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From Humiliation to Godhood 38: Little experiment
“Her birthday is coming up.”Edward informed Leon about Diane’s upcoming birthday. He had uncovered the detail during his research on her and figured Leon should be aware.Later, as Leon stepped out of the hotel, intending to head home, he halted at the entrance. Just ahead, Diane and Isabella stood face-to-face.“want you to stay away from Leon. He’s mine,” Isabella declared with a serious gaze.Diane felt uncomfortable by her words. “Um… I would, but you’re not married to him anymore, right? So, I don’t see how I’m doing anything wrong here.”Isabella scoffed, her lips curling in disdain. “You? A whore like you? Brianna, your own cousin, told me all about you. Do you really think someone like you has a chance with Leon? Stay away from him.”“Brianna is lying,” Diana shook her head. “Slandering me is her favorite pastime.” She exhaled sharply before continuing, “And for the record, Leon is my friend. You don’t have to be this worked up over it. Besides, aren’t you with Victor Marston
From Humiliation to Godhood 39: Diane’s Birthday [1]
It was the day of Diane’s birthday, or rather, Gregory Lancaster’s. Another grand event in less than a week.Although the spectacle at Grand Majestic Hotel was still the talk of the town, it didn’t stop the Lancasters from throwing an extravagant celebration for Old Gregory Lancaster’s birthday.This time, they had chosen Reign Hotel as the venue.Reign Hotel was one of the most luxurious establishments in Brookdale, boasting ten floors, each representing a different level of exclusivity and prestige just like Echelon. The higher the floor, the greater the status, and the steeper the price. Even access to the first floor required a net worth of at least tens of millions.For Gregory Lancaster’s birthday, the event was set on the third floor. While it wasn’t the highest, the Lancasters were still thrilled. For most of them, the second floor had been the farthest they’d ever gone. Even Gregory himself wasn’t qualified to book the third floor—he had only managed it with the backing of a
From Humiliation to Godhood 40: Diane’s Birthday [2]
Diane was momentarily stunned, not expecting Leon to bring her flowers. Moments ago, under the weight of so many judgmental stares, she had been drowning in stress. But now, just seeing him eased the tension in her shoulders, grounding her in a way she couldn’t quite explain.That familiar sense of security wrapped around her again, something she always felt in his presence.With a soft smile, she accepted the bouquet. “I’m glad you’re here.”Leon nodded, but as his gaze shifted, it landed on Isabella, who was staring at him in disbelief.She remembered the flowers he used to give her—small gestures, never a full bouquet. ‘What the hell is going on?’ A restless, uneasy feeling churned inside her.Before the silence could settle, Ethan let out a mocking chuckle.“I knew you’d show up,” he sneered. “Diane, seriously? You actually brought a freeloader to Grandpa’s birthday? As if you and your parents weren’t enough of a burden.”The crowd began to murmur.Murmurs rippled through the crow
From Humiliation to Godhood 41: Diane’s birthday [3]
Old Gregory Lancaster approached the heavyset man and took a seat beside him, flashing a pleased smile. “David, let me introduce you to Larry Payson from Vale Group. He oversees the company’s purchasing department.”At the mention of Vale Group, a major corporation in Brookdale and a key business partner of the Lancaster family, Donald and Abigail’s eyes immediately lit up with hope. The success of the Lancaster business largely depended on Larry Payson’s decisions.Donald quickly bowed in greeting. “Mr. Payson, it’s an honor to meet you!”“Likewise.” Larry took a slow puff from his cigar, his eyes locked onto Diane with an unsettling interest.Greg’s tone cooled slightly as he continued, “The progress of our project with Vale Group has been unsatisfactory. Brianna has been managing the deal, which is worth over 60 million. However, according to Mr. Payson, he requires… someone like Diane to take over.”Brianna merely scoffed at the remark. ‘Like hell this is about business. He just h
From Humiliation to Godhood 42: Diane’s birthday [4]
