All Chapters of Shattered Mask: Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
13 chapters
CHAPTER 1
THE REVELATION Jack's hands were steady as he replaced the microwave's heating element. Four years of repair work had taught him patience, the kind of patience that kept a marriage afloat when money was tight, and promises felt like luxuries for him. He wiped sweat from his brow and smiled. Tonight, finally, he would surprise Leslie with that diamond bracelet she had been eyeing for months. Four years married. Four years of her quiet disappointment every time he came home smelling like soldering flux instead of success. Tonight, that changes. He reached for his water bottle: unfortunately empty. With a sigh, he stood and headed toward the living room, following the sound of voices. The client had told him to stay in the kitchen, but thirst won over his better judgment. The living room was all marble and floor-to-ceiling windows. A couple sat on the leather couch, back to him, absorbed in whatever was on the massive screen. The man's arm draped possessively over the woman's
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 2
A NEW IDENTITYJack could not escape the lynching, nor could he retaliate; he only lay there, screaming in extreme agony and rolling from side to side to evade some of the punches being hurled at him.“Stop.”The words of hope for Jack finally echoed through the room.The lynching stopped.Jack looked up.Three heavy men, breathing heavily, with angry faces and clenched fists, stared at him, ready to launch another round of attack on order.He licked his own blood off his lips, moaning in pain.His broken jaw was a testament to the blows he had received.He tried to sit up, but his weak body failed him.The last face appeared, red-eyed, staring down at him with a smirk.He spat on Jack’s face on the floor.“You think you are smart, huh? Let us see what you’ve got, loser.” He said, grinning loudly.Jack tried to clean the spit from his face with his hands, but ended up smearing it all over his face.The shame, the disgust, the humiliation … he was bearing it silently; he had no other o
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 3
A HUGE INHERITANCERothwell Tower stood like a glass-and-steel monument to everything Jack had tried to leave behind.Sixty-eight floors of corporate power in the heart of Manhattan, each window reflecting the morning sun like a thousand judging eyes. Jack stood across the street, coffee cooling in his hand, staring up at the building that bore his family name in letters ten feet tall.He was seventeen the last time he walked through those doors. Angry, idealistic, and convinced that money was the root of all corruption. His grandfather had offered him the world... an executive position, a penthouse, a future paved in gold... and Jack had thrown it back in his face."I will make it on my own terms," he had said, so sure of himself."You will come crawling back," his grandfather had replied, not angry, just certain. "They always do."Jack had sworn he never would.Funny how life made liars of everyone, but at least he didn't come back crawling... at least he has proved his grandfathe
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 4
A NEW LEGACY“She is no longer my wife,” Jack cut him short, the words hitting the air like a gavel. The image of Leslie leaning against Robert’s chest in that marble mansion flashed behind his eyes, fuelling a cold, focused fire.Harnes didn’t flinch. He simply adjusted his glasses, his gaze fixed on the legal reality. “Biologically, perhaps. But in the eyes of the law, she is the spouse of a man about to inherit the largest private fortune in the entire continent. If you sign the inheritance papers while that bond is intact, she doesn’t just get a settlement…she gets half of the Rothwell legacy. $115 billion as a parting gift for her betrayal.”Jack’s jaw tightened. The thought of Leslie and Robert lounging on a yacht paid for by his grandfather’s blood and sweat was enough to make him nauseous.“There is a sequence to this, Jack,” Harnes continued, his voice dropping to a low, strategic hum. “We have a window of ten minutes. If you sign the divorce papers first, we time-stamp
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 5
THE NEXT MORNING, ROTHWELL TOWERJack had been staring at a mountain of digital files. Martin Harnes, the estate attorney, stood beside him, flipping through the files of the men who ran the Rothwell empire."This is the list of your primary assets," Harnes said. "And these are the men currently managing them. Your grandfather was a meticulous judge of character, but toward the end, a few snakes slipped through the grass."Harnes was briefing him about the companies that were legal possessions of the Rothwell Industries.He had the files of all the CEOs right in front of him, and whenever he mentioned the name, Harnes would give him the company he managed and his performance.Halfway through the meeting, Jack saw one file, and the passport-sized photograph he saw in it looked very familiar to him."Robert Williams," Jack read the name aloud. His heart skipped a beat, then began to thrum with a slow, steady rhythm of recognition."CEO of Riverworth Holdings", Harnes noted. "His contr
