
Sweat dripped down from his face as Austin put the finishing touches on the floor that he was mopping.
The loud noises of the steam engines flooded into his hearings.
Rising gently from the floor, his bone made a cracking sound that signified how tired he was and the rate of his beating heart was real fast.
Even though he had been working for such a long time in the company and he had to cover the whole company daily, the manager had deliberately refused to increase his pay.
The last time that he brought up the topic, he almost got fired and that was something that he didn't want at the moment.
But all of that didn't matter to him as a smile was hovering on his face as he tossed the mop into the storage room and made his way toward his boss's office.
He could feel his heart beating hard against his chest as though it was going to burst through.
It was payday today and it was also his marriage anniversary.
He wanted to surprise his dear Ariel with the pearl that she had always wanted but during that period, he didn't have the money to get it.
Even though the necklace was going to cost him the whole of his payment for the moment and all his savings.
That didn't matter to him, as long as he would be able to put a smile on that face that had always stood by him all these years right from the time that he started leading this undercover life of his.
Sigh.
But that didn't matter much to Austin Soon, he was going to be at liberty to reveal to her who he was and by that time, they were going to be happy together, and forever.
Splitting the door of the manager, Mr. Ken opened, he walked slowly towards it making his face pull towards the door with a frown.
"Caveman, didn't anyone teach you to knock before banging into someone's office?" Mr. Ken thundered with his face still twitched into a frown.
"I'm very sorry sir but I have been trying to knock but you weren't responding." Austin replied swiftly but that wasn't enough to avert the angry look away from his face.
"So much for employing a caveman in the first place. What was I expecting." He murmured under his breath but it was loud enough for Austin to hear him.
"What do you want? To turn my company into a jungle?" He sneered but Austin Ignored his harsh words, already knowing the kind of person that he was.
"These types of people are the reasons I was sent to experience the life of a normal person in the first place. There is no need to get angry." Austin said under his breath, trying to control himself.
"It's payday manager Austin. And I am here for my pay like everyone else since I am done for the job for the day." He responded.
Immediately he spat out the words from his mouth, along with his escape.
Next came the sound of cracking drawers, with their neatly clean scent rising to his nostrils."
"Here." He tossed a few dollar bills towards his direction and Austin quickly snapped it away from him.
But after counting every single note of it, his face was flooded with so much confusion trying to figure out what was going on.
"Did I do anything wrong?" He tried to recollect a lot of random memories in his head.
"Is there anything wrong? Why are you still standing there or do you want to suffocate me to my death?" He fired with his hands clutched with so much anger until his knuckles made a cracking sound.
"Yes. There is a problem. The contract that I signed says I am supposed to be paid five hundred dollars monthly but I have just two hundred and fifty here." He replied with his face still flooded with confusion trying to figure out what was going on.
"You should know. The company is facing trouble and I can't afford to pay low-class workers like you such generous amounts anymore. I am sure that you must have saved a fortune from my previous generosity." He replied.
For a while, Austin could not think properly. Thoughts about the necklace that he wanted to get flashed in his memories.
"But sir. I have always worked hard. You can't just cut off my salary like that?"
"Well, I already did, and if you are not satisfied. You can always return it and sue me in court. That's even if you can afford a lawyer." He laughed out loud.
Austin's face was already flaming hot red with so much anger but he knew that there was absolutely nothing that he could do about it.
He walked away from the office with just his half payment, staring right into the streets without much confusion.
"What do I do now?" He thought in his head with a sigh.
"I guess I will have to get her something else." He said to himself
Getting into the nearby jewelry store, he got another necklace of four hundred dollars for her instead with a heavy heart.
"I'm sure Ariel is going to understand once I tell her everything that went through." He said under his breath with a slight sigh as he made his way to the mansion.
His hands clenched tightly around the package in his hands but as he drew closer towards the Mansion, he could hear the loud sound of celebration coming from their end. Getting him even more confused than he was already.
