2026-05-05 23:54:09
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Appointment with the Oil Queen
Before returning to Paradise City, Bruce explicitly told Kenshin to keep Lucy and Tyler under constant twenty-four-hour security watch. Kenshin had bowed deeply and reassured him. "Consider it done, Master Bruce."Bruce enjoyed the rest of his vacation in complete bliss. It wasn't long before everything concluded, and Bruce returned to the Shepherd Group headquarters to carry on with his responsibilities as chairman.The elevator took him up to the executive floor. When the doors opened, Victoria Cross was right there waiting for him."Welcome back, Chairman," she said with a slight bow.Bruce walked past her toward his office. "Thank you, Victoria. It feels so good to be back."He swung the doors open and walked into his new office.He sank into his chair, leaning back with his hands clasped behind his head."So," he said, "how was the company while I was gone?"Victoria smiled as she took a seat opposite him. "The company has seen substantial growth in the past month. Our stock pri
The Oil Queen
Thomas Shepherd's country estate had a private airstrip that stretched out behind it, looking like a silver ribbon slicing through the green fields. With his hands clasped behind him, Thomas stood on the tarmac, his overcoat pulled close to shield him from the wind.Beside him, Abigail Shepherd checked her watch for the third time in five minutes. "She's late.""She's a Russell," Thomas said without looking at her. "Russells are never late. They show up exactly whenever they feel like it."Abigail's jaw tightened. "I don't like this idea of yours. Do we even need her?"Thomas cracked a slight smile. "Jessica Russell is a strategic genius. She is widely recognized for her aggressive takeovers of companies. If anyone is crazy enough to go toe to toe with our nephew, it's Jessica Russell. That's why we need her."The sound of engines rumbled in the distance. A sleek white Gulfstream G650ER appeared from the clouds, descending toward the runway. The jet touched down smoothly, kicking up
Rejection
The silence that ensued after Bruce's statement felt almost sacred. Lucy opened her mouth to speak but couldn't get the words out. Her eyes dropped to her lap, and to the wheelchair that had become her prison. Her hands, curled into fists on the armrests.“Tyler,” her voice was soft and fragile. “Why don’t you go wash up, okay? You’ve had a long day.”Tyler hesitated, his gaze bouncing between them. “But—”“Hey.” Bruce gave him a small, reassuring smile. “Your mom’s right. Go on. I’ll still be here.”Tyler hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."He gave Bruce one last look and walked up the stairs to his bedroom. The door clicked shut behind him.The moment his footsteps disappeared, Lucy wheeled herself back slightly, creating a small distance between herself and Bruce.Bruce slowly rose to his feet. Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.“Bruce,” Lucy finally said, her voice low. “What you just said. You can’t say things like that lightly.”"I didn’t," Bruce replied quietly. "Don't take
A new dad
The clock on the wall showed twenty minutes past eight. Lucy sat alone in her living room, phone pressed to her ear, listening as the tenth ring gave way to voicemail."You've reached Bruce. Leave a message."She ended the call and stared at the screen. She had made ten phone calls and left ten voicemails.Yet, there hasn't been a single response.Her hands shook as she browsed through her contacts of neighbors and acquaintances.She had called everyone she could think of but nobody had ten million dollars to lend her. The police had been nothing but useless. Bruce was the only person she could rely on but he hasn't been reachable for hours now. Tyler was likely out there somewhere, scared stiff, hoping she'd come to his rescue—but she just couldn't.Not in her present condition. After scrolling through her contacts for a while, Lucy's thumb lingered over a name she hadn't dialed in years.Her mother. If Lucy called now, there'd be no turning back. She would find herself crawling
Game over
The Black Foot Clan had found Tyler in less than an hour.Bruce had been driving around the city aimlessly when Kenshin's called and announced."We have him, Master Bruce. Abandoned warehouse on the east side. Two guards. The boy is unharmed."Bruce had stared at his phone, momentarily speechless. The police had been searching for hours with nothing to show for it. News crews were still setting up their cameras. And the Black Foot Clan had found Tyler in less than sixty minutes."How?" Bruce had asked.Kenshin's reply was simple. "We move faster than the police. We have better resources. And we do not have to follow their rules."Bruce had driven like a mad man to the warehouse.When Bruce arrived at the warehouse, he found two unconscious men bound on the floor, their faces swollen, their hands tied behind their backs.And in the corner, sitting on a concrete floor with his wrists still bound, was Tyler.The boy looked up, his eyes red from crying, his face pale with fear. When he s
A second chance
Mike's hand shot out, striking Lucy across the cheek. The slap echoed through the quiet room, snapping her head to the side. Before she could cry out, his other hand clamped over her mouth, his fingers digging into her flesh."One more scream," Mike hissed, his face inches from hers, "and I'll kill you. And you'll never see Tyler again. Do you understand?"Lucy's eyes were wide with terror. Tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking into his fingers. She nodded frantically.Mike released her mouth but stayed close, his body looming over her wheelchair."How could you?" Lucy sobbed, her voice broken. "How could you do this to us? Tyler is your son. Your own flesh and blood.""I need money," Mike said flatly. "And you have money.""I don't have any money!" Lucy cried. "I've never had money. You know that. You left because we were poor. You left because you couldn't stand being broke."Mike's eyes narrowed. "You think I'm a fool? How else did you pay for your surgery? How else did you pay
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