2025-01-20 17:03:01
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth The Truth Unveiled
Chapter 11: The Truth Unveiled Jane’s entire body trembled, her mind spinning with confusion and humiliation. She barely registered Carter Reed’s trembling plea to John Nelson, the patriarch of the Nelson family. It was Helen’s calm yet piercing voice that snapped her out of her daze. “Ms. Jane,” Helen began, her tone as icy as her expression, “do you even know who you’re accusing? Fraudster? Me?” She tilted her head slightly, a mocking smile curling her lips. “Allow me to introduce myself properly since it seems you’ve failed to do your research. I am Helen Nelson, the eldest daughter of the Nelson family.” The weight of Helen’s words hit Jane like a tidal wave. She staggered back, her face losing every trace of color. “N-No,” she stammered, shaking her head. “This can’t be. You—this is a setup! You can’t be the eldest Miss of the Nelson family. I would have known!” Helen raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Would you? It’s astonishing how much confidence you have in your i
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth A Chaotic Exit
Chapter 12: A Chaotic Exit The tension in the room reached its peak as Jane's voice rang out, her shrill protests echoing against the marble walls. The sudden arrival of two burly security guards brought an abrupt halt to the escalating chaos. "Madam," the taller guard said firmly, stepping forward, "you need to leave the premises immediately." Jane spun around, glaring at them. "You can’t throw me out! Do you know who I am?!" The other guard gave her a flat look. "We have our orders and this isn’t up for debate. Please cooperate, or we'll have to escort you out by force." Jane’s glare darted toward Helen, her voice rising with desperation. “This is your doing! You think you’ve won, but this isn’t over, Helen! You’ll pay for humiliating me like this!” Helen didn’t flinch. She tilted her head, her icy smile unwavering. “If you spent less time playing the victim and more time reflecting on your mistakes, Jane, you might find life a little easier. But go ahead—make a scene.
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth Unwelcome Praise
Chapter 13: Unwelcome PraiseJane pushed open the door to her home, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. The weight of the day pressed heavily on her shoulders, but she was greeted by an unexpected sight: her mother and younger brother sitting in her living room, their faces twisted in frustration.“There you are!” her mother, Linda, snapped, crossing her arms. “What took you so long? Do you know how long we’ve been waiting here?”“Waiting for what?” Jane asked tiredly, dropping her purse on the couch.“For lunch!” Linda exclaimed, glaring at her. “We thought Dylan would have the decency to open the door and prepare something for us, but that lazy jerk didn’t even show up. He has no manners!”Jane froze, her expression faltering. “Dylan doesn’t live here anymore,” she said quietly.Her younger brother, Adam, who was lounging with his feet up on the coffee table, perked up at her words. “Wait—what? Did he finally leave? About time, sis! That guy was useless.”Linda’s face lit u
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 14
14The luxurious restaurant buzzed with soft laughter and the gentle clinking of crystal glasses, its golden chandeliers casting a warm glow over the tables adorned with pristine white linens. Dylan sat across from Helen and Molly, the remnants of their elegant dinner cleared away by attentive waitstaff. The evening had been filled with light conversation, but beneath Dylan’s composed demeanor, a current of gratitude simmered—gratitude toward Helen for everything she’d done for him and Molly.Molly swung her little legs under the table, her bright eyes following the swirl of the dessert cart as it passed by. She had been unusually quiet during dinner, occasionally glancing between Dylan and Helen with an expression that Dylan couldn’t quite decipher.Helen leaned back slightly, her posture as graceful as always, though her sharp business-like demeanor had softened around Dylan and Molly. She turned to Dylan with a small smile. “Shall we go? It’s getting late, and Molly looks like she’
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 15
Chapter 15The morning sun cast a golden hue over the city as Dylan helped Molly into her bright yellow jacket. The light streamed through the apartment window, catching on the soft curls of her hair. She was unusually quiet, her small hands fidgeting with the zipper as Dylan crouched down to her level.“You ready, Munchkin?” he asked gently, brushing a stray curl from her forehead.Molly nodded, but her eyes betrayed the nervous flutter in her chest. “Do you think Helen will come?” she whispered, her voice small and uncertain.Dylan gave her a reassuring smile, cupping her tiny chin in his hand. “Of course she will. But we should get going now, alright? She’ll meet us there.”Molly bit her lip, clearly not entirely convinced, but she nodded and grabbed her little backpack. Dylan took her hand, squeezing it gently as they headed out the door.He took the modest car parked in front of the apartment—Helen had insisted he use it. But once he arrived at the villa arranged for him, he'd be
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 16
