The sound of laughter still filled the store when the saleswoman looked down at the machine again and shook her head in irritation. She turned toward Connor with a frown.“Sir,” she said sharply, her voice carrying enough volume for everyone nearby to hear, “when a card declines like that, it usually means there’s no money in the account. Insufficient funds, you understand?”The crowd chuckled softly. Brandon folded his arms, smirking.The woman went on, clearly annoyed now. “And just so you know, every time this happens, the store gets charged for a failed transaction. You’ve already cost us a small fee. Why didn’t you just admit you didn’t have the money instead of pretending?”Her tone carried a sting — that same tone people use when they think they’re scolding someone beneath them.A few people in the crowd started whispering again.“So he really doesn’t have money?” one woman said quietly. “I told you,” another replied, rolling her eyes. “Look at him. He doesn’t even look like

Connor kept walking… one step after another… until he reached the edge of the pavement and raised his hand slightly. A cab that was passing slowed down almost immediately. The driver leaned toward the open window and said, “You need a ride, sir?”Connor simply nodded and opened the back door. He got in, closed the door gently, and leaned back in the seat.“Where to?” the driver asked.“Winchester mansion,” Connor replied softly.The driver’s eyes flicked up to the rear-view mirror, taking a second look as if he didn’t expect someone dressed so simply to mention a place like that. But he shrugged and started the engine.The drive was quiet. The city lights passed by slowly, fading in and out as the cab moved through traffic. Connor stared outside the window but wasn’t really looking at anything. His mind was scattered — not confused, just heavy. He thought about the girl from the store, about Brandon’s shock… but most of all, he thought about Lena.Lena Montgomery.His wife.After a w

Connor walked quickly down the quiet road, putting more and more distance between himself and the Winchester estate before he even attempted to raise his phone. He knew better than to order a cab right in front of the estate. Harris’s warning still echoed in his mind — people are watching, threats still exist, danger follows the Winchester name.But Connor also knew that Lena would not wait. She would throw everything out without the slightest hesitation. He had lived with her long enough to know she would enjoy it.So he kept walking He kept walking until the tall iron gates of the estate were nowhere in sight, until he could no longer see even the faintest shadow of the Winchester walls. Only then did he stop, his breath slightly uneven from the hurried pace. He pulled out his phone and tapped the app.“No cars near you,” the screen flashed bluntly.Connor blinked then refreshed but still nothing.He stared at the phone and let out a long, frustrated breath. “Of course. Of course

The room remained frozen in the aftermath of what had just happened. Connor stood completely still, his expression calm, as Lena continued staring at him like she had witnessed the most impossible, unthinkable thing that could ever happen under her parents’ roof.She blinked—once, twice—trying to force her mind to accept that Connor had actually stopped her. Connor. The same Connor who used to avoid her eyes when she lifted her hand. The same Connor who used to bow his head even before her palm reached him. The same Connor who endured her insults, her cruelty, and her humiliation without ever raising his voice.But today, he had caught her hand. Today, he had told her not to dare.The shock still lingered on her face, but she quickly masked it with pride, as if she refused to let the moment affect her. She drew in a breath, straightened her posture, lifted her chin arrogantly, and then turned her back to him.Without saying anything, she walked toward the couch where Benjamin Carver s

Connor remained exactly where he was, planted firmly in the center of the grand Montgomery living room, and he did not shift his weight or brace himself in any way when the thugs began to approach. They began advancing toward him with slow, confident strides.Their boots tapped heavily against the floor, and the sound echoed around the wide room.Each step they took seemed deliberately heavy, as if they wanted to intimidate him before they even reached him.Benjamin smirked and placed his hand over Lena’s. He looked toward Connor and said in a mocking tone, “Connor, maybe you should just listen for once. It’s not like you can fight them. This family has power you can’t even begin to imagine, and you know it.”Connor slowly looked around at the thugs forming a loose semicircle around him. He studied how they held their bats, how their feet shifted, how their shoulders were already leaning forward in preparation for the attack. After a brief moment, he spoke in a steady, calm voice that