Balding, pot-bellied, toothpick in mouth, with his starched suit and shiny shoes, Manager Mark squinted at Adrian through beady eyes.He had always hated Adrian for being connected to the Cross family at all, even as a bastard.Mark hated the rich in general and hated it even more that he had to depend on them for his living.But since he had to, he had mastered the skill of sucking up to them, which was how he got promoted to manager from being the office errand boy.Being able to torture someone who was an elite without protection or means was a dream come true for him.Doing th

Wobbling on his aching legs, Adrian swiped at the blood covering his mouth and eyes as a bitter humour spread through him.Of course.His bloodshot eyes pierced his father’s as he gritted out through bloody teeth, “Did it ever occur to you that I am wronged? Why would I do such a thing?”For a moment, Adrian’s resolute stare, despite his obviously suffering body, almost stirred something in Richard, but then he remembered he could not take any risk.The boy had been acting out of line lately. Who knew what he had been doing behind his back?“I asked you a question,” he said tersely.Adrian nodded to himself a

The cold was the least of his problems.In the dark, he could smell the stench of filth and stale sweat.There was no other occupant at the moment. Yet it seemed like a room meant to break the toughest of souls.His sneaker caught on the uneven, uncemented ground as gusts of cold air seemed to be wafting in from above.He stumbled and tried to catch his fall but ended up striking his arm against a sharp iron edge.The pain that lanced through him made him double over, his body heaving and caving in on itself against the teeth-chattering cold, aching his bones.Turning his mind off crippling thoughts and mainly functioning on muscle memory, he tried to check what the iron edge was.

Edward arrived early the next day, and he did not come alone. Three uniformed maids followed him.One brought in a big food container. Another rolled in a rack of black three-piece suits of varying designs. Then the third wheeled in a shoe rack with a range of exclusive brands. Versace, Louboutin and Prada were competing against each other on the racks.Golden cufflinks and belts were carefully arranged separately too.“How are you feeling this morning, Mister Cross?” Edward asked anxiously as soon as he entered.The fragrant smell from the food the maids were setting out teased Adrian's nose as he straightened in bed.“I am fine, Edward. What is all this?” he asked with a wave at the luxury now taking up about half of his exclusive hospital room.“A little something to get you ready for today. Forgive me if I get anything wrong, but I don't really know your preference. If you don't want any of this, I will have them changed immediately.”“No, no. They are all fine. I mean, you don't