2024-12-23 17:36:20Boom Boom Boom!
The sound of knocking reverberated through the quiet night.
“Who’s at the door?” Samuel murmured groggily.
The clock on the wall showed 1 a.m.—far too late for visitors.
“Open the door, or we’ll break it down!”
A commanding voice from outside made Samuel quicken his steps.
As he passed the window, his gaze caught the faint flicker of police sirens.
Shock coursed through him when he opened the door and found three police officers standing there.
“Mr. Hayes, you’re under arrest”
One of the officers, a man with a thick mustache, held out an arrest warrant.
Fraud, embezzlement, forgery, and tax evasion
It’s all about the company.
His mind raced back to his years of dedication to J&S Corp, which belonged to his fiancée’s family.
J&S Corp was nothing more than a company riddled with issues, leaving behind environmental destruction, loss of lives, and tangled government problems.
However, everything became clear when Samuel entered the company.
Samuel had put everything to rescue the company from near bankruptcy.
Three relentless years spent rebuilding the Brooks family's struggling business.
He used his own methods, not only solving the company's problems but also boosting the local economy by 200%.
The job environment, salaries, and all the extra benefits were highly praised.
Locals often said that if Samuel Hayes ran for president, they'd vote for him.
Given all this, the accusation was just ridiculous.
Samuel squinted at the officer’s name tag.
“Well, Officer Douglaz,” Samuel said, his voice calm but biting, “I’d gladly come with you if those accusations were even remotely true.”
“If you have any defense, you can make it at the station!” Officer Douglaz replied curtly.
Douglaz signaled his subordinates to escort Samuel, but Samuel frowned.
“Officers. You’ve got the wrong man.”
“Enough of this nonsense!”
A sharp, cold voice cut through the tension, coming from behind the officers.
A woman with blond hair stepped forward, her movements deliberate.
“Madeline?” Samuel whispered, disbelief clouding his face.
His fiancée, the sole heir to J&S Corp, stood before him with an icy smile. Her piercing eyes full of scorn.
“Do you want to protest?” she asked, her voice dripping with mockery.
Their eyes met, and Samuel’s fists clenched tightly.
Everything was clear now.
He recalled the warnings of his colleagues about the Brooks family’s ruthlessness.
Yet, he had always turned a deaf ear, believing such treachery could never reach him.
For Samuel, none of this had ever felt real, as he had been raised by the third generation of the Brooks family—Madeline’s grandparents.
Samuel’s parents had worked for Madeline’s grandparents, but tragically, a fatal incident claimed the lives of Samuel’s parents and Madeline’s grandmother.
Ten-year-old Samuel was then taken in by Madeline’s grandfather and her parents.
Sadly, Madeline’s grandfather followed his true love in death exactly ten months after the incident.
Before his passing, he left a will instructing Madeline’s parents to care for Samuel.
Jonathan Brooks, Madeline’s father, initially had no desire to raise Samuel, but Samuel was considered a smart and obedient child.
Clearly, Jonathan took advantage of this.
Though Madeline had always been cold toward him, treating him as nothing more than a servant.
Everything changed four years ago when Samuel decided he wanted to leave the Brooks family home.
Jonathan Brooks then insisted that Samuel become engaged to Madeline.
He made Samuel take control of J&S Corp, which was on the verge of being seized by the government.
But now, betrayal stared him in the face, cloaked in Madeline’s smug grin.
A sharp chime interrupted the moment as Madeline’s phone lit up.
Samuel caught the name on the screen: Gideon.
With his sharp eyes, he quickly caught a few glaring words on the screen:
Baby... Bed... Can’t wait...
Those words clearly didn’t belong in a normal business conversation.
Recognition dawned.
He remembered the rumors of an arranged marriage between the Brooks and the powerful Hawthorne family.
He thought it was just rumors. Madeline wouldn't cheat on him.
But clearly, the rumors were true.