"What are they celebrating?" Confusion clouded his mind as to what they could be doing instead.His hands crawled through the door handle but immediately he parted the door open and walked into the vast living room, the sound of their wild celebrations blew to an abrupt stop.
Their faces twisted into frowns but he was not even the slightest bit worried because he was already used to their behaviors, they had never wanted him in the family in the first place.
"Let's get this over with already." He heard a familiar voice coming towards him with her ever-careful and graceful steps.
Even in a vast crowd, he could always pick out that voice that never really got tired of yelling at him and finding faults in every single thing that he did.
"Why is everyone so stiff? We should be happy at least we are getting what we have always wanted." She said to everyone, taking in a sip of wine and returning her hateful gaze to him.
"What's going on?" He could no longer hold back the suspense and finally had to inquire.
"Ariel wanted us to share some really important news with you, she is getting married." Lady Kate added walking over to the table at the edge of the room and drawing something out from the drawer.
"What are you trying to say? I don't understand." Austin replied swiftly, trying as hard as he could to pick out the sense of what he was trying to say.
"I know you are poor but never knew that you were pretty dumb. What part of the fact that Ariel is getting someone that deserves her beauty and status don't you understand?" She inquired, staring right into his eyes.
The words went back and forth in his head but he didn't think that the Ariel that he had been with all these while would want to toss him away so heartlessly.
"Ariel can't do that to me. It's just one of your little tricks because you want us separated."
"Believe me. I won't go through the stress if I want you gone." Lady Kate returned.
"And besides we are legally married and she can't get married to someone else." Maxwell shot a stare at her.
"And that's the part we came here to do away with already." She replied pushing a piece of A4 paper over to him almost immediately.
His eyes skimmed through it only for him to discover that it was some divorce arrangement.
"Do you hate the fact that I and your daughter are together so much?" His eyes farrowed.
"I know this is what you have always wanted but do you really have to force us apart when it is obvious that we want to be together?" He muttered.
"I am not going to sign it if Ariel wants a divorce. Then she will have to tell me herself." He returned.Lady Kate's anger rose to the point that he could not control it.
She raised her hands to slap him on the face but Maxwell held her hands halfway through in the air.
Just then, the door made a cracking sound and a familiar aura made its way into the hall
It was his Ariel
Dripping her hands, his eyes skimmed toward the door but he was struck by the hard truth. His Ariel was in the hands of another man, holding her by her waist and kissing her on her forehead.
"Ariel?" The words shot out of his mouth as he fell backward slowly, the walls around his world crumbling into dust.

Latest Chapter
Chapter 110
Saturday afternoon buzzed with a frenetic energy. The air thrummed with car horns and the chatter of bustling crowds.Vincent, a man built like a linebacker with a surprisingly gentle touch, wrestled with a tangled mess of shopping bags.Ramsey, ever the joyful friend since childhood, sported a wide grin and a mischievous glint in his eyes as he nudged a particularly stubborn bag Vincent's way.And Austin… they all piled up in Vincent's sleek black SUV."Man, slow down there, Santa Claus," Ramsey chuckled, dodging a rogue shopping bag with a practiced swoop. "We just need a few suits, not enough to redecorate Austin's entire apartment."Austin, the object of their playful jabs, followed behind, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "Hey, I gotta step up my game, right? Can't walk into my first official day as a manager looking like a college freshman anymore. Not in a hoodie and jeans, please."Vincent snorted. "Don't worry, Aust. By the end of this shopping spree, you'll look sharper
Chapter 109
