2025-02-12 16:12:16Zach stared at the black card in his hand, the privileges Barbara had listed replaying in his mind like a dream too grand to be true.
“Unlimited access to top-tier financial management, exclusive properties, and the bank's best property for a house?” he murmured, his voice laced with disbelief. “It’s almost absurd.”
Barbara handed him her sleek business card, the gold lettering on it exuding sophistication. “Mr. Zach,” she said warmly, “if you ever need anything—anything at all—please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. I’m at your service.”
He nodded, still in awe.
“Oh, and one more thing,” she added. “We’re hosting a business banquet this afternoon. As one of our highest-level clients, you are not only invited but have influence over the bank’s major projects. I strongly encourage you to attend.”
Zach blinked. “A banquet?”
Barbara smiled. “Yes, sir. As a top-tier client, you have a say in the bank’s major investment projects happening today. Your attendance is highly valued.”
Her words brought back a memory. Zach recalled Luke at the hospital morgue, boasting about attending First Star Bank’s banquet with Maya.
Back then, I couldn’t even imagine setting foot there, he thought, amused. Now, I’m being handed an invitation on a golden platter.
“Interesting,” he mused with a faint smile. “I’ll attend.”
Barbara’s face lit up. “Wonderful! I’ll arrange a car to take you to your new home—Crest Villa—before the banquet. A sleek Bentley will be ready for you in no time.”
Zach raised a hand humbly. “Thank you, but I’ll make my own way there.”
Barbara looked surprised but quickly composed herself. “As you wish. Here’s the address. Everything has been prepared for your arrival.”
At the corner of their former street, Mary paced anxiously. When Zach arrived, her worry shifted to confusion as he beckoned her into the taxi.
“Where are we going?” she asked, glancing back at the ashes of their old home.
“You’ll see,” Zach replied with a cryptic smile.
Minutes later, they arrived at Crest Villa. The chief security guard opened the gates with a respectful bow. “Welcome, Mr. Zach, Welcome, miss.”
Mary’s jaw dropped as the villa came into view. It was massive, with pristine white walls, tall windows, and a fountain in the circular driveway. “This… this isn’t ours, is it?”
Zach grinned. “It is.”
Mary shook her head, unable to process it. “Zach, how?”
He gently nudged her toward the door. “Go inside and see for yourself.”
The interior was just as breathtaking—marble floors, a grand staircase, and chandeliers glittering like stars.
Mary stood frozen. “This is… it’s a palace!”
Zach placed a hand on her shoulder. “Feel at home, Mary. This is ours now.”
“But—”
“No buts,” he interrupted softly. “I’ll explain later. For now, settle in. I’ll be back soon.”
Before she could protest, Zach left, determined to find a simple outfit for the banquet.
The grand hall glimmered with elegance, chandeliers casting soft light over the polished floors and finely dressed guests.
Barbara led Zach inside, her calm demeanor commanding respect from everyone they passed.
“Take a seat for now,” Barbara said, gesturing toward a table near the back of the hall. “I need to handle some arrangements. I’ll join you shortly.”
Zach nodded, watching as she walked away. Left alone, he scanned the room and stopped when his eyes landed on a familiar duo—Maya and Luke.
Maya was hanging onto Luke’s arm, her laughter echoing softly. “Luke, you’re amazing,” she cooed. “You’re so connected. How do you do it?”
Luke smirked, leaning in with a conspiratorial whisper that carried just enough for Zach to hear. “Well, I’ve got Barbara Davis in my corner. She’s the one running this whole banquet. Trust me, you securing the bank’s investment project is as good as done.”
Maya’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “I knew I made the right choice with you. Zach was such a... disappointment.”
Luke laughed, his voice dripping with arrogance. “The other applicants for the investment project here? They’re just seat fillers. By the end of tonight, you’ll have what they can only dream of.”
Maya smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You’re incredible, Luke. I’m so lucky to have you.” She kissed him lightly, oblivious to anyone watching.