She really was involved with the son of the Gideon family during the time.
“Ah,” Samuel muttered with a bitter chuckle. “I see now.”
Madeline slid her phone into her pocket and pushed Samuel’s shoulder with disdain.
“What do you think you know, fool?” she sneered.
Samuel’s expression hardened.
“Everything about what’s happening now. But I do wonder, Madeline—do you honestly believe J&S Corp will thrive without me?”
Madeline laughed, her voice sharp and mocking. “You think you’re irreplaceable? How pathetic.”
Samuel’s voice turned cold. “You’re treating me like disposable trash, are you? Madeline? Kick me out after everything I’ve done?”
Madeline stepped closer, her face inches from his, her tone venomous.
“Don’t act like a victim, Samuel. You were useful for a time, but now you’re just dead weight. J&S Corp doesn’t need you anymore.”
“Then J&S Corp is doomed,” Samuel replied simply.
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BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 2
Fury flashed in Madeline’s eyes, and without hesitation, she slapped Samuel hard across the face.The sound echoed in the hallway.“Enough!” she hissed, her voice trembling with anger. “Know your place.”Samuel’s cheek burned, but he stood tall, his voice calm.“You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life.”Madeline laughed derisively. “Who do you think you are, Samuel? Without my grandparents’ charity, you’d still be nothing more than a street rat! Don’t delude yourself into thinking J&S succeeded because of you.”“Your skills were all ours to begin with,” she continued, her tone dripping with contempt. “If someone as useless as you could run the company, imagine what we can achieve without you.”Samuel gave a faint smile, saying nothing more.“You know what? I’m marrying Gideon!” she declared, her voice laced with venom, "He was incredible!"“Gideon is handsome, smart, and rich. With him around, J&S will not only make more money but also become a global powerhouse!”Samuel res
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 3
“How?! Why?!” Joey’s eyes widened in shock as he entered the room.“What the hell happened?!”The others stayed silent, stunned as they watched him.None of them had expected Joey to show up.Known for solving the toughest cases, Chief Joey Gunther was even rumored to be a contender for governor.To them, someone like Samuel was far too insignificant to warrant Joey rushing to the station in the middle of the night—let alone in such a hurry!They had never seen their chief speak to anyone with such a respectful tone.The young officer who had just threatened to shove Samuel’s head in a toilet quietly stepped back, terrified of facing Joey’s possible wrath.It was clear to those present that Samuel was no ordinary man to Joey.“Um, Chief Gunther, Mr. Hayes--” Douglaz began. But Joey cut him off with a raised hand, his face a mix of frustration and concern.Joey sat down, exhaling deeply, and turned his attention back to Samuel.“Relax, take a deep breath, Chief,” Samuel said calmly.“
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 4
If there's anything more terrifying than a crime, it's the West Line.That sentence was always drilled into the heads of every law enforcement officer and government official.So, it was clear—Samuel’s request to go to West Line was the most insane idea they had ever heard."I’m sure you’re fully aware of how West Line operates, Mr. Hayes, and it’s not a good idea!"Joey clenched his fists, his expression filled with unease. He ruffled his hair in frustration."The largest supplier of every kind of drug is there! It’s the hub!" "And that’s not even mentioning the weapons assembly distributed on a massive scale, or the human trafficking! Oh, my God!"Douglaz, who had been sitting silently with his head bowed, took a deep breath. He looked up, raising one hand."Permission to add, Chief—one of my friends died when he entered West Line.""His body was never found. All that was sent to his house was a small box.""That box contained... his finger bone."Joey slammed the table, shouting,
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 5
The Hawthorne Corporation still appeared glamorous from the outside.They excelled at manipulating public perception.In reality, their internal funds were completely drained.The rising success of J&S Corp naturally caught their attention.If they could take over J&S effortlessly, it would be the lifeline the Hawthornes desperately needed.Gideon was a habitual troublemaker with a history of digital scandals.If his affair with an English official’s wife hadn’t gone public, he wouldn’t have agreed to marry Madeline.Even so, it was all to secure what little remained of his crumbling fortune.Per their agreement, J&S was set to fall entirely under the Hawthornes’ control.“You’re the same—always so charismatic I can’t take my eyes off you, Gideon.” Madeline smiled.“I’ve prepared a fantastic spot for us.” She playfully pulled Gideon toward the car.Their destination was Aurora Époque, an opulent venue requiring a $100,000 deposit just to reserve.Madeline had arranged the most luxurio
