The Rejected Man's Rise

CHAPTER 08

Caleb stood in front of the wardrobe, staring at the right half of it.

He hadn’t opened that side of the wardrobe in years.

Now, he did.

Most of the clothes sagged with neglect. Shirts bought two sizes ago. Jackets that remembered better days than he did.

He pushed all of them aside and then stopped.

The big old blazer lay there, inviting him like a quiet challenge.

Navy, clean-lined, tailored enough to forgive his body without lying about it.

It was his dad’s blazer.

He sprayed some perfume on, then slipped it on and paused, surprised by the weight. Not heavy. Just anchoring.

The shoulders sat where shoulders were supposed to be, not drooping, not pleading.

He adjusted his sleeves, feeling the fabric settle, and for a moment the mirror didn’t feel hostile.

The suit went well on top of the white shirt.

He didn’t become handsome all of a sudden. But he felt decently put together. He looked like someone who had decided to show up.

Caleb looked at his dad’s photo on the wall. “How do I look, Dad?”

His father didn’t respond but was smiling back at him.

Caleb borrowed a polish box and brush from the neighbor, not the single mom, and neatly polished his brown leather loafers before slipping them on.

Now, he was fully prepared. Navy blazer and white trousers with fresh-looking shoes to add confidence to his steps.

When he came out of the room,  the neighbor aunty, again not the single mom, saw him and had her mouth drop for a second.

“You’ve made your neighbor’s jaw hang loose with your looks. Charm points increased by 1!” Dreamie’s voice rang in his mind. 

[Charm Score: 11/100.

Reward: You receive a Posture Correction Buff! Improves how you stand and walk. People subconsciously take you more seriously.]

Sure enough, the neighbor aunty was not even blinking and kept staring at Caleb as he walked away.

He came downstairs and stopped by his old toyota corolla in the parking garage.

A dog’s growl washed his back.

He turned around and saw a dog biting on a woman’s purse. She was trying to fight back, but the dog’s grip strength was too strong. She kept getting dragged toward the dog.

Caleb rushed over and kicked the dog under the jaw, making it squeal and run away.

The lady, huffing, looked at him and said, “Thank you… wait, aren’t you Caleb?”

He also recognized the face he hadn’t seen in a long time. “Aunt Mercy?”

This short, red-haired woman in her late forties used to live in the same apartment a long time ago. “It really is you,” she came closer and got a better look at him. “I had no idea that you are still living here.”

“I couldn’t just leave this place,” Caleb replied.

Mercy put her hand on his shoulder. “I remember this dress. Your father used to wear it on the weekends. He’d go out and play guitar on the streets… whether it be summer or winter.”

Caleb took a deep breath.

Mercy had tried to marry his father long back, but his father never said yes because Mercy was a drug addict back then. He helped her get over her addiction, and later, she studied law and became a judge.

“Where are you going?” Mercy asked.

“To Cinderseed Square.”

“Oh,” she was surprised, "I'm going there as well. I was invited to the party by the chairman of Grand Little Interiors.”

“Oh, you were invited?”

“Yeah, I own some stakes in Phantom Dream Investments, who recently chose to invest in Grand Little Interiors. That’s why I was invited. What about you? Why are you going to that place?”

“I’m going to that party as well,” he replied.

She blinked once. “What? I had no idea you were working in Grand Little Interiors. C’mon, let’s go together. I’ll take you in my car.”

“N-No, no, I will come in my car,” he quickly said.

But she pulled him along anyway.

Her car was a Cadillac Escalade, a full-size black beast of a luxury SUV.

He got into the car and stayed quiet as she drove away.

“If you are having any trouble in the office,” Mercy said, “just tell me. I’ll send in a word to the chairman.”

He somewhat nodded, feeling a bit happy that she at least cared enough to say those words.

“I came to the apartment just to remember the old days,” Mercy added. “I didn’t think you were still living in that same room.”

“The rent is cheap, and I’m single, so there’s no need to move,” he said.

“Mm, if you want… I can arrange a high profile date for you,” Mercy said.

“Thanks but no. I will find my partner without anybody’s support,” Caleb replied.

Mercy smiled. “You’re just like your father. He always helps others but refuses to take help from others. Say what you want, but that’s a weakness.”

Caleb remained calm, out of respect for her.

A few minutes later.

At Cinderseed Square.

The party already started at one of the convention centers built on a large pond, so there was a splendid view on one side. Even short boat tours were available for those interested.

Mike and Sherry both dressed up to the occasion, though Sherry had only rented her dress.

She had expected Mike to send her a dress, but he didn’t. She forgave him, thinking he was just busy.

Many employees, of both big and small statures, were congratulating Mike because his uncle had spread the news to everyone that Mike would soon be appointed as the Chief Designer, who was only second to the CEO.

Mike’s cheeks puffed with pride.

Sherry also received her fair share of praises as many believed that her promotion to the core team was pretty much confirmed because Mike was staying close to her all the time. It was as if she wrapped him around her finger.

“Are you liking the party?’ Mike asked her.

“Yes, very much, but it would have been complete if Caleb was here watching our success,” she replied.

Mike smiled. “Yeah. But he’s already fired, so he can never step foot here again.”

“Even if he wasn’t fired, he could only come in his dad’s old metal junk of a car,” Sherry chortled. “Such a car surely wouldn’t be allowed to enter this convention center.”

“Hahaha,” Mike laughed very much.

Just then, his uncle rushed past them.

Many other important people also paced toward the entrance.

“Hey, who’s coming?” Mike asked one employee.

“The district court judge,” they replied.

Mike and Sherry then tagged along and arrived at the entrance.

Judge Mercy got out of the luxury SUV and was welcomed by Edward and others.

Mercy, however, looked back at the car and knocked on the door. “Come on out.”

Everyone wondered who the person inside the car was. They couldn’t see through the black tinted glass window.

But then the door opened, and Caleb stepped out.

“EHH?!” Sherry’s mind went spiraling through another universe.

“C-Caleb?” Mike’s expression was a thick mixture of confusion and shock. “What the hell?”