2024-10-29 15:30:03Max turned around and saw a striking figure approaching—a woman he instantly recognized as Emily Rose, his college classmate.
Noticing the tension between Max and the security guard, she stepped forward without hesitation, intent on helping him out.
She knew Max often took on odd jobs to make ends meet, and seeing him in such a situation here took her by surprise.
But her kind heart couldn’t bear to watch him be treated unfairly.
Emily was a regular at the venue, a VIP guest well-known to the staff.
As soon as she approached, the security guard immediately recognized her, his expression shifting from tension to a polite respect.
“Ms. Rose! Oh, my apologies! I… I didn’t know you were here,” he stammered, trying to regain composure and plastering a fake smile on his face.
“It’s an honor to see you.”
Emily looked past him, her gaze focused on Max.
“And why, exactly, are you stopping this gentleman from entering?”
The guard hesitated, the confident sneer fading from his face.
“Uh, well… you see, Ms. Rose… this guy here, he looks like some… well, he looks like he doesn’t belong here. I thought he was, you know, just some beggar trying to cause trouble.”
Max clenched his fists, struggling to hold back his frustration, but Emily’s sharp glare at the guard silenced him.
“Some beggar?” she repeated coldly, raising an eyebrow.
“Did you even ask who he was before jumping to conclusions?”
The guard’s face flushed. “I… I mean, look at him, Ms. Rose. I was just doing my job, keeping the place safe for people like you.”
He attempted a weak smile. “Surely you wouldn’t want folks like him—”
Emily cut him off.
“This ‘folks like him’ you’re talking about happens to be my guest today. He is my classmate, and I invited him here. You’re stopping my guest.”
The guard’s eyes widened, and his face turned pale as he stammered, “I… I had no idea! Ms. Rose, please! I didn’t realize he was… your guest!” He quickly dropped to his knees, his earlier arrogance gone in an instant. “Please forgive me, Ms. Rose! It was a mistake, I swear! I shouldn’t have offended your guest.”
Turning to Max, the guard’s expression was desperate.
“Sir, I… I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean any harm. I’ll crawl to you and beg for forgiveness if you’d like! Just… just please don’t have me thrown out.”
Emily crossed her arms, her gaze icy.
“And what about that promise you made? I seem to recall you saying you’d eat a toilet if Max could afford a meal here.”
The guard’s face turned a deep shade of red, and he looked at her, trembling.
“Ms. Rose, please… it was a mistake! I didn’t mean it literally. I… I was blind! I misjudged him! Please, I beg you, have mercy!”
The guard looked mortified, dropping to his knees as he stammered out an apology.
“Ms. Rose, please… I didn’t know he was your guest. It was a misunderstanding. I—I was just doing my job, I swear! Please, don’t hold this against me.”
Emily’s face remained impassive.
“Doing your job by judging people on appearances? I don’t think that’s quite the job description.” She looked down at him, her voice sharp.
“You can beg for forgiveness all you want, but I’m not interested in excuses.”
The guard’s voice shook. “Please, Ms. Rose, I’m sorry!”
With a dismissive wave, Emily turned to Max.
“Let’s go, Max. We have better things to do.”
Ignoring the guard’s continued pleas, she led Max through the entrance as onlookers whispered among themselves.
Max looked over at her, both impressed and curious.
“Hi Emily… that was… amazing. Thank you. I had no idea you carried so much influence here.”
Emily shrugged with a small smile.
“It’s nothing, really. People like him need to be reminded that respect isn’t based on someone’s clothes.”
“Well, I appreciate it,” Max replied, a touch of awe in his voice.
“You didn’t have to go that far.”
She smiles at Max, her eyes sparkling with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"I didn’t expect to see you here, Max," she says, her voice warm yet teasing.
"But since you're already here, why don't we catch up and take a stroll around the mall?"
Max, feeling a sense of relief after the uncomfortable encounter with the guards, can’t help but return her smile.
"I’d like that," he replies, his tone lighter than before.
"Actually, after all that commotion, I think I could use a little distraction. Maybe even pick up a few new clothes."
Emily's eyes brighten at the suggestion.
"New clothes, huh? I’d be glad to help you pick something out," she says enthusiastically.
"I think I know exactly what would suit you."
Max raises an eyebrow, intrigued.
"I’m not exactly the fashion-forward type, so I could use all the help I can get."
"Don’t worry," Emily laughs, gently nudging him. "I promise I won’t let you walk out of here looking like a disaster."
