RICHARD’S POVThe silence in the room was thick enough to choke on. Mr. Grant’s laughter echoed off the walls, but I didn’t move a muscle. I just sat there, watching him as if he were the most boring show on television. When he finally noticed my deadpan expression, his laughter died in his throat. “Wait, you’re serious?” he asked, eyes wide with disbelief.I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Do I look like I’m joking?”He blinked, struggling to process. “But… Langston’s deal is practically done. He’s already outside my office, waiting to sign the papers.”I shrugged. “But it’s not done, is it? Until that signature hits the page, it’s just a bunch of empty promises.”Mr. Grant stared at me, his mind visibly racing. “You can’t expect me to just throw him out like that. He’s been a good partner, reliable—”“Reliable?” I cut him off, my tone laced with sarcasm. “You mean the same guy who’s been sinking faster than a rock in quicksand? The man’s a chronic gambler, Mr. Grant. An

RICHARD’S POV I’d barely pulled up to Amelia’s house when the system pinged me: Task complete. 2 Ultra Points awarded. Well, that was a nice bonus. I barely had time to think about what those points might get me when I spotted Langston’s car parked outside. Of course, he’d run to Amelia’s place. Probably hoping to cry on her shoulder about how his golden goose just flew the coop. As I walked up to the front door, there he was, standing in the doorway like some washed-up old actor who didn’t know when to exit stage left. The moment he saw me, his eyes flared with pure hatred. His face was a shade of red that I didn’t think existed in nature. “You!” he roared, pointing a shaky finger at me. “You ruined everything!” Before I could even open my mouth, he lunged at me like a madman. If it weren’t for Amelia’s brother and father holding him back, I swear he would’ve tried to strangle me right there in the front yard. “Whoa, easy there, old man!” I said, half-laughing as he stru

RICHARD’S POVI was sitting in my father’s ornate sitting room, leaning back on the plush sofa, waiting for him to finally show up. This room always felt suffocating to me—filled with dark wood and heavy curtains, a perfect representation of my father’s tastes. Cold and uninviting, just like him. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been here without feeling a knot in my stomach.I sat there, uncomfortably tapping my foot against the polished hardwood floor. The clock on the wall seemed to be ticking slower than usual. My father was taking his sweet time, as always. The room, filled with old family portraits and heavy furniture, felt like a museum of someone else’s life—a life I was always kept on the outside of.Jonathan and Williams, my stepbrothers, were across the room, whispering to each other like two conniving rats. I could feel their eyes on me, their whispers slicing through the awkward silence.Finally, Jonathan cleared his throat, and I looked up. He had that smug look on

RICHARD’S POV I watched as the manager went back to her desk, her heels clicking sharply against the tile floor. She sat down, her face all business as she tapped away at her keyboard. I could feel the tension in the room, the hush of everyone waiting to see what would happen next.The young staffer beside me leaned over, whispering, “Man, I’m sorry about all this. That guy really screwed up, huh?”I nodded, my eyes fixed on the manager. “Yeah, well, let’s see if he gets what’s coming to him.”She typed my name into the system, her eyes flicking over the screen. After a moment, she frowned and tapped the keys again, double-checking. I held my breath, hoping that this wasn’t some kind of elaborate trick. Finally, she looked up, and I could see the anger in her eyes. “Mr. Thorne, you are not blacklisted. There’s absolutely nothing on your record.”I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Thank you,” I said, my voice tight. “I knew there had to be some kind of mistake.”The man

RICHARD’S POV As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the small black listening device in my hand, my heart pounded. It was early morning, and I’d planted this bug in my brothers’ room yesterday, right after I checked in. I needed to know what they were planning. Whatever it was, I wanted to stay a step ahead.Now, as I turned up the volume, their voices crackled through the device, loud and clear. “You know, Jonathan,” William’s voice came through first, full of disdain. “I’m sick of this whole game Dad’s playing. It’s high time we got rid of him. He’s the only reason Richard has a shot at the inheritance.”My stomach dropped. My hand tightened around the device so hard I thought I might crush it.“Yeah,” Jonathan replied, his tone just as cold. “Once Dad’s out of the picture, the old man’s wealth is ours. Richard isn’t even in the will officially. Only if he wins this stupid task will he inherit anything. We could just... finish this, once and for all.”I had to bite down on my l