Ryan stood at the edge of the pavement, staring at the sealed envelope containing a special receipt for his purchase at the mall. The manager had also offered a home delivery with the Selena Hotel as the address. Assuming his items would be delivered to him today.He slipped the envelope into his pocket, allowing the city to breathe around him. He glanced across the street filled with car honks, noise, and screeching tires.Turning the street, another car drove through. The engine didn’t struggle; rather it announced itself with a deep, controlled growl that made heads roll in its directions.“Did you see that car?!” A figure muttered to his friend beside him.Ryan’s gaze followed it until it disappeared into traffic and a smile spread across his lips. It was the first genuine one that had appeared on his face since the incident.‘It's time to own something like that,’he muttered to himself. He raised his hand across the street, and a cab slowed, stopping in front of him. The driver

The sudden change in weather was brutal. Heavy rain crashed down on the city and the streetlights reflected off the wet road like scattered gold, turning every puddle into a mirror of the glowing night. Ryan placed both hands on the steering wheel as he drove through the rain-soaked streets, the windshield wipers working tirelessly to clear his view.Inside the car, the atmosphere was quiet, almost too quiet, and the new car still smelled fresh with smooth leather, a polished interior, and the faint scent of factory-clean materials. It was the kind of smell Ryan never thought he’d ever be surrounded by in his previous life. Everything about the car screamed luxury, wealth, and power.Selena’s hotel was already in sight, standing tall like a fortress against the storm. Even from a distance, the building looked like a palace carved out of glass, glowing warmly in contrast to the cold darkness outside. The ten-star hotel seemed to belong to a realm free from concerns about hunger and r

The security man’s face was drained of color. His eyes widened slowly, like he was watching his entire career crumble in front of him. “Mr… Wright?” he whispered, almost choking on the words. The receptionist nodded repeatedly, bowing her head slightly. “The penthouse has been maintained for your stay,” she added. “Please accept my warm apology.” The security man’s knees felt jellied. ‘Penthouse?!’ His mind screamed the word like it was impossible. He stared at him as if seeing him for the first time, but Ryan didn’t even glance at him. It was like the man didn’t exist. He turned toward the girl, who was standing there like she was in a dream. Her lips parted, and she looked like she didn’t know whether to breathe. Ryan’s calm voice pulled her back. “This lady will be staying in the hotel for the night,” he said. “Please book her a room under my name.” The girl’s head snapped toward him. "What?" she whispered, her voice small and almost drowned out by the luxury of the lobby.

“This is insane." The words slipped out of her mouth.He glanced at her. “You’ve never seen a view like this before?” he asked.The girl shook her head. “No,” she admitted. “I’ve never even been inside a hotel like this. The closest I’ve been is delivering food to rich houses.”Ryan didn’t respond, but something about her words seemed to register in his mind. His eyes narrowed, not at her but the memory of the security man’s attitude, which had been dismissive and condescending, making him feel unwelcome in a place that seemed so out of reach.The girl turned away from the window, scanning the penthouse again. She spotted the staircase leading upward. “Is there more?” she asked, her voice cautious with subtle curiosity.Ryan nodded and then walked toward the staircase, and she followed, but she kept her distance.The upper level was even more luxurious, withhallway leading to multiple doors. One of them was the master bedroom, another an office. There was even a private lounge area w

The bouncer expression didn't change. "Step aside or I'll have you removed,” he warned.“Please let us just leave, babe." The woman pulled harder this time."Don't tell me what to do!” the man spat, irritation now evident in his voice.Ryan watched the scene unfold, from the humiliation to the anger and the way the woman's shoulders hunched like she'd done this before. He walked over to approach them. "I need your mask,” he said. The man wearing the plague doctor mask turns with surprise evident in his face. "What?” he asked, hoping to confirm.Ryan pointed at his face. "The mask—I want to buy it,” he added.The man stared at him and then let out a short sound as if he had suddenly heard a funny joke. "You're joking?""I'm not,” Ryan replied, his expression unreadable. The man frowned, crossing his arm. "I'm not selling my mask not for any amount, so get off my face."Ryan said nothing, and the man shifted his gaze to Marcus, who stood behind him, silent like a wall.The younger fri