All Chapters of Barry the Hero: Chapter 21
- Chapter 24
24 chapters
The Rival's Shadow
The metal doors closed with a hollow clang, and Sophia felt the echo travel straight through her chest. Barry and Lauren had just left together, heading for headquarters to strengthen the firewalls. She could still hear Lauren’s confident voice, volunteering her help as though it were the most natural thing in the world. And Barry—steady, decisive Barry—had nodded without hesitation. Sophia’s jaw tightened. She dropped onto the bench, hugging her arms around herself. The hall felt too big, too silent. “Wow,” came a familiar voice from behind her. “You look like someone just stole your birthday cake.” Sophia blinked and turned. Amanda strolled in, her bag slung over one shoulder, her hair tied in its usual messy bun. Her eyes crinkled with warmth as she flopped down beside Sophia without waiting for an invitation. Sophia tried for a smile. “Amanda. You always know how to make an entrance.” “Of course,” Amanda grinned. “So, spill. Why the face? Did Barry misfile a book? Heaven for
Last Updated : 2025-09-30
A Confidante's Counsel
Amanda had always been the kind of friend who could walk into a storm and scatter the clouds with a laugh. Born into comfort, with a family that never wanted for anything, she carried herself with the unshakable confidence of someone who knew her place in the world. She had a steady fellow of her own—a well-mannered banker who adored her—and so she never saw Barry through the same lens that Sophia did. To Amanda, Barry was simply the librarian with the cute eyes, a decent man with an unassuming presence. Until Sophia’s revelation. They were sitting in Amanda’s sunlit lounge, the plush carpets muffling their voices. Amanda leaned forward, her eyes wide, her fingers tightening around her teacup. “Wait. You mean Barry? Our Barry? The man who files books in silence and forgets to eat lunch?” Sophia bit her lip and nodded, her cheeks warming. Amanda’s mouth fell open. “Good heavens, Soph! I thought you admired his… I don’t know, his patience? His cardigans? I didn’t think you were se
Last Updated : 2025-09-30
Amanda's Shadows
Amanda sat back in her chair, her hands cradling the coffee cup as if it were a fragile thing. Yet her eyes told a different story—sharp, unwavering, and far too knowing. “You can’t sit on the fence forever, Soph. Barry isn’t blind. If you hold back, someone else will make a move. Someone like Lauren.” "That's the big difference between you and me, bestie. I don't allow shit to go on and I just allow it to happen. I, my dear friend, make the shit happen. I determined from a young age to make my future happen the way I want it to go." Amanda shifted in a manner that Sophia had never seen before. "Let me ask you something. Do you think that my father gave a shit when he decided to fuck his 19 year old secretary? Do you think that 19 year old Lucy have a damn when she spread her legs for a man old enough to be her father? Do you think that my mom helped herself by going to bed with a bottle of Jack every night? "Mandy, I'm so sorry..." Sophia realised that Amanda's hurt was deep. Sh
Last Updated : 2025-10-01
A Chink in the Armour
Barry had completed his part in eliminating the Trojan horse and bolstered up his firewalls. Lauren was busy with the code for the military contract with the Department of Defence. The danger was averted and they had done good work He decided to continue with his pet project. He was feeling excited because he had been working on this project for five years and was now on the brink of success. Barry felt a little anxious as this was very secretive but it was going to life changing for countless people across the globe. Barry sat in the dim quiet of his office, the tiny bottle of medicated drops trembling between his fingers. The doctor’s words still rang in his ears—hereditary retinal degeneration. He had brushed them aside at first, convinced that money and sheer willpower could stave off any weakness. But the small print on the leaflet, the clinical inevitability, had unsettled him more than he would admit. He leaned back, squeezed a drop into his eye, and waited. At first nothing
Last Updated : 2025-10-03