2024-08-26 19:32:39"Of course not," Oliver replied. "It’s my money. Take it. Pay me back whenever you can—no rush, and definitely no interest."
Nate’s hands trembled as he stared at the stack of bills, unsure whether to accept.
This wasn’t just a loan; it was a life-changing sum.
He hesitated, but thoughts of his son's medical bills tipped the scale.
With a deep breath, he pocketed the cash.
"Thank you, Oliver," Nate said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you."
"Everything will work out, Nate. I promise," Oliver said, sincerity in his eyes.
Nate smiled, a mix of relief and gratitude softening his expression. "I believe it will, buddy."
Somehow, he couldn’t help but replay the image of Anthony trembling in front of Oliver.
Who is this guy really? he wondered, but just as quickly dismissed the thought.
Nah, if he were someone important, he wouldn’t have tolerated Anthony for this long. He’s just another guy trying to get by.
When they reached Nate’s modest house, it showed signs of wear—faded walls, furniture past its prime. But everything was tidy and well-kept.
"Make yourself at home," Nate said, exhausted. "There are some cup noodles if you’re hungry."
While Nate got ready to pick up his son, Chris, from school, Oliver’s gaze wandered to a framed photo of Nate and Chris.
He picked it up, drawn to the boy’s bright smile.
"Can Chris’s illness be cured?" he asked.
“With a lot of money, yeah,” Nate sighed heavily. "A specialist could help, but that's way beyond what I can afford."
Oliver’s heart tightened. "What if money wasn’t an issue?"
Nate shot him a wary look. "What are you suggesting? Something illegal?"
"No, nothing like that," Oliver said softly. "I can help with Chris’s medical bills. Just let me handle it."
Nate shook his head, his tone serious. "We’re just regular guys scraping by. You’ve already done more than enough just by being a friend."
Oliver nodded, respecting Nate’s pride.
After eating some cup noodles, he headed to the shower.
As the hot water hit his skin, a sudden realization struck him.
"Shit. I left the necklace at the Henverton mansion," he muttered, running a hand through his wet hair.
That necklace, a keepsake from his past, had always been by his side.
In the chaos of his divorce, he’d left it behind on the nightstand.
"Looks like I’ll have to face Trisha again," Oliver whispered to himself, his shoulders slumping at the thought.
After dressing, he borrowed Nate’s truck and made his way toward the Henverton mansion.
While driving, his phone rang. It was Rebecca.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, Sir Oliver. I’m calling to inform you that Anthony has been fired from the market,"
Rebecca said on the other end.
"We’re also arranging proper compensation for the employees he mistreated, including your friend."
"That’s great news, Rebecca. Thank you," Oliver said, his voice warm with gratitude.
"Thanks again for all your help, Rebecca. If you ever need anything, let me know."
"You don’t owe me a thing, Sir Oliver. The assistance you received earlier is a privilege for red card holders,"
Rebecca explained, her voice polite yet measured. "But... if it’s not too much trouble, could I ask a personally favor?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of favor?"
"Would you go to a party with me... and pretend to be my boyfriend?"
Oliver blinked, caught off guard. "Pretend to be your boyfriend? What’s going on?"
Rebecca’s voice grew embrassment.
"It’s a complicated situation. I need someone to... help me keep certain people at bay. I know it’s an odd request, but I’m in a bit of a bind. It's okay if you not to, I'm asking too much..."
Oliver chuckled softly.
"I see. Well, it doesn’t sound too difficult. I’ll go, but I need to handle some personal business first."
"That’s perfectly fine," Rebecca replied, relief flooding her tone. "The party isn’t until later. I’ll send you the address. And... thank you."
"No problem," Oliver said before ending the call.
As he neared the Henverton mansion, something felt off.
He tried unlocking the gate with his key, but it wouldn’t turn.
After several attempts, it was clear.
Trisha must’ve changed the locks, he thought bitterly.
And clearly, the house seemed empty. No choice, then.
Relying on the skills he’d picked up from his time in the Legion, Oliver deftly unlocked the door and slipped inside.
He made his way to his room, where he found the necklace sitting on the nightstand.
