"I don't understand," Peter stammered, his voice breaking. "The new owner wants to partner with me? Why?" The taller representative chuckled warmly. "Mr. Dominic, the new owner is a very shrewd businessman. He's been observing your establishment for some time. He believes that with the right investment, Dominic's Burgers could become something truly special." Peter's eyes darted between the two men, his mind racing. "But I'm about to lose this place. The bank is taking everything. How can there be a partnership if the land doesn't even belong to me anymore?" "The land has been purchased," the shorter representative explained. "The new owner has already settled the debt with the bank. You no longer owe anything. The property is now under new management." Peter felt his head begin to spin. He held onto the edge of the table, steadying his balance. "He settled the debt? The entire $15 million?" "That's correct," the taller man confirmed. "The new owner paid the full amount. You are

Three months had passed since the day Peter signed the partnership contract. After months filled with construction, planning, and sleepless nights, his new burger joint was finally ready.Bruce stood next to Peter at the entrance of the brand-new Dominic's Burgers, both of them looking up at the gleaming two-storey building before them. A large, illuminated sign displaying the Dominic's Burgers logo stood proudly atop the building, visible from several blocks away.Peter pushed the glass doors open, and they entered together.The inside was truly breathtaking. The floor was polished, and soft pendant lighting hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over the entire space. The kitchen featured new state-of-the-art grills, industrial ovens, and gleaming stainless steel counters that filled the space. Everything was brand new, pristine, and waiting to be used. The ventilation system hummed quietly, ensuring that the delicious aroma of grilled burgers would never become overwhelm

"I saw an opportunity, and I took it," Harold replied Holland flatly. "It's not my fault the man was naive. The world is a cruel place, Holland. The strong eat the weak. I simply made sure I was on the right side of the food chain." Holland shook his head, his voice filled with revulsion. "That's terrible. That's absolutely terrible. How could you live with yourself after doing all that?" Harold laughed again, but it sounded shaky. "I lived perfectly fine for a couple of years. I invested the money wisely, bought shares in growing companies, and eventually bought the bank itself. I was untouchable." He paused, his expression darkening. "But on the third year, something happened. I was leaving the bank one evening, and an old woman was selling apples near my car. She offered me one for $10 million." Holland blinked. "Ten million dollars for an apple? That's insane." "I thought so too," Harold said quietly. "I scoffed at her, called her a crazy old hag, and got into my car. But as

Bruce was skeptical when he heard Kelly's name. All he knew about her was that she was Peter's ex-girlfriend who had abandoned him in his darkest days and had been spying on them with Holland West. What on earth could she possibly want?Even Peter must have been thinking the same thing, because the next words he spoke were, "Tell her I'm not around. I don't want to see her."The staff hesitated. "I tried to say that, but she insisted. She asked me to tell you that your life is in danger."Peter's frown deepened. "What did you say?"Bruce leaned in, his face serious. "Peter, maybe you should hear her out. If she's coming all the way here to warn you, it might be important."Peter seemed divided, his emotions swinging between anger and curiosity. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. Bring her to my office. I'll see what she has to say."The staff nodded and disappeared. Peter turned to Bruce, his expression dark. "I don't trust her, Lazarus. She left me for a rich guy. What'

Later that night, Bruce sat alone in the living room of his modest apartment, replaying everything Peter's ex-girlfriend had revealed. Harold West's dark secret and his curse deeply intrigued Bruce. To destroy Harold West, he must first make his cousin wealthy. That was a piece of cake for Bruce, who was by far a multi-trillionaire. He reached for his phone and dialed a number. Victoria answered on the first ring. "Chairman, it's late. Is everything alright?" "Everything's fine," Bruce said calmly. "I need you to do something for me." "Of course. What do you need?" Bruce leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. "I want you to purchase several properties worth millions and put them under Peter Dominic's name." There was a brief pause on the other end. "Peter Dominic? Your cousin?" "Yes," Bruce confirmed. "I want him to become one of the city's largest property owners overnight." Victoria's voice was filled with curiosity. "That's a big investment, chairman.