A grin split Vincent's face as Austin finished explaining his plan. "That's a brilliant idea, man," he said, bumping fists with Austin in a friendly greeting. Ramsey, ever the strategist, chimed in with a thoughtful nod."And remember," Ramsey added, "we're always here to back you up if things get hairy.""Yeah, thanks a bunch, bro," Austin replied, his smile widening as he shook both their hands. It was a simple gesture, a silent language of trust and camaraderie that spoke volumes.Ramsey, however, wasn't quite finished. "Hold on, Austin," he interjected, turning towards Vincent. "Don't you think we should get some supplies? The manager needs to look the part, right?""Right on, man!" Vincent exclaimed, snapping his fingers in agreement. The rest of them echoed his sentiment, a wave of realization washing over the group.Laughter bubbled out of Austin. "See, Ramsey's got the brains of this operation," he teased, nudging his friend playfully.Ramsey snorted, a hint of amusement crink
Chapter 108
Saint gnawed on his thumbnail, pacing like a caged wolf on the narrow balcony overlooking the bustling city below. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool night air.He replayed the events in his head, calculating the timeline with morbid satisfaction. By now, Rose had to be gone. He was sure she would be dead.He'd orchestrated a "tragic accident" – a forced jump off a moving boat, playing on her crippling fear of water. In his mind, it was a foolproof plan.Rose had aquaphobia and being on the sea would have raised her blood pressure. And for her to even jump into the sea would have been so bad on her.Rose wouldn't have lasted a second in the water. Her aquaphobia was legendary, guaranteed to send her blood pressure skyrocketing and her heart
Chapter 107
A steaming mug of coffee cupped in her hands, Ariel scanned the bustling coffee shop.Her eyes snagged on a flash of familiar blonde hair – Crystal, pushing open the door with a flourish. Relief washed over Ariel, momentarily eclipsing the bitter aftertaste of her previous conversation with Andrew.Maybe Crystal's infectious energy would chase away the lingering tension. Crystal was so anxious to know about her plans and here they were, ready to spill out.Ariel slammed her mug down a little too hard, the clatter drawing Crystal's attention. A wide grin stretched across Crystal's face as she sashayed over, her hips swaying with practiced ease. Crystal saw her at one go and walked towards her with a big smile on her face."I beat you when it comes to time but it seems like you win the Speed Demon award again," Crystal announced as she slid into the seat opposite Ariel.Ariel laughed, the sound was genuine despite the knot of worry tightening in her stomach. "Always," she conceded. "Tho
Chapter 106
"He's headed to South America. That's far away." Christian muttered more like he was talking to himself and still looking at the tab before him, "He's hopping continents, Christian. That's a long way from the mess he made here." Disbelief laced Christian's voice.Saint, that criminal was traveling very far away from his crimes. He was trying very hard to slip further and further away."He's got a mission, Psalms," Christian said, a steely glint entering his eyes. "And we're going to help him complete it."Psalms scoffed. "By letting him waltz off to South America and hoping he spills his guts on some exotic beach? Christian, that's a crazy plan.""Not crazy," Christian corrected, his voice firm. "Risky, yes. But it's the only way to get him. Think about it, Psalms. If we follow him and get close enough to gain his trust, we can get him to talk. He might slip up, and reveal details about other operations, bigger players. Evidence the cops can't ignore."A tense silence rose between the
Chapter 105
The sterile white walls of the hospital seemed to press down on Vincent as he shuffled behind Ramsey and Austin, their laughter bouncing off the polished floor. Outside, the late afternoon sun casts long shadows, promising the freedom Vincent craved."That's crazy, you know," Austin cackled, nudging Ramsey with his elbow. "Just leave him there. He'd probably start talking to pigeons again."Ramsey slapped Austin on the back, a booming laugh erupting from his chest. "Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised. Vincent, the pigeon whisperer."Vincent rolled his eyes, a familiar warmth blooming in his chest despite their teasing. "So, you're saying I've always been a couple of fries short of a happy meal? That I've always been crazy, yeah?"Ramsey grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Everyone knows that. Vinnie and Trouble, 5&6. You're our resident nutter."The playful banter felt foreign after weeks of IV drips and endless beeping monitors. Vincent winced as he remembered the metallic tang of bloo
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