Pocketing it, he began gathering a few of his belongings when he heard footsteps from downstairs.
"Who could that be?" His senses sharpened.
Moving quietly, Oliver descended the stairs, only to come face to face with Carolina, his former mother-in-law.
"What are you doing here?" Carolina’s eyes widened in shock.
"Mother," Oliver greeted, offering a polite smile.
She was always nice to Oliver back to the days.
He had always thought of Carolina as a second mother.
But Carolina’s expression now quickly turned to disdain.
"Trisha already changed the locks, and you still managed to break in? Is this how desperate you are to reconcile with my daughter?"
She sneered, her voice dripping with venom.
"No, that’s not my intention," Oliver replied, keeping his voice steady despite the tension.
Carolina scoffed, folding her arms with an air of superiority.
"Who do you think you’re fooling? A broke, pathetic loser like you will say anything to leech off my daughter. You think I’d let you drag her down again? Not a chance!"
Previous Chapter
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Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 10: The Party
Oliver’s heart sank at Carolina’s words. Once upon a time, he’d cleaned her house, taken her to doctor appointments, cooked meals, and spent hours keeping her company. She’d been warm, kind—even motherly. But now, her eyes held only cold disdain, as if they were strangers.Maybe her kindness only be a mask, just a reflection of Cole’s wealth?“Get out of here now!” she spat, her voice sharp as a knife. “Or do you want to get arrested?”A swirl of anguish rose inside him, but Oliver didn’t respond. He turned to leave, but Carolina stepped in front of him, blocking the way.“Leave everything behind!” she snapped, eyes narrowing.“These are my belongings,” Oliver replied. It was just some old clothes in his bag.Carolina took a step closer, contempt twisting her expression.“Are you out of your mind? You don’t deserve a single thing from this house!”Oliver’s frustration flared. Not worth a thing? I paid for this house. Most of the household bills, too.But he didn’t say it. Instead,
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 11: Facade
Gasps rippled through the crowd, astonished by the exchange between them.Rebecca, known for her beauty and constant refusals, showing up with a “nobody”?“Trash? He’s far better than you,” Rebecca shot back, folding her arms and staring Jay down. “And where are your manners?”Jay sneered. “Manners? I only show those to people who deserve them. Clearly not this poor loser.”He retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “But I’m curious — Why are you even with this guy? Did you find him online and hire him for the night”Laughter echoed from the other guests, nodding in agreement.It made sense; Rebecca would go to such lengths to avoid a real relationship.Jay continued, his tone mocking.“Really, Rebecca if you’re going to hire someone, couldn’t you set your standards a little higher? Even the janitors here are dressed better than him!”“You should have hired me instead of him, Rebecca. I’m the one who truly matches your vibe. This old man couldn't event satisfy you.”But Rebecca didn
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 12: Sudden Fear
As soon as Trisha spotted Oliver, she stormed toward him, Jay and Denver trailing close behind.“I told you to stop following me!” she snapped, her voice loud and hostile. “You pathetic lowlife! How dare you come here and lurk around like some creep?”Oliver blinked by her outburst.“Wait, you know him?” Jay asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.“That’s Trisha’s useless ex-husband,” Denver answered, his teeth clenched with anger. “What’s that nobody doing at a party like this?”“It’s because he’s Rebecca’s boyfriend,” Jay interjected, a smug grin spreading across his face.Trisha paused for a moment when she heard this.She finally noticing the transformation in Oliver’s appearance.He stood there in a sharp, expensive suit, clean-shaven and composed, radiating a powerful presence, made him look like a completely different man.“What? Are you kidding me? There’s no way that bumpkin could snag someone like Rebecca.”Trisha raised an eyebrow, her face twisting in disgust mixed with a s
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 13: Ryan Williams
