2025-11-20 14:07:57Eric stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his shirt for the tenth time. He had borrowed money again—money he knew he could never repay—just to impress Vanessa. The interest on the loan was already rising, yet he didn’t care. All he wanted was to look rich enough for her.
He sprayed almost half of the expensive perfume he bought on credit, then practiced his smile.
“Perfect,” he muttered. “Tonight, she will finally take me seriously.”
Vanessa was rich, elegant, and lived in a part of town Eric had only seen in movies. He didn’t care about her personality. All he saw was wealth, influence, and the chance to level up. If he married her, he believed his life would change overnight.
He grabbed the keys of the rented car he was pretending to own and drove off.
When he arrived at the fancy restaurant where Vanessa asked to meet him, he stepped out slowly, pretending not to be impressed by the expensive cars around. Inside, he spotted Vanessa immediately. She wore a red gown that screamed luxury. Her long curly hair rested on her shoulders, and her expression said she was used to getting what she wanted.
“Eric,” she said without looking up from her phone.
He forced a smile. “Vanessa, you look stunning.”
She finally looked at him, her eyes scanning him from head to toe.
“Hmm. At least you tried today,” she said, flipping her hair.
Eric laughed nervously. “Anything for you.”
A waiter came and handed them menus. Eric tried not to panic when he saw the prices. One plate cost more than what Clara paid for groceries in a month.
Vanessa ordered without looking at the cost.
Eric ordered water.
Halfway through the dinner, Vanessa placed her phone down and looked at him seriously.
“So Eric, what exactly do you do again? You said your father had a company?”
Eric straightened up proudly. “Yes! My father owned a big company. But after he passed away, things got a bit complicated. I will get it back soon though.”
Vanessa’s eyebrow rose. “Get it back? You mean it’s not yours now?”
“Well… I’m working on it,” he replied quickly. “But you don’t need to worry. I will definitely restore it. I have plans.”
She pursed her lips, unimpressed. “Eric, look. I don’t date men who are not stable. I need someone who can take care of me. Someone who can match my lifestyle.”
Eric’s smile dropped. “But I can! I will! Just give me time!”
Vanessa shook her head. “Time doesn’t pay bills. I like you, Eric, but I don’t like uncertainty.”
Eric swallowed hard. “Vanessa, I borrowed— I mean— I put a lot into this date because I really like you.”
She laughed slightly. “Borrowed? Eric, don’t tell me all these fancy things you’ve been showing me are not yours.”
His heart jumped. “No! No, of course not. Everything is mine.”
But she wasn’t stupid. She looked at him like someone who had just caught a liar.
“Eric, let me be honest with you… I don’t want a man who pretends. I want a man who *has*.”
Eric’s hands shook under the table. “I can have. I just need—”
Vanessa stood up, cutting him off. “I’m not interested in stories. When you get your life together, maybe call me. But right now… I can’t waste my time.”
She picked up her bag and walked out elegantly.
Eric remained seated, frozen. Shame washed over him. The waiter came with the bill, and Eric almost fainted when he saw it. He didn’t have enough money left.
He stepped outside and called the loan agent.
“Sir, please, I need another loan urgently. I will repay, I promise. I just need it—”
The man on the phone cut him off sharply.
“This is your third loan this month, Eric. If you fail again, you know what will happen.”
Eric closed his eyes, sweating. “I won’t fail. Just give me one more chance.”
The man sighed heavily.
“Fine. But this is your last warning.”
Eric ended the call and leaned against the wall, breathing hard. His whole body felt weak. Vanessa had humiliated him. And now the loan agency was losing patience.
“Just wait,” he muttered angrily. “One day I will be rich. One day she will regret rejecting me.”
But deep inside, fear was eating him alive.
He had no job.
No company.
No plan.
Only debts, shame… and a dangerous path he didn’t know how to escape.
Meanwhile, far away in his hidden place, Ryan’s men continued watching the Harrison family, protecting them quietly.