Greg frown at the unexpected interruption. “And who exactly are you?”Ethan, on the other hand, was livid. “Grandpa, don’t waste your time on this bastard! And you, get lost! How dare you insert yourself into a conversation that’s way out of your league?!”Leon turned his gaze on Ethan, his eyes sharp and intense. The weight of that stare alone sent a strange chill down Ethan’s spine, making him feel really uneasy.“Say one more word, and you’ll break your teeth.”Ethan scoffed. “Did you just…”Before he could finish, his fist shot up, and before he knew it, slammed into the side of his own mouth.“OW!” He stumbled back, clutching his face in shock. When he pulled his hand away, blood stained his palm.The entire room fell into stunned silence. Even Leon arched an amused brow. ‘Ahh… I've forgotten my dominion works in small ways, although, there's a little difference now...’For a while, nobody said anything, all staring at Ethan like he was crazy.Brianna nudged him. “Why the hell w
From Humiliation to Godhood 43: Diane’s birthday [5]
The hotel manager noticed that no one was making a move, and his patience was wearing thin.“Please cooperate. You all need to vacate the third floor so the guests from the fourth can be relocated, and we’re currently preparing the second floor for your use. A highly distinguished guest has booked the tenth floor, and whoever that is is someone who demands the utmost respect. Tonight, every staff member at Reign Hotel has been instructed not to make a single mistake, even if it means refusing other clients.”His words deepened the confusion in the room. Booking the tenth floor was already reserved for the city’s elite. But someone with enough clout to push even them down the ladder? That kind of authority was rare.And if such figures were forced to make way… what right did anyone else on the third floor have to resist?Leon, meanwhile, seemed to remember something. He pulled out his phone from his jacket and began typing. Donald, standing behind him, happened to catch a glimpse and f
From Humiliation to Godhood 44: Diane’s birthday [6]
There was a ruckus going on in the parking lot of Reign Hotel which was downright shocking and outrageous.Why?It was because what was happening was unbelievable and at the same time unfair.The parking lot of Reign Hotel was a spacious one that could accommodate nearly a thousand vehicles which was reserved exclusively for guests attending the hotel’s events.But even with how spacious the lot was, all the vehicles were getting cleared out just to entertain one mysterious VIP.It was hard to believe, and even harder to justify.Luxury vehicles, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis, were not spared from being cleared away. Their owners rushed down in protest, trying to halt the process, but their pleas were flat-out ignored.From the second floor, the Lancasters had a clear view of the commotion. Several wealthy young elites were throwing tantrums against it, only to be swiftly silenced by the hotel’s security team. The guards didn’t hesitate to beat them down and toss them out of the
From Humiliation to Godhood 45: Diane’s Birthday [7]
Every gaze landed on Diane, most of them filled with smug amusement. No one in the room could seriously believe that Leon, the infamous live-in son-in-law of the Hartwells, had the power or status to orchestrate something so grand. It was laughable. Diane scoffed quietly, knowing full well Brianna had made the comment just to humiliate her. Still, a trace of doubt crossed her mind. Leon had told everyone in the room there’d be a birthday celebration for her. And he hadn’t struck her as the kind of man who lied, at least, not for something like this. But this? This was too much. They barely even knew each other. She couldn’t even begin to tell what they were anymore—were they friends? Was he only sticking around because she begged for protection? The lines were too blurry. The idea that this entire event so extravagant it drew the city’s elite could be for her? It felt ridiculous, and believing it would only make her feel naive and blindly stupid. He couldn’t have gone this fa