Rebecca offered a slight smile before quickly hiding it.“The dirty mutt who only knows how to smear someone’s name without any proof…” Oliver remarked, his gaze shifting to them.“…And all the followers who blindly believe her.” His eyes swept over the other guests.As his words settled, the room fell silent.The guests’ faces morphed into expressions of disgust and disbelief.Jay’s face darkened in anger.“You worthless son of a bitch,” he hissed through clenched teeth, “I’m gonna kick your ass out of your mouth.”“This damn bastard!”Denver growled, losing his patience. He lunged forward, grabbing Oliver by the collar.***An elderly man walked along the plush, carpeted hallway outside, furrowing his brow as he approached the door.“What’s going on inside? Why is it so noisy?”One of his subordinates picked up a walkie-talkie to explain,“It seems there’s been a disagreement in the banquet hall, but it hasn’t escalated to the point of needing security yet.”This elderly man was the
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 14: Savior
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Mr. Hunt…” Ryan Williams, one of the wealthiest men in the country, said, his voice trembling. “I owe you my life, and after all these years without being able to repay you… suddenly, you appear at my own banquet. I’d heard that three years ago—”“Enough,” Oliver cut him off.The guests exchanged uneasy glances, confused and on edge. Ryan Williams, a man of untouchable power, was kneeling before Oliver. It was a sight none of them had expected.“What the… Why is Mr. Williams kneeling to someone like him?”“Is this guy some big shot we didn’t know about? Could this be why Rebecca was with him?”“If he’s really a VVIP at Umbrella Bank… we might’ve messed up big time judging him…”Their murmurs filled the room, ranging from annoyance to nervousness. They realized that if Oliver was truly connected to Ryan, they might be in for trouble.Oliver, however, ignored the whispers around him, simply raising an eyebrow as he looked closely at Ryan. There was some
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 15: Stealth
Jay swallowed hard, realizing there was no way out.With no choice but to accept it, he turned and slunk away.He didn’t dare defy Ryan. Sticking around after this would only make things worse, a slap in his own face.As Jay disappeared, Ryan’s usual calm smile returned.“Remember,” he said, “Everyone here is a guest, no matter their status. If something like this happens again, I won’t hesitate to step in.”A murmur rippled through the guests.They exchanged tense glances, the kind of silent, nervous conversation that followed any reminder of Ryan’s influence.He was a force few dared to cross—a single word from him could move mountains, shake governments, and, some said, even trigger strikes at his command.But here he was, exercising his power over… a petty insult?“Please, just enjoy the party.” Ryan continued, a glimmer of lightness in his voice. “Tonight marks the thirtieth gathering I’ve hosted here, and I’d like it to be a night we all remember fondly.”Hearing this, the crowd
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 16: Favor
With the shadowy figure from earlier gone, Oliver gave a slight nod. “Alright.”“Thank you. Please, follow me,” Ryan said, his tone polite but firm.Oliver followed Ryan into a private meeting room.The space was elegant, with marble floors and walls adorned with expensive paintings.It wasn’t overly flashy, but the simplicity only added to its sophistication.Ryan glanced around the room before speaking. “I know this might seem suspicious, but I mean no harm,” he reassured Oliver, locking eyes with him. “I brought you here because what I’m about to say is confidential.”Oliver’s brow furrowed slightly. “What is it?”Without another word, Ryan picked up a brown envelope from the table and handed it to him. “Here.”Oliver opened the envelope and began sifting through the documents inside.His frown deepened as he realized the papers were related to a weapons manufacturing company.“These are the findings from the investigation you asked me to carry out,” Ryan explained, pointing at the
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 17: After Time
Oliver felt his chest tightening. His steps were slow, deliberate, trying to make sense of the tension bubbling inside him. From a distance, he overheard bits of the conversation.“Yes, she’s working hard in the capital,” Zayne was saying, his smile wide and confident. “She’s just as determined and competent as you.”Rebecca smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you, Zayne.”“You’re welcome,” Zayne replied, his eyes drifting toward Oliver as he approached. “I should be going, Rebecca. See you around.”By the time Oliver reached them, Zayne was already walking away. His eyes lingered on the empty space Zayne had occupied, but quickly shifted to Rebecca.“Why were you talking to Zayne?” He asked, his tone sharper than he intended.Rebecca blinked, surprised by the question. “He’s a guest—and an important one at that. He wanted to ask me some questions about the umbrella bank,” She replied, her tone polite but slightly guarded. “Is something wrong?”