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 6
Madeline’s mind was in chaos, her hands trembling.The sudden withdrawal of the two biggest investors supporting J&S Corp’s cash flow almost made her faint.This meant the company had abruptly lost its operating funds, which could disrupt the supply of raw materials—and paying workers would be out of the question.A major corporation can collapse in an instant!A flicker of doubt crossed her mind:Could it be... that Samuel was actually important?She quickly dismissed the thought.If Samuel were so capable, why would he have worked to help run the Brooks family’s company?There must have been some mistake during the partnership.Gritting her teeth, Madeline returned to her seat.Gideon and Arthur didn’t seem to have heard anything, cheerfully sipping their wine.Looking at Gideon’s face, Madeline felt reassured.After all, it didn’t matter if the investors pulled out.J&S Corp was about to partner with The Hawthornes!With The Hawthornes Corporation involved, those investors were irr
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 7
The room fell silent as the sharp crack of her slap echoed through the air. Samuel’s head turned slightly from the impact, but he didn’t react otherwise. His jaw tightened, his calm demeanor only fueling her anger.“Bastard!” she spat, her voice trembling with fury.As she raised her hand for another slap, Samuel caught her wrist mid-air.“That’s enough,” he said coldly.“I let you slap me twice.”“The first was to repay the debt I owe your grandparents for taking me in.”“The second was for the years you claim you were ‘trapped’ with me.”“Now, we’re even. I owe you nothing.”Madeline froze, her face a mixture of shock and rage.How dare he defy her?For years, she had grown used to Samuel’s quiet compliance, his willingness to endure whatever she threw at him.She didn’t see her own faults, only her mounting anger.This was all Samuel’s fault, she thought bitterly, especially after hearing about the investors pulling out because of him.She burned with fury, wishing she could destro
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 8
To Samuel, he was simply stating the facts.But to Gideon, it was an outright provocation!Gideon’s eyebrows twisted in anger.The next moment, he clenched his fist and threw a powerful punch toward Samuel’s face.The room seemed to hold its breath.But the punch never landed.Samuel seemed to just flicker and dodge the attack.In one smooth motion, he blocked the strike and pushed Gideon’s arm aside.The onlookers gasped in unison.Gideon stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock.“What?!” he sputtered, clearly stunned.The move he had just tried was one of his master’s most advanced techniques—a strike that had never failed him before!He was confident in his fighting skills.Normally, his opponents couldn’t dodge and would fall helplessly.How could someone like Samuel block it so effortlessly?Samuel was beneath him!“You’re such a weasel,” Gideon seethed, his eyes bloodshot with fury. “How did you dodge that?!”Samuel raised his hands in a peaceful gesture.“I don’t want to fight,”
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 9
Madeline clearly had no idea what Gideon talked to him. She also had no idea she had lost all her dignity in Gideon's words. The only thing in her eyes, was that Samuel hurt her ticket to the richer.“How dare you, Samuel!” She shouted, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “You’re a dead man. Hayes.” Gideon, sitting on the ground, looked like an enraged bull. His bloodshot eyes bulged with fury.“Damn it!” Arthur swore from the sidelines, looking visibly shaken. He quickly pulled out his phone, and called for his private bodyguards waiting outside.Within minutes, five towering men stormed into the backyard.Their presence radiating menace. Each was a champion in their respective combat fields. With their master’s orders, they moved in on Samuel.Like a pack of hunting dogs.But Samuel didn’t flinch.Every punch, every kick thrown at him was countered with ease. Samuel moved like water, his strikes precise and devastating.Within seconds, the bodyguards lay sp
