2025-04-11 18:13:55Jackson barely slept. His body ached from the beating, his mind from the humiliation. He had replayed last night in his head a thousand times—Emily’s cold indifference, Tyler’s taunts, the laughter, the pain. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, he wondered if it was even worth stepping out of his room today.
“Bro, you have to go to class,” Andrew said, pulling his shirt over his head.
James nodded in agreement. “Ignoring Tyler is the best thing you can do. Act like nothing happened.”
Nothing happened? Jackson scoffed. His entire world had just collapsed, and they expected him to sit in class and act normal? But staying locked up wasn’t an option either. He wasn’t about to let them think they had broken him—at least not completely.
So, he dragged himself to class.
The moment he stepped in, conversations hushed. Then, the whispers started.
“Yo, that’s the guy…”
“The one who cried over his girlfriend.”
“Haven’t you seen the video? It’s everywhere!”
Jackson felt the weight of every stare, every suppressed chuckle. His hands clenched into fists, but he kept his head down, pretending not to hear.
Then came the engine revving outside.
Heads turned towards the window. Jackson didn’t need to look. He already knew.
It was Tyler. That bastard!
Tyler’s brand-new BMW X6 gleamed under the sunlight as it came to a smooth stop in front of the class. The doors swung open, and out stepped Tyler, dressed in designer from head to toe, his signature smirk in place. Jonah and a few of his boys followed, laughing among themselves.
And then, Emily.
She stepped out of the car gracefully, her long hair flowing in the wind, her outfit screaming money. She was glowing in a way she never did with Jackson.
“Wow…just look at how beautiful she looks now…”
“Emily is glowing…of course, she’s with a real man.”
The chatters began as the crowd murmured and made jest of Jackson while praising the latest couple—or at least, Tyler and his latest partner.
Tyler opened the trunk and pulled out a bouquet of red roses, handing them to Emily with an exaggerated bow.
Then came the real show.
Another bouquet—this one made of neatly arranged cash bills, tied together with a golden ribbon. The crowd gasped.
“And because my queen deserves the best,” Tyler announced, loud enough for everyone to hear, “here’s something special for her birthday.”
He turned and pulled out a sleek black box. The moment Emily opened it, a brand-new customized iPhone—of the latest model—shone under the sunlight.
A collective “Ooooh” rippled through the students.
Jackson felt his stomach twist.
Emily barely glanced in his direction. She smiled at Tyler, kissed his cheek, and hugged him, melting into his arms like she had never belonged anywhere else.
Jonah turned to the crowd, making sure Jackson could hear. “Damn, some people thought a $1,500 gift was enough for a queen like Emily. Imagine that.”
Laughter erupted.
Jackson’s chest tightened. He could feel the walls closing in.
He couldn’t take it.
Without a word, he turned and walked out, shoving past the sea of amused faces. He didn’t stop until he was outside, beneath the large mango tree near the lecture halls.
And there, he let it out.
Silent tears rolled down his cheeks as he hugged his knees. His heart felt like it was being crushed in someone’s fist.
Then he remembered.
That text.
Through blurry eyes, he pulled out his phone and opened it.
What he thought was a text from either Emily or Tyler was something different, something he never imagined in a thousand years—a bank notification.
Credit Alert: $10,000,000
Jackson’s heart skipped.
His fingers trembled as he reread it, making sure he wasn’t imagining things. He carefully counted the zeroes behind the one.
Ten million dollars?
Where had it come from? It had to be a mistake. Some rich guy had probably sent it to the wrong account. If that was the case, they’d take it back soon enough.
Before he could process it, the sound of screeching tires filled the air.
Tyler’s BMW again. They just wouldn’t let him be. Jackson sighed in frustration.
This time, he and Emily weren’t alone. They had an audience—dozens of students gathered, eager to see the next act in Tyler’s humiliation tour.
Tyler leaned against his car, sunglasses on, his smirk widening.
“Yo, Jackson,” he called out. “You coming to my party tonight?”
Jackson didn’t respond.
“Oh, you should. It’s gonna be wild. And since I’m a generous guy, I’ll make it open to everyone—on one condition.”