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He took a step closer, towering over her as he continued, “Now think about this, if I decided to report this little stunt to the police, I could easily make these men back me up. Imagine the headlines: daughter of a known criminal caught committing a felony. Your father’s reputation is already in the gutter. Add yours to it, and you’ll be finished. You’ll be lucky if you can ever show your face in public again.”Tears welled up in Diane’s eyes, and she shook her head desperately, her entire body trembling. “Please… I just wanted to know the truth about Dana’s death!” she cried out, her voice breaking under the weight of her fear.Ethan smirked cruelly, folding his arms again. “Dana’s death? That was over a year ago. Why are you digging up something that should stay buried and rotten?” he said, his tone dripping with condescension. “Face it, Diane. You set a trap and ended up falling into it yourself. That’s so stupid.”Diane’s face crumpled as her fear turned into full-blown sobs. Her
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Ethan laughed bitterly, shaking his head like he found her pathetic.Diane wiped her eyes quickly, her voice low and cold. “I’m not letting you walk out of here until you tell me everything. I’ll keep you here as long as it takes. And if you think this is bad, just wait, I’ll drag Brianna here too if I have to.”Ethan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief.“You always looked so bright, so innocent,” he muttered darkly. “But look at you now. Who would’ve thought, you’re just another bitch. Doing this to your own cousin… your own family?!”Then Ethan chuckled darkly, the sound low and mocking.“Ahh, now I see what’s happening here,” he said, a cruel grin curling on his lips. “That poor bastard you’ve been clinging to… he’s been feeding you just enough courage to make you believe you can stand tall in a hurricane. Like a paper boat floating on a raging river, causing you to think you're moving forward, but you’re really just seconds from sinking straight to the bottom.
64: Unexpected abduction 2
Ethan’s eyes widened in pure disbelief at the figure that stepped through the entrance.Diane.She walked in slowly, calmly, her heels echoing against the metal floor. There was a faint smile on her lips, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Well,” she said smoothly, “surprise to see me, Ethan?”Ethan’s expression twisted into rage. Even with the gag still in place, the hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.Diane tilted her head and sighed dramatically, clearly unimpressed by the fury in his stare. She walked over to him, crouched slightly, and began to untie the cloth from around his mouth.The second it dropped, Ethan spat out his words like venom. “You bitch!” he barked, eyes blazing with fury.Diane didn’t flinch. In fact, she just scoffed.“Relax, Ethan,” she said coolly. “I brought you here for a reason.”Ethan yanked against the ropes binding him, his face flushed with fury. “And what kind of stupid reason involves kidnapping me and tying me up?!” he shouted. “I swear, when I
63: Unexpected abduction
Ethan walked into the garage of Lancaster Enterprises, making his way to his car while talking on the phone with Brianna, who had called to remind him about their scheme against Diane.Ethan let out a tired sigh, glancing around the garage before responding. “We’re trying to be careful here, Brianna. We have to be strategic about this. Our plans didn't work the first time, and it’s imperative that Diane closes this deal with Mr. Grave before we make another move. She’s our only access to that contract.”“Well, I still don't like that she's getting such an opportunity,” Brianna replied, clearly irritated. “You know this isn't just about getting the contract, it’s the prestige, the access, the spotlight. Why should she get that kind of privilege before me? It’s insulting.”Ethan slowed his pace as he approached his car, pausing beside it with a furrowed brow. “Well, she won’t be flaunting anything if she’s no longer breathing. I mean, think about Dana. She scored that massive deal a few
62: Apex Clinic 5
Leon stood still, eyes fixed on Johnathan’s body lying lifeless on the floor of the clinic ward. His mind was spinning. His brain tried to piece together what just happened, but it was like grasping smoke. ‘Something killed him…’ the thought echoed through Leon’s mind like a slow tolling bell. He watched as Johnathan’s skin lost every bit of color, his features hollowing unnaturally fast. His body stiffened, rigor mortis setting in much too quickly. It looked like he’d been dead for months, not minutes. Just then, the door slammed open and Jarvis and Dante stepped in, both stopping short at the sight in front of them. “Oh my God!” Dante gasped, his voice laced with disbelief and horror. “He’s dead! He’s…” His words stumbled as his eyes locked onto the body. “Damn, he’s…” he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Whatever he was about to say got caught in his throat. “He was a dead man walking,” Leon said flatly, his eyes still locked on the corpse. His mind was elsewhere, tu
