“Ladies and gentlemen, I am confident that this proposal will drastically increase the demand for Northcrest Development’s services, bringing remarkable benefits not only to the company but also to us, the affiliated partners.”With that, Elias ended his presentation and returned to his seat as the conference room erupted into polite applause.“Who would’ve thought he had this much sense?” one associate muttered under his breath.“I’m shocked,” another whispered back. “Weren’t they the ones calling him a worthless son-in-law living off his wife’s family? Maybe he’s the real brain behind their company’s few accomplishments.”“Accomplishments?” the first man scoffed. “That was only because of his mother—remember? The notorious ex-CEO of Northcrest Development. She only got things done by leaning on the men she entertained.”“And once she ran off with that teenage boy, Henry Halston practically had to beg to keep his family’s company afloat,” the second man added.“That still doesn’t mak

“Your constant quarrels with my daughter, Celeste, have been damaging our family’s reputation,” Henry said coldly. “If she divorces you now, with all these rumors circulating, the public will cancel us.”He folded his arms.“So here’s the deal—I'll give you the fifteen million. But in exchange, you will make a public video praising our family… saying how well we’ve treated you… and you’ll take the blame for all the problems.”Henry continued, smiling like a snake.“And we’ll mention your illness publicly. Who knows? Maybe some sympathetic fools will donate money for your treatment.”Elias’s jaw dropped. Disbelief. Humiliation. Rage.He knew exactly what Henry was doing.This wasn’t new. The last time Henry embezzled public funds meant for road construction, he forced Elias to take the fall—threatening to throw him out if he refused.The public had cancelled him, and every company rejected his CV afterward. Elias’s reputation had never recovered.And now… they wanted to use him again.

“It was my husband’s idea, so the money belongs to our family, of course!” Susan snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.“At least use this money to compensate us for feeding you for almost four years now. Have some shame, Elias,” Celeste added with a disgusted frown.Elias stood frozen, his mouth slightly open, his mind struggling to process the cruelty unfolding before him.How… how had he let these people fool him again?“But… but that’s my money,” he protested weakly, voice trembling. “People donated to help me. How can you just take it?”Celeste ignored him completely as she turned toward her father, excitement glowing in her eyes.“Dad, it’s up to a hundred million dollars now!” she squealed.“I can’t believe we made this much in one night! I can finally buy a Lamborghini!”“Hurray!” She clapped like a child receiving candy.“Don’t be ridiculous, Elias,” Susan snapped, rising to her feet and glaring down at him. “We’re already done with you. It’s time you leave this family

Elias stood frozen as the glowing interface hovered before him, the strange tattoo still burning faintly on his arm. The disembodied voice thundered again, reverberating through his skull as though the walls themselves were speaking.“Your singular purpose is to command every resource, every influence, and every hidden power within the Monarch Crown System. All who are bound to this system will kneel before your authority.”Elias blinked rapidly, shaking his head in disbelief.“This… this can’t be real,” he whispered. “I must be delirious. I’m imagining things—”But the voice boomed louder, overriding every attempt he made to ground himself in reality.“Each time you spend ten billion dollars, a new tier of authority and strength unlocks. Wealth is the fuel of your ascension. The more you spend… the more unstoppable you become.”Elias stared blankly at the glowing panel, his chest tightening.“To begin your inheritance: ten billion dollars has been transferred to your account.”A shar

The card reader beeped once, then a second time, the sound sharp in the quiet tension of the hospital lobby. A row of digital dots flickered across its small display as the machine processed the transaction. Jeron folded his arms in a way meant to show confidence, but the stiffness in his shoulders betrayed his anxiety. Mr. Lowell leaned forward, almost pressing his nose to the screen as if willing it to flash the word he expected: declined.People around them had already raised their phones, eager for the spectacle. They were ready to record Elias’s humiliation, ready to upload it, mock it, circulate it. A man like Elias transferring ten billion dollars for a hospital? Impossible. Laughable.And then, suddenly, the screen stopped blinking.TRANSACTION SUCCESSFUL.The words glowed across the screen in glowing green letters, bold and unmistakable.For a moment, no one spoke. No one even breathed.Jeron’s smirk fell apart completely. His mouth hung open in shock as he grabbed the reader