James tried to process the shock as he faced Victor in the grand, opulent office.“So… you’re telling me my father, the man who couldn’t afford hospital bills, was secretly a billionaire?” James’s voice was thick with disbelief.Victor nodded, his gaze steady. “Not just a billionaire, James. He built Maple Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the country. And as of today, it’s all yours.”James laughed bitterly. “This feels like some kind of joke. Why would he keep this hidden from us?”Victor’s expression softened. “David was a man of many secrets, but he wanted you to inherit everything once you were ready. Today is that day.”James shook his head, struggling to understand. “So… my sister? Her medical expenses?”Victor leaned forward. “Taken care of. A private team is with her as we speak.”James exhaled slowly, relief flooding him. “Thank you… I mean, thank you for everything. But I just… I don’t understand why my father would let us live like that.”Victor studied him for a

James’s voice was ice-cold, each word clipped with barely contained fury. “You think $3,000 will cover what you did to my sister, Tom?”Tom gave a smug shrug, slipping a wad of cash out of his wallet and tossing it onto the table. “It’s more than you’ve ever seen, James. Take it or leave it.”Helen laughed, picking up the cash. “Honestly, James, maybe spend this on something useful. Like… makeup for me.”The comment hung in the air, and James felt his anger boiling over. He looked around at their smug, indifferent faces, something inside him snapping. Without a word, he grabbed the expensive bottle of wine from the table, his grip firm.Before Tom could react, James swung, smashing the bottle against the side of Tom’s head. Glass shattered, and Tom slumped back, a stunned expression replacing his arrogant smirk.Helen gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “James! Have you lost your mind?”But James ignored her, his eyes blazing as he grabbed another bottle, letting the moment settle.

Luke’s voice echoed across the lobby of Maple Properties as he strode toward James, his expression smug with exaggerated authority. “James! Didn’t expect to see you here so soon. Or did you come to beg for a real job?”James looked up from his phone, his calm demeanor only fueling Luke’s ire. He chose silence, watching as Luke’s eyes narrowed, irate.“Silent, huh? Figures.” Luke turned to the security guards and barked, “Get this guy a mop and bucket. He’s perfect for the toilets.”The security captain, a wiry man with a barely concealed smirk, jumped in. “You heard the man, James. Time to clean up after the real employees.” He chuckled, elbowing his fellow guards, who joined in the mockery.Luke stepped closer, his voice low but full of venom. “You think you can embarrass me in front of everyone, and I’ll just let it slide? No chance. You’re going to remember your place, pauper.”James stood his ground, his calm gaze never leaving Luke. If only you knew, he thought, swallowing the ur

James strode down the hallway of Maple Properties, his steps quick and resolute, the echo of Ray and the guards’ humiliation still lingering in his mind. Alexis walked beside him, her demeanor professional and respectful, an evident contrast to the earlier mockery he had faced.She gestured toward a set of polished mahogany doors. “Mr. Carter, here’s your office,” she said, opening the door to reveal a spacious, luxurious workspace with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline.James took in the opulent setting—a modern desk, state-of-the-art equipment, and plush leather seating arranged around a glass coffee table. He turned to Alexis, his expression calm but curious. “Quite the upgrade from the construction site, don’t you think?”She managed a smile, an acknowledgment of his past. “I’m genuinely sorry for how you were treated earlier. It was inexcusable.”James gave her a curt nod. “I appreciate your support, Alexis. And I’ll need it, especially as we investigate Ray’s

The corridor was silent save for the harsh, echoing sound of Richard’s strikes against Todd’s legs. Each brutal blow resonated with sickening cracks, and Todd’s screams filled the air as his bones shattered. His once-arrogant demeanor was gone, replaced by bloodied, broken agony. James watched without flinching, feeling a strange satisfaction at the justice unfolding before him.Laura, Todd’s mother, lunged forward, her face twisted with rage. “You monster!” she screamed, her voice raw with fury. “You can’t do this to my son!”Richard turned calmly and, without hesitation, kicked her back with a force that sent her sprawling to the ground. He took a step forward, towering over her. “I suggest you stay silent,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “Or you’ll find yourself joining him.”Laura’s face paled, and she crawled backward, too terrified to speak. Henry, Todd’s father, stood frozen, his eyes wide with fear as he realized the danger of crossing James and his powerful allies.Dr.