“Come with me to an event this evening.” Hearing that, Haze refused right away, “No.” “You have no choice,” the sharp-eyed teen said. “You can’t force me,” Haze retorted, “Besides, what will you do, anyway? Tying my hands and feet then dragged me with a rope? I’d like to see you try that.” However, unlike her usual harsh response, Maxine whined at him, saying, “It’s my last day here before I have to go back to school. You failed to do what you promised me, so the least you can do is accompany me to an event. I was looking forward to it with Cassius, but…” Feeling guilty, Haze nodded immediately. “Alright.” Even as the wound Elaine sew still throbbed in pain every second. What Maxine said was correct. He had promised to find Cassius’s murderer before she had to go back abroad where she studied. But, he got no other lead. Even after such an intensive and dangerous investigation, they were far away from revealing who the true murderer was. So, as an apology, he would do what she a

Haze wanted to laugh at the dramatic approach, but he would prefer that over coming early and conversing with his supposed relatives. From the data Eliane gave him, they were not the best relatives someone could imagine. In fact, he’d rather not know them at all, if Cassius’s assassination was anything to go by. Walking alongside him, Elaine looked at her watch. “The meeting will start in a minute.” “Are all of them present there already?” “Yes. Only Mr. Fades and you who are not there yet.” Haze took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. With a nod, they climbed the stairs and went to the aforementioned room Elaine showed him. From the hall, he could hear the buzz of all sorts of conversations they have inside. Some talked about politics, some about business, and others were just gossipping over who married who. The door to the meeting room was opened, and there were two butlers in crisp black and white suits, standing

“I’m dying from terminal cancer. That’s why I gather all of you here tonight.” Benjamin Greyhouse, the eldest child, felt a heavy weight settle in the pit of his stomach as the reality of his father’s prognosis sank in. He was a natural leader and protector, he immediately assumed the role of caretaker. “Don’t worry about anything, father. I will do my best to assure you have all the medical assistance you may ever need. My company will come up with better medical technologies in no time, so please, don’t lose hope just yet.” Behind his stoic façade, however, Benjamin struggled to keep his face from grinning. He couldn’t wait for that day to come. As the first son, he was meant to have all of his father’s inheritances. This meeting was unneeded, aside for the purpose of announcing his succession. The future was looking bright. His sole company, Digital Grey, would truly rule the world these days forward. He would merge Fades Industries and his

In the Fades family, there was no such thing as cooperativeness or working together to reach success. No. It was always a competition between his five children. An eternal sibling rivalry to achieve the world. For that very reason, he gave a different last name to each of his children. Greyhouse, Greenhive, Blackwood, Whitelock, and Scarlettson. Not one of his children had the same last name, not even to himself. Since their early days, he had always told them to be better than their siblings, making them see each other as rivals and enemies that could leave them in the dust. In doing so, he achieved great results. Each of his children were successful. They had their own business they built by themselves where they thrive like no one else. They could live by themselves without any help from the other,making them independent individuals. However, he also instilled a craving sense into their very core since they were children. There was no point in making them the better version of

Haze couldn’t hold his stomach any longer, emptying his breakfast and pizza lunches on the dingy room’s dirty floor. “Ew!” Nathan Wolfe backed away from him, driving himself to a corner and squinted his eyes at the gross puke in front of him. Elaine was also disgusted, but she merely looked away and tried to ignore him. However, when a minute passed and Haze didn’t show any sign of stopping heaving and puking, she sighed. Approaching him, she placed a hand against his back, trying to ease the uncomfortableness. Once Haze was done and heaved for a fresh breath, the brunette offered a handkerchief. He grunted with gratitude, having no energy to speak properly. “I would have stuffed your mouth with my holey sock if I knew you’re going to puke,” Nathan’s words were laced with disappointment. Haze glared, trying to say that it was his fault for making hi, puke. But, his captor wouldn’t sympathize with him. In fact, he remains unbothered e