They went into a nearby luxury designer store.
The attendants greeted her with wide smiles, clearly recognizing her.
As they entered, Max couldn’t help but admire the array of high-end suits, jackets, and designer clothes.
It was a world he had never dared to step into before.
Emily wasted no time, browsing through racks of clothing and pulling out various items.
She handed him a smart jacket and a pair of tailored jeans.
“Try these. They’ll bring out your confidence, and I want to see you in something that makes a statement.”
Max took the clothes, looking a bit dazed.
“Now, go try them on.”
A few minutes later, Max emerged from the fitting room, looking transformed in the sharp jacket and well-fitted jeans. Emily smiled approvingly.
“Much better. But we’re not done.”
For the next half hour, Emily helped Max pick out several more outfits—some casual, others more formal, all high-quality and tailored to perfection.
Max felt a surge of gratitude and admiration as he watched Emily in action, her confidence and poise making every interaction effortless.
He glanced at her as they waited at the counter.
“Emily, I don’t even know how to thank you. You’ve done so much for me already.”
Emily waved it off with a smile.
“You don’t need to thank me.” She paused, her gaze softening.
“People shouldn’t have to face what you did out there. Maybe now they’ll think twice before judging you.”
Suddenly, she felt a hard bump from behind, and her shopping bags slipped from her grasp, tumbling to the floor.
She turned around, her expression calm but questioning.
“Oh, look at that! Are you blind or what?” sneered the man who had bumped into her.
His voice dripped with arrogance.
Max’s eyes widened as he recognized the voice.
Johnson. And, standing beside him, glancing at Emily with an equally disdainful expression, was none other than Amanda, his ex-girlfriend.
Emily straightened, unfazed.
“Excuse me? You walked into me.”
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
ALMIGHTY DOMINANCE LOST HEIR CHAPTER 9
Amanda held up the luxury handbag, twirling it with a radiant smile.“Johnson, isn’t it stunning? This bag would be perfect for me! You wouldn’t want me to leave without it, would you?”Johnson laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.“Amanda, didn’t I… just get you that luxury car last week? Maybe we could take it easy for a bit?”She pouted, her eyes widening in exaggerated disappointment.“Oh, Johnson, it’s just one little handbag. Imagine how perfect it would look with my wardrobe. Plus, everyone would know I’m spoiled by you. Don’t you want that?”Johnson hesitated, glancing at the price tag.This would go over my budget, he thought. If he gave in, he’d risk his dad’s wrath for overspending again.“Well…” He stalled, trying to think of a way out.“I mean, it’s… beautiful, but maybe we could find something similar, but, you know… less?”Amanda’s eyes narrowed slightly.“Less? Johnson, it’s not about the price; it’s about showing that you care. Are you telling me you can’t
ALMIGHTY DOMINANCE LOST HEIR CHAPTER 10
Amanda joined in, rolling her eyes. “It’s probably a piece of plastic from a toy store. Come on, Max. You’re really out here trying to fool people?”The other shoppers had started to take notice, their whispers creating a soft buzz of judgment in the air. Max stood quietly, the black card held loosely between his fingers."Max," Emily whispered urgently beside him, "you don't have to do this. Let me—"Johnson cut her off with an exaggerated gasp. "Emily, dear, don't tell me you actually believe this circus act? Look at him! He probably colored a regular card with a Sharpie!""The craftsmanship is quite poor, if you ask me," Amanda chimed in, examining her reflection in a nearby mirror. "You can practically see the marker strokes."Emily's face flushed as she reached for her purse. "I can handle this," she said quietly to Max. "There's no need to—""To embarrass himself further?" Johnson interjected, slapping his knee. "Oh no, please let him continue! This is better than dinner theater
ALMIGHTY DOMINANCE LOST HEIR CHAPTER 11
The machine beeped loudly, and the dreaded word flashed across the screen in unforgiving red: DECLINED.Max felt the weight of that single word hit him, his confidence momentarily shaken.He frowned, glancing down at his black card, disbelief flickering across his face.From behind him, a loud, exaggerated laugh echoed through the store. Amanda stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement.“Oh, look at Mr. High Roller. Can’t even afford a little shopping spree? Poor Max!”Johnson chimed in, crossing his arms and smirking.“Guess it’s true what they say, huh? All bark, no bite. Or should I say, all card, no cash?”Bystanders, intrigued by the commotion, paused in their own shopping to watch the scene unfold.Their whispers grew louder, blending with Amanda and Johnson’s taunts.“Isn’t that the guy who’s always bragging about his car?” one bystander murmured.“Yeah, what a fake,” someone else agreed. “Probably rented the suit, too.”Max tried to ignore the whispers and forc
