"Mr. Winchester, you are under arrest for possession and distribution of illegal narcotics."Chris froze at the doorway of his apartment, his worn briefcase slipping from his fingers. Three police officers stood in his living room, their expressions stern and unyielding. Behind them, his mother in law, Margaret, sat on the couch with a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. His father in law, Richard, stood by the window, arms crossed, looking like he had just won the lottery."There must be a misunderstanding," Chris said, his voice shaking. "I don't do drugs. I've never touched drugs in my life.""Save your lies for the judge," one officer said, holding up a clear plastic bag filled with white powder. "We found these in your bedroom closet."Chris's mind raced. His bedroom closet? He had been at work all day, managing inventory at the warehouse for twelve hours straight. How could drugs appear in his home?"You cheap lying motherfucker," a voice spat from behind him.Chris turned to s

The next morning, Chris took a taxi to the business district. His car had broken down the day before his arrest, and he hadn't had the money or time to fix it. The taxi driver kept glancing at him in the rearview mirror, probably wondering why someone in worn jeans and a simple shirt was heading to the most expensive part of the city.The WR Quantum Corp building rose into the sky like a monument to power and wealth. Eighty stories of gleaming steel and glass, with the company logo visible from blocks away. Chris had avoided this place for five years, but now he needed what it represented. He needed power, resources, and the ability to fight back.The taxi pulled up to the main entrance, and Chris's stomach twisted when he saw two familiar figures walking toward the building entrance.Victor Kane, dressed in a charcoal gray designer suit, walked hand in hand with Beatrice White. Beatrice was Vera's lawyer and supposed friend, a woman Vera trusted completely. She wore a tight red dress

"I have a delivery for Mrs. Vera Winchester."Vera looked up from her laptop, surprised. She wasn't expecting any packages. The delivery man stood in the doorway of her parents' house, where she had stopped by after work to drop off some documents her father needed."That's me," she said, signing for the package.The box was large and beautifully wrapped in silver paper with an elegant black ribbon. There was no return address, no card, nothing to indicate who had sent it.Vera's mother, Margaret, appeared in the hallway. "What's that?""I don't know. Someone sent me a package.""Well, open it," Margaret said impatiently.Vera carefully removed the wrapping paper and opened the box. Her breath caught in her throat. Inside was a Birkin bag, the kind that had a waiting list years long and cost more than most people's cars. Nestled beside it was an iPhone 16 Pro Max still in its sealed box. There were also expensive heels from a designer brand she recognized from fashion magazines, the G

"You look terrible."Chris walked into the penthouse suite to find his father, David Winchester, sitting by the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city. The older man turned, and Chris was shocked by what he saw. His father had aged dramatically in the five years since they had last spoken face to face. His hair was completely gray now, and he looked thinner, almost frail."Thank you for coming," David said, his voice warm despite Chris's blunt observation. "I wasn't sure you would.""William said you had something of my mother's," Chris said, staying near the door. He wasn't ready to fully enter his father's space yet.David nodded slowly. "I do. But first, please sit. We need to talk.""I'd rather stand.""Chris." David's voice was gentle but firm. "I'm not going to hurt you. And I'm not going to try to force you into anything. Just sit with me for a few minutes. Please."Chris hesitated, then walked over and sat in the chair across from his father. The penthouse was massive,

Vera, you look absolutely stunning."Margaret circled her daughter like a predator examining prey, adjusting the emerald dress, fixing a strand of hair that had already been fixed three times. They were in Vera's childhood bedroom at the Sterling mansion, getting ready for the party."Mom, I'm fine," Vera said, gently pushing her mother's hands away. "Stop fussing.""This is the most important night of your life," Margaret insisted. "Everything has to be perfect. The dress, the hair, the makeup, everything.""It's just a party," Vera said, though her stomach was doing flips."Just a party?" Richard appeared in the doorway, already dressed in his best tuxedo. "This is the owner of Quantum Corp we're talking about. Do you have any idea how many doors this could open for our family?"Johnson pushed past his father, smirking at Vera. "Try not to embarrass us, little sister. And maybe don't mention your loser husband. Rich men don't like competition, even pathetic competition.""Chris is n