With a malicious glint in his eyes, Maxwell turned towards Michael, a smirk playing on his lips. "Eighty thousand dollars," he declared, his voice echoing through the silent room. His gaze met Michael's, holding a clear message. "Can you afford that, Michael?"The room held its breath, the tension palpable. Guests exchanged glances, whispers fluttering like butterflies around the room. The host, a man seasoned in countless auctions, had never experienced such an electrifying spectacle. He raised an intrigued eyebrow, his eyes scanning the room in anticipation of the upcoming spectacle.Michael's gaze met Maxwell's with unwavering determination, a cool confidence emanating from him. The corners of his mouth twitched, resembling a slight smile as he contemplated his next move. The room held its breath, the tension palpable, as everyone eagerly awaited Michael's response.A few whispered exclamations danced through the crowd as Michael's voice cut through the silence, "Two hundred thousa

Michael's phone buzzed interrupting his quiet evening at home he'd planned for himself. The caller ID read, "James." Michael’s heart softened, a smile tugging at his lips. James was a good friend, the kind who'd been there for him when things had been rough, especially during the time Ryan had tossed him into a trash alley. James had been his savior, providing him with fresh clothes and healing oils."Hey, James," Michael greeted, "It’s been a while. How have you been?"James's voice came over the line, warm and familiar. “I’ve been good, Mike. Listen, I was calling to invite you to my cousin's birthday. Melody's turning 23, you remember her?”A pang of reluctance hit him. Melody was far from his favorite person. “Ah, James, you know she and I don’t exactly get along.”James was quick to reassure him. “I know, I know. But she’s changed, Mike. I promise she won’t give you a hard time. Besides, I could use a friendly face there.”Michael sighed. He owed James, and he was not one to for

Once outside the restaurant, James couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Mike, where did you get the money to pay for Melody's bill?" he asked, trying to make sense of the situation. Michael hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to answer without revealing his secret. He knew he couldn't tell James the truth about his newfound wealth, at least not yet. "I had some savings, that's all," Michael finally replied, hoping it would be enough to satisfy James's curiosity. But James wasn't convinced. "Savings? Come on, Mike, we both know you weren't exactly rolling in dough before," James pressed, his brow furrowed with suspicion. "Where did you really get the money and that card?" Michael could feel his anxiety rising with each passing second. He knew he needed to come up with a believable explanation soon, or risk exposing his secret to his friend. "Look, guy, can we just drop it for now? I promise I'll tell you everything once I can," he said, hoping to put an end to t

The room buzzed with excitement as Donovan directed everyone to the front of the room. Chairs were pushed aside, creating a large open space. "Alright everyone," he called out, "it's time for a game of 'Remember When'." A collective cheer erupted from the crowd, everyone eager to relive their high school days, except for Michael. He stood awkwardly at the back, a sense of dread pooling in his stomach. Donovan took charge of the game, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Now, let's see...where should we start?" He paused, a smirk playing on his lips before turning his gaze towards Michael. "Ah, yes, Michael. Remember when you tried to ask Victoria to the prom but ended up tripping and falling flat on your face?" Laughter erupted and Victoria shot Michael a look of disgust. "Oh, I remember that," she snorted, "it was priceless." The room filled with laughter at her comment, each chuckle a dagger to Michael's heart. Undeterred by the cringe on Michael's face, Donovan continued, "And who

"Donovan, I won the jackpot! Who's the real winner now?" said Michael with a victorious smirk. The crowd was stunned, and Donovan was fuming with anger. He couldn't believe he had let Michael win the grand prize."Feeling less confident now, huh?" taunted Michael, turning to Donovan with a triumphant smile.Donovan, his face red with anger, shouted, "How did you win? This wasn't supposed to happen!"Michael chuckled and replied, "Well, Donovan, sometimes luck is on my side. Looks like it's not your day."Donovan's teeth ground together in frustration, his brow furrowed in disbelief. "Impossible," he muttered to himself, storming towards the wheel. He gave it a furious spin.But as soon as he turned the wheel, a bucket of stinking rotten fish water fell from above and poured over his head. Donovan's face contorted in disgust and anger as his clothes were drenched in fishy water. "Yuck!"Stunned silence gave way to raucous laughter. "Oh, Donovan, you smell like my grandma's week-old se