Alves was quite puzzled by the fact that Madam couldn't tell that he was the one from his back view. If it was the other way round, Alves would had known she was the one. He could even tell by the way she turn her neck whenever she was going to hop into a discourse which she wasn't invited to in the first place.

Before Alves could choose what to do; whether to avoid her or turn to face her. He felt a force which shoved him to the side. He crashed heavily into the nearest wall, almost breaking an arm. It was sudden and ruthless.

"How dare you stand in the way of our Madam."

Came the voice of one of the two bouncers who had thrown him out of Casper's earlier that day. While it was raining.

That got on his nerve. He didn't plan to hide his face any longer. There were quite a number of thoughts going on in his mind.

WHAT IF I WAS A RICH MAN, WOULD HE HAD SHOVED ME AWAY LIKE THAT?

HE HAD NO IDEA WHO I WAS, AND PUSHED ME OUT OF THE WAY IN SUCH A ROUGH MANNER?

Then he remembered that if he was a rich man, he wouldn't had met himself in that ugly circumstance, let alone creating an opportunity for Madam to flaunt her wealth.

"How dare you lay your filthy hands on me? Do you want to take me on? Huh?"

Alves was back on his feet, his eyes were red as he stepped forward to match the height of the bouncer. Unlike other bouncers, this man was almost Alves' height but was well built and scary. Yet Alves didn't let that get to him. He stood his ground, looking the fellow in the face, staring him down.

"Alves?"

The second bouncer who had just noticed that it was Alves called the attention of Madam. The first had taken note as soon as Alves stood his ground.

Alves knew for sure that he was asking for it. No one ever does that to Madam. Plus he didn't have the status to back up his fat words. Yet he didn't care. He wouldn't just let that go by, that way. He was a man who esteemed his ego so highly, that being poor has no word on him.

One of the reasons which he had stayed under the same roof with his oppressor over the years was because of grandap, and of course Laura whom he used to love. But now, things were different and he knew too well.

"I was wondering, what pauper would walk into a first class jewellery store like this and make a fool of himself? I should had thought as much."

Madam mocked him. Alves looked away from the bouncer and glared at Madam. He wished he could do something to her at that moment. He wished he could make her eat her words. But that was all he could do; wish!

Also, he did know that anything could happen at that moment that Madam had seen him. He was ready for anything whatsoever. After all, he was a practical man. He knew that money is power in this world. And those who control huge amount of money make the rules.

"Will you stain your white with the pauper' blood?"

Madam scolded the bouncer who was ready to take Alves on based on the latter's request.

"We should breathe a new air now that his badluck had bid farewell to our humble abode."

She scoffed then looked away. She turned and walked towards the lady who was in charge of the sales.

For a moment, Alves didn't know what to do. He just stood there watching her go. To be humiliated by this lousy woman hurt so deeply.

"Shall I change my mind?"

Madam snapped at him when she looked back and saw Alves still standing there.

"I can't stay in the same room with a jinx like you!!!"

She yelled! Alves stood his ground, staring across with a fat glare. Madam turned to the lady selling,

"I shall take a leave then."

She was about to turn when the lady yelled at Alves,

"Get out of this place now your crazy fool! After all you have done, do you want us to lose the money again?"

Alves gulped in rage. His throat wss burning as well as his heart. It felt so bad and painful to be incapacitated. To have the strength but be weak at the same time. All he could do was rage within himself.

He would puff and puff over and over again. That was the only trick he had learned to calm himself down.

He should leave the store at that moment but he couldn't. It was as though his soles were glued there.

The lady was still yelling at him. He noticed that Madam didn't want to involve her bouncers. Alves had no idea why not. It was what she loves doing.

Point in time, he noticed about four men in suits hurrying towards him. They were security men.

"We'll escort you out right now."

One of the four, who seemed like their leader said sternly. Alves could break his glare which was long spent on Madam. He gazed at the man who had spoken.

He turned and walked out of the store. When he was close to the door, he wanted to turn... he felt like emptying his rage on Madam or someone. But the security men were not going anywhere.

He gritted his teeth and walked out.

He wandered about for a while. He had no idea what to do or where to go. The only option he had was something he didn't want to put up with.

Of course he couldn't go to Charles' place, never again. He had no other friend. It was either he sleeps in a bar or --

"No, I can't do that. I can't inconvenience him."

Though he was situationally handicapped, yet he knew when to draw a margin at boundaries.

His mind zoomed to the exorbitant amount of money in his account. He shook his head.

"No, it's not mine."

"Though Madam could never gave that amount of money. Yet, I'm sure that someone is trying to put me in bigger trouble."

That was what he kept saying to himself.

He felt his pocket with his hand.

"Shit... I have no money. Twenty bucks."

He lifted his head and noticed a bar not far from where he was. He wasn't the kinda of person who drinks. He had only had one glass all his life. But at that moment, he couldn't think of any other thing.

MAYBE GO THERE AND HANG AROUND TILL EVERYONE LEAVES. THEN I SQUEEZE MY WAY TO THE BACK OF THE COUNTER OR SOMETHING. BY TOMORROW, I'LL SURELY FIND A WAY.

He had the thought well planned in his mind. It was night already. He couldn't think of a better idea.

"Tequila, one shot."

He dropped the Parallel world book which contained the letter on the counter.

"Sure."

The barmaid smiled at him.

"Here."

He grabbed and took a swig, emptying all.

"Another one."

He opened the book and brought out the letter. Even though he knew that that wasn't the right place to check out something like that, yet he didn't care.

He opened the seal and was about to bring out the letter when a commotion came from behind him. He didn't want to turn. He had his own life to worry about. He continued with what he was ---

"Excuse me, are you Mr Alves?"

Came a husky voice from behind him. He couldn't ignore this time. He turned. When he did, his eyes widened. There were five cops standing before him.

He tried to to keep his composure, he didn't remember having an issue with anyone.

"Depends on who is asking."

He tried to be on the safe side. One of the cops nodded at another one who dipped his hand in his pocket and brought out a cuff.

Two other cops grabbed him while the one with a cuff, handcuffed him.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!!'

No matter how much he tried to fight, he couldn't outwrestle them. He was pulled up to his feet and held firmly so that he couldn't break. The leader raised his voice,

"Mr Alves, you are under arrest. For the death of Mr Casper, your supposed Grandfather."