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Chapter 209: The Way To Unlock The Fund
“You’ll need to sign this to unlock the fund, Oliver,” Blackwell explained quietly, his tone professional but oddly distant. “It’s that easy.”Oliver’s hand hovered over the folder, but he didn’t open it just yet. His instincts were screaming at him, and the air in the room felt suffocating.‘Why did Trisha need me to sign this now?’ Oliver asked, his brows furrowing. ‘What was she planning?’“I’ll need a moment,” Oliver said, his voice low. “I also need to personally check my account and see if I can withdraw from it or not.Trisha’s smile faltered just slightly, though she masked it quickly. “Sure. He could do it, right? Mr. Blackwell?”“You can, Mr. Hunt,” answered Richard with a professional smile. “And if you can’t withdraw from it, you can go back here and let’s talk for a little longer.”Oliver nodded, and without hesitation, he went outside the private office.Just to be sure, he went to the reception area and asked, “Is Rebecca Carter in the VIP room?”“No, Sir,” the receptio
Chapter 208: Locked Account
Oliver paused, and a few seconds later, he stood slowly.“Let’s go, then,” he said in a low tone.Trisha blinked, caught off guard. “You’ll come?”“I’ll come,” Oliver replied. “But not for you. I want to see who else is trying to get their hands on my money.”Upon hearing those words, Trisha suddenly froze in her spot. ‘For sure that I didn’t make my words be interpreted that way,’ Trisha said, biting her lower lip.‘But how did he come to that conclusion?’Trisha was about to ask that question, but before he could speak, Oliver beat her to it.“Aren’t you coming with me?” Oliver asked, his brows furrowing as he was ready to leave the cafe at any time.“Y-Yes,” Trisha answered, taking a deep breath. “Wait for me.”*****The bustling streets outside Umbrella Bank seemed distant as Oliver and Trisha walked in silence. Trisha’s high heels clicked against the pavement, creating more tension in the air. Oliver, on the other hand, kept his eyes ahead. His mind was sharp, processing every
Chapter 207: Business Conversation
“That’s the spirit,” Denver said, giving her a short nod of approval. “Then we have a deal, Trisha. I’ll help you get what you want.” Just remember, when the time comes, I’ll expect you to return the favor,” he added, a menacing smirk creeping to his face. “We’ll be working together on this.”Trisha didn’t even hesitate. She held his gaze firmly, a smile tugging on her lips. “Deal.”Both of them extended their hands, shaking hands as if they were doing a business agreement.Then, as Denver got up to leave, he gave her one last look. “Oliver won’t know what hit him. We’ll make sure of that.”It gave Trisha a sense of fulfilment, although they aren’t executing their plan just yet. But she has a good feeling about this.“We will.” Trisha nodded. “And even though we’re not starting yet, thank you for the help, Denver.”Denver only nodded in response before walking away, leaving Trisha sitting in the dimly lit bar, her mind now working with a sense of certainty. She had her plan, and wi
Chapter 206: Mutual Advantage
Denver leaned back, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. “I’ve just been hearing a lot about you, Trisha. Especially about what happened last night.” He grinned. “You’ve got quite a... complicated situation going on with Oliver. And he humiliated you? At the parking lot?”Trisha did her best not to look shocked as soon as Denver said those words. But her eyes blew it all away.At the same time, she wasn’t that surprised with how much Denver knew. He had too many eyes in different places. Basically, now that Zayne was gone, the town was practically his.“I know that you’re not interested in gossip, and it’s the same as mine,” Trisha scoffed, rolling her eyes. “So, stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want.”Trisha couldn’t hide the annoyance in her voice. She was in no mood for anyone to waste her time, especially now that she was thinking of a plan to bring Oliver down.Denver’s smirk grew wider, and he leaned forward slightly.“I know you, Trisha. You’re thinking of
Chapter 205: By Hook Or By Crook
