For a brief moment, he hesitated, as though carefully choosing his words. Then he drew in a quiet breath, steadying himself.“I did not just come here to remind you of the past,” Lucas said, with a calm tone. “There is something you need to know about your daughter.”He was about to continue when Maya’s mother suddenly interrupted him.“Before you start saying anything,” she said, her voice cutting through his words, “what exactly are you wearing?”Lucas paused, slightly caught off guard by the question.Maya’s mother slowly rose from her seat and took a few steps closer, her eyes scanning him from head to toe with open disapproval. Her gaze lingered on the worn-out shirt and the patched trousers he had gotten from the thrift seller.She shook her head slowly, her lips curling into a faint expression of distaste.“This is surprising,” she continued. “Even before you went to prison, you were poor, but at least you knew how to present yourself properly. Now look at you.”She gestured t

Lucas remained standing for a few seconds after Jake had thrown the money at him, his gaze lowered as he looked at the scattered bills lying on the ground. The notes were spread unevenly at his feet.He did not bend to pick them up, nor did he react immediately. Instead, he allowed the silence to stretch, absorbing the full weight of what had just happened.After a moment, a scoff escaped his lips.He nodded slowly, not in agreement with what had been said, but in acknowledgment of a truth that had now become painfully clear to him. There was nothing left to misunderstand. Nothing left to question.Then he lifted his head.However, instead of looking at Jake, his gaze moved past him and settled directly on Maya.For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.Then Lucas finally broke the silence.“Maya,” he said calmly, his voice steady and controlled, “you are going to regret the choices you have made.”His tone was not loud, nor was it emotional. It was quiet, carrying a certainty that

She could see the disbelief in his eyes.The way his fingers lingered on the document as he still could not fully accept that it was real. Understanding that such an opportunity could not simply be accepted without clarity, she decided to explain things more thoroughly.“I think it would be better if I explain this in more detail,” Andrea said in a calm and composed tone, leaning slightly forward in her seat. “This is not just about offering you a position in the company. It is about forming a partnership that benefits both you and us in the long run.”Lucas lifted his gaze from the document and looked at her, his expression still carrying traces of uncertainty, but also curiosity.Andrea continued, choosing her words carefully so that he would fully understand the weight of what she was offering. “My father and I both believe that what you did last night was extraordinary. You did not just recover stolen money. You prevented a situation that could have caused severe and lasting da

Then, taking a quiet breath, he pressed the call button and raised the phone to his ear.The line rang for a few seconds before it was picked up.“Hello?” a male voice said from the other end, sounding professional and alert. “Who am I speaking with?”Lucas straightened slightly and replied, “Good morning. Am I speaking with a house agent?”There was a short pause before the man responded, his tone becoming more confident.“Yes, you are,” he said. “My name is Mr. Leo. I handle high-end properties. How may I assist you?”Lucas nodded slightly, even though the man could not see him.“My name is Lucas Reed,” he said. “I was referred to you. I am looking to purchase a house.”“Ah, I see,” Mr. Leo replied immediately, his tone warming. “That is good. You came to the right person. Right now, I have several properties available, depending on your preference.”Lucas listened carefully.Mr. Leo continued, “At the moment, I have two luxury mansions, each priced at five million dollars. On the h

But the man told himself, with a stubborn insistence that bordered on desperation, that what he had just noticed could not possibly mean anything. It had to be a coincidence. There was simply no other explanation. In his line of work, he had learned to rely on patterns, on logic, on cause and effect, but this… this felt too absurd to accept.He exhaled slowly, as though trying to steady his nerves, and then turned around to face Lucas again. His expression had shifted into something polite, though there were still faint traces of irritation beneath the surface.“Please,” the man said, forcing a courteous smile, “could you turn down your ringtone? I’m trying to call someone important, and your phone is too loud. I can’t even hear if the buyer has picked up or not.”Lucas looked at him, his face calm and unreadable. There was not a slightest hint of apology in his eyes, nor even annoyance again. Instead, there was something far more unsettling, amusement, restrained and quiet, as tho