Chapter Ninety-Six: A Toast to FreedomThe throne room, bathed in a dim, flickering light, had a heavy atmosphere as Jack Stone settled back into his grand chair. Chris, still processing the gravity of their situation, noticed a large, ornate jar being carried into the room. It was filled with a rich, dark wine, its surface shimmering under the torchlight.Jack Stone waved a hand dismissively. “A special wine for our guest. Please, enjoy.”Chris smiled and accepted the jar with enthusiasm. “Thank you, Jack. This is very kind of you. You know, since I’m here, why don’t we make it a celebration? Invite everyone to join us. It’s not every day that someone like me graces your presence.”Jack Stone hesitated, clearly unsure. “I’m not sure it’s appropriate to…”“Come now,” Chris interrupted, raising his voice slightly. “It would be a sign of great disrespect if you didn’t honor my request. I would think less of you if you failed to celebrate this occasion.”Reluctantly, Jack Stone agreed.
Chapter Ninety Seven: A Late ReturnThe clock ticked past midnight, and the once vibrant hum of the city outside had faded into a quiet, peaceful stillness. Stephany had spent the entire afternoon waiting for Chris, as he had promised he would come back that day. She was worried that the police might not believe Chris report and hold him back or even imprison him. And most importantly, she was worried that Chris might be injured, despite winning the fight with Tony, Tony was still strong and may have injured him somewhere. She was eager for him to come back and report that everything was good and sorted out.All the while, she thought of how cool her husband was for him to be able to beat Tony Stark up. She had prepared a meal with care, setting the table and even trying her hand at a few new recipes, hoping to surprise him. Her anticipation had kept her busy, but as the hours passed and the sun set, fatigue began to creep in.She had moved to the couch in the living room, hopin
Chapter 98: I will protect you. Stephany stretched lightly, still feeling the soft warmth of their morning together. “Morning,” he mumbled, grabbing a cup of coffee.“Good morning,” Stephany replied, “did everything go well at the station?” She asked, “Hmmn, yes it did, Chris said”“That’s good,” Stephany replied. her voice warm and cheerful. She set a plate of scrambled eggs on her plate and ate.“I need to talk to you about something.”Chris looked up from his coffee, his brow furrowing slightly. “What’s up?”“I have to head to the Preston house for a family emergency meeting,” Stephany said, her tone a mix of resignation and concern.Chris’s face fell into a look of mild frustration. “Why are there so many meetings? Seems like there’s always something new.”Stephany sighed, setting her coffee cup down. “Well, this one might be related to the events of last night. They’ll probably discuss what happened and maybe figure out the next steps or address any new issues that have come u
Chapter 99: They will beg you The Preston family gathered in the grandiose meeting room, the air thick with tension. The room, usually a symbol of unity and calm, now seemed to pulsate with underlying conflict. Chris and Stephany arrived, but as they walked in, an unexpected wave of hostility met them.Grandma Preston, seated at the head of the table, was the first to address them. Her expression was stern as she looked at Chris. “Chris, I’m afraid you’re not welcome here today. This is a family meeting, and we need to discuss matters privately.”Chris stood his ground, his jaw tightening. “I’m part of this family, Grandma. I’m here because I have a right to be.”The words were barely out of his mouth when Henry, one of the more vocal family members, laughed derisively. “Part of the family? Don’t make me laugh. You’re not really one of us, Chris.”Henry’s laughter was grating, and his eyes were cold with disdain. He was still bitter about the previous night's events, particularly
Chapter 100: Fifty Shares The room was thick with tension. Chris and Stephany had just been faced with Grandma Preston's harsh ultimatum, and Henry's derisive laughter echoed in the heavy air. As the argument continued, an unexpected knock on the door interrupted the scene, causing everyone to pause.A young assistant opened the door and announced, “Mr. Cradwell from Web 3.”He was the very one who had bought fifty percent of the shares form their company when they were having issues, he holds most of the manager right of the company.Though he saved the Preston’s when they were broke, at this point, he was the reason they started having this series of meetings. He held too much power that the company practically belongs to him. What was he doing now?The name was met with surprise and murmurings of confusion. Grandma Preston’s eyes widened. Mr. Cradwell was known for his significant investment in the company, holding a considerable share of management rights. His sudden appearan
Chapter one hundred and one: Arrested for Theft Chris felt a surge of relief as he drove away from the Preston estate, the tension of the family meeting still heavy on his shoulders. The news of the shares and Mr. Cradwell's unexpected intervention had left the family reeling. He was eager to get to work and focus on something other than the turmoil of the morning.As he drove through the city streets, he made a brief stop at a junction to pick up a few documents from a local office. The traffic was light, and the day seemed to be settling into a normal routine.But as Chris exited his car and approached the office, a series of flashing blue lights and the blaring sirens of a police car abruptly interrupted the peaceful scene. Several police officers exited their vehicles and surrounded him, their stern faces set with purpose.“Mr. Chris Preston, you’re under arrest,” one of the officers declared firmly.Chris was taken aback, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “Arrest? For what
Chapter 102: The Case of the Stolen Golden GoddessChris sat in the stark, sterile interview room of the police station, his mind racing. The reality of his situation was beginning to sink in. He had been accused of a serious crime—the theft of a priceless artifact—and the weight of the allegations was overwhelming. The room was lit harshly by fluorescent lights, and the starkness only amplified Chris’s sense of dread.The door creaked open, and a stern-faced detective entered, carrying a manila folder. He placed it on the table and sat across from Chris, his expression impassive. The detective adjusted his glasses and opened the folder, revealing several photographs and a stack of documents.“Mr. Brown, we have evidence linking you to the theft of the Golden Goddess statue from the Brown residence,” the detective began, his tone clinical. “This is serious, and I need you to look at the evidence.”Chris’s heart sank as he glanced at the photos. The images showed a golden statue wi
Chapter one hundred and three: Half a Billion each Chris adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, his mind still preoccupied with the recent turmoil. The drive home had been uneventful until his phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and saw an unfamiliar number. For a moment, he hesitated, considering whether to answer. Given the day's events, he wasn’t in the mood for unexpected calls. But something about the timing made him answer.He tapped the screen to accept the call. “Hello?”“Mr Brown?” a voice on the other end said, its tone crisp and businesslike. “This is Victor Raines. Shelly gave me your number.”Chris’s curiosity was piqued. He remembered Shelly mentioning a potential client interested in the Ascension portion—a powerful alchemical elixir that could significantly enhance a cultivator’s abilities. “Yes, this is Chris. What can I do for you, Mr. Raines?”“I understand you have an Ascension portion available. I’m interested in purchasing