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BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 24
The woman still stared with anger, then stepped outside her house, shocked by the larger number of people. "What is this!? What are you doing?!" She turned back to Arthur and asked, "Who are you really, and what is your purpose?!" In the midst of the chaos, a woman in a wheelchair appeared from inside the house. The woman had pale skin, sunken eyes, and an extremely thin body. Her eye circles were also blackened, as if she had never found a nutritious meal in her life. "Okay! This is really clear!" Arthur shouted loudly. He grabbed one of the reporters and pushed him to focus the camera on the woman more closely. "Look at how terrifying the consequences of excessive drug use are! Let me guess, Meth, Coke, I’m sure there are plenty of injection marks under that cloth covering her body!" Arthur shouted with satisfaction. "What the fuck!" The brown-haired woman shoved the reporter hard, sending him crashing into the wall. The situation became tense, and Joey imm
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 25
The young woman stepped forward, her hands steady despite the weight of the moment. She began to speak, her voice calm yet imbued with a quiet intensity that silenced even the most skeptical of listeners.“My father,” she started, her eyes scanning the crowd, “was a soldier—a man of honor who gave everything for this country.”Her words hit the gathered reporters and onlookers like a thunderclap. The murmurs faded as her story unfolded. She explained how Samuel Hayes, a man often accused of villainy, had established this neighborhood to care for the families of fallen soldiers and severely injured veterans who didn’t qualify for government support.“For years,” she continued, her voice unwavering, “we struggled in silence, forgotten by the very country my father fought to protect. The government turned us away, citing confidentiality and red tape as excuses. But Samuel Hayes… he didn’t see us as statistics or liabilities. He saw us as human beings who deserved dignity.”Her words carr
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 26
Arthur paced nervously in his office, the weight of the recent scandal pressing heavily on his shoulders. The photos of Samuel with the community residents, smiling and shaking hands, had gone viral. The media painted Samuel as a selfless man who prioritized the well-being of the underprivileged. Arthur, on the other hand, was now under intense scrutiny, labeled as cold and indifferent by the same reporters. His reputation, the company’s stock, and his image as a respected businessman were all on the line. With no other choice, Arthur decided to take a different approach. He adjusted his tie, forced a smile, and stood in front of a crowd of reporters who were eager to hear his response to the growing controversy. “I’ve recently come to understand the importance of continuing Samuel’s work,” Arthur said, his voice calm but practiced. “I will personally take over the responsibilities he started and ensure that the community receives the support and resources it needs to thrive. This i
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 27
Lisa’s father sat in his lavish office, staring at the screen in front of him with a growing sense of rage. The live stream that had been circulating online was filled with praises for Samuel. The comments were overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their belief that the state would fall apart without Samuel's support. It was clear that Samuel had garnered a loyal following, and that thought gnawed at Lisa's father.For years, he had held the reins of power in the state, his influence stretching into every corner of society. He had built an empire, both in business and politics, and his name was synonymous with authority. Now, it seemed that Samuel, the outsider, had come out of nowhere and was threatening to take it all away. Lisa’s father didn’t trust him—he believed there had to be a hidden agenda, some dark secret behind Samuel’s charity and benevolent acts. How else could someone gain so much support so quickly? There had to be a catch.As he scrolled through the live stre
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 28
Samuel’s chest tightened as Sarah’s words echoed in his mind. "I’ve got your back. I always have." It had been years since he’d heard anything like that from her, and it stirred a mix of emotions he wasn’t prepared to face.Sarah folded her arms, leaning against the table as she observed his reaction. She wasn’t one to mince words or let silence linger for too long. “Look, Samuel,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “I know this is a lot to process, but