Novels by zaligma.writes

Inside one of the VIP rooms, laughter echoed. Several men grinned wickedly as they stared at the waitress curled up on a long sofa. She hugged her knees while sobbing.“We hit the jackpot with this one, Douglas,” one of them said, licking his lips. “She looks untouched.”The waitress trembled harder. “Please,” she begged weakly, but only cruel laughter answered her.She pressed herself deeper into the corner when one of the men sat beside her. Her lips trembled, but no sound came out.“I hate it when people can’t even do a simple thing I ask them to do,” the man said playfully.He was shirtless, scars lining his arms. A flaming bird tattoo marked the back of his neck, smaller than the others but unmistakable.He was Douglas, the leader of these men.He reached for the waitress’ arm, smiling. “Don’t worry. You’ll enjoy your punishment.”Terror washed over her. With the last of her strength, she jumped up and ran toward the door.But she was blocked. One man shoved her back onto the cou

While Luke’s friends were busy flirting with the bartendress at the counter, he stayed quietly observant, eyes roaming around. This was his first time entering a place like this as a customer.Despite being born into wealth, Luke had never lived a life of indulgence. From childhood until the age of fifteen, his world had been confined within the walls of their manor. His days were spent studying and training under renowned teachers and experts from different parts of the world. Knowledge was drilled into him like second nature. Discipline was his daily bread.At sixteen, he was thrown into a battlefield, with an active war ongoing. That was his third training.War was not kind. He faced brutal conditions and life-or-death trials. If not for his first and second training, he would have failed miserably. Instead, the experience sharpened him. Long-range combat, close combat, strategy, survival. Every skill he possessed was forged under pressure.After a year of war training, he was imme

After everything that happened at Light Metrobank and after several procedures that allowed Luke to regain access to his assets and funds with Louis’ help, here he was now, walking down the dormitory hallway with a relaxed smile, carrying take-out food in both hands.He looked lighter, almost carefree, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders.When he entered their room, he immediately saw Tony lying on his bed, turned sideways, scrolling through videos on his phone. Luke frowned.Wasn’t it class time? Tony was supposed to be back by two.Luke placed the bags of food on the small table near the window. He had bought them for everyone in the dorm. He wanted to celebrate the end of his three-year poverty training with them, but he did not want to raise suspicions. That was why he only bought simple, inexpensive food.“Tony, let’s eat,” Luke said casually. “I brought take-out. Let’s save some for Dominic and Jacob.”Tony turned toward him and sat up. His eyes landed on the

“I’m not surprised,” Luke said coolly. “Looking down on others runs in the blood of people like you. That’s the real reason.”Reynold froze.He looked up in shock. Had Luke read his mind?He quickly lowered his head again when he saw the cold expression on Luke’s face. His discomfort deepened when Luke bent down to meet him at eye level.“I’m not angry because you insulted me,” Luke said evenly. “I’m used to people like you. What disgusts me is how you use your status to control the lives of those below you. You think you’re on top of the world. You believe you can do whatever you want, even ruin someone else’s life. To you, people from the lower class are just ants you can crush whenever you feel like it.”Silence swallowed the entire reception area.Even the onlooking clients felt the weight of Luke’s words. It hit too close to home. Many of them were exactly the same.Some, however, couldn’t help but admire Luke. Judg

Once again, everyone was stunned.Even though some of them had already guessed that the man they thought was a beggar and the person Louis was waiting for were one and the same, it was still hard to digest the level of respect Louis showed him.‘Young Master of the Cruise family?’The same question echoed silently in everyone’s mind.“T-this…”Noel’s grip on Reynold’s arm loosened the moment Louis spoke those words. His restless eyes locked onto Luke’s face, staring so hard it was as if he had seen a ghost. Color drained from his face in seconds.“Are y-you…”The words died in Noel’s throat as his strength suddenly left him. His knees buckled, and his body gave way. He collapsed to the floor beside Louis, his head hanging low.“This can’t be happening,” he whispered before breaking down, sobbing like someone who had just lost everything.All his life, Noel had dreamed of one day being acknowledged by th

Everyone turned toward the elevator.A man in a blue double-breasted suit stood just outside the doors. Judging by the wrinkles on his forehead and the silver streaks in his hair, he was well past sixty. His face was expressionless, yet the authority he carried filled the space like a silent command. He did not need to speak to dominate the room.The man was none other than Louis Rivera.“What’s all this commotion?” he asked calmly, shifting his sharp gaze to Noel as he walked toward him.The anger Noel felt toward Luke instantly morphed into unease the moment he saw Louis. Shouldn’t the senior manager be in his office right now, waiting for the important client he mentioned earlier?“You see, Mr. Rivera,” Noel said quickly, straightening his posture, “This man tried to sneak inside the bank and claimed he was here to meet you. I believe he’s simply using your name to roam around the building.”Louis nodded slightly, as if acknowledging the explanation, though he was doing his best no