"The law says you're entitled to half of the assets acquired during our marriage. But I don't own any assets. My mother does."Gloria's expression darkened. "That's fraud. I'll expose it. I'll tell everyone what you did.""Go ahead. Tell them. But you'll need proof. And you don't have any.""I have our marriage certificate. I have records of when you suddenly became rich. I can prove you transferred everything to your mother to avoid paying me.""You can try. But you'll lose. The transfers were made legally, with proper documentation, months before you filed for divorce."Gloria's hands balled into fists. "Then I'll expose your criminal activities.""What criminal activities?""Whatever you did to get all that money. Nobody goes from broke to billionaire overnight without breaking laws."Duane smiled. "I inherited cryptocurrency from my mother. Everything is documented. Everything is legal.""I don't believe you.""I don't care if you believe me."Gloria stepped closer, her voice risi

Gloria's mother dropped to her knees, her hands clasped together."Please, Duane. Please have mercy. We're sorry for everything we did."Duane looked down at her, his expression cold."Mercy? You want mercy?""Yes. Please. We'll do anything.""Do you remember giving me mercy when I lived in your house?"Gloria's mother opened her mouth but no words came out.Duane's voice hardened. "Do you remember threatening to make me homeless if I didn't wash your underwear by hand? If I didn't wash Gloria's lingerie every morning?"Gloria's father stood up. "That was just—""Sit down," Leon said quietly.The man sat.Duane continued, his memories flooding back with perfect clarity."Do you remember making me cook breakfast at five in the morning? Making me serve everyone in the house before I could eat?"Gloria's mother's face paled."And my mother. Do you remember making her clean your house? Making her scrub your floors even though she was sick? Even though she could barely stand?""Duane, plea

Leon moved forward, his hand reaching toward John Smith. Duane raised his hand, stopping him."Don't.""Sir, he struck you—""I know what he did."Duane looked at John, who stood there smirking, surrounded by laughing onlookers."I apologize again," Duane said quietly. "I should have been more careful."John’s eyebrows rose. "That's it? You're not going to prove you own this building?""No.""Because you can't. Because you're a liar.""Believe whatever you want."Duane turned and walked away, Leon following behind him.The crowd's laughter echoed through the lobby."Did you see that?""He backed down!""Pathetic!"Once they were in the elevator, Leon spoke. "Sir, why did you let him humiliate you like that?"Duane smiled. "Because that's exactly what I want.""I don't understand.""I want people to underestimate me. I want them to see me as a nobody. As a wretch."Leon frowned. "But sir—""Think about it, Leon. If people know who I am, they'll treat me differently. They'll be careful

Duane drove alone through the city, the list of tenants sitting on the passenger seat beside him.Leon had compiled everything he'd asked for.Three tenants living in Gloria's apartment.A student named David Cornor, twenty-two years old, studying business at the local university.An accountant named Robert Miller, thirty-five, recently unemployed.And a single mother named Sarah Park with a five-year-old son named Tommy.Duane pulled up across the street from Gloria's building and waited.Twenty minutes later, he saw movement.A small boy ran out of the building, heading toward the park at the end of the block.Tommy.Duane watched as three older boys appeared, blocking the child's path.One of them shoved Tommy.The boy stumbled backward, falling onto the pavement.The older kids laughed. Duane got out of his car and walked toward them quickly."Hey!"The older boys turned.Duane reached Tommy and helped him to his feet. "Are you okay?"The boy nodded, tears in his eyes."What's you

Gloria stood across the street from her jewelry store, wearing a dark coat and sunglasses.Financial authorities moved in and out of the building, carrying boxes of documents.Her staff filed out one by one, their faces confused and worried.Customers who'd been browsing were politely escorted to the exit.A sign was being placed on the door: CLOSED BY ORDER OF FINANCIAL REGULATORY AUTHORITY.Tears streamed down Gloria's face, but she wiped them away quickly.One of her employees spotted her and crossed the street.“Miss Gloria! What's happening?"Gloria straightened her shoulders, forcing confidence into her voice. "It's temporary. Just a misunderstanding with taxes.""They said the company's assets are being seized.""They're wrong. I'll get it all back.""When?""Soon. Very soon."The employee looked at her with doubt in her eyes. "What should we do? We haven't been paid in weeks.""I'll figure something out. Just be patient.""Gloria—""I said I'll figure it out!" Gloria's voice r