Barry sat hunched in one of the plastic chairs. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the hospital lobby as he rubbed his temples.His mind replayed the accident again and again—how fast it had all happened, how helpless he had felt in that single moment. The waiting was torture. He just needed to know the man would be okay. Then, the door to the doctor's office slammed open. Barry's head snapped up as his boss, Mr. Calloway, and Jordan marched out. Jordan's face was masked in anger as he immediately jabbed a finger in Barry's direction. "You're in a lot of trouble, Barry," Jordan growled, his voice loud enough for everyone in the lobby to hear.Mr. Calloway held up a hand, cutting him off. "I'll handle this. Give us a moment, Jordan." Jordan hesitated, glaring at Barry for a second longer before huffing and stomping off toward the exit.As soon as they were alone, Barry turned to the boss. "What about Rick? Is he okay?" Mr. Calloway sighed, running a hand over his thinnin

The next morning, Barry arrived at 52 Grandhill Avenue, dressed in the midnight-blue suit he’d gambled nearly all his money on. He stepped into a tall glass building nestled between a row of corporate offices.He checked in with the receptionist, and was led through a narrow hallway into a quiet, elegantly furnished room.A few moments later, the door opened, and a young woman stepped in.She was stunning—early thirties, with long raven-black hair tied into a loose bun. Her eyes were sharp but carried the softness of someone who'd been taught to smile through her troubles. She wore a tailored cream blazer over a silk blouse, and red heels that clicked gently against the floor as she walked up to him.Everything about her screamed money. She sat down across from Barry and folded her hands neatly on the table.“You must be Barry,” she said, her voice calm, businesslike.“That’s me.”"I’m Eleanor Drayton,” she said. “But before we go any further, I should tell you something important.

Another brief silence passed before Eleanor continued.“My husband had been battling sickness for the last eight months. It was slow and very painful. I stayed by his side the entire time. I didn’t tell anyone because—” she paused, glancing away for a moment, “no one ever wanted to meet him. Not once. They had no interest in him because he wasn’t one of them. He wasn’t from money. But he was a good man. And I loved him. So I married him anyway.”Barry listened intently, watching the way her voice softened when she spoke about her husband.“My father,” she continued, “he disowned me the moment I told him I was marrying below my class. He cut me off—no funds, no support. And the rest of the family followed suit. They don’t even know what he looked like. Not a single one of them.”She looked up at Barry now. Her eyes were firm again. “And now, my father wants to hand over Drayton Enterprises to one of his children. I want it to be me. That’s why I accepted the invitation. But there’s a c

Eleanor kept her voice calm, though her hands trembled slightly in her lap. "I'm sorry, Mr. Halbert, but that's something I cannot do. I won't betray my husband. It how's against my morals as a wife." Halbert sighed dramatically, shaking his head as if she were a child refusing to see reason. "Look, I get it—you're blinded by loyalty. But take a good look at him." He jerked his chin toward Barry, who was still at the bar, watching them intently. "He's a nobody. I've heard all about your husband. He's a pauper. A man with no status, no legacy. Even your father refused to acknowledge him as his son-in-law. And yet, you fell for him because of some fairytale fantasy. You don’t owe him anything." Eleanor's jaw tightened. "I married him because I loved him. It would be cruel to betray him now. You might not understand this, but I owe him my loyalty." Halbert scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You don't have anything to lose. Who cares if you cheat on him? You're saving an entire company fr

Barry stiffened, his fingers gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The Black Cat of Misfortune. She was here, in his car, in human form. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, his throat dry when he finally spoke. She tilted her head, those unnerving blue eyes studying him with amusement. "I’ve always been watching you," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "Ever since you gave up your wealth and ran here to live like a common man." Barry glanced sideways, finally letting himself take in her full image. Every inch of her felt perfectly sculpted, too perfect.She has the radiance of the sun and a warm smile that made it impossible to believe she brings misfortune to a man's life. She laughed, low and throaty, at his stunned silence. "Not what you were expecting, right?" Barry shook his head, eyes narrowing. “Honestly? I thought you’d show up in your cat form. The Golden Cat of good fortune mentioned you. He said you were co