Meanwhile, Sophia was lounging on her bed, scrolling through her phone lazily when a notification popped up. Her eyes darted to the screen, and a wide grin spread across her face as she saw the bank alert."Credit Alert: $20,000."Her heart skipped a beat, and she couldn’t help but laugh softly. It was the money Damian had promised her. Just as she was basking in the joy of the deposit, her phone began to ring. It was Damian.She answered, her tone light and playful. "Hello, Mr. Moneybags."Damian chuckled on the other end. "I just sent the money, baby. Did you get it?”"I did! Just saw the alert," she replied happily. "You’re the best. I’m going to treat myself nice today.""You see the blessings after sacking that guy?" Damian teased, his tone filled with mockery.Sophia chuckled, shaking her head. "I don’t even know where he is now. Probably walking around the streets, looking for a job or something."Damian burst into laughter. "Poor kid. Maybe he’ll find a place in a fast food jo

He frowned deeper. Ethan and Sophia all were using same bank so it wasn't strange that they both had arrived at same place.Sophia's car came to a halt, the driver's side door opening smoothly. She stepped out, looking as polished and confident as ever. Her sharp eyes scanned the area, only to land on Elijah.Her expression shifted from neutral to sheer surprise. "Elijah?" she said, narrowing her eyes.Elijah stared back at her, his face unreadable but his clenched jaw betraying his irritation. Although anger bubbled within him at the mere sight of Sophia, he couldn’t deny the truth staring him in the face—she was still stunning. The way her outfit hugged her figure, the subtle sheen of her perfectly styled hair catching the sunlight, and the confident sway of her steps were all enough to momentarily stall his thoughts.Sophia’s eyes trailed over Elijah’s outfit as he passed, her surprise evident. The clean-cut designer shirt, perfectly fitted jeans, and fresh sneakers didn’t match t

After hanging up, the manager turned back to Elijah with an even brighter smile. “Everything is being expedited as we speak. And once this is complete, you’ll have access to all our VIP privileges—financial advisors, exclusive investment plans, you name it. We’ll cater to every need of yours.”The manager leaned back slightly, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. He glanced at the records on his screen, his brow furrowing slightly. “If I may ask, Mr. Elijah, your account activity until recently wasn’t reflecting such large transactions. But from hours ago, your transactions seem to have jumped significantly. Is there a story behind this sudden change?”Elijah’s jaw tightened slightly, but he maintained his calm demeanor. He wasn’t about to share the details of how he got the money. Instead, he offered a vague explanation. “My trading account blew up.”The manager’s eyes widened, a mix of awe and respect spreading acros

Sierra narrowed her eyes at Betty, a playful suspicion lacing her tone. "Tell me, Betty, did this guy pay you or something? You're always supporting him, no matter what."Betty gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Me? Paid by Daniel Everhart? Oh, Sierra, how could you accuse me of such betrayal!""Betty," Sierra said flatly, "you're literally grinning right now."Betty burst out laughing. "Okay, fine, maybe I just like seeing you squirm. It's entertaining. But hey, if he did pay me, I’d be driving that black Audi of his by now."Sierra shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "You’re impossible.”Betty wagged her finger teasingly. "No, no. I'm just here to make sure you have an epic college story to tell one day. 'Remember that time Daniel Everhart, the campus heartthrob, begged me for a dinner date at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city?' Sounds pretty good, don’t you think?"Sierra rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. "Yeah, sure, Betty. Next time he bri

Elijah leaned back slightly, keeping his voice steady. “You could say that. Why is his picture here?”Robert’s smile widened, clearly eager to talk about the man in the photo. “General Marcus Steel is somewhat of a legend in this area. A lot of the high-ranking officials and influential people around here admire him. He's a king in the real estate business too so most real estate companies have his picture.”“Long ago, when he was in this city, I heard he bought a big house here, that's like decades ago.”Elijah’s brows furrowed slightly as he studied the image. He wasn’t aware of this detail about his father’s life, and it caught him off guard. “He bought a villa here?”Robert nodded enthusiastically. “Indeed, he did. He was a man of precision, much like his reputation in the military. He personally oversaw the modifications to the property. It’s still one of the most admired houses in our portfolio. Although...” He paused, glancing at Elijah. “He hasn’t been back in years. I believ