16 Dylan took a deep breath, his fists still clenched at his sides. Before he could respond, the woman took a defiant step forward, her chin raised in smug confidence. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” she sneered, jabbing a finger toward Dylan’s chest. “My husband is the regional manager of Luxe Dynamics Company. We’re respected in this community. We don’t take kindly to accusations from... people like you.” Dylan’s eyes narrowed. “People like me?” he echoed, his voice low and dangerous. The woman scoffed, waving a dismissive hand toward Dylan’s beat-up car parked nearby. “Oh, please. I’ve seen that rust bucket you drive. You expect me to believe anything you say over my son? My family has standing in this town. You should think twice before you go around making baseless accusations.” Dylan felt the heat rising in his chest, his heart pounding in his ears. He glanced down at Molly, who was still sniffling on the pavement, her scraped knees now smudged with dirt and b
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 17
17: The Price of PrideDylan's mind spun, a mix of disbelief and fury churning in his chest. His breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, but before he could even react, the woman sneered, stepping closer, her voice sharp and cutting like a knife through the tense air."An apology?" she scoffed, her eyes gleaming with malice. The corners of her mouth twisted into a cruel smile. "Oh, no. That’s not enough."She jabbed a manicured finger toward Dylan, her red nails catching the morning light, glinting like claws. The playground fell eerily silent, save for the occasional chirp of birds and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Her voice, however, rose, slicing through the quiet like a whip."You and your little brat will kneel in front of my son. Right here." She gestured to the ground as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "You’ll admit she lied and caused him distress. And—" she paused, savoring the moment, letting the weight of her words settle over the small crowd gathering
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 18
18Molly's tear-filled eyes widened the moment she saw Helen kneeling beside her. The tension and fear that had gripped her tiny frame broke all at once, and with a choked sob, she flung herself into Helen's arms.“Helen!” she cried, her little voice trembling. “Can you… can you be my mommy?”Helen blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden, innocent request. Her heart softened as she wrapped her arms around Molly, feeling the child’s tiny body tremble against her. She glanced up at Dylan, her cheeks flushing slightly as Molly continued, her words tumbling out between sobs.“Because… because you held Daddy’s hand yesterday,” Molly whimpered, her voice muffled against Helen’s shoulder. “And… and mommies hold daddies’ hands, right?”Dylan’s eyes widened, caught completely off guard. His mouth opened, but no words came out. A flush crept up his neck, but before he could say anything, Helen chuckled softly, her face pink but warm.“Well, I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” she said g
Latest Chapter
216
216 “I left Molly,” she whispered. “I left her behind. I thought she’d be better off without the mess I was making. I thought Dylan—God—he was supposed to protect her.” “I think he’s been trying,” Lisa said softly. “But he’s hiding something. Maybe a lot of things.” “And he brought Lilith into this,” Jane muttered. “Of course he did. Of course.” There was venom in her voice when she said Lilith’s name. Jane had met the woman twice—both times by accident, and both times left her with the distinct impression that Lilith was a wolf smiling in a fur coat. Jane’s breathing became shallow. She looked around her kitchen like she was searching for something to punch. The cabinets were too sturdy. The walls were too silent. “She’s just a little girl,” Jane said, her voice cracking. “She still calls bees ‘buzzies’ and thinks thunder means God’s bowling. How the hell could he keep this from me?” Lisa didn’t speak. “I’m going to find him,” Jane said suddenly, moving. Her voice was low and
215
215Her hand slowly dropped from her cheek. “You’re talking about her like she’s a monster.”“She’s not,” Dylan said. “She’s human. But that doesn’t make her a mother.”A long silence stretched between them.Lilith said nothing, letting the space breathe, letting the weight of truth settle.Lisa looked at her, and for once, there was no bite in her voice. Just a raw kind of confusion. “Why didn’t you tell me?”Lilith looked back evenly. “Because you were too busy setting the stage.”Lisa’s lip trembled. “I didn’t know…”“No,” Dylan said, softer now. “You didn’t want to know.”He stepped past her then, toward the street, toward whatever came next. He was done with the confrontation. Done with the theater. There were more important things to do.Molly needed him.Lilith followed without a word, falling into step beside him.Lisa stood in the middle of the sidewalk, surrounded by the remnants of her own performance—watchers gone, the spotlight faded.She was alone now.And the weight of
214
214 Infact it was her shady car buyers and Dylan mistook them as people there to try to kill him. “Who are they?” Lilith asked. Lisa didn’t answer. She turned back to Dylan instead. “Don’t play dumb. Don’t pretend you’re in danger. You’re not the victim here. You never have been.” “Then what’s the show for?” Lilith asked. “I told you,” Lisa snapped. “People deserve to know what kind of man he is.” “People already think they know,” Lilith said. “You’re just hammering it in. Why now? Why here? What’s happening that you don’t want anyone to see?” Lisa’s jaw clenched. She took another step back. But Dylan had already started mentally mapping the exit points. The alley to their right. The cafe entrance. The fire escape four buildings down. He wasn’t just seeing Lisa anymore—he was reading the whole board. This wasn’t random. And the moment he’d seen her, standing there with her coat too perfect, voice too loud, eyes too bright, he’d known. It was all wrong. It wasn’t grief or
213
