The school day began like any other, but for Richard, something felt off as soon as he stepped into the cafeteria. The usual buzz of voices, the clatter of trays, and the murmurs of laughter seemed muted, as if the air was heavier than usual. He noticed his friends sitting at the usual table, but his gaze immediately fell on Evelyn. Something was different. The laughter in the group didn’t reach her. She was sitting there, hunched over slightly, her eyes downcast as she poked at her food.As Richard walked over to join them, he couldn’t help but notice the bruise on Evelyn’s arm. It was faint but noticeable—a dark purple mark on her skin that stood out against her otherwise pale complexion. Richard froze for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. He knew something was wrong. Evelyn wasn’t the type to show weakness, to let something affect her to this degree. She was always the strong one, the one who made others laugh, who kept the mood light. But today, there was something off about he

Adam’s arrogance had been shattered, but his pride still lingered like a stubborn flame. He stood there, seething with rage, glaring at Richard as if the situation were somehow a test. His hands clenched into fists, his jaw tight with frustration. Richard’s calm demeanor, however, only seemed to infuriate him more. He had been humiliated in front of Evelyn, his friends, and every student in the room, and yet he refused to acknowledge the power Richard had over him. He would not kneel before someone he deemed beneath him—someone who wasn’t even part of his world.“I’ve had enough of this,” Adam snapped, his voice dripping with venom. “I don’t have to listen to you. You’re just a kid playing pretend, acting like you can ruin me.”Richard’s gaze never wavered. His hand remained steady, his finger pressing the screen of his phone as he dialed a number.“I’m not playing, Adam. And you will listen,” Richard said coolly, his voice unwavering.Adam stared at him incredulously, almost as thoug

Richard followed James’s men from a distance, keeping himself out of sight as they trailed Thomas through the school grounds. The day was winding down, and most students were finishing their last classes for the day. Thomas, however, was nowhere near the usual path he took. Richard had noticed that the boy seemed distracted—almost as if he was avoiding something or someone.The two operatives were adept at following him without being noticed, keeping a few yards behind and moving with purpose. Richard stayed close enough to stay in contact with them, but far enough to avoid suspicion. He couldn’t let Thomas know that he was being watched—at least, not yet. If he had any chance of uncovering the truth, it had to be through careful observation.The group moved through the school’s back gates, heading toward a quieter part of town, a residential area that Richard didn’t recognize. The neighborhood was full of narrow streets lined with old buildings, each with its own stories, secrets, an

As the car slowly rolled to a stop, Richard’s thoughts were elsewhere. He had just wrapped up a tense meeting, his mind swirling with the aftermath of Thomas’s betrayal. The last few days had been a whirlwind of revelations, confrontations, and power struggles. His instincts had been screaming at him that something deeper was at play, but with each new challenge, the path forward only seemed more tangled.The hum of the car engine cut through his thoughts, and he leaned back against the seat, trying to clear his mind. The world outside the car was blurry—shapes, faces, buildings. He didn’t notice the woman standing on the edge of the street, lost in her own thoughts, until it was almost too late.The driver slammed the brakes, tires screeching as the car skidded to a halt, inches away from her. Richard’s heart stopped in that brief moment. The car's abrupt stop sent everyone inside lurching forward, but it was the lady outside that Richard's focus snapped to. The impact had barely bee

The room was still heavy with the smell of antiseptic and the hum of medical equipment, but it was now filled with a quiet, almost reverent tension. Richard stood back, watching as Wei Ren slowly but steadily lifted his head from the pillow. His movements were tentative at first, as though testing the waters of his newfound strength, but soon, he was sitting upright, supported by his trembling hands on the edge of the bed. The change was nothing short of miraculous. The color that had once drained from his face, leaving him pale and lifeless, was slowly returning. His eyes were clearer, sharper. The man who had been on the edge of death was now showing signs of life.Li Wei, who had been holding her breath, finally exhaled as tears welled up in her eyes. She reached out instinctively, but it was her father who made the next move. With a quiet grunt, Wei Ren pushed himself up further, sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands steadying himself as he took in his surroundings with the sh