Zach, sitting a few tables away, watched them out of the corner of his eye. His expression remained unreadable, his posture relaxed. Internally, he felt a flicker of amusement. If only they knew the truth.
He turned his attention to the program booklets on the table, feigning indifference as the two continued their public display of affection.
Zach remained seated, quietly observing the opulent surroundings, when he caught movement in his peripheral vision. Maya had spotted him. Her brows furrowed, and she leaned closer to Luke, gesturing toward Zach.
“What is he doing here?” Maya sneered, her tone dripping with disdain. “Did he follow me? How pathetic.”
Luke smirked. “Let’s see what the chicken has to say.”
The pair approached Zach, their arrogance palpable.
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Luke began, his voice taunting. “What’s the matter, Zach? Still clinging to old dreams?”
Maya crossed her arms, her lips curling in a mockery of a smile. “You’ve always been so arrogant, haven’t you, Zach? Even at the hospital, acting like you were above everything. Look at you now, still trying to cling to me.”
Zach’s expression didn’t waver. His voice was calm, cold. “You’re mistaken, Maya. We no longer have anything to do with each other. Don’t get carried away.”
Maya’s eyes narrowed, but Luke chuckled. “Oh, come on, Zach. Don’t pretend. We both know you’re just nursing a broken heart. Admit it.”
Maya smiled smugly, sliding her arm through Luke’s. “For your information, Zach, Luke and I are getting married soon. So, stop trying to bother me. It’s embarrassing.”
Luke puffed his chest arrogantly. “And once I help Maya secure the largest investment project here, my family—the Harringtons—will be untouchable. We’ll be the top family in the city, and no one, not even you, will be able to compete.”
Maya cooed at him, planting a kiss on his cheek. “You’re amazing, Luke,” she said, rubbing off invisible lipstick.
Luke smirked. “You know, honey, my father promised me something if I close this deal.”
“Oh?” Maya’s eyes sparkled. “What is it?”
“A villa,” Luke said, drawing out the words. “Just two levels below the most expensive one in the city’s most prestigious area.”
Maya gasped. “A villa? Oh my God, Luke! That’s incredible. You’re the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Luke smiled smugly, tightening his arm around her. “It’ll be our new home after the wedding.”
Maya’s gaze flickered toward Zach briefly, her triumph evident whilst her disregard for him. Zach, however, remained impassive, his thoughts unreadable.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
~184~
Months passed, and Barbara’s birthday arrived. That evening, Zach threw a grand surprise party on the wide green lawns of his Villa, fairy lights twinkling like stars strung across the earth.Barbara gasped when she stepped into the lawn, her hand flying to her lips as dozens of voices shouted, “Surprise!” She turned sharply toward Athena, narrowing her eyes playfully.“You knew about this, didn’t you?” she accused.Athena only laughed and pulled her into a hug. “I didn’t want to ruin the surprise by dropping hints earlier!”Barbara chuckled softly, still overwhelmed. “Thanks, Aunt… this is a lot,” she said warmly before her gaze found Zach.Walking up to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You did all this?”“For you,” he whispered, his lips grazing her ear.Later into the night, Zach led Barbara to the center of the lawn, where the lights dimmed, and soft music began to play. He took her hands, his thumb brushing her knuckles tenderly.“The last six months,” he began, his vo
~183~
Zach’s entire world seemed to still.“My… what?” he choked, his voice almost inaudible.Athena’s tears spilled as she nodded, trembling as she cupped his face gently. “My son… my beautiful boy.”For the first time since he could remember, Zach smiled, broken, tentative, but real. He fell into her arms, wrapping her tightly as she sobbed against his shoulder.Nearby, Dawson stood frozen, guilt etched deep in his features. He stepped forward finally, his voice unsteady. “Athena… I… I’m so sorry. I should have protected you. I should have protected Logan too. I failed you both by not standing up against my father because I was a coward.”Athena looked up at him through tears, her voice soft but steady. “No. Lex was… a monster, Dawson. But you…” She paused, her voice trembling as she reached for his hand. “You weren’t. You were just… trapped.”Dawson lowered his head, overwhelmed by her forgiveness.The air outside was lighter now, as though the weight that had smothered them all for year