ALMIGHTY DOMINANCE LOST HEIR CHAPTER 12
Max handed over a sleek, metallic card to Mr. Collins, the store manager.The manager's eyes widened slightly as he received the card, and his fingers trembled slightly as he inspected it.The unique design, the modest insignia—they were recognizable. This was no ordinary card.How could he get anything like this?Mr. Collins' eyes flickered up, assessing Max with curiosity and skepticism.Could he truly be important?"Excuse me," Mr. Collins said, his voice hesitant."This is a very rare card. How did you get it?Max grinned calmly. "This is mine. Is there an issue?"Mr. Collins gulped, his attention returning to the card.He'd heard rumors that a strong family's ownership had lately been passed to an unknown heir—a young guy whose name was kept secret.Could it be him?"None at all, sir.I just didn’t expect..." He stopped himself, recognizing how rude his first reply must have been. He straightened his posture and adopted a more professional demeanor."I apologize, Mr. Max. Please l
ALMIGHTY DOMINANCE LOST HEIR CHAPTER 13
"Is that... Max?" Amanda whispered to Johnson, her perfectly manicured nails digging into his arm as they watched Max being escorted into the private shopping room. "Why would they even let him in there?"The boutique's crystal chandeliers cast elegant shadows across the marble floor as Max disappeared behind the mahogany doors with the store manager hovering attentively beside him."Probably just window shopping," Johnson scoffed, adjusting his designer watch. "You know how these stores let anyone in these days."The manager quickly escorted Max to the VIP lounge, his hand hovering nervously behind Max's back. The exclusive space was a stark contrast to the chaotic scene outside – all leather chairs, dim lighting, and soft jazz playing in the background."Please, Mr. Max, make yourself comfortable. I'll handle your withdrawal personally," the manager said, gesturing to a plush armchair. "Can I get you anything? Perhaps our finest scotch?"Max settled into the chair with a slight smir
ALMIGHTY DOMINANCE LOST HEIR CHAPTER 14
The glass doors of the luxury boutique swung shut behind them as Emily and Max stepped onto the bustling sidewalk.The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the designer shopping bags they carried, and a gentle breeze ruffled Emily's perfectly styled hair."I have to say," Emily began, her lips curving into an amused smile, "when I first spotted you in those clothes earlier, I was all set to play fairy godmother. But it seems my charity services aren't needed after all, Mr. College Student."The way she emphasized the last words made Max chuckle. The shopping bags in his hands rustled as he shifted his weight, designer labels catching the sunlight."About that..." Max started, preparing to explain his true identity.The weight of his American Express Black card seemed heavier in his pocket after the day's events."No, really," Emily continued, her eyes twinkling with genuine interest."Most college students I know are surviving on ramen noodles and student loans. But here you ar
ALMIGHTY DOMINANCE LOST HEIR CHAPTER 15
Max sat down in the soft chair.The yellow light from the restaurant's general lighting lit up his table.He looked down at his plate and was amazed by the wonderful smell of his carefully prepared food.It was the most expensive thing he had ever eaten, and each bite made him dream of the kind of wealth he had dreamt once, which has become now into reality.But his pleasure was cut short by a sudden commotion nearby.The voices grew louder and more angry, sharp, and mean.Max turned his head and saw a young man standing over a girl who looked about twenty years old.Her uniform was simple, her hands trembling as she tried to keep her head down, tears already glistening in her eyes."You stupid girl!" The man barked, and his voice was filled with disdain."Do you even know how much these shoes cost?"The girl said, "Sir, I'm so sorry." I meant not to—"He cut her off with a sneer and asked, "Didn't mean to? You poor little beggar didn’t mean to, of course. But you never know where you
ALMIGHTY DOMINANCE LOST HEIR CHAPTER 16
"This has nothing to do with you."Max stood his ground and said, "It is now. You went too far. She did something wrong. It doesn’t give you the right to treat her badly like this."Elliot Stoke fiddled with his expensive watch in a fake-calm way."Do you know who I am? No one dares talk to me like that!""You messed up someone you shouldn’t have. How much are these shoes?" He made a big gesture to point to the scratched leather. "One of a kind, limited edition, and worth more than you can imagine. And she messed them up."Max looked at the shoes with a bored look on his face."Perhaps you wouldn’t be acting this way if you spent less on shoes and more on learning how to be decent."The man was very angry, as you can see."Do you really think that talking about your shoes will scare me away?" Max responded with his eyebrows raised. "Is that all you have?"The man sneered and laughed in a mean way."Do you think this is a joke? I'm going to make her pay every penny. She doesn’t belong
