Tension filled the road leading to the construction site. A bunch of thugs, rough-looking guys carrying wooden sticks and metal rods, were lounging around a makeshift tent on the roadside. They were hired muscle, guys who had no problem using force to get what they wanted."Hey, you! Where do you think you're going?" one of them barked at a truck driver approaching the barricade. A big guy with tattoos covering his arms stepped forward, gripping a baseball bat in one hand.The truck driver looked nervous, his hands trembling on the steering wheel. "I-I'm just making a delivery, sir.""Cut the crap! Open the cargo now!" the thug snapped, his eyes glaring menacingly.The driver swallowed hard, trying to keep his cool. "Sorry, but I have to deliver this to the construction site.""Oh? You think you can just ignore us?!" The tattooed guy swung his bat hard against the truck door. "BANG!" The door dented from the impact, making the driver flinch in fear

In that fancy, high-class neighborhood, the George Stratton family had lived for years. Their grand house stood among the homes of wealthy businessmen and officials.George first moved into the house with his late first wife. After remarrying Eleanor, they stayed there. To the neighbors, they looked like a perfect couple, but deep down, many secretly envied them.But everything changed when George went bankrupt. His once-thriving company collapsed, leaving them far from the luxurious life they once knew. Now, they lived modestly, relying on Celeste’s income. Still, George and Eleanor found new meaning in life. The time they once spent working was now filled with family moments.George and Eleanor had just returned from a walk around the complex, enjoying the fresh air while getting some exercise. Their steps were light, even as their neighbors kept giving them pitiful looks. Walking together like this had become a new routine they both enjoyed.“Back then

Jack sat there, looking grim beside Adrian. His head was pounding—not from alcohol, but from figuring out how to break the news to Adrian Stratton.A bunch of his men were laid up in the hospital with serious injuries. Their medical bills weren’t cheap, and that pissed him off. But what pissed him off even more was the fact that all of this was caused by one person.Just one.At first, Jack thought they were dealing with the usual obstacles—maybe some stubborn workers refusing to shut down their project or a rival mafia crew trying to make a move. But no. This guy showed up like a damn storm, wrecking everything in his path and leaving his men completely defenseless.And now, he had to report all of this to Adrian.The room went dead silent. Adrian stared at Jack for a long time, as if trying to process whether he was hearing complete nonsense. “One person?” he repeated slowly, his voice dropping to an icy tone.Jack motioned for one of his

BAM!Lawrence slammed his fist on the table in front of Jack, making the wine glass tremble slightly. His eyes were filled with fury, like he was ready to tear Jack apart. Jack, on the other hand, just smirked, unfazed."Just because I said I was willing to lose some money for my boss’s orders doesn’t mean I’m throwing away my hard-earned cash on you!" Lawrence hissed, his voice dripping with menace.Jack raised an eyebrow, still wearing that annoying grin. "Oh? And why the hell did you come all the way here just to tell me that, Lawrence?"Lawrence leaned back and took a deep breath before locking eyes with Jack again. "You’d better go see Mrs. Celeste Stratton and apologize. You also need to pay for the damage you caused. If you don’t…"Jack let out a small chuckle. "Wait, you expect me to apologize to Celeste Stratton? Is she your boss now, Lawrence?" His grin widened, and he laughed louder. "Don’t tell me you’re actually bowing down to a woman

Celeste came home looking exhausted. Her eyes were heavy, and her steps felt slower than usual. She had been coming home like this for days now, and her parents were starting to notice the change. But Celeste wasn’t the type to easily share her burdens. She always tried to handle everything on her own.During dinner, which Eleanor had prepared, the family gathered around the dining table. For the first time, Eleanor hadn’t asked Damien to cook or do any household chores. There was a sense of guilt within Eleanor because, somehow, Damien was now able to provide everything this family needed. Yet before, he was merely seen as a burden.George looked at his daughter with concern. After a moment of silence, he finally asked, “Celeste, is there a problem at the company?”Celeste lifted her head, almost instinctively wanting to deny it. But before she could say a word, Damien casually responded, as if discussing something trivial.&ldquo