61: Apex Clinic 4
At Apex Clinic, Leon sat behind his desk, eyes narrowed in deep thought. Something wasn’t right, and he could feel it in his bones. There was a disturbance he couldn’t ignore, something festering just beneath the surface. If he didn’t get to the bottom of it soon, it would keep gnawing at him.The dark energy surrounding Johnathan Kells had been undeniable. It was the same one he’d seen before, specifically in Daniel Mercer’s leg. That couldn’t be a coincidence.Letting out a deep sigh, Leon muttered to himself, “Whatever this is… I don’t recognize the signature, but I know one thing—it’s not good.”His phone began to ring, pulling him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen. Itwas Diane.He answered.“I can’t believe it, Leon!” Diane’s voice rang through the speaker, filled with excitement.“What?” Leon asked, his expression still shadowed with confusion.“I thought I was done for,” Diane said quickly. “My grandpa said I had to hand over the opportunity you gave me to my cousin
60: Apex Clinic 3
Johnathan Kells shifted restlessly, growing more irritated by the second. He felt like he was being interrogated, and it was quickly wearing on his nerves. With clenched teeth, he yanked the machines from his body and stood up, his voice laced with frustration. “Where’s Jarvis Grave? I need to speak to him, because I’m not going to sit here and be harassed by… someone like you. A self-proclaimed healer who thinks waving needles makes him God.” Unfazed, Leon let out a low chuckle. “Those words are coming from a place of fear, and that’s why you can't admit it. Jarvis isn't gonna help you here, so I suggest you to tell me the source of why you've been a dead man walking.” Johnathan shook his head violently. “I’m not telling you anything because there’s nothing to tell! I’m not some ‘dead man walking.’ Whatever you saw after examining me… maybe the equipment you used is just malfunctioning. Maybe it’s a fluke.” Leon couldn’t suppress another chuckle, clearly amused. “I don’t need
59: Apex Clinic 2
At Leon’s new office in Apex Clinic, Leon sat behind his desk, calm and focused, while Jarvis relaxed on the sofa nearby. Dante remained standing, holding a set of patient files in his hand, which he passed to both men.Leon flipped open the clinical note in front of him, scanning the content as Dante began to speak.“Our first patient is a city council member in Brookdale, Mr. Johnathan Kells,” Dante said. “He wants to run for Mayor, but it’s gonna be difficult, because, well, as a stage four pancreatic cancer patient, he's living on borrowed time.”Jarvis’s brow furrowed as he flipped through the pages. Something didn’t add up.“Wait,” he said, pointing at the note. “Did you examine him recently or is this accurate? Because it’s written here that the patient has exceeded the expected survival window by approximately three months.”Dante sighed, and replied, “Yeah, I examined him myself. It’s strange. I’ve reviewed everything… labs, scans, the tumor progression. According to all our
58: Apex Clinic 1
At the Lancaster Villa, inside Gregory’s study room, the family was having a meeting. It was a situation that was frustrating for them. The air was stiff with tension, the kind that pressed down on everyone’s shoulders.Jarvis Grave demanded to see just Diane before they could sign a contract with him, and it put them in a very tight spot“D-dad…” Brianna said with a frown, her arms folded tightly across her chest. “Do we really have to let Diane take all the glory?” There was a bite in her voice, the kind that masked insecurity. She hated how Diane always seemed to find her way into the spotlight, even when she wasn’t around.David shook his head, lost in deep thought. “Are you saying that poor guy… what was his name again? Was involved?” he asked Ethan, clearly trying to piece things together.Ethan nodded, and explained to them what Leon had said about Jarvis owing him, and which was why Jarvis gave Diane such a birthday celebration and made Diane the one to have the business meet