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 218
The bunker’s silence was suffocating.Max’s fingers hovered over the button, every muscle in his body screaming for him to end this.One press.One moment.Elliot’s empire—gone.Emily, bruised and breathless, rushed into the chamber first, Red Fang and Molly behind her.“Max!” she gasped, eyes darting between him and Elliot. “Do it. End this.”Red Fang, ever the pragmatist, cocked his gun. “Push the damn button, boss.”Molly’s gaze flickered to the mainframe. “We don’t even know what wiping it will trigger.”Max knew that.That’s why he wasn’t pressing it.Something wasn’t right.Elliot, bloody but smirking, watched him carefully.“You hesitate,” he murmured. “Smart.”Emily’s breath hitched. “Max, don’t listen to him.”Elliot’s smirk widened.“You think I built this entire empire just for it to collapse with me?” His bruised fingers tapped the device in his palm. “Go ahead. Destroy it. But you won’t be stopping anything.”Max’s grip tightened.“Then what am I stopping?”Elliot chuckle
CHAPTER 217
The bunker loomed before them, half-buried beneath ice and reinforced steel. The frozen wind howled across the tundra, but Max barely felt it.He could only see one thing.The entrance to Project Nemesis.Red Fang, Emily, and Orlov’s strike team flanked him. The Russian general’s men were hardened operatives, armed to the teeth.“Thermal scans show minimal movement inside,” Molly reported through the comms. “But that’s impossible. Elliot wouldn’t leave this place unguarded.”Max’s jaw tightened.“He’s waiting.”Emily’s hand hovered over her gun.“So what’s the play?”Max stepped forward.“No more tricks,” he said. “I go in alone.”The bunker’s inner doors slid open, revealing a massive, circular chamber bathed in dim, blue light.And at its center—Elliot.Standing alone, dressed in a black combat shirt, his expression calm.Waiting.“You made it,” Elliot said smoothly. “Was starting to think you’d given up.”Max stepped forward, muscles coiled.“No more games.”Elliot smirked.“No. J
CHAPTER 216
Max’s eyelids cracked open, and the first thing he felt was pain.His wrists were bound.His head throbbed.His breath came out in short, sharp bursts, the frigid air burning his lungs.The room was concrete and steel, dimly lit by a single overhead bulb.A black site.Siberia.He flexed his fingers, feeling the bite of handcuffs against his skin.Across from him, Emily and Red Fang sat in matching restraints, their eyes flicking toward him as he stirred.Emily’s lip was split. Red Fang’s knuckles were bruised.Max let out a slow, steady breath.Elliot had planned for this.And now?Now they were in his trap.The heavy door groaned open.A man strode in—tall, broad, and radiating pure military authority.General Dmitri Orlov.His icy blue eyes swept over them, calculating, judging.He stopped before Max, arms crossed.“I should execute you where you sit,” Orlov said in flawless English.Max didn’t flinch.“You’d be making a mistake.”Orlov’s expression didn’t change.“You are Maxwell
CHAPTER 215
Max’s hands shook as he stared at the blinking red display on Emily’s chest.0:59He swallowed, forcing his mind to slow down.“Emily, don’t move,” he said, his voice tight.She held her breath. “Wasn’t planning to.”The bomb’s wiring was intricate, laced with a failsafe mechanism designed to detonate if tampered with incorrectly.0:45Molly’s voice crackled through the earpiece.“Max, I’m in the system—there’s a wireless detonation trigger, but I can’t hack it remotely. You have to disable it manually.”Red Fang’s tone was grim. “How much time?”Max exhaled shakily. “Not enough.”0:30His fingers moved with surgical precision, tracing the primary detonation circuit. One wrong move, and Emily would—No.Focus.Emily’s eyes locked on his. “Max.”0:15“Almost there,” he muttered.0:10Max found the kill switch—but it was wired to a secondary charge.Damn it.He had one chance.One cut.He sliced through the wire.0:03The countdown stopped.A sharp, piercing silence filled the room.Emi
CHAPTER 214
The skyline of Dubai gleamed under the desert moon, an empire of glass and steel stretching toward the heavens.At its peak stood the Desert Crown, a private skyscraper Elliot had turned into his personal fortress.Tonight, Max was walking straight into it.Max adjusted his collar, stepping out of the sleek black car that had been provided for him.No weapons.No backup.No second chances.Elliot had made that clear.The building’s penthouse elevator was already waiting.Red Fang’s voice crackled through the hidden earpiece.“You sure about this, boss?”Max stepped inside.“No.”The elevator doors sealed shut, carrying him into the lion’s den.The penthouse was a study in excess. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glittering skyline, the city pulsing with unmatched wealth and power.And at the center of it all—Elliot.Sitting in a high-backed chair, dressed in a custom black suit, a drink in hand, smirking like he’d already won.Emily was nowhere to be seen.Max’s fists clenched.
