Chapter 5
Author: Gem
last update2025-03-20 19:43:00

Davion’s face burned, not with shame, but with restrained fury. His fists clenched so tightly that his nails bit into his palms, but he refused to bow his head. He met Margaret’s glare with an icy stare of his own, his jaw tight but steady.

Wesley noticed and shot Margaret a sharp look, his voice low but firm.

“That’s enough, Margaret,” he muttered, his eyes flashing with warning.

Margaret lifted her chin and her lips curled into a thin, contemptuous smile.

“I haven’t said anything wrong,” she said sweetly, feigning innocence. “It’s just strange for someone to show up after so many years... empty-handed. A little gift would’ve been polite, don’t you think?”

Davion swallowed hard and the weight of her words pressed against his chest. But he said nothing, keeping his posture rigid.

Wesley’s brows knitted together, and he placed a reassuring hand on Davion’s back, his voice gentler.

“Come inside, my boy.”

He guided Davion into the sprawling mansion — the place Davion had once called home. 

The air smelled of polished wood and old money, the marble floors gleamed like mirrors, and the grand chandelier overhead sparkled like a crown of ice.

On the couch, a beautiful woman sat with her legs elegantly crossed, scrolling through her phone.

“Beverly, how dare you be so rude?, don’t you see our guest?” Wesley asked with his voice carrying a stern edge.

Beverly didn’t even glance up.

“Father, I’m busy,” she said, waving her hand dismissively.

“I don’t care,” Wesley snapped. “Look up and greet our guest. Now.”

Beverly sighed dramatically and set her phone down with exaggerated slowness. When she finally lifted her gaze, her eyes were colder than stone.

“What’s he doing here?” she asked, her voice sharp as glass.

Davion’s chest tightened as he stared at her, shocked. What has changed? Beverly used to be his closest friend. They’d chased fireflies in the garden, whispered childhood secrets, and made promises that felt eternal. But now... she looked at him like he was a stranger, like he was dirt.

“Where are your manners, young lady—” Wesley began, but Margaret cut him off with a dismissive wave.

“Leave her alone, Wesley. She greeted him, didn’t she?” Margaret folded her arms, her voice dripping with scorn. “And if he’s here to ask for money, he’s wasting his time. Wesley’s not running a charity.”

“Don’t you dare insult him, who do—” Wesley’s voice rose, but Margaret silenced him with a glare.

“Forget it, Wesley,” she whispered, though loud enough for Davion to hear. “Letting him and his father live here was one thing, but for him to come back now? It’s embarrassing and pathetic.”

Before Wesley could respond, the front door swung open with a loud bang and shattered the fragile tension.

“Trevor!” Margaret gasped, her face lighting up like fireworks.

A tall man strode inside, exuding smug arrogance. His designer cologne lingered in the air, and his impeccably tailored suit screamed luxury. Every movement radiated entitlement, like he owned the place.

This was Trevor Johnson, heir to the Johnson family — one of the city’s wealthiest. Wherever he went, people worshipped him.

Margaret practically melted at the sight of him.

“Look at you,” she gushed, rushing to greet him. “You’re always so polished. So successful.”

Trevor barely acknowledged her, his gaze locking onto Beverly like a predator eyeing prey.

“I heard you were back,” he said, voice slick with fake charm. “Thought I’d check on you.”

Beverly, who had looked utterly bored moments ago, suddenly brightened.

“Oh, Trevor, hi.”

Even with her radiant smile, something about it felt forced — a facade. She didn’t like Trevor. But she didn’t like Davion either.

Trevor’s eyes finally landed on Davion, and his grin twisted cruelly.

“And who’s this?” he asked, voice laced with mock confusion.

Davion ignored him.

“This is Davion,” Margaret said quickly, her lips curling.

Trevor chuckled, the sound sharp and cutting.

“Oh. Davion. The childhood friend, right?” He tilted his head, pretending to think. “How are you? What do you do for work?”

Davion’s jaw tightened. “I work in a quarry,” he said, voice steady despite the heat rising in his chest.

Trevor laughed louder, turning to Margaret.

“Did you hear that? He works in a quarry.” He clapped mockingly. “Wow. That’s... impressive.”

Margaret pressed her fingers to her lips, poorly hiding her smile.

“Well,” she said, voice syrupy sweet, “at least he’s working. Even if he is still poor.”

Trevor stepped closer to Davion, eyes gleaming with malice.

“You think you can crawl out of whatever pit you’ve been working in and catch up?” he sneered.

“That’s enough,” Wesley snapped, stepping between them.

Trevor lifted his hands in mock surrender.

“Just making conversation sir,” he said, smirking.

But Wesley’s face darkened but he kept quiet.

He turned to Beverlyn with his voice heavy.

“Davion’s not here for money,” he said carefully. “He’s here because... you’re getting married.”

Beverly shot to her feet like she’d been slapped.

