2025-05-13 16:57:32Dr. McCormick arrived at the restaurant less than ten minutes after receiving Jerry’s call. He burst in with urgency, his face tight with concern—but not for the right reasons. His suit jacket flapped as he made his way to the table where his son stood waiting, surrounded by Sarah, Trisha, Max, Roland, and, at the head of the table, Arnold Brick.
“What’s going on here?” Dr. McCormick asked, eyes scanning the tense group.
Jerry stepped forward with a satisfied grin. “Dad, you’re not going to believe this—Arnold Brick here just made an offer that could change the fate of the school.”
Arnold didn’t rise, but he gave a nod of acknowledgement and crossed one leg over the other, calm and composed.
Jerry continued, “He’s offering twenty-five million dollars to the school’s account. But there’s a condition. Sarah has to agree to date him.”
Dr. McCormick raised his brows, taking a moment to process. “Twenty-five million?”
Arnold clarified, “A wire transfer. Straight to the school's development fund. No gimmicks.”
Dr. McCormick’s eyes gleamed for a brief moment before flicking to Sarah. “And all he’s asking for... is a relationship with you?”
Sarah’s eyes flared with disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”
Dr. McCormick turned to Arnold again. “Is this just a date, or are we talking about something more... intimate?”
Arnold gave a small smirk. “She’ll know what to do when the time comes.”
The principal turned back to Sarah, his expression tightening. “Look, Sarah, I know this might sound... unsavory. But you need to consider the bigger picture. This isn’t just about you. With that money, we can open three new labs, fund scholarships—students like Max and Roland could benefit directly.”
Trisha’s mouth dropped open. “Are you actually suggesting she prostitute herself for the benefit of the school?”
Dr. McCormick didn’t flinch. “I’m saying that one night of sacrifice could solve problems for hundreds of students.”
Sarah pushed back her chair and stood. “This is disgusting.”
Dr. McCormick raised a hand. “Just think it over.”
“No,” Sarah said coldly. “You’ve already made yourself clear.”
Trisha chimed in. “If you think for one second we’re going to keep quiet about this, think again. I’ll call my father tonight.”
Sarah added, “So will I. I’m sure the school board would love to hear how their principal supports coercive sex-for-donation deals.”
Dr. McCormick stiffened at that. His lips parted, but Arnold raised a finger.
“Enough,” Arnold said calmly. “You’re free to make your calls. But before you do... perhaps it would interest you to know just how deep this rabbit hole goes.”
He looked at Trisha, then Sarah. “Your fathers—Marcus Macy and Damion Vernon—are currently under the direct employment of the Brick family. My family.”
Both girls blinked. The confidence in Arnold’s tone left no room for doubt.
Arnold continued, “They’re in the middle of executing a hundred-million-dollar contract with us. And they’re also currently bidding on a three-hundred-million-dollar international project that Brick & Sons is overseeing.”
Sarah paled. “You’re lying.”
Arnold’s smirk widened. “Am I? Why don’t you give Daddy a call and ask him how many meetings he’s had with Brick board executives this quarter? Or much better talk a look at this.” Arnold pulled out his phone, and showed Sarah and Trisha pictures and documents to provide his claims.
Trisha looked at Sarah, her confidence shaken. Arnold wasn’t bluffing.
Arnold leaned forward, his voice low and deliberate. “So here’s what I’m offering now. I came here for Sarah. But now that I’ve seen you both—why not make this a two-in-one deal? Sarah and Trisha. Both of you. I can upgrade the donation if needed.”
Trisha gasped. “You’re insane.”
Arnold ignored her. “You have two hours. That’s it. Meet me at Délurex Grime.”
Sarah’s lips parted. “That hotel?”
“Yes,” Arnold said. “Presidential suite. Top floor. Come dressed for the night. I’ll make it worth your while. But if you don’t show up... those contracts your daddies are praying for? They’re gone. And your families will suffer the fallout.”
He stood, adjusted his coat, and threw one last look at the table. “Tick-tock, ladies.”
As Arnold walked off with confidence radiating from every step, the room fell silent.
But Dr. McCormick wasn’t finished. He stepped forward again, looking directly at Sarah and Trisha.
“And just so you’re aware,” he added sharply, “your failure to attend tonight will result in immediate consequences.”
Sarah turned to him, face cold. “Are you threatening us now?”
“I’m stating facts,” he replied. “Max and Roland,both of them—will be expelled. By morning.”
“What?” Roland jumped from his seat.
“You can’t do that!” Trisha exclaimed.
“Oh, I can,” Dr. McCormick said. “You’d be surprised how quickly disciplinary actions move when someone like me signs off.”
Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and followed Arnold out of the restaurant.
For several seconds, the group sat in stunned silence.
Nicolas was the first to laugh. “Wow. That escalated.”
Jerry clapped his hands once, slowly. “Brilliant performance. Honestly, Sarah, if you had just taken my offer in the first place, you wouldn’t be here, humiliated, watching your friends get thrown under the bus.”
Sarah glared at him. “You’re pathetic.”
Nicolas snorted. “You’ll be singing a different tune when your family’s bankrupt. Or when your scholarship buddies here are crying outside the dean’s office.”
Jerry smiled darkly. “Anyway, I don’t think I need to go to Nigeria anymore. Looks like my problems solved themselves. I’m done wasting time.”
He gave one last mocking glance at Max and Roland. “No one’s coming to save you.”
Then Jerry and Nicolas walked out, smug and triumphant, leaving behind a table full of confusion, humiliation, and despair.
The restaurant air grew heavier with each passing second.
