Everyone knew Mr. Gerald as the manager of Kingston Bank, one of the most reputable financial institutions in the country. When he walked into the restaurant with a briefcase, everyone in the vicinity could guess that it contained a large sum of money. But what shocked them the most was that he was approaching Richard.“Mr. Richard, I came with the $2 million you requested,” Mr. Gerald said, his voice steady as he handed over the briefcase.Richard’s eyes lit up with satisfaction. This was exactly the moment he’d been waiting for. His strategy was falling into place.“You can drop the briefcase with Clara,” Richard said, motioning toward her. His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable authority in it now.Clara, who had been watching from her seat, was visibly excited. $2 million—this was more than she could have ever dreamed of. For a moment, she even wondered if she had made the right choice by siding with Richard. This kind of payout would certainly change her life.“Are you su

As Richard made his way back to the dorm, his steps were quick, but his mind was focused. He was aware of the subtle shift in the air—the tension that came with the presence of danger. He could tell they were thugs just from their appearance. Their heavy footsteps grew louder, and soon, he realized they were closing in on him. The path ahead was empty, the lonely stretch of road offering no escape, and no one nearby to hear his calls for help.Richard's heart raced, but he tried to remain calm. He couldn’t afford to panic. He considered diverting to another path, but as he glanced over his shoulder, he saw they were following him, surrounding him with no clear way out."Who are you guys, and why have you kept following me?" Richard asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Despite his calm tone, a flicker of panic bubbled within him. He was outnumbered, and they were closing in fast.One of the men, who appeared to be their leader, took a step forward, eyeing Richard with a fierce expres

Richard remained tied to the chair, trying to maintain his composure despite the mounting tension. As he looked at the three figures in front of him, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of disbelief. Could they really be this foolish? he thought. Dominic, Jane, and Brian had taken things too far, and now they were determined to make him pay.“Really? Or maybe he might actually break your leg instead,” Richard responded confidently, his voice unwavering.The statement threw Dominic and the others off balance, but they quickly recovered, trying to maintain their superiority. They exchanged uncertain glances, but Richard didn’t flinch.“You really want to die, don’t you?” Jane said, her voice laced with venom. “Just wait a little while for Natt Wade. Then I’ll see if you have the guts to talk back to him.”Richard couldn’t help but chuckle. His calm demeanor only seemed to irritate them further.They stared at him, baffled. “Do you think we’re joking here?” Dominic asked, fury building in h

Richard was exhausted. The stress of the previous night weighed heavily on him, and as soon as he reached his dorm, he collapsed onto the bed, his head barely touching the pillow before he drifted into an uneasy sleep. Charles and Oliver, his roommates, exchanged glances. They could tell something was off with Richard. They didn’t know what he was hiding, but it was clear that he was keeping something from them.The next morning, Richard woke up later than usual. By the time he got up, Charles and Oliver were already ready to leave. They seemed prepared for their usual routine, but their curiosity about Richard’s behavior was apparent.Charles raised an eyebrow, his concern evident. "What happened to you last night?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.Richard rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the fog of sleep. "I had a terrible experience last night. I was kidnapped," he said flatly.The words hung in the air, and Charles’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! You were kidnappe

At that moment, Richard felt a knot of worry tighten in his chest. He had hoped Amelia wouldn't have heard the rumors, but as he glanced around, he realized the news had likely already reached her. Hesitation gripped him as he debated whether he should meet her now or delay it, but he knew he couldn't avoid her forever.As he approached Amelia, her smile immediately put him at ease. It was genuine, and Richard couldn’t help but feel relieved. He knew if she already knew the truth, that smile wouldn’t be there.“Hi Richard, how have you been?” Amelia greeted warmly. “I tried to reach you last night, but it seemed like you were busy and couldn’t answer. Everything okay?”Richard hesitated. He wanted to tell her everything about the turmoil he had gone through the previous night, but the chaos at school had thrown him off. He wasn’t ready to burden her with all of it just yet.“It’s nothing. I was just really tired,” Richard said, forcing a smile. “I hope you’re alright. Listen, how about