As the wail of the sirens grew fainter in the distance, Frank Yates decided it was time to make his move."Kid, what are you plotting?"The Fatty, noticing Frank’s shifting gaze, jammed the pistol barrel harder against Frank’s temple. "If it weren't for grabbing you, I wouldn't have forgotten that bag of cash. Do you know how hard it is to rob a bank these days? If you try anything funny, believe me, I'll blow your brains out right now!"Frank didn't speak. He simply slid his eyes sideways, shooting the Fatty a look of utter disdain."Fuck! What is that look?" The Fatty’s ego was apparently as fragile as his grasp on reality. "Are you looking down on me?""Fatty," Frank said calmly, his voice cutting through the roar of the engine. "You were the one who insisted on dragging me into the van. I was actually going to remind you to grab the money bag.""Then why didn't you remind me?" The Fatty’s eyes bulged. Then, realization hit. "

"This Mercedes S-Class was probably sent by Yvonne Hood," Cloud Lee concluded, her tone sharp. "She was the one who ran the red light and wrecked my car.""Return it to her," she continued, not giving him a chance to speak. "I only want my own car back."Seeing Frank’s hesitation, Cloud Lee narrowed her eyes. "You guessed who it was too, didn't you?"Frank shrugged helplessly. "I don't have her contact information.""I don't care. Figure it out," Cloud Lee snapped, dismissing the problem. "Also, I have a gathering to attend tonight. You're coming with me. You'll be my designated driver, so no drinking."She tossed the sleek Mercedes key fob at him. "Drive this one for now."Frank caught the keys. He had to admit, the principle of 'you get what you pay for' held true. The S-Class wasn't just more powerful than the E-Class; the ride quality was in a different league entirely. It glided over the asphalt like a hovercraft.Following the GPS coord

"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman." Jack Wainright didn't let go of Cloud Lee’s hand. His grip was firm, bordering on possessive. "I heard your company is having cash flow problems. You're looking to borrow money, correct?""Yes." Cloud Lee tried to retract her hand, pulling once, then twice, but his grip didn't loosen. A flush of embarrassment and anxiety rose to her cheeks. "Please... let go of me.""How much are you looking for?" Jack finally released her fingers, leaning back into the sofa with the air of a king granting an audience."Eighty million," Cloud Lee stated the figure clearly, rubbing her hand where he had squeezed it."Eighty million... that's not a small sum," Jack murmured, putting on a show of deep contemplation. "The market economy is sluggish right now, and the banks have tightened their purse strings. I assume you've already hit a wall with them, right?"He was stating the obvious. If the banks were lending, Cloud Lee wouldn

By the time they returned to the Lee family villa, the night had fully settled in. It was approaching nine o'clock, and the estate was bathed in the artificial glow of garden lights, casting long, stark shadows across the manicured lawn.Inside, the atmosphere was as cool as the night air. Joan Foster, Ted Lee, and Snow Lee had already finished their dinner. The remnants of their meal had been cleared away, leaving the dining table pristine and empty—a silent message that no one had waited for them.Seeing the couple walk through the door, Joan Foster looked up from her spot on the sofa. She didn't offer a greeting, just a question directed solely at her daughter."Girl, have you eaten yet?"Cloud Lee shook her head wearily, kicking off her heels near the entrance."Frank, the food is in the fridge. Take it out and heat it up," Joan commanded without looking at him. Her tone was the same one might use for a servant—perfunctory and expectant of ob

Just as the opposing goalkeeper scooped the ball into her arms, the atmosphere in the Green Peak Stadium shifted violently.The double doors swung open with a crash, and a dozen men with thunderous expressions stormed onto the pitch. They marched with the swagger of those who owned the streets, cutting straight through the midfield."Everybody out! Scram!" one of the thugs bellowed, his voice echoing off the metal roof. "This field has been booked by Iron Bull!"The game ground to a halt. The female players looked around, confused and annoyed."Who are you people?" one of the players retorted, stepping forward. "We paid the rental fee for this time slot. What gives you the right to kick us out?"The thug sneered, walking up to her until he was invading her personal space. He reached into his jacket, pulled out a stack of cash, and threw it onto the turf at her feet."This gives us the right," he spat. "Take the money and roll. If you don't get lost in t