213“She finally divorced you,” Lisa said, the words slicing the air like glass. Her voice was calmer now, but only because she knew she’d drawn blood. “Finally. And thank God she did. Jane is building a life now—a future. Something you would have ruined if she’d stayed. You dragged her down long enough.”The words settled over the sidewalk like ash. A few onlookers had stopped, heads turning, phones subtly raised. The city had its own rhythm—cars hissing by on wet asphalt, neon lights flickering in windows—but all of it dimmed under Lisa’s voice.Dylan stood frozen for a beat too long. His hands curled into fists, not out of anger, but restraint. His heart pounded like a war drum behind his ribs. He wanted to yell, to peel back her lies in front of everyone, to lay out the complexities of what had really happened—what Jane had chosen to ignore, what she had run from long before any betrayal.But he knew how this would look.Lisa always knew how to hold a stage. How to paint herself i
212
212Chapter 212 – Fractures at DawnThe city hadn’t fully woken up yet. Eridale slouched under the heavy gray hush of morning after rain, its streets glistening with residue from the night’s storm. Neon signs blinked over shuttered cafes, their distorted reflections swirling in rain-slicked puddles. A chill wind swept between the buildings, stirring discarded flyers and making everything feel just a little too quiet.Dylan pulled the collar of his coat higher against the cold, scanning the block as he and Lilith turned the corner onto Davlin Street. The wet asphalt whispered beneath their boots.“That’s it,” Lilith muttered beside him, nodding toward a narrow, unmarked door set between two upscale boutiques. “Veridian Bistro.”He followed her gaze. From the outside, it looked like nothing. Just another door in a city full of secrets. But Dylan knew better—Veridian was no ordinary bistro. It was a front. A meeting ground for people who didn’t like to be seen. High-end criminals, washed
211
211The next morning came too quickly for Jane. The weight of the decision hung heavily over her, despite the calm façade she had tried to maintain. Her phone buzzed incessantly, messages from Lisa, Adam, and even Linda, all eager to confirm their plans to transfer their funds. The excitement from the previous night had only grown stronger with each passing hour, but Jane’s unease had deepened in equal measure.She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being led down a path she shouldn’t follow, a path paved with promises and lies. As she scrolled through the group chat, her eyes caught a message from Bobby: “It’s all set. Ready when you are, Jane. Don’t let fear dictate your future. This is your chance.”The words sent a cold shiver down her spine. There it was again—the subtle pressure, the quiet threat wrapped in a smooth, convincing tone. Bobby was a master at this. He knew exactly how to manipulate people, how to make them think they were making their own choices while all alon
210
210But then, there was Jane. She had barely spoken all evening, her quiet demeanor setting her apart from the rest. She had been sitting at the edge of the group, her eyes downcast, staring into her untouched champagne. Her fingers traced the rim of her glass absentmindedly as she listened to her friends talk about their investments, their dreams. It was so easy for them, so quick to jump in. But Jane wasn’t so sure. She could feel the unease creeping in, the tug in her gut telling her that something wasn’t right. They were so eager, so willing to throw everything into Bobby’s hands. So naïve.“You’re not worried about the risks?” she asked quietly, her voice almost lost amidst the chatter. The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment before Bobby’s eyes flicked toward her, catching the subtle challenge in her tone.Bobby’s smile didn’t falter. He leaned forward just enough to catch her gaze, his eyes dark and steady, like a predator eyeing its prey. “Worried? No,” he said, his v
209
209 Adam looked up, his face a mask of calm. “I mean, what’s not to consider? Bobby’s offering us a seat at the table. You know how rare that is.” His words were matter-of-fact, but there was a certain eagerness in his eyes, a glimmer of excitement that he couldn’t hide. He was already sold. Linda, ever the practical one, nodded, her fingers tapping on the edge of her glass. “I don’t know. It sounds like a solid opportunity. Bobby’s track record speaks for itself.” The table was buzzing now, the tension thickening with every passing second. Jane felt herself shrinking in her seat. Everyone else was on board, their minds already made up. She was the only one left holding back, and she hated the feeling. But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Bobby was pulling the strings, drawing them all in like moths to a flame. She leaned back, rubbing her temples, trying to quiet the storm inside her head. The words kept swirling around, crashing into one another. “I
208
208 “Wait,” Jane said slowly, her brow furrowing. “Didn’t you pitch something like this to ForwardTech last year? I remember the prototype.”Bobby blinked—just a fraction too long. His eyes darted around the table, landing on her for a beat longer than necessary. “That was… similar, but flawed. This one’s new. Better team. Better model.”Jane could sense the words slipping from his mouth too smoothly. It wasn’t the first time he’d said something that didn’t quite sit right with her, but this time there was something sharper in the air. A fine thread of doubt, like static crackling on the edge of a storm.Adam, who had been staring at the screen of his phone, looked up with a casual air that masked his curiosity. “What happened with ForwardTech, though? I remember the buzz last year. They were practically salivating over this.”Bobby shrugged, the motion too careful, too rehearsed. “They weren’t ready,” he said smoothly. “And frankly, their ethics were sketchy. I don’t want to work w
