The last minute of Poverty

The moon hung low over Silver Bridge, but Jason barely noticed the cold wind biting through his thin jacket. He stood by the roadside, waiting for someone he hadn't seen in four years. The heavy glass doors of the Snakehole Lounge swung open. Rose walked out, her arm looped tightly through John’s. When her eyes landed on Jason standing under the dim streetlamp, her expression immediately soured into disgust. She clearly assumed he was waiting for her. "Are you seriously still here?" Rose sneered. "Do you have any dignity left?" John let out a condescending chuckle, adjusting his expensive collar as he looked down his nose at the young man. "Don't waste your breath, babe. People this broke don’t actually have dignity. They just have stubbornness." To emphasize his point, John pulled a sleek key fob from his pocket and pressed the button. Nearby, the headlights of a pristine, matte-black Lamborghini flashed to life, slicing through the darkness of the alley. He smirked, making sure

Pendleton University, with its sprawling ivy-covered brick walls and manicured lawns, was a battlefield disguised as an institution of higher learning. For the elites of Silver Bridge City, it was a high-end networking hub where deals were made between frat houses. For the few working-class students, it was a four-year endurance test. With graduation just weeks away, the campus was buzzing with one primary obsession: the annual senior graduation dinner. It was the ultimate stage for the wealthy to flex their family's status one last time before stepping into the real world. Jason pushed open the heavy wooden door to his dorm room, stepping into the cramped, familiar space. "Jason!" Colman Domingo practically jumped off his bed the moment the door clicked open. The burly, athletic young man let out a massive sigh of relief, dropping his gaming controller. "Damn it, man, you had me worried sick," Colman said, walking over and gripping Jason’s shoulder. He looked Jason up and down,

Jason leaned over to Colman. "I need to use the restroom," he whispered, stepping away from the group and slipped out of the private room He headed towards the corridor near the lobby. However, as he turned to a secluded corner, he heard a deep and aggressive voice that made him stop. Charlotte was pinned against the wall by a burly middle-aged man with a thick, scruffy beard. Relying on his heavy build and Gangstar vibes, he had her trapped against the wall and spoke to her in a threatening tone. “You think you can just walk away from us?” the man snarled, as he slammed his hand heavily against the wall, causing it to vibrate in response. “I don't care who you think you are. You have to follow me, or I drag you along… Either way, you're coming with me.” he declared. Jason's eyes narrowed. He instantly recognized the man. He's one of John's bodyguards, the same thugs who had surrounded him in the alley the night Rose broke up with him. Without a second thought, Jason walked c

Jason didn't waste a single word. He picked up the leather folder, barely glancing at the astronomical number printed at the bottom of the receipt. Without blinking, he picked up his matte black credit card and handed it to the waiter. "Split it down the middle," Jason said calmly. "Put my half on this." The sommelier took the heavy metal card, his eyes widening slightly at its weight and unmistakable design. He quickly produced a wireless payment terminal and inserted the chip. *Beep. Approved.* The small machine immediately printed out a receipt. The entire transaction went through perfectly, without even the slightest pause or request for authorization. The entire private room froze. The mocking laughter that had filled the air just seconds ago died instantly, replaced by a suffocating silence. Matthew’s arrogant sneer shattered. He stared at the small slip of paper in the waiter's hand as if it were a venomous snake. They had all expected Jason to humiliate himself, to beg