"Your father's estate has been settled," my stepmother, Monica, announced as we gathered in the living room. She sat on the red velvet sofa with her chin tilted up, looking less like a grieving widow and more like a queen issuing a royal decree. "You're an adult, Dominic. You don't have expenses. Your father's life insurance and savings—all $3 million of it—will go to my two sons. Besides, Dylan is still in college; he has much higher costs to cover."I already knew this was coming. Every cent of my father's hard work was destined for their pockets."It's fine. Take it all," I replied coldly. "I only came here to lay my father to rest."A heavy, frigid silence filled the room that used to feel so warm when Dad was alive."I'm glad you're being reasonable, Dominic," Monica said, her tone shifting to a syrupy sweetness that made my skin crawl. "I didn't want any drama on such a somber day. Besides, you have that job at the auto shop, right? That should be plenty to keep you fed."I didn

My first move wasn't to break ground on a skyscraper or go out and buy a supercar. I was thinking about Ava. She was the one who stayed by my side when I was just a grease monkey getting paid by the day. Now, I had everything I needed to make her the happiest woman alive.I decided to keep these assets a secret from everyone, including Ava, until the time was right. I wanted the proposal to be a massive surprise. More importantly, I wanted her to say yes because of who I am, not because of the commas in my bank account.The next morning, I headed straight to an upscale shopping district. I was still rocking my usual "uniform": an old denim jacket, a plain black tee, and jeans with a few oil stains near the hem. I stepped into a high-end jewelry store called The Stone Gallery. I walked in. Three saleswomen in crisp uniforms were standing behind the counter, chatting quietly. When I approached, they spared me a glancing look and then immediately looked away. No "Welcome in," no friendl

I pushed the bike down the highway as the sky faded into a deep twilight. The night wind whipped against my denim jacket, which was still damp from the splash of water when I’d fished that ring out of the mud. The plan was simple: head back to my cramped studio apartment, pack up the memories, and wait for Mr. Sterling to pick me up in the morning. I was moving into a penthouse downtown. That apartment was going to be my final souvenir from a life of struggle.As I crossed the Highland Bridge overlooking the churning river below, I spotted a silhouette. A woman was standing right against the guardrail. She wasn't moving; she was just staring blankly into the dark water far below. She was in a lethal position—her feet were only inches from the edge of the concrete ledge.I slammed on the brakes. My tires screeched against the asphalt. I hopped off without even killing the engine and walked toward her, fast."Hey! What do you think you're doing?" I called out, my voice sharp and command

At exactly 10:00 AM, my phone buzzed. Mr. Sterling confirmed he was waiting out front."I'm coming out now," I replied shortly.I stood up and took one last look around my tiny, hundred-square-foot room. I only took one medium-sized cardboard box with me. Inside were a few special belongings left behind by my parents. I handed the key to my landlady, who was sweeping the porch."Oh, moving out already, Dominic?" she asked."Yeah. Just looking for a change of scenery," I answered without a smile.I walked to the end of the alley. A high-end black Mercedes-Benz sedan was pulled up right at the entrance. Sterling stepped out from the back seat and held the door open for me."Please, step inside, Dominic. All the paperwork for the penthouse is finalized. The deed and the access keys are in the briefcase on the back seat," Sterling said. "Should I have someone scrap that old bike of yours?""No." Despite everything, that bike was my brother-in-arms through the struggle. "Have someone look

I searched the perimeter of the hotel, my heart hammering against my ribs, praying she hadn't done something reckless."Dammit! Where are you, Luna?" I growled under my breath.I scanned the street, turning in circles, until my eyes caught an open-concept cafe directly across from the hotel. In a corner booth, I spotted a silhouette I recognized all too well.Luna Montgomery was sitting there, perfectly calm.I stormed over to her. I was still out of breath, my chest heaving as I tried to suppress the absolute rage boiling over inside me."You!" I barked, slamming my palm down on the wooden table. "What the hell is this? The front desk said you checked out an hour ago and told me 'time was up'! I almost ran back to the bridge looking for you like a madman!"Luna slowly slid her sunglasses down to the tip of her nose. She looked me up and down with total composure, a triumphant smirk tugging at her lips. Then, she let out a soft laugh—a clear, melodic sound that was incredibly grating