Mr. Caldwell picked up the call. “Hello, Ethan. How are you doing?” he asked.Ethan hesitated, struggling to find the right words. After a brief pause, he replied, “Good evening, sir. How’s the family doing?” His tone betrayed his nervousness.“Kid, do you know where Sophia is or not?” Mr. Caldwell’s voice was sharp, cutting straight to the point.“Oh, about Sophia… I don’t really know where she is,” Ethan said, feigning confidence to keep the conversation going. From Mr. Caldwell’s tone, he sensed that straying from the topic would result in an abrupt end to the call.“When was the last time you saw her?” Mr. Caldwell asked, his tone softer now.“Um… I think it was the night of your birthday,” Ethan replied.“Did she tell you anything about where she was going?” Mr. Caldwell pressed.“Actually, she didn’t,” Ethan admitted. But before Mr. Caldwell could respond, he added quickly, “Sir, can we meet in person? I have something important to discuss. Maybe I can help you in this situation

Mr. Caldwell woke up early, slipping quietly out of bed so as not to disturb Olivia. He moved to his desk, where his laptop awaited, and initiated the transfer of $6 billion to Mr. Greyson. His fingers trembled slightly as he completed the transaction. Once it was done, he leaned back in his chair and exhaled deeply, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on his chest.A faint rustle behind him signaled Olivia stirring. She opened her eyes and caught sight of him, his face clouded with worry.“Honey, good morning,” she greeted softly.Mr. Caldwell quickly masked his emotions and turned to her with a weak smile. “Good morning, dear. How did you sleep?”“It was fine. And you?” Her voice was quiet, but her gaze was searching.“It was… fine,” he replied, his voice cracking slightly as he adjusted his glasses.Olivia sat up, brushing her hair back. “Today is the deadline for Mr. Greyson’s money, isn’t it? What are we going to do about it?” Concern etched her features.“It’s done,” Mr.

Meanwhile, Sophia and Elena were at the shop, busy with their usual routines.Suddenly, a man entered, his movements deliberate yet unsettling as he wandered aimlessly, as though searching for something.“What do you want?” Elena asked calmly, her voice steady despite the growing unease in the air.The man remained silent, offering no response.“Sir, what do you want to buy?” Elena pressed, her patience wearing thin.Sophia glanced up, alerted by Elena’s tone, and focused on the man. His odd smile and the way his fingers dragged across the surfaces as he walked heightened the tension.Elena, now visibly frustrated, said firmly, “Sir, if you don’t leave right now, I’ll call the police.”Sophia stood up, concern evident in her voice. “What’s going on?”“I don’t know who he is,” Elena replied, exasperated. “He came in, started wandering around, and hasn’t said a word.”Sophia’s stomach churned when the man turned, revealing a tattoo on his neck—one she instantly recognized. It was the sa

The Next MorningSophia and Elena woke up early, the dim light of dawn casting long shadows across their modest shop. Today felt different—not just because of their bustling workload, but because they were taking a big step forward in managing their growing business. A rented truck now stood outside, ready to handle the increasing demand that had surpassed what they could manage on their bicycles.“Sophia,” Elena began, her voice breaking the silence as they loaded packages into the truck. Her tone was heartfelt, and her words came with a mix of gratitude and awe. “I just want to say… thank you for everything you’ve done for me and my family. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay your kindness.”Sophia paused momentarily but didn’t look up, allowing Elena to continue. “When I checked the sales account last night, I could hardly believe my eyes. We made more yesterday than we’ve earned in six months combined. That’s because of you—your dedication, your genius ideas, and your hard

After waiting for more than an hour, a doctor finally approached Ethan, who was still seated, hoping to continue his conversation with Mr. Caldwell.“Sir, you can go for now. Mr. Caldwell needs to rest. He should be better by tomorrow and may even be discharged then,” the doctor said in a clear, professional tone.“Okay, thank you very much,” Ethan replied as he stood and left the hospital.Returning to the hotel, Ethan walked directly to his room, avoiding any unnecessary conversations. He only responded to greetings with a curt nod, as most people in the hotel tended to look down on him. His appearance was even worse than some of the cleaners working there, but Ethan didn’t care. He was no longer the hopeless man he once was. Knowing his true identity—that he was the son of one of the wealthiest men—gave him quiet confidence. Instead of letting insults bother him, Ethan would just smile and move on.As he approached his room, he felt someone grab his attention from behind.“Hey, did