kept in there because he had been regarded as an outcast or some useless bugger who wanted to marry a curse like Avery!
Throughout the day, Don received no meals until late evening when he was presented with a small cup of cornmeal. Upon placing a spoonful in his mouth, he realized it was filled with stones, prompting him to immediately spit it out.
How could these bastards serve him this nonsense? Was it also part of the challenge? He smirked when he suddenly heard the creaking sound of the door. A servant walked in and dragged him out of the room, making him sit at the entrance.
Almost immediately, a heavy slap landed on his face, and then he looked up and saw Hillary.
"You useless thing, I hope you're learning how to be a good husband to Avery!" Hillary growled.
Confused, Don gave Hillary a cold stare.
What trash was he spewing from his mouth? Were the sufferings, lessons on how to become a good husband? No doubt, this man was despicable!
"Dumb skull, get the hell off your feet and go about your duties for tonight! You're to clean the entire mansion for the next three hours! Now, get lost!" Hillary commanded.
This was no doubt, incredulous! How could the bastard ask him to clean the entire mansion just because he wanted to marry his daughter? Was he out of his mind?
Before Don could comprehend the situation, two guards swiftly dragged him from Hillary's presence, and then he found himself engaged in rigorous work for the next three hours without a moment of rest.
To Don, it was hellish! However, he had a mission to fulfil! Hillary wouldn't give him Avery's hand in marriage if he didn't obey him.
Don could be compared to a serpent whose ways were subtle. He was determined to act like a fool to Hillary, making it impossible for him to discover his intentions!
However, while Don was busy cleaning the mansion, he heard Hillary's voice coming from one of the rooms. Hillary was making an official call and his voice was loud enough for him to hear.
"I'll be participating in the questioning session scheduled to be held tomorrow morning. I do not doubt that I'm going to defeat that bastard! I can't wait for him to be ridiculed and barred from participating in Cena Region's politics for the next five years!"
Since the phone was on speaker, Don could hear the male voice at the other end.
The man erupted in laughter, and then replied, "I'm confident you'll win the competition. I'll leak the questions that have been prepared for the program as soon as I drop this call."
Upon hearing this, Hillary chuckled. "Good job, buddy! I'm sure I can always count on you," he replied as he ended the call.
Hillary had just spoken with the judge of the upcoming questioning session scheduled at one of the biggest event centres in Cena region the next day.
Hillary was one of the human rights advocacy group chairmen in Cena region and ever since he became one, he gained fame and wealth not only in Cena Region but throughout the country of West Coast!
There were two human rights advocacy group chairmen in Cena Region, but after government reforms, it insisted on having only one. To determine who would stay, a questioning session was organized.
Since Hillary was recognized at every political event and accorded so much honour, he wasn't ready to lose his position to someone else!
More so, whoever lost in the competition would be publicly ridiculed and barred from participating in Cena Region's politics for the next five years!
Having overheard Hillary's conversation, Don smirked before walking away nonchalantly.
The next day, Hillary was at the event. The event was going to be taking place for two days, and that day marked the first part of the questioning session.
There was a chair reserved for Hillary and his counterpart in the gigantic gall, while people from all parts of Cena Region were there to witness the event. While Hillary took a seat before the other chairman, Carl Todd, he gave Carl a disdainful look.
"Bastard, let's see how a loser and dumbskull like yourself wins this session! You'll end up being an object of ridicule, trust me!" Hillary sneered contemptuously.
Upon hearing this, Carl laughed. "Let's wait and see who will end up as an object of ridicule between you and me!" he replied coldly.
"To me, you're no competition at all! It was better to compete with an imbecile than to compete with a complete trash like you! Trust me, you'll lose!" Hillary spoke arrogantly.
While the both of them were still conversing, they heard a voice from the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the time we've been waiting for has finally arrived, I'll be inviting Mr Hillary Torres and Mr Carl Todd over to the podium for the first part of this session!"
Thunderous claps erupted in the hall as Hillary and Carl marched forward to the podium. Hillary grinned as he walked majestically to the podium, waving to all his fans and supporters who hailed him.
As the program commenced, Hillary effortlessly answered the questions, while Carl struggled with some of his responses. To everyone, it was evident that Hillary was winning.
"No doubt, Mr Hillary is so equipped to lead us!"
"He's so intelligent. This is the man we want as our leader!"
"Let the competition end now! We've found the best leader among them!"
Many participants praised Hillary for the speed and accuracy with which he answered the questions.
"This dumbskull! He obviously knows little, compared to Mr Hillary!"
"He's no competition for Mr Hillary!"
"But I think he's trying. He answered five out of eight questions."
"Hahaha... He only answered after racking his brain for a while, and yet he still failed some of the questions. But Mr Hillary didn't take a minute to answer the questions!"
"He's no doubt a nitwit compared to Mr Hillary."
The audience passed several ill comments about Carl.
However, when the time came for the judge, Tom Wright, to announce the result of the competition, a message popped up on the screen of Tom's phone.
"Tom, you're playing with fire! It's no longer news that you exposed the questions to Hillary Torres before the questioning session! If Hillary ends up winning the competition, I'll make sure your dubious act is exposed to all the people of Cena Region, and you face the consequences of your action! For the final session tomorrow, ensure that the participants come along with their first sons!" The message read.
The message was from Tom's boss, Greg Wilson.
Beads of cold sweat formed on Tom's forehead, as he shivered slightly in fear.
He wondered how his boss got to know about the leaked questions.
Don had solid connections with Greg and he had called him to investigate Tom for leaking the questions to Hillary. After a thorough investigation, they discovered that Tom had indeed leaked the questions.
Tom knew what Greg was capable of doing. If this deed was exposed, apart from losing his job, he could end up in prison!
He couldn't watch that happen. Now, he had to reverse the results!
The master of ceremonies announced to the audience, "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time for us to hear the final results!"
At the announcement, the entire room erupted in loud claps and cheers as Hillary's supporters began chanting his name, "Mr Torres! Mr Torres!! Mr Torres!!!" they shouted.
Everyone was sure that Hillary was going to emerge as the winner. In fact, some of the audience were up from their seat, already congratulating Hillary in advance!
Hillary turned to face Carl and snarled, "Deadbeat loser! I told you that you would fail woefully! How could an imbecile like yourself compete with me, anyway?"
Almost immediately, Hillary stood up from his seat with a wide grin, waving his hand to the audience.
However, the mood shifted when everyone heard the unexpected announcement, "Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the results of today's competition will no longer be announced today, until tomorrow. Also, for the final competition, the participants are to come along with their first sons tomorrow. That would be one of the prerequisites for winning this competition!"
Everyone furrowed their brows and murmured, perplexed by the senseless announcement.
What did the sons of the participants have to do with the participants winning the competition, anyway?
Hillary who was priorly full of anticipation turned pale. He shifted his gaze to the judge, giving him a cold stare.
What was this bastard trying to do? He had paid him handsomely to leak the questions, and just on the verge of announcing his victory, the judge was spewing trash!
Anyway, tomorrow was just around the corner. He would be patient enough until then. After all, what was the big deal in bringing his first son?!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone