Ryan slowly regained consciousness back to the realm of the living. He probably may have been unconscious for about two hours. Ryan found himself bound to a chair with hands behind his back and legs strongly tied with a rope. The gloomy atmosphere of where appeared to look like a cave, had the horrifying aura of the Dracula. “Where am I? Where is this place?” he thought to himself. With a blurred vision, Ryan could barely see the three solitary figures that sat about five meters away in the dimly lit cave chatting loudly about their sexual exploits. One of the figures, who had barely uttered a word finally spoke up. “After we put an end to this menace still taking a nap over there, I will like to completely devote my attention to Luna”, he said. As if to seek for an approval from his peers, he slowly raised his head up and continued. “Luna is the hottest girl in school and I think I am in love with her. I believe we will make a …” “Luna, the new girl?” a deep voice sharply cut in

Stepping into the opulent interior of the billionaire’s house is a journey through refined extravagance. The grand foyer showcases polished marble floors under a shining chandelier, setting the tone for luxury. In the dining room, a magnificent mahogany table, surrounded by adorned chairs, serves as a center piece beneath a breathtaking crystal chandelier. Walls adorned with tasteful art pieces and intricate molding creates an atmosphere of sophistication. The room is bathed in a soft glow from designer lighting features, casting an inviting ambiance over the meticulously set table of assorted meals.Ryan was utterly flabbergasted at what he was witnessing. Never had he seen such luxury. There were about four maids and a man who happened to be the Head Chef, Alessio Marcelli on standby waiting to help with the service of food. A Head chef is a culinary virtuoso, blending passion, creativity, and expertise to orchestrate gastronomic masterpieces. With a commanding presence in the kitch

"Little wonder my head hurts. The gun must have knocked me unconscious before I was brought here," Ryan pondered. In the dimly lit cave, the acrid smell of marijuana hung heavy in the air. “You will pay for this Astrid, I promise you. This battle is far from over. You dare sleep with my woman!” Damien said bitterly amidst the uncontrollable laughter of Orion and the annoying laughter of Astrid. Ryan’s nose began to twitch with the telltale signs of an impending sneeze due to the smell of marijuana. Desperate to stifle the inevitable disruption, he willed the urge away. But despite his best efforts, a mighty sneeze erupted, echoing through the hallowed cave, earning the attention of the notorious 3. “Well, well, well, look what we have here, the doublewide sleeping beauty is awake.” Astrid said. Laughter immediately erupted once again. “Woah, that’s new. Doublewide?” Ryan thought to himself. He was used to being called different names like Meathead, Fatso, Lard-butt, Willy the Whale

As the Notorious Three escorted Ryan out of the dimly lit cave, the cold night air bit at his skin, a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness he had known for so long. His heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation as they ascended the rocky path to the crest of a high hill, the distant sound of crashing waves growing louder with each step.At the summit, the Notorious Three paused, their shadows outlined against the moonlit sky as they exchanged whispered words amongst themselves. Ryan strained to catch fragments of their conversation, his pulse quickening with apprehension."What now?" Orion murmured, his voice tinged with impatience."We've come this far," Damien replied, his tone cold and calculating. "It's time to finish what we started."As the reality of his fate began to sink in, Ryan's mind raced with frantic desperation. He had never learned to swim, never felt the embrace of the ocean's depths. And now, faced with the prospect of being thrown into its icy embrace

As the gentle waves of the sea carried Ryan's battered body from the city of Halcyon Bay to the shores of Aquanor, he stirred from the depths of unconsciousness, his senses slowly returning to him like a ship emerging from the fog. Blinking against the blinding light of the sun, he struggled to make sense of his surroundings, his mind clouded by pain and confusion as to how he was still alive.But as he reached a trembling hand to his chest, he felt the familiar weight of the necklace his mother had given him before she died its presence a comforting reminder of her love and protection. And as he examined the shattered remains of the box pendant, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of the half-shaped heart pendant nestled within the locket, its intricate design bearing a striking resemblance to the Celestial reliquary coveted by the Greystones which he had been earlier accused of stealing. The necklace he had always worn given to him by his mother had a box shaped pendant. However,