“You’re out of your mind if you think you still have any hold over him,” she said, her tone condescending. “And to be honest, I’m not afraid of you, or any tactics that you will use in the future.”Seraphine added, now her voice firm and laced with sincerity,“I’m not going to let you destroy what Oliver and I have, and the family we’re starting to build. So you can keep playing your little games, but it won’t work.” Seraphine’s voice was low and intimidating. “It’s over.”There was a brief, tense silence, and then Trisha’s voice was laced with anger. “You’re so naive, Seraphine.” Trisha chuckled sarcastically. “I’ll make sure you regret this. He’ll see the truth soon enough, that there are so many fish in the ocean, and she doesn’t need to stick with you. She added, “And when he does, you won’t even be a memory.”“Fishes?” Seraphine asked and laughed. She didn’t even bother to conceal it. “He’s not looking for fishes because Oliver is not a goddamn fisherman, Trisha. I’m not a fis
Chapter 204: It's Over
Oliver nodded, understanding the unspoken weight of her words. He knew that she needed more time, and hopefully, this conversation would help her make a decision."Take your time," he said, his voice laced with sincerity. "But I’ll be here."“Thank you,” Seraphine replied, a small smile tugging on her lips as she held the strap of her bag. “That’s it. I’ll take the train back to the capital. I need to go back to Anastasia.”Oliver wanted her to stay, even just for a little bit, so they would be together. But at the same time, he understood her dilemma. Anastasia couldn’t be left alone.‘And if something bad happens to her while we’re not around, I don’t know if Seraphine could still take it,’ Oliver thought.So, he answered, “Alright. Take care, Sera.”Seraphine only nodded in response. Then, she stood up and left the café.Oliver couldn’t help but feel that things were still fragile between them. But now, at least, they were moving in the right direction.He knew that Seraphine still
Chapter 203: Trust
“I think I heard enough,” Oliver said, his jaw clenching. “I’ll send you my wife’s email address so you could email her, and maybe talk to her if she insists.”It was only a spare email, so he wouldn’t compromise Seraphine’s identity. And he didn’t know if this technique would be effective either.But he was willing to try everything if that meant gaining Seraphine’s forgiveness and trust again.“I’ll take care of Trisha. Don’t worry. It’s a deal.”Before Carolina could answer, Oliver had already ended the call.He already knows what to do next. With what happened earlier, it was more than enough for Trisha to behave.So, this time, he dialed Trisha’s number.Within a few seconds, she answered, as if she were already expecting this call.“That was too quick,” Trisha said on the other line, her tone smug. “Why? Did Seraphine already call you, tell you that you’re trash, and already break up with you, huh?”Oliver clenched his teeth, wanting to talk back. But he composed himself because
Chapter 202: Unexpected Help
Oliver was about to speak again, explaining more. But before he could even do that, Seraphine sighed heavily, the sound so weary it nearly broke him."I just… I can’t keep doing this, Oliver,” she muttered, her voice cracking. “I can't keep feeling like I’m going to be blindsided every time you walk out the door.”She added, “I trusted you. God knows I still do. But… I don’t know how to process these things.” Her voice was pained, and it hit Oliver like a physical blow.“Seraphine, please—”“I need time,” Seraphine said quietly, halting Oliver from finishing his sentence. “I need space to think. I don’t know if I can keep trusting you right now.”And before Oliver could explain, Seraphine had ended the call.Oliver stood in the middle of his room, his hand gripping the phone tightly, staring at the empty screen. It felt like the world had just tilted under his feet.For a moment, he didn’t know what to do, or even where to begin to fix this.All he knew was that he couldn’t let it en
Chapter 201: Breaking The Bond
Seraphine’s phone buzzed on the side table, and she barely glanced at it.However, something about the unfamiliar number flashing on the screen made her frown.Curious, she reached for it and unlocked it. Seraphine suddenly forgot how to breathe for a moment upon seeing the picture sent to her.Staring back at her was a picture, and although it was a blurry one, something was unmistakable. Oliver was in the picture with a woman.A woman pressing her lips to his. And it was just not any other woman.It was Trisha.“Shit… What is…” Seraphine trailed off, not even able to finish her sentence as her heart twisted painfully. “What the hell is this…”Her fingers gripped the phone tightly without realizing it, her knuckles whitening.But that wasn’t all. A few seconds later, Seraphine received another message.[You really think he’s loyal to you? Think again, Seraphine. You’re not the only woman in the world.]Seraphine’s mind blanked for a moment.“No…” she whispered aloud, the word falling