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\The road to the Vale of Remnants wasn’t marked on any map. It was hidden, buried beneath centuries of secrecy and natural camouflage. Eli had given them a tattered scroll, ink faded but still legible, containing coordinates only someone with the sigil could decipher. As they left the last paved road behind, the air grew heavier, laced with static. Trees loomed taller here, their twisted trunks like sentinels watching every move.Samuel sat in the backseat, staring out at the encroaching forest, his mind reeling. The Mark of Ascendance pulsed under his sleeve with quiet insistence, as if reacting to their proximity to the boundary. Every time he blinked, he saw that throne again—ancient and immense, its surface etched with glowing veins of light and shadow.Joey drove in tense silence. He had stopped cracking jokes two hours ago, when the GPS died and the radio began spitting out bursts of static mixed with those same whispered voices Samuel had been hearing. Sarah sat beside him, ey
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The handshake lingered longer than it should have, and when Marcus finally let go, Samuel wiped his hand on his coat, as if trying to rid himself of something foul. The warehouse hit had gone clean, precise, but that didn’t matter now. Callahan’s warning refused to quiet in Samuel’s head. The real players—the ones who truly run this city—are still out there.Back at the safe house, the atmosphere was no warmer than when they had left. Olivia was asleep on the couch, her breathing shallow but even. Rafael stood by the window, watching the street, while Evelyn leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the lines of tension etched deeper into her face.“You okay?” Samuel asked, stepping beside her.She didn’t answer at first. Then, quietly, “We just shot a man in cold blood, and I don’t feel a thing. That’s not normal.”Samuel glanced at her. “Normal left the building a long time ago.”Rafael spoke up. “We’ve stirred something up. Marcus might be useful, but he’s no ally. He plays sides, not
163
'Hey, how about now? I am hungry'.There really was no other choice but to send a message to Gelael and go out with him. I couldn't possibly have to whine to Adrian, he might get really angry with me, because earlier he had offered to buy food straight away.Luckily, in no more than five minutes, Gelael arrived. I immediately got down and opened Gelael's car door when I saw that he had come with his friend. I immediately closed the front door and moved to the back. Unlucky! It's really embarrassing."Eh, sorry Emma, I forgot to tell you that I invited my brother, his name is Bon," said Gelael, Bon then extended his hand towards me."Emma," I said, shaking Bon's hand."Where are you going, sis?" Bon asked Gelael."Whatever, just a place to eat, a relaxed cafe, something delicious, if possible with live music," said Gelael.I sent a message to Gelael.'Why didn't you say that you would invite your brother, I was embarrassed because I suddenly opened the front door''Why should you be em
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"Why did you bring your brother? That's really cool," I asked."He was the one who wanted to come, he said he was bored at home, lazy about being told by his older brother, so I just invited him, do you feel bothered?" Gelael asked back."No, it's up to you, whoever you want to invite," I answered.Gelael smiled, he kept looking at me, I became uncomfortable."What now?" I asked Gelael."Nothing, I'm just happy to see you again, forgive all my stupidity yesterday, I think I was possessed by the ghost of a woman, that's why I acted so annoyingly," said Gelael."There's no need to discuss it any further, just assume that if you're crazy, I understand," I said.Gelael laughed, he looked back at me while supporting his chin. A very annoying pose for me, I ignored it and immediately played with my cellphone.Adrian sent photos of the food being served at Sandra's house, lots of it. It looked like they were having a luxurious party, Sandra was also seen smiling holding a lobster. I'm gratef
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“Why, just because I said something wrong earlier? "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, don't be angry like this, we can discuss other things that are more interesting," replied Gelael."What else can I discuss with you?" I asked."What, I don't know either, there are many things I could tell you but you won't hear them, you understand what I mean," said Gelael, he looked at me sharply."Yeah, thank you, I don't want to hear it one bit," I answered.Gelael raised his eyebrows, he then opened his cellphone. Likewise with me. I also kept myself busy by opening my cellphone.I looked around, people seemed to be chatting with each other, sharing stories, laughing, and making memorable memories. Meanwhile we were both just busy with our own affairs. There are no more words, no more stories that we can talk about, it's all over.Likewise with this relationship, it should be completely over, it cannot be forced. Between the two of us we still have wounds and hopes, I have wounds that have not yet h
