Jason Blackwell's Rise To Power

CHAPTER 3

The rain fell heavily as Jason Blackwell stepped through the gates of the Hale mansion.

He didn't even notice that his clothes were already soaked. His mind was still trapped inside the living room.

"I never truly considered you my husband."

"You were only a temporary solution."

Jason stopped walking and slowly looked back at the mansion.

"Three years..." His voice was barely audible. "Three years, Davina?" He laughed bitterly. "Was everything really a lie?"

His phone suddenly rang again and Jason immediately answered. "Doctor?"

"Mr. Blackwell, where are you?" The doctor asked. 

"I'm on my way." Jason said quickly.

"Jason, you need to understand something." The doctor's voice became serious. "We can't keep your mother in that condition much longer."

"I know." Jason answered.

"Do you have the money?" The doctor asked. 

Jason fell silent. "No."

"Then you need to find it quickly." The doctor said with a sigh.

"I will." Jason said.

"How quickly?" The doctor asked.

Jason looked up at the dark sky. "Give me twenty minutes."

The doctor sighed. "I'll try."

The call ended.

Jason immediately opened his banking application. His balance stared back at him.

$3,742.

He stared at the screen for several seconds.

"Three thousand..." He laughed helplessly. "How am I supposed to find five hundred thousand dollars?"

A notification suddenly appeared.

INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.

Jason locked the phone.

"I worked for them for three years and I don't even have enough money to save my own mother."

He clenched his fists then another thought entered his mind.

Davina.

He stopped.

"No." His face tightened. "I won't beg her again."

But his mother's face immediately appeared in his mind. 

Her weak smile, the way she had held his hand earlier.

"Don't worry about me, son."

Jason closed his eyes. "Mom..." His voice cracked. "I'm sorry."

He immediately turned around. He couldn't give up. Not yet.

He rushed toward the road and stopped a taxi. "Hospital!"

The driver glanced at him through the mirror. "Which hospital?"

"St. Vincent Medical Center." Jason replied.

"That's quite far." The driver said.

"I'll pay you double." Jason said again. 

The driver stepped on the accelerator.

Jason leaned back and immediately called several people.

His first call was to an old friend.

"Mike, I need a favor."

"What happened?"

"I need five hundred thousand dollars."

There was silence.

"Jason, are you serious?"

"My mother needs emergency surgery."

"How much do you have?"

"Nothing." Mike sighed. "Jason, I wish I could help, but I don't have anywhere near that amount."

"Please."

"I can't."

The call ended.

Jason immediately called another person.

Then another.

And another.

The answers were the same. Nobody had five hundred thousand dollars.

Jason finally threw his phone onto the seat.

"Everyone says I'm family when they need something but when I need help..." He stared through the window. "...I'm alone."

The taxi suddenly slowed down.

Jason frowned. "Why are you stopping?"

The driver pointed ahead. "Traffic."

Jason looked at the road. Cars were barely moving.

He checked his phone.

19 MINUTES REMAINING.

His breathing became heavier.

"No." He opened the door. "I'll walk."

The driver looked shocked. "Sir, it's raining!"

"I don't care." Jason jumped out and started running.

His shoes splashed through puddles. His phone kept ringing inside his pocket but he ignored it.

Then suddenly—

"Jason!"

He stopped.

Someone was standing behind him. He slowly turned and it was Davina.

She was standing beneath an umbrella.

Jason stared at her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk." Davina answered.

"There's nothing left to talk about." Jason said. 

"There is." Davina said. 

Jason shook his head. "My mother has nineteen minutes."

Davina's expression didn't change. "You still haven't accepted reality."

Jason laughed. "What reality?"

"That our marriage is over."

Jason stared at her. "You came here to tell me that?"

"I came to make things clear."

He stepped closer. "Then make them clear."

Davina looked directly into his eyes. "I loved Christian before I met you. When he left, my parents wanted me to move on."

"So you married me." Jason completed.

"Yes."

"Because you needed my identity."

"Yes."

"And now that Christian is successful..."

"You want him back."

"Yes."

Jason nodded slowly. "Thank you."

Davina frowned. "For what?"

"For finally telling me the truth." Jason said and turned away.

Davina suddenly called him. "Jason."

He stopped.

"You should stop wasting your time."

Jason looked back. "What?"

"My parents won't give you the money."

"I know."

"And Christian's company is receiving it tomorrow."

Jason's eyes hardened. "I know."

"Then why are you still trying?"

Jason stared at her. "Because my mother is still alive."

For the first time, Davina's expression changed slightly.

Jason turned away again.

But she spoke. "Jason."

He stopped.

"If you sign the divorce papers tonight..."

Jason slowly turned around. "What?"

"My parents may be willing to help you with a smaller amount."

Jason stared at her. "A smaller amount?"

"Enough to cover some of the hospital expenses."

Jason laughed. "Some?"

"Yes."

"My mother needs surgery tonight."

Davina remained silent.

Jason shook his head. "Keep your money."

He turned and walked away.

Behind him, Davina watched silently. Then she pulled out her phone. "He's refusing."

A man's voice came through the call. "Good."

Davina frowned. "Good?"

"Let him struggle."

"Why?" Davina asked.

The man laughed softly. "Because tomorrow, he'll have nothing left."

Davina's eyes narrowed. "Christian?"

"Yes."

"What are you planning?" Davina asked.

There was a pause, then Christian's voice became cold. "You'll find out soon."

The call ended and Davina stared at her phone.

Meanwhile, Jason continued running toward the hospital.

His phone suddenly vibrated and he stopped.

A strange notification had appeared on his screen.

There was no company name.

No recognizable logo.

Only one sentence:

CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED.

Jason frowned. "What the hell is this?"

He tried to close it but the screen refused to respond.

Another message appeared.

ONE CHANCE. ONE NUMBER. ONE LIFE-CHANGING REWARD.

Jason's patience disappeared. "Not now."

He pressed the screen repeatedly but nothing happened.

Then five numbers appeared.

17 — 29 — 43 — 61 — 88

Below them was a single instruction.

SELECT ONE.

Jason stared at the screen. 

His mother's surgery.

The rain.

The hospital.

Five hundred thousand dollars.

He had no time for games. 

"Fine." He randomly touched one number.

The screen suddenly went black.

Jason frowned.

Then—

WINNER CONFIRMED.

His eyes widened. "What?"

Another message appeared.

PLEASE REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE.

Jason stared at the screen.

Then a final message appeared.

YOUR PRIZE: $100,000,000,000.

Jason's entire body froze. "What...?"

Before he could process it, three pairs of headlights suddenly appeared through the rain.

One vehicle stopped directly in front of him.

Another stopped behind him.

The third stopped beside him.

Jason slowly stepped backward.

The doors opened simultaneously and several men in black suits stepped out.

One of them walked toward Jason.

"Jason Blackwell?"

Jason swallowed. "Who are you?"

The man stopped several feet away. Then he smiled. "Congratulations."

Jason stared at him.

"You've just won the largest prize in human history.