~182~
The ballroom had fallen into a quiet lull for Lex. Guests still laughed and chattered around him, but their voices were distant, muffled under the pounding of his heartbeat. His gaze flicked repeatedly to the grand staircase, where Dawson and Zach had disappeared minutes ago into one of the private rooms upstairs. Every tick of the ornate clock mounted on the wall stretched like eternity.Then, finally, his phone vibrated in his pocket.Lex fished it out hastily. On the screen, a message from Dawson glowed faintly:“It’s done.”Lex’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smirk. Without wasting a second, he made his way upstairs. Each step was silent yet deliberate, his polished shoes grazing the velvet carpet as he approached the corridor leading to the rooms.When he entered, his gaze immediately fell on the sight before him.Zach lay sprawled across the bed, motionless, his chest unnaturally still. A shattered vase littered the marble floor, water seeping slowly into the rug, and a fai
~181~
Lex stumbled backward, his usually composed demeanor cracking like shattered glass. His breath hitched, and his sharp eyes darted around the crowded hall, scanning faces that blurred under the golden chandelier lights. Murmurs spread through the guests like ripples on disturbed water, confused whispers tangled with hushed gasps as everyone tried to make sense of his sudden reaction.Dawson’s brows knitted together, his gaze fixed on his father’s pale, frozen face. “Father?” he called softly, but Lex didn’t answer. Without a word, Lex turned and stormed out of the ballroom, his long strides cutting through the chaos as if the walls themselves might collapse if he stayed a second longer.Dawson hesitated for a heartbeat before following. Something in Lex’s expression, a raw, unfamiliar fear, had his stomach tightening.Upstairs, in the dimly lit expanse of his room, Lex paced back and forth like a caged beast. His breaths came harsh and uneven, and his hands shook slightly, clenching a
~ 180 ~
By dawn the following morning, Zach stood at the center of the dimly lit chamber, his gaze fixed on the unconscious figure lying on the bed, Grand Master Tom, his grandfather. Shadows danced across the stone walls as candle flames flickered, their golden glow glinting off the seven rare items carefully arranged before him on a small marble altar.The Nightshade Pearl, with its faint purple luminescence, lay beside the delicate Veilroot Herb, its translucent leaves veined with silvery streaks. The Heart of Solis pulsed faintly as though it carried life itself, while the Ashen Myrrh gave off a smoky scent that clung to the air. The Celestial Fang, a small shard rumored to be from a beast that hunted under starlight, rested beside the Obsidian Tear, which shimmered like trapped night. And finally, the Imperial Stone, ancient and engraved with runes, anchored the sacred set.Dr. Kieran, a man whose silver-streaked hair and weathered face spoke of decades of study in the mystical arts, bro
~ 179 ~
Rabiu attempted to escape through the side entrance, shoving past startled guests, but before he could make it far, Zach caught him by the collar and yanked him back with force.“You think you can mess with me and walk away?” Zach’s voice was low, dangerous.Rabiu stammered, “I-I know…”A sharp punch landed on his jaw, sending him stumbling against a parked car. Gasps erupted from the crowd.“Pathetic,” Zach spat, wiping his knuckles before stepping back.The tension was palpable, the heavy silence hanging between Zach, Rabiu, and Dafne like a sharp blade waiting to slice through the air. The ruined warehouse smelled of damp wood and metal, the faint crackle of fire from a broken lantern in the corner adding an eerie undertone. Shadows stretched across the floor, their shapes twisting under the dim light.Rabiu wiped the trickle of blood from the side of his mouth, his chest heaving as he spat on the ground. “I won’t succumb to you, Zach,” he said, his voice hoarse but laced with defi
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