Silence. Everyone was waiting.
“Someone has to drag you there.”
The crowd erupted into laughter.
Emily chuckled, shaking her head. She wasn’t even pretending to care about him anymore.
Jackson exhaled sharply. He needed to leave before he lost it.
Tyler smirked. “See you tonight, bro.”
With that, he and Emily got back in the car and sped off, leaving dust and laughter behind.
Jackson was about to walk away when he felt hands grabbing him.
“Don’t be stupid, Jackson,” one guy sneered. “Just go to the party.”
“Yeah, or we’ll make your life hell,” another added.
Jackson didn’t flinch. He had nothing left to lose.
He yanked his arm free and walked away.
***
Back at the hostel, James and Andrew were buzzing with excitement.
“You decided what you’re wearing to the party?” Andrew asked, digging through his closet.
Jackson frowned. “I’m not going.”
James shrugged. “I get why you don’t want to, but come on. Free drinks, free food, and we get to see rich idiots make fools of themselves.”
They kept talking, listing outfits they might wear, while Jackson sat on his bed, still processing the credit alert.
Then—his phone rang.
An unknown number.
He hesitated, then answered.
“Jackson Hart?”
“Who’s this?”
“My name is Bret Copper. I was your father’s lawyer.”
Jackson froze. “My father never had a lawyer.”
Mr. Copper’s voice remained calm. “Your father wasn’t who you thought he was.”
Jackson’s pulse quickened.
“He was a billionaire,” Mr. Copper continued. “He lived modestly, in disguise. Before his passing, he signed a will stating that you would receive his inheritance on your twenty-first birthday.”
Jackson almost laughed. His father was a struggling businessman who couldn’t even provide him three square meals a day.
This had to be a scam.
“My father could barely afford rent. He hated me. Why would he leave me anything?”
Throughout his growing up days, it was Jackson and his father. He nevered enjoyed his father’s love as his father blamed him for the death of his mother. Jackson lost his mother at birth.
“I understand your doubts,” Mr. Copper said. “That’s why I’d like you to visit my office tomorrow. Meanwhile, the ten million dollars was just a birthday gift. Spend it however you wish.”
The call ended.
Jackson sat in stunned silence.
Could it be true?
Was he actually… rich?
His thoughts were interrupted by Andrew and James waving their wallets at him.
“We’re getting new clothes for the party. You coming?”
Jackson stared at them, still dazed.
Then, almost as if in a dream, he found himself walking with them to the shopping district.
Ten million dollars.
A hundred billion more waiting for him.
And all the while, Tyler had no idea.
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Latest Chapter
Chapter 600: Reflections And Memories!
Copper's brow furrowed. "Frame him?"Whitaker held up the passport. "Think about it. Why would Jerry leave his wallet behind? He's too smart to make a mistake like that. He's been in security for years. He knows better than to leave evidence at a crime scene."Copper considered this, his expression thoughtful. "So someone planted it. Someone who wanted us to find it.""Or someone who wanted us to waste time chasing a ghost while they moved Philip somewhere else," Whitaker said.Copper's jaw tightened. "Either way, we need to find Jerry. Talk to him. Find out what he knows."Whitaker nodded, slipping the wallet into his evidence bag. "I'll put a team on it. Track down his family, his last known address. See if anyone's heard from him."They walked back to the car, the weight of the mystery pressing down on them."If he's innocent," Copper said quietly, "someone's going to great lengths to make him look guilty."Whitaker opened the driver's side door. "Then we need to find out who. And
Chapter 599: Jerry Hass Is Back!
Evans was now sitting on the edge of a cot in the medical bay, his shirt removed, his chest already blooming with purple and black bruises where the bullet had struck."Your vest saved your life," Lorraine said, her voice tight. "But you've got at least two cracked ribs and severe bruising. You need rest. You need to stay off your feet."Evans shook his head, wincing at the movement. "I can't rest, Lorraine. Philip is out there. Every hour we waste, he could be—""Could be dead if you push yourself too hard," Lorraine interrupted, her eyes flashing. "You're no good to anyone if you collapse."Evans met her gaze, his jaw tight. "I've had worse."Lorraine sighed, pressing a cold pack to his ribs. "I know. That's what scares me."Jackson stood in the doorway, his phone in his hand. "Whitaker is tracking the sedan. We'll find them."Evans nodded slowly. "I'm going with him."Jackson opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. He knew that look in Evans's eyes—the same look he himself wore
Chapter 598: You Could Have Been Killed!