And though Ryan didn’t know it yet, Eric’s reckless choices were about to pull Clara’s family into bigger trouble than they had ever faced…
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Chapter 156
Ryan stood at the hallway entrance like a statue. He did not move. He did not blink. He only stared at Clara, Ava, and Mrs Harrison as they talked about Uncle wanting to bail Eric.His heart was beating fast. His face slowly changed from shock to anger.*Why? Why would that man even think of bailing a boy like Eric?* *Why would he help someone who deals in drugs? Someone who kidnapped Ava? Someone who almost destroyed everything?*Ryan clenched his fists slowly.Clara finally noticed someone behind her. She turned and gasped softly.“Ryan… you’re there?”Ava looked back too. Her eyes widened. Mrs Harrison also turned sharply.Ryan walked forward slowly, his face hard and serious.“What did I just hear?” he asked, his voice low but full of anger.Clara swallowed. “Ryan… I wanted to tell you but—”“But what?” Ryan cut in. “But you wanted to hide it?”Mrs Harrison stood quickly. “Ryan, please calm down.”Ryan shook his head. “Calm down? How can I calm down when someone in this hous
Chapter 155
The next morning was bright and peaceful. Birds were singing outside the window. Inside the sitting room, Mrs Harrison—Grace—sat on the sofa with Clara and Ava.Ava looked stronger and brighter now. She had fully recovered, and she sat comfortably with a small smile on her face.“Mummy,” Ava said, “I feel better now. I think I am ready to go back to school.”Mrs Harrison touched her hair gently. “My daughter, are you sure you are strong enough?”Ava nodded. “Yes, Mum. I rested well. I ate well. And the doctor already said I am fine.”Clara smiled. “I am happy you are going back. Staying at home was making you bored.”Ava laughed. “Very bored.”They all laughed for a few seconds until Mrs Harrison suddenly became quiet. Her face changed a little.Clara noticed it. “Mum, what is it? You look worried.”Mrs Harrison sighed and looked at her hands. “There is something I want to tell both of you.”Ava and Clara looked at each other, then back at her.“What is it?” Ava asked.Mrs Harris
Chapter 154
The afternoon sun was slowly going down. The house was quiet because Clara had taken Ava to the backyard to play. Ryan was in the room resting. That was when Clara’s uncle walked slowly into the sitting room where Mrs Harrison was folding some clothes.He cleared his throat. “Grace… we need to talk.”Mrs Harrison looked up. “Talk about what? You look serious.”Clara’s uncle sat down slowly. He rubbed his palms together as if he was thinking deeply. “It’s about that boy in the station… Eric.”Mrs Harrison frowned immediately. “What about him?”He looked at her closely. “I am going to bail him out tomorrow morning.”Mrs Harrison dropped the clothes immediately. “God forbid! Why would you say that? You want to bail that troublemaker?”Clara’s uncle sighed. “Grace, calm down. Let us think well. The boy is suffering in that place.”Mrs Harrison shook her head fast. “He deserves to suffer! Do you know what he did? Do you know how he almost destroyed Clara and Ryan’s peace? How he behaved ba
Chapter 153
Chapter 153Ryan woke up very early the next morning. Sleep did not stay long with him because his mind was troubled. He kept thinking of one thing:Why did Clara’s uncle hate him the moment he saw him?He lay on the bed for a while, staring at the ceiling. He felt something in his chest, a kind of quiet warning. Something was wrong, but he did not know what it was.Clara was still sleeping beside him, holding his hand. Ryan looked at her peaceful face and forced a smile. He reached out and brushed her hair gently.“I will not let anything happen to you,” he whispered.He got up and went to the window. The compound was quiet. Birds were singing. But even with the peaceful morning, Ryan still felt something heavy in his heart.After dressing up, he went downstairs. Mrs Harrison was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Clara’s uncle sat in the living room reading a newspaper, but he was not really reading. His eyes were moving, but his mind seemed far away.When Ryan entered the
Chapter 152
Ryan woke up very early the next morning. He did not sleep well at all. His eyes were heavy, and his mind was still full of yesterday’s thoughts. But he stood up slowly and forced himself to move. He washed his face and looked into the mirror.“You must stay calm,” he told himself quietly. “You must watch him. You must not make mistakes.”He changed his clothes and walked out of the room. The house was quiet. Only the soft morning breeze entered through the open window. He walked toward the kitchen to drink water, but he stopped when he heard voices.It was Clara and her uncle.Ryan moved slowly and stood near the wall, not too close, but close enough to hear. He did not want them to know he was listening.Clara’s voice sounded calm. “Uncle, you should eat something. You just came back from a long trip.”Her uncle replied with a fake smile in his tone. “I am fine, Clara. Don’t worry about me.”Ryan could hear the change in the man’s voice. When he spoke to Clara, he was gentle. B
Chapter 151
Ryan could not sleep.The whole night felt heavy. The house was quiet, but his mind was not. He sat on the couch in the living room with his hands pressed together. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Clara’s uncle’s face. That cold look. That sharp stare. That strong hatred he did not hide well.Ryan had been judged many times in life, but this one felt different. The hatred from Clara’s uncle came too fast. Too strong. Too sudden. And Ryan kept asking himself the same question over and over again…“Why? Why did he hate me at first sight?”He replayed everything in his head. The moment the man entered the house. The way he smiled at Mrs Harrison. The way he hugged Clara. The way he carried himself with pride. And then… the way his face had changed the moment he saw Ryan standing beside Ava.The smile faded.The eyes narrowed.The body stiffened.And in that first second, Ryan had felt it—the dislike, the anger, the rejection. The man had looked at him like he was a danger. Like
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