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Adrian sat on the sofa in front of the television, leaned his head against the sofa cushion, he closed his eyes, from his expression I could tell that Adrian felt very tired and depressed."Sandra apologized to me earlier, she told me about how all this could happen, I was very touched," said Adrian, still with the same expression."That's all he said?" I asked.Adrian opened his eyes, he squinted at me."What else did he tell you? Is there anything else?” Adrian asked me with a confused and curious face."Yes, she told me how she broke up with Hudson, and how all this madness started," I answered, I sat next to Adrian.“Hudson? What did he tell you? "He just said that, all of this has nothing to do with me, all the mistakes that exist are proof that he was guilty and negligent, he was just being hit by anxiety and worry about his life, so he finally chose a shortcut to calm himself down," said Adrian."I don't want to talk about this problem because it is Sandra's personal matter, bu
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"Whoever is stressed, it seems like he is talking about himself," I said quietly. I then closed the door and locked it.What should I do now, it was still very early, I looked in the refrigerator, there was some ice cream that I hadn't eaten. Because I was hungry, I decided to cook instant noodles.After a few minutes, the instant noodles I made were ready and I brought them in front of the television. I turned on the television and ate the noodles I made. It's really delicious.Days like this are sometimes very enjoyable, maybe you know what I mean, I haven't lived a normal life like someone without problems for a long time, so this sometimes becomes an interesting habit.Gelael sent me a message saying good morning, I ignored it. I've really decided to keep my distance from Gelael, I don't want to have to play with everything at my young age all the time.By the way, it's December 28th, it's great that Adrian is still working at the end of the year, what a busy businessman. Sometime
158
We arrived at the mall where Gelael and I met again for the first time after we separated."Let's just go straight to the salon, okay? My head feels very heavy," said Sandra, she then took my hand and we started walking along the mall."So how did that happen, I really can't comment reading what you just showed me, I'm very happy," I said, Sandra's smile couldn't hide her feelings which were also very happy."Why did I ask Adrian to come home last night? Because I really opened my mind, I apologized to Adrian and asked him not to think about all the things I did, I thought there were things I had to finish before it was too late. So after Adrian came home, I immediately called Tommy and talked to him. Including my meeting with Adrian, Hudson and what just happened, maybe we talked for almost three hours, I have become relieved and open since telling you, so I am really grateful that because of you I can have the courage to admit those things. At first I was hesitant to call Tommy, but
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The safe house felt colder than usual. The air was thick with tension, the kind that settled in your bones and refused to let go. Samuel sat in the corner of the dimly lit room, his fingers lightly tapping against his knee. Evelyn was across from him, tending to Olivia, who lay on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her.Damon paced near the window, his agitation barely contained. “This doesn’t feel like a win,” he muttered. “We took out Vincent, got Olivia back, but something feels... off.”Samuel knew exactly what he meant. The words of the dying man at the warehouse still echoed in his mind. There are worse monsters coming.“We don’t have time to celebrate,” Samuel said finally. “Vincent may be dead, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe. Power like his doesn’t just disappear—it shifts.”Evelyn looked up, her expression tired but determined. “Then we make sure no one else takes it.”Damon scoffed. “That’s a nice thought, but how? We’re just four people against an entire city of crim