The city buzzed with its typical turmoil—a symphony of honking horns, distant sirens, and the soft murmur of people carrying on with their daily routines. For Lucas Kane, the sound merely served as a backdrop to the gradual disintegration of his own reality. His hand clenched the steering wheel of his worn delivery van, his knuckles white against the torn vinyl.“Come on, come on,” Lucas murmured, looking at his phone on the dashboard. The GPS blinked with the message Recalculating route. This was the third occurrence this evening, and his patience was dwindling.A voice distorted over his low-cost Bluetooth earpiece. "Lucas, you're behind schedule." Once more.“I’m five minutes out,” Lucas replied sharply, his tone edged with frustration. He could hear **Tony**, his boss, exhale heavily on the other end.“Five minutes is too late,” Tony snapped. “These people don’t wait. You screw this up again, and I’m docking your pay. You got that?”Lucas bit back the urge to argue. What was the p

The rain fell intensely, striking the windshield of Lucas' van as he sped down the nearly deserted streets. The wipers squealed against the glass, striving to operate, but they battled to keep up with the tempest. He leaned forward, gazing through the rain, one hand securely on the wheel while the other tapped on his phone mounted on the dashboard.“Rerouting,” the GPS announced for the third time that evening.“Of course, you are,” Lucas muttered. He glanced at the clock. Ten minutes past the delivery window. Another late order. Tony was going to chew him out again, and he couldn’t afford another paycheck deduction. Not with the Morettis breathing down his neck.The phone buzzed, and Tony’s name flashed on the screen. Lucas groaned, tapping the answer button.“Yeah, I know,” Lucas said before Tony could start. “I’m late. The GPS is—”“Don’t give me that crap, Lucas!” Tony barked, his voice loud even through the cheap Bluetooth earpiece. “This is the third time this week! You think cu

The sharp beep of the heart monitor was the first sound Lucas heard as he started to regain consciousness. His eyelids appeared extremely heavy, and his body pulsed as if it had gone through a meat grinder. The odor of antiseptic filled his nostrils. A healthcare establishment. He groaned, trying to shift, but each muscle protested in opposition."Is that you, Lucas?" Oh, what a relief.His mother's voice cut through the fog, soft and quivering. He blinked, trying to force his eyes open. Evelyn Kane sat beside his bed, donning a worn cardigan that fell gently over her slim frame. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were rimmed in red, suggesting she hadn't slept for days."Mom?" His voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. "What... what happened?""You were in an accident," she said hastily, leaning in closer. "An automobile accident." They claimed… they claimed it was unfortunate, Lucas. "They were uncertain if you would..." Her voice wavered, and she held his hand firmly, as if sh

The kitchen table shook a bit as Lucas rested on it, gazing at the pile of bills spread out before him. The gentle buzz of the aged refrigerator broke the stillness in the small apartment. His mother's tea cup, only partially filled and cold, remained undisturbed next to his elbow. His fingers tapped on the table while he once more mentally computed the impossible figures."Lucas?" Evelyn's voice softly echoed from the hallway, filled with uncertainty."Sure, Mom?" he answered, still not glancing up."Did you settle the electricity bill?" she inquired, entering the room. She had on one of her old sweaters, loose on her delicate figure, her hands quivering a bit as she sat down opposite him."It’s included in the list," Lucas grumbled, pushing one of the envelopes aside. "I'm focusing on the rent and the healthcare expenses.""They're about to turn off the power again," she murmured, her voice quiet as a whisper. "It occurred last month, do you recall?"“I know,” Lucas said sharply, th

Silas leaned forward in his chair, the dim light casting sharp shadows on his face. He scrutinized Lucas with the calmness of a hunter, his fingers softly tapping on the sleek surface of his desk. The area was hauntingly quiet, aside from the gentle ticking of a clock affixed to the wall. Lucas sat stiffly in the chair opposite him, his mind racing, his hands tightened against his thighs."Are you listening to me, Mr. Kane?" Silas spoke, his tone silky yet infused with command. "I’m presenting you an escape route."Lucas blinked, jolting himself back to reality. "Sure, I listened to you." However… wed your daughter? "Are you for real?"Silas tilted his head, smiling faintly. “I don’t waste time with jokes.”Lucas let out a disbelieving laugh, leaning back in his chair. “This is insane. You’re telling me you want *me*—a broke delivery guy drowning in debt—to marry your daughter? What kind of game are you playing here?”Silas’ smile faded, and his voice dropped a note. “This is no game,