“What?” she hissed, eyes blazing.

Trevor’s smug smile slowly evaporated from his lips.

“You can’t be serious, Wesley. This boy is a nobody,” Margaret whispered, clutching her chest.

“I made a promise to Davion’s father,” Wesley said, voice resolute. “That they would marry when they were ready.”

Beverly’s face twisted in rage.

“You’re forcing me to marry him? This lowlife?” she shouted, jabbing a finger at Davion like he was filth. “You want me to tie myself to someone like him?”

Davion’s fingers curled, but he stayed silent.

“This is ridiculous,” Margaret spat. “Trevor is perfect for Beverly!”

“Yes!” Trevor said arrogantly. “I can give her the best life imaginable. She doesn’t need a loser like him.”

Davion finally met his eyes and with a voice sharp as a blade, he said, “At least I earn my paycheck. I don’t depend on daddy’s money.”

Trevor’s face darkened, and he took a step forward, chest puffed up.

“Enough!” Wesley roared, stepping in with blazing eyes.

But the damage was done.

Beverly turned to Wesley. “But dad, I can't marry him. I only see him as a brother.”

But before he could say anything, the front door burst open with a thunderous slam.

Several men barged in, their heavy boots thudding against the pristine floor. They were tall and broad, with hardened expressions and an aura of menace that clung to them like smoke.

Their leader, a man with a jagged scar across his cheek, stepped forward. His black leather jacket creaked, and the cold glint in his eyes sent chills through the room.

“Wesley,” he growled, voice like gravel. “The money you borrowed for your company is due. Pay up... or face the consequences.”

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    The entire station trembled.A deep mechanical vibration rolled through the walls and floors as massive systems buried inside the structure began to awaken. The sound was low and powerful, like a giant machine slowly stretching after a long sleep.Inside the control chamber, warning lights flickered across every console.Wilson stared at the screen in front of him, his face draining of color.“Oh no,” he whispered.Davion stepped closer. “What happened?”Wilson’s fingers hovered over the controls as lines of red warning text flooded his tablet.“The station just switched to defense protocol,” he said. “Your father didn’t just build a transmitter.”Davion’s father stood across the chamber, watching them with calm interest.Wilson turned the tablet toward the others.“He built an orbital strike platform.”Beverly’s eyes widened.The giant windows of the control chamber looked out toward the planet below, and now they could see the massive weapon arms mounted along the station slowly rot

  • 414

    The drones activated all at once.Red lights ignited across their metallic bodies as they rose from the floor panels like a swarm of steel predators. Their eyes flickered to life, scanning the room for targets, and within seconds every weapon barrel rotated toward Davion and his team.The silence in the chamber shattered.“Here they come!” Wilson shouted as he backed against the wall, clutching his tablet like it might somehow protect him.The first drone fired.A bright pulse of energy streaked across the room, slamming into the floor where Davion had been standing a split second earlier. Sparks exploded across the metal surface as Davion dove sideways and rolled to his feet.“Spread out!” Beverly yelled.More drones lifted into the air.Their mechanical wings unfolded with sharp metallic snaps as they hovered above the chamber floor.Reika moved first.She dashed forward like a shadow, her blade flashing under the bright lights of the control room. One drone swooped down toward her,

  • 413

    The hatch opened with a low metallic hiss.Cold air from the station rushed into the shuttle, carrying a sterile scent that reminded Beverly of hospitals and laboratories. The interior lights of the docking bay flickered softly, casting long shadows across the massive chamber.For a moment, no one moved.Davion was the first to step forward.His boots touched the metal floor with a dull echo that seemed to travel endlessly through the empty structure.Behind him, Beverly followed carefully, scanning the surrounding walls and corridors with sharp, alert eyes. Reika stepped out next, already holding the handle of her blade, her posture relaxed but ready for a fight.Wilson came out last, looking around with visible nervousness.“I just want to say,” he muttered, glancing at the enormous mechanical doors sealing the docking bay behind them, “this place looks exactly like the kind of place where people die in movies.”Reika smirked slightly.“Stay close then.”The docking bay stretched wi

  • 412

    The Atlas-9 shuttle drifted silently in orbit.For the first time since the rocket launched, the violent shaking had stopped. The engines had powered down, leaving only the soft hum of the onboard systems and the distant glow of Earth filling the cockpit window.Below them, the planet looked impossibly peaceful.Blue oceans stretched across half the horizon, white clouds drifting slowly across continents that looked small and fragile from this height. Cities glittered faintly on the night side of the world like scattered stars.But ahead of them—The satellite station floated like a dark crown above the planet.Massive mechanical arms stretched outward from its central core, each one lined with weapons powerful enough to scar entire regions of Earth if fired. Panels unfolded slowly across its surface as the structure powered up, glowing faintly with blue energy.Wilson stared through the window with wide eyes.“That thing is bigger than I thought.”Beverly leaned closer to the console

  • 411

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