Two police officers arrived at Clara's hospital room within the hour—a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a young man with a notepad. Clara sat up in her bed, her hands trembling, her voice hoarse from crying."Mrs. Lahm, I'm Officer Daniels, and this is Officer Reeves," the woman said gently. "We understand your son is missing. Can you tell us everything you remember?"Clara nodded, wiping her eyes. "Philip. He's seventeen. He went to get me noodles from the shop on Fifth and Main. That was around seven o'clock. He should have been back by eight. It's almost midnight now."Officer Reeves scribbled notes. "Does Philip have any friends he might have visited? Any places he likes to go?"Clara shook her head. "No. He's a good boy. He doesn't party. He doesn't stay out late. He comes straight back. He always comes straight back.""Do you know of anyone who might want to harm him?" Officer Daniels asked.Clara's face went pale. "No. Everyone loves Philip. He's kind, he's helpful, he's—"
Chapter 597: A Missing Person!
Consciousness returned slowly, like swimming up through dark water. Philip's head throbbed with a dull, insistent pain, and his mouth tasted of copper and chemicals. He tried to move, but his wrists wouldn't budge. Rope, coarse and tight, bit into his skin.He opened his eyes.A single light bulb hung above, casting harsh shadows on concrete walls. The room was small, windowless, with a heavy metal door that looked like it belonged on a bunker. The floor was cold beneath him—bare concrete, stained with years of neglect.Philip's heart pounded. He pulled at the ropes, but they held fast."Hey."The voice came from somewhere to his left, soft but clear. Philip turned his head, wincing at the pain that shot through his neck.A woman sat in the corner of the room, her wrists bound like his, her ankles tethered to a metal ring bolted to the floor. She was thin, pale, with dark circles under her eyes, but her gaze was steady. She looked like she had been here for a long time."Who are you?"
Chapter 596: Just Let Me Go!
Linda's brow furrowed. "That's not an answer.""It is an answer." Peniel set down the phone, finally turning to face her. "The international observers don't speculate. They don't deal in rumors or myths. If they say the veil is tearing, then the veil is tearing. If they say ancient beings are trying to cross over, then ancient beings are trying to cross over."Linda's face paled. "You believe them."Peniel nodded slowly. "I have to. Because if they're wrong, then I've wasted years building connections with people who deal in fairy tales. And if they're right..." He trailed off, unable to finish."Then we have nowhere to run," Linda finished for him.Peniel was silent for a long moment. The flicker of the fluorescent bulbs cast dancing shadows on the walls, making the warehouse feel like a cage."There's always somewhere to run," he said finally. "The question is whether it's worth it."Linda stood, pulling him to his feet. "Then let's go. Now. Before the mercenaries do something we ca
Chapter 595: Return Of The International Observers!
The warehouse on the outskirts of the city was dark, lit only by a few flickering fluorescent bulbs overhead. Crates and pallets were stacked against the walls, their contents obscured by dust and shadows. In the center of the space, a makeshift meeting area had been arranged—a table, several chairs, and a single lamp casting a pool of light on the worn concrete floor.Peniel sat at the table, his arm bandaged from where one of the CIA's bullet had grazed him. Linda sat beside him, her hands clasped in her lap, her face pale, her eyes darting nervously toward the shadows. Across from them sat three figures—Dmitry, Aziel, and Zhang, the three international observers.They had left the city six months ago, scattering to different corners of the globe, but Peniel had kept in contact. Now, he needed them."Thank you for coming," Peniel began.Dmitry held up a hand. "Save your thanks. We didn't come out of friendship. We came because the situation has become... complicated."Peniel's eyes
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