Max continued eating in silence, eyes down, unfazed by everything that had just happened. Fork to mouth. Calm.
Sarah stared at her untouched drink, her hands trembling slightly. Trisha looked close to tears. Roland’s fists were clenched, knuckles white.
The
four of them were left alone—with no rescue in sight.
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Chapter 441
The drive to the distribution center was a blur of flashing streetlights and screeching tires. Max pushed the armored sedan to its limits, Bucky barking directions, his eyes scanning the road for any signs of pursuit. The hum from the Shard was no longer a gentle pulse; it was a frantic vibration now, a warning, a call to action, resonating deep in Max's chest.When they finally arrived, the scene was chaos. The massive rolling door of the warehouse, usually a sturdy barrier of steel, was crumpled inward, twisted metal groaning like a wounded beast. Security guards lay unconscious, scattered like rag dolls across the concrete lot. Forklifts were overturned, their heavy frames mangled, and pallets of goods were strewn everywhere, their contents spilling onto the ground. Smoke billowed from a section of the building, a dark plume against the night sky."Marcus!" Max yelled, spotting his manager limping out of the smoke, clutching his arm, his face streaked with soot and blood."Boss! Th
Chapter 440
Dr. Thorne, his wild hair even more dishevelled, gestured frantically at the complex diagrams scrawled across his whiteboards. "They're not just some shadowy group of rich guys, Max," he reiterated, his voice hoarse from hours of non-stop exposition. "The Chronos Syndicate has access to technology that makes what you see here look like a child's toy. They manipulate probabilities on a global scale. They have agents everywhere. And now, they know about you."Max sat on the rickety stool, the Chronos Shard still wrapped in canvas, resting on the table between him and Bucky. He felt its familiar hum, a steady pulse against his palm. "How do they know?" he asked, his voice low, still processing the monumental revelations from earlier."The Shard," Thorne said, stopping his pacing to point a trembling finger at the wrapped object. "It's not just an inert object, Max. When it activates, when someone truly connects with it, it sends out a ripple. A temporal signature. They have detect
Chapter 439
"What are you talking about?" Max demanded, his voice rising."Your brother's wife, Anastasia," Thorne said, his voice barely a whisper. "She wasn't who you thought she was."Max stared at him, his mind reeling. "Anastasia? My sister-in-law? What are you saying?""Anastasia was a deep-cover Syndicate agent," Thorne revealed, his words hitting Max like a physical blow. "She was planted years ago. Her mission was to infiltrate the Lucky family. To assess your 'luck,' your family's abilities. To identify any hidden Shards or knowledge your family might possess."Max felt the blood drain from his face. "No. No, that's impossible. Anastasia... she was family. She loved my brother. She loved Magnus.""That's what they do, Max," Thorne said, his voice filled with a grim understanding. "They play the long game. They build lives, create relationships, all for their ultimate goal. She was trained to be utterly convincing. To be a part of your family, to gain your trust.""But... Magnus," Max st
Chapter 438
Dr. Thorne gestured vaguely at the cluttered space around him. "Sit, please. Anywhere you can find a spot that won't collapse or electrocute you."Max and Bucky carefully maneuvered around stacks of books and strange devices, pulling up two rickety stools. The Chronos Shard, now re-wrapped in its canvas, lay on the table between them, its faint hum a constant presence. Thorne, his initial paranoia replaced by a strange mix of awe and weariness, paced in front of a massive blackboard covered in equations."So," Thorne began, his voice softer now, "you want to know about the Chronos Shard." He picked up a piece of chalk, then put it down, seemingly lost in thought. "It's not just a rock, Mr. Lucky. It's... a fragment. A piece of something far older than anything we understand. An ancient, hidden science, as The Collector might say."Bucky leaned forward. "Ancient science? Like aliens?"Thorne scoffed. "Worse. Or better, depending on your perspective. Imagine a civilization that understo
Chapter 437
"We do," Max confirmed. "And we believe it might be connected to you. Or someone you know. A relative, perhaps. E. Thorne?"The mention of "E. Thorne" hit Thorne like a physical blow. His face went pale, and the wrench clattered to the floor. "E... Eleanor? How do you know that name?""She left behind a ledger," Max explained. "With your name in it. And notes about something called 'Project Chimera'."Thorne stumbled back, collapsing onto a stool. He buried his face in his hands. "Eleanor... my sister. She was involved. She always believed me. Even when everyone else called me crazy." He looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of grief and suspicion. "This is a trick. You're trying to get me to talk. To give up her secrets.""No trick, Doctor," Max said gently. "My wife, Sarah, was also involved. She had the ledger. She was working on something. And now she's in a coma. My home burned down. I think it's all connected. And I think you know why."Thorne stared at him for a long moment, hi
Chapter 436
Max and Bucky spent the rest of the day tracking down the factory. It was a derelict building, surrounded by overgrown weeds and rusted fences. The air was thick with the smell of decay and damp earth."This is the place?" Bucky asked, looking at the crumbling brick walls. "Looks like a good place to hide, alright. Or to die.""He's paranoid, remember?" Max said. "He wouldn't choose somewhere obvious."Max felt the shard's hum, a steady pull towards the building. It was almost like a compass, guiding him.They circled the perimeter, looking for an entrance. Every window was boarded up, every door welded shut."No easy way in," Bucky observed. "We could try blowing a hole, but that would probably just alert him. And everyone else in the neighborhood."Max walked along the back wall, his hand brushing against the rough brick. The hum intensified, a distinct vibration beneath his palm. He stopped."Here," he said, pointing to a section of the wall that looked identical to the rest. "Ther
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