Luke's sheer arrogance made Zach want to puke at his face while he gnashed his teeth. Although he was deeply worried about his sister, he refused to give them the satisfaction by going on his knees. He wouldn't ruin his dignity in such a way.Luke’s smug grin widened as Zach stood motionless, gripping the edge of the steel table. “What’s the matter, pauper? Cat got your tongue?” Luke sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.But Zach didn’t kneel. Instead, he straightened his spine, his gaze sharp and unwavering as it locked onto Luke. His lips pressed into a thin line, trembling slightly with the effort of containing his fury.“I’m not kneeling,” Zach said, his voice low but steady.Luke’s smile faltered for a moment before twisting into a smirk. “Oh? Do you think defiance makes you a hero? Let me remind you—your sister’s life is hanging by a thread, and all it takes is one phone call from me to cut it.”Zach’s fists clenched, the veins in his arms taut as a surge of anger coursed th

Zach stared at his hands, trembling with disbelief. The crumpled car hood bore the marks of his newfound strength. Since waking in the hospital, his body had felt different—stronger, sharper, as if some dormant power was clawing its way to the surface.“Zach!” Mary’s tearful voice snapped him out of his daze. She threw herself into his arms, her small frame trembling against his. Her sobs were muffled against his chest as she clung to him tightly.“You’re alive!” she cried, pulling back just enough to look at him. Her face lit up with joy, though fear lingered in her wide eyes. “I thought you—” Her voice cracked, and tears streamed down her cheeks.“I’m here, Mary,” Zach said softly, holding her close. “I’m not going anywhere.”Her relief was short-lived as her gaze darted toward the group of men watching them. “You—You should run! They’ll kill you. Please, don’t fight them!”Zach’s jaw clenched, his gaze shifting to the gang. The group of five men sneered, clearly unimpressed by his

A while later, Zach stood before the Five Star Bank, his clothes a patchwork of soot and grim of sorts thanks to the fire from the burnt house, his face smeared with exhaustion and faint hope. The murmurs of people passing by stung like needles, their eyes scanning him with disdain. Even the guards exchanged glances but made no move. This was a prestigious bank, often housing low-profile billionaires. The guards wouldn’t risk making a mistake by ejecting someone who might secretly own half the city.Zach walked to an ATM machine, clutching the black card tightly. He inserted it, his fingers trembling slightly. His real birthday—27-09-1998—replayed in his mind. He took a deep breath and entered the pin, hitting the button to check the balance.The screen blinked once, twice, and then froze entirely. The green interface flickered and vanished, replaced by a cryptic message. A loud beep echoed through the hall, turning every head towards him.“What’s going on?” murmured a customer.“Mus

The air in the banquet hall shifted abruptly as Maya’s assistant, Lena, who had been trailing behind them, let out an audible gasp."Lena, what is it?" Maya turned sharply, her annoyance evident.Lena hesitated for a moment before blurting out, “The Crest Villa—the most expensive villa in the city—it’s just been assigned a new owner. The new resident is moving in today!”Maya froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Crest Villa? That can’t be true!”Luke frowned. “Impossible. No one’s ever been able to meet the bank’s standards for that place.”Lena held up her phone, scrolling rapidly. “It’s all over the Internet. First Star Bank announced it officially a while ago. People are speculating who the new owner could be.”Luke and Maya exchanged a stunned glance. The villa was a legendary property, owned by the bank and symbolizing ultimate power and influence.“Who could it be?” Maya murmured, her mind already racing.Luke scoffed. “Whoever it is, they must belong to a family so influenti

Luke stood frozen, his cheek stinging where Laura’s hand had struck him. His body stiffened, humiliation creeping up his spine like a slow-burning fire. He could feel the weight of every gaze in the room—sharp, scrutinizing, waiting to see his reaction. His fists clenched at his sides, but the anger boiling in his chest was overshadowed by a rare sensation: shame.Laura stepped closer, the sharp tap of her heels against the marble floor slicing through the thick silence. The air around her was suffocating and commanding. When she spoke, her voice was deceptively calm, but every word was edged like a blade."You really think you can treat people however you want, Luke?" she asked, her tone a quiet storm. "You’ve crossed a line, and you will answer for it."Luke opened his mouth, but his voice faltered. He had never felt powerless before, never been put in his place like this. He stole a glance at the crowd, seeing the judgment in their eyes, the silent amusement on some faces. His arro