CHAPTER213
The screen on Viktor’s phone lit up.A live news broadcast.Max turned his head slightly—and felt his blood go cold.His own face flashed across the screen.BREAKING NEWS:“Interpol confirms Maxwell Montgomery is in possession of a classified bioweapon. Global alert issued. Immediate capture or termination authorized.”Max’s heartbeat thundered.No.Elliot’s voice hummed through the line.“You see, Max… while you were busy looking for me?”The smirk was almost audible.“I made the world believe you’re the real threat.”Viktor gave him a mocking shrug.“Sorry, Max. It’s just business.”Gunfire roared through the abandoned warehouse, bullets sparking off rusted steel beams as Max dove for cover behind a stack of shipping crates. The acrid stench of gunpowder filled the air, mingling with the heavy scent of betrayal.Red Fang was already firing back, his rifle barking as he clipped one of Viktor’s men.But it wasn’t enough.They were outnumbered.And worse—Emily was gone.“Max, we gotta
CHAPTER 212
The abandoned warehouse smelled of gun oil and damp concrete.Max stood in the shadows, his eyes scanning every darkened corner. He knew better than to trust anyone in Elliot’s world—especially a man like Viktor Kazan.Viktor wasn’t just a weapons dealer. He was a kingmaker, supplying warlords, rogue states, and intelligence agencies with the tools to rewrite power structures.And now, Max needed him.Red Fang, standing beside him, kept his hand resting near his holster. Just in case.“I don’t like this,” Red Fang muttered.Max’s jaw clenched.“Neither do I.”A rusted door groaned open, and Viktor Kazan entered.He was a hulking man, dressed in a long military coat, his bald head gleaming under the dim warehouse lights. A scar ran from his temple to his jawline, a reminder of how many people had tried—and failed—to kill him.Behind him, two bodyguards followed, their expressions cold and unreadable.Viktor stopped a few feet away from Max, lighting a cigar.“You have some nerve, Montg
CHAPTER 211
Max sat in the dimly lit safe house, staring at the flickering monitor in front of him. The screen was filled with news reports, security alerts, and live footage of military convoys moving through major cities.Every government agency. Every intelligence network. Every law enforcement unit in the world.They were all looking for one man.Him.“Maxwell Montgomery is now the world’s most wanted fugitive,” the news anchor declared. “Following an attack on an Interpol cyber facility in Singapore, he has been officially classified as a global terrorist—”Max clicked the screen off.His jaw clenched.Elliot had played him perfectly.Red Fang paced the length of the room, his expression unreadable.“We can’t stay here,” he said. “Not for long.”Emily sat cross-legged on the couch, arms folded tightly against her chest. Her eyes flicked to the closed blinds.“The moment we step out, we’re dead,” she muttered. “Every security camera, every border checkpoint—hell, even private contractors will
CHAPTER 210
Max stood over Molly’s terminal, eyes scanning the empty data feeds. The endless networks, the financial grids, the black-market communication lines—Elliot had wiped them clean.His name was nowhere.His digital footprint, nonexistent.Max’s jaw tightened.Molly cursed under her breath, fingers flying over the keyboard. “This isn’t just some rich guy going off-grid—this is a complete system-level erasure.”Red Fang leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his expression grim. “It’s like he was never even here.”Emily stood near the window, arms folded. Her gaze was distant, calculating.“He knew we’d come for him,” she murmured. “He’s already three steps ahead.”Max’s chest burned with frustration.Elliot hadn’t just vanished.He had left nothing behind.No shell companies.No offshore accounts.No former contacts willing to speak his name.It was as if he had rewritten the world to forget him.But Max knew better.Elliot wasn’t hiding. He was waiting.A New Power RisesRed Fang’s
