Alex adjusted his dark hair, feeling the scorching heat of the sun. He regretted not bringing his hat along. His gaze fell upon the vase on display, and a wave of disappointment washed over him. The price tag next to it exceeded his budget. He turned to the salesman, seeking clarification."Is this the vase you have here?" Alex inquired, his voice filled with hope. The salesman responded with a warm smile. "No, sir. We have more vases, and they are quite affordable," the man gestured towards his left. Alex breathed a sigh of relief as he noticed the price tags next to the other vases, which were within his budget."Thank you," Alex expressed his gratitude. The salesman nodded and handed him the packaged porcelain vase.Suddenly, a voice called out Alex's name, causing him to turn around with a frown. Approaching him were some of his family members, whom he referred to as goons. "There you are," they exclaimed."Hey," Alex forced a smile, trying to maintain a pleasant demeanor. "What's

Grandmother settled herself down slowly as Brielle approached her side."Grandma, we have a situation here. My... umm... husband claims that my brother's vase is fake. Can you tell? You used to have extensive knowledge about vases, grandma," Brielle whispered, squatting close to her and gently caressing her hand.Brielle had started to doubt the authenticity of Brock's vase, and she was becoming impressed by the way Alex had stood up to her brother.Her grandmother glared at Alex and Brock. She extended her hand, and Brock hesitated."Well," she said, and Brock reluctantly handed her the vase. She then reached out her hand to Alex, who stared at her in surprise. He nodded and handed her his own vase for inspection.She first examined Alex's vase and scowled. Brock grinned beside him, but the grandmother set Alex's vase aside and lifted Brock's vase to the light. Without hesitation, she instantly smashed it on the floor."Woah!" Brock exclaimed, and his grandmother scowled."How dare y

Alex woke to find the bed empty; he knew Brielle must have gone to get some groceries. They were still on break because of Grandma's birthday. Sighing, he sat up and stared at the mirror before him. His dark hair had fallen to his temples, and his eyes still looked hungry for sleep—he damned well needed one.Yawning, Alex walked out to the bar stand, where he now always resorted to drinking to clear his head. He grabbed a bottle of liquor, poured it into a glass, and took a sip.“This is becoming a habit. Do you know how much it costs to maintain this lifestyle?” someone said, and Alex nearly spilled his drink in surprise.“Amelia,” he said, his voice deep, something that made her observe him closely. “Good morning,” he added nonchalantly, and Amelia smiled at him, a grin plastered on her face as she walked up to him.“Should you be drinking this early? This lavish lifestyle, I hope you know your meager salary can't fund it,” she mocked. Alex frowned, and the liquor turned sour in his

Alex found himself in a dimly lit room, but to his surprise, he wasn't being treated roughly. Instead, he was kept in a tidy room. Before long, a servant girl entered the room, accompanied by two burly men who resembled the ones who had kidnapped him. The girl placed a tray on the table in front of Alex and then bowed slightly before leaving.Confused, Alex watched as the servant girl walked away. He couldn't understand why he was being treated so nicely when he clearly remembered being kidnapped and brought here. His gaze shifted to the meal in front of him, and the delicious aroma made his stomach growl.Curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously lifted the lids of the covered plates. To his delight, he discovered seared filet mignon with truffle sauce, along with his favorite roasted potatoes and steamed vegetables. The anticipation of the mouthwatering meal made his stomach churn, but he couldn't help but be cautious."What if it's poisoned?" he silently questioned himself

Brock felt uneasy, his stomach churned as sweat formed on his forehead. This business proposal was his opportunity to keep his secrets hidden. The profits from the deal would help him cover his tracks.Unfortunately, yesterday he had a major loss at the casino, completely ruining his plans. He had a feeling that something was off because he had insider information for a sure win. "Baby, can we please get out of here? They can all go to hell," Sophie complained, gripping his hand tightly. In a fit of anger and frustration, Brock forcefully pulled his hand away from her."Find your own way back," Brock shot at her, sliding into the driver's seat and slamming the door shut. "Baby, I'm sorry," Sophie lamented, attempting to open the car door, but it was already locked from the inside. Brock started the car and sped away, leaving Sophie behind."Babe... Bab..." Sophie's calls were drowned out by the sound of the speeding car. She was now breathing heavily, her anger growing. She knew Broc