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 6
A MAN WITH SECRETS"How dare you barge in here like this!" Leslie shouted, her voice shrill."And why weren't you here an hour ago?" Linda added, her face flushing a deep, angry red. "Where have you been, you pathetic boy?"Jack tilted his head, looking at them as if they were curious insects under a microscope. "Whoa. Easy. One at a time. I can’t answer everyone at once, can I?" He said in a mocking tone"Don't you use that tone with me!" Linda slammed her hand on the table. "Where are your manners? Where have you been for two days?"Jack pulled out a chair...the one at the opposite end of the table from Linda...and sat down, crossing his legs comfortably."Well, I thought Leslie told you. When I found out she was sleeping with that lowlife..." he nodded toward Robert"...and that the child she is carrying isn't mine, I decided I had had enough of the scenery here."The table went silent."How dare you call my brother-in-law a lowlife!" Bernard, Leslie’s brother, barked as he stepp
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 7
NO GOOD NEWS"Anyway, I am not here for the drama. Leslie, you wanted a divorce? I have signed it. You are free to be with your 'millionaire' now. I hope he is worth the price."Jack reached into his pocket and flicked the brown manila envelope. It sailed through the air, sliding across the table and stopping right in front of Leslie.Without another word, Jack turned on his heel. His guards fell into step behind him, their heavy boots thumping rhythmically as they exited the hall.Leslie’s hands shook as she tore open the envelope. At the bottom of the page, Jack’s signature sat in bold, decisive ink.Suddenly, a shriek of pure horror ripped through the room."No! No, this can't be!" Linda was staring at her phone, her face pale."Mom? What is it?" Leslie cried."The catering contract... the one we have been working on for a year," Linda choked out, her eyes red with tears of rage and disbelief. "They denied it. They said our 'values' don't align with the new ownership of the holdin
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 8
A LOWLIFE DRIVERThe gold-leafed entrance of the Rothwell Plaza was bustling with the city's elite, but the Smith family was focused on the VIP parking bay. There, leaning casually against a pristine, black Rolls-Royce Phantom, was Jack.He wore a pair of black trousers and a white long-sleeved shirt, the classic chauffeur’s uniform, with an ease that felt wrong to Leslie. He wasn't lazying around; he was polishing a blurred mark off the side mirror with a steady hand, looking entirely unbothered by the world."Look at him," Robert hissed, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his steering wheel. "Acting like he owns the pavement just because he’s holding the keys to someone else’s life.I knew he was a driver. I knew it!" Robert exclaimedRobert swung his Mercedes into the spot behind the Rolls-Royce, stopping inches from the bumper. The Smiths piled out of the car, eyes locked on Jack like predators."Nice suit, Jack," Linda sneered, walking up to him. "Suits you much better than
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 9
THE MUCH AWAITED HEIRInside the ballroom, the air was thick with the scent of lilies and expensive champagne. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the city’s elite, but Linda, Robert and Leslie were not interested in the dancing. They moved through the crowd like heat-seeking missiles until they spotted him: Martin Harnes, the Chief Legal Counsel and right-hand man to the Rothwell heir.He was standing near the edge of the stage, checking his watch, looking every bit the iron-willed gatekeeper."Mr Harnes!" Linda called out, smoothing her dress and putting on her most persuasive smile. He turned to look in their direction."A moment of your time? It is a matter of extreme urgency for the Rothwell reputation." Linda saidHarnes turned, his expression as cold as a marble statue. "Mrs Smith. Mr Williams. I believe my office sent you several very clear emails regarding your terminated contracts. That includes your absence from private functions like this. Why are you here?" He a
Last Updated : 2026-02-12
CHAPTER 10
The ballroom held its collective breath as the spotlight centered on the empty podium. The Master of Ceremonies cleared his throat, his expression a mix of professional poise and slight apology."Distinguished guests," the MC announced, "I have just received word that the Heir is currently in transit. A small matter of business required his personal attention, but he is expected to join us shortly to begin the formal ceremonies, however, although he is not here yet, we can still begin the ceremony as we await his presence …."A murmur of disappointment rippled through the crowd, but for the Smiths, it felt like a reprieve."He is on his way," Robert whispered, his eyes darting around. "We still have time to get Harnes to flip. If we can just get him to see reason before the boss walks in..."Linda turned back to Harnes, her face desperate. "Harnes, you heard him. The Heir is not here yet. This is your chance. Reinstate the contracts now, and we will make sure the Chairman never hea
Last Updated : 2026-02-12