The hospital room buzzed with nervous energy as Mike Johnson crawled toward Jack, his face pale with terror. The fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows on the fallen gangsters still groaning on the floor.I’ve seen men on their knees before, Jack thought, but rarely do they shake so much. Then again, these fools have no idea what they’re dealing with."Brother, please!" Mike's voice cracked with desperation. "You have to apologize! The Bull Mason will kill us all!"Jack continued arranging flowers in Lisa's vase. "These lilies really complement the room, don't you think?"Nice and calm… Let them squirm. Sometimes the simplest things—like lilies—help keep me grounded.Black Viper, nursing a bruised jaw, barked out a laugh. "Five hundred grand, Sullivan! That's what you owe me for my men!""The water pressure in this building is excellent," Jack commented, filling another cup. "Very consistent."Typical. They think money solves everything. But fear is their true currency.Like watching pu

Jack Sullivan stood near the hospital room door, his expression unreadable. His sharp gaze lingered on Lisa Johnson for a moment longer than necessary before he finally spoke.“Take care of yourself,” he said, his tone indifferent.Lisa forced a small nod. “You too.”Jack hesitated briefly. “The class reunion… when is it?”Lisa blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Why does he care about that? She pushed her confusion aside and answered, “In two days. The old class monitor arranged a bus.”“I see.” Jack gave a slight nod. “I’ll go.”And just like that, he turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the dimly lit hallway.Lisa stared at the door, her heart sinking. He didn’t even look back.The silence in the room felt suffocating. Lisa gripped the blanket tightly, her mind in turmoil.Jack had always been there, a silent shadow who tolerated every insult, every humiliation her family threw at him. She had been so sure he would always be that way—weak, obedient, easy to disca

Nie Mitchell sat at his table, swirling his wine glass, eyes narrowing at Jack Sullivan.He remembered clearly how Jack had humiliated him before—how he had acted like some hero at the restaurant, standing up to thugs as if he was invincible. But here? Here was his chance to turn the tables.Nie’s gaze flickered to Victoria Reed, Heather’s mother. She was still fuming over Jack’s indifferent attitude, ranting about how worthless he was.“This fool thinks he’s somebody just because he has a little money now,” she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. “At the end of the day, he’s just an abandoned dog.”Nie smirked, leaning forward. Perfect.“You know, Auntie,” Nie said smoothly, “men like him? They get a little bit of cash and start thinking they’re kings. But in reality? He’s just a cockroach that got lucky.”Victoria laughed, nodding in agreement. “Exactly! He was nothing when he was with Lisa, and now he acts all high and mighty. I bet he still scrubs floors in secret.”Heather,

Nie Mitchell leaned back in his chair, flashing a smug grin. He swirled his glass of expensive red wine before setting it down with a satisfied sigh.“Well,” he said loudly, making sure the whole table heard, “tonight’s meal is on me.”Victoria Reed’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Nie, you’re too generous!” she gushed. “That’s why I keep telling Heather she needs to stick close to men like you—successful, well-connected, real gentlemen.”Heather Reed suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Here we go again.Nie smirked, adjusting the cuff of his designer suit. “It’s nothing. The owner of this place, Howard Dawson, is a good friend of mine. His father is one of the biggest real estate developers in the country. So, you know… I get special treatment here.”Victoria gasped dramatically. “Howard Dawson? You mean the Howard Dawson?”Nie nodded smugly. “That’s the one. He personally reserves tables for me. If I wanted, I could have this whole restaurant shut down just for us.”Jack Sullivan kept eating.

Nie Mitchell, Victoria Reed, and Heather Reed stared in absolute shock as Jack Sullivan casually walked through the grand entrance of the luxury villa.Victoria was the first to break the silence. “H-He didn’t actually… go inside, did he?”Nie shook his head violently. “No way. No way in hell! That house is worth millions! He must have sneaked in—there’s no chance he actually owns it!”Victoria clung to that thought. “Exactly! That good-for-nothing probably found a way to break in and is trying to show off! Disgusting!”Heather, however, wasn’t so sure. Jack didn’t look like he was sneaking in. He looked… natural. Comfortable. Like he belonged there.But before she could say anything, Nie pulled out his phone. “Let’s see how long he can fake it.”Nie dialed Howard Dawson, his friend and the son of a major real estate developer.The moment Howard picked up, Nie put on his best panicked voice.“Howard! I need security at Hillside Estates—NOW! There’s a thief who just broke into a villa