Laxus stepped into his father's study, his confusion clear. Darwin Kinkaid stood by the large oak desk, his expression unreadable."Father, why did you call me here?" Laxus asked.Darwin looked at him with a stern gaze. ""You're here because there's a change in plans. Linne will marry Luther next week.""Laxus stared at his father, not sure if he had heard him correctly. ""What? That can't be true. Linne and I are supposed to marry soon."""It is true," Darwin replied coldly. "It's been decided."Laxus’s hands clenched into fists. ""But I love her. This isn’t fair!"""Fairness has nothing to do with it," Darwin said, his tone firm. "This is what needs to happen."Laxus shook his head in disbelief. ""You can't just order this. We were supposed to be married. Why would you do this to me?"""This isn't up for debate, Laxus," Darwin replied. "It’s final."Laxus’s voice wavered with frustration. ""You can’t just take away my future like this. Linne is mine!""Darwin’s eyes narrowed. ""This

Laxus arrived in Las Vegas, hoping for a fresh start. He had left the Kinkaid mansion with nothing but the clothes on his back. As expected, all his accounts linked to the Kinkaids were frozen, a clear move by his father. Despite having earned the money legally, it didn't matter because of the Kinkaid name attached to them. His father was likely trying to show him that he couldn’t survive without the family’s help.Fortunately, Laxus had a small amount stashed away in a separate account under a different name. It wasn't much compared to his frozen accounts, but it was enough to rent a modest apartment, buy a few clothes, and cover basic meals for a week. The reality hit hard. He needed a job fast, or he’d end up on the streets.He laughed bitterly at the irony. Just days ago, he had more than enough to eat, even if he wasn’t treated well. Now, he was starting from scratch, determined to make it on his own.Laxus hurried through the crowded streets, holding his coat over his head to sh

Laxus left Henry’s office with a relieved smile. He convinced Henry to let him keep the job a little longer, giving him more time to find something else. The day had been long, and he returned to the kitchen, focusing on the last meal orders. As he stirred a pot, his mind drifted to the past few days. He tried to forget about Linnie, but it wasn’t easy.Suddenly, he heard someone grumbling nearby. He looked over and saw the new girl, Nessy, clumsily chopping onions with blood dripping from her finger. She kept cutting, unaware of the injury. Laxus realized she wasn’t as experienced as she had claimed. He sighed and turned back to his work, adding the final touches to the meal.Cooking had always been an escape for him. Back home, he had secretly taken cooking classes behind his father’s back. His father had always looked down on his love for the kitchen, insisting Laxus follow in the family business. Now, here he was, far from home, trying to prove he could make something of himself w

After the boss handed out the tips as promised, most of the staff began heading home. Laxus stayed behind. He had picked up a few extra hours to add to his income, something he had worked out with the boss earlier. The restaurant had quieted down, leaving Laxus with a bit of solitude to finish up his shift.Once he finished the bulk of his tasks, Laxus headed to the small break room. Exhaustion weighed on him after the long day, so he decided to rest for a bit. He climbed onto the top bunk, shifting around to get comfortable. But no matter how he positioned himself, sleep wouldn’t come. His thoughts were too loud, and the cot was nothing like his bed back home.Frustrated, Laxus pulled out his phone, hoping to pass the time. As he scrolled through social media, an article about his family, the Kinkaids, caught his eye. His heart sank. The headline brought back memories he’d tried hard to leave behind. Curiosity got the better of him, and he clicked on the article.Photos of his family

“I know I messed up last night, and I am deeply sorry,” Laxus started to plead immediately. If he was lucky enough, this man would not report his misbehavior to Mr. Henry, Laxus’s boss.The man smiled and walked fully into the room. Then he settled himself comfortably on the settee that was just beside the bed.“You did not mess up last night,” the man said.Laxus was not a fool, neither was he a child. He knew that he must definitely have done something inappropriate the night before; maybe talk too much, dance on the bar table, spill his drink, throw up, or even worse, talk rudely at one of the restaurant’s biggest customers. One report and Laxus knew that he was done for.“I know I did,” Laxus insisted, “You are just trying to make me feel better,” Laxus said. He knew how most people like this operated. They would act as though they were not bothered about unprofessionalism, but the very next day, they would stroll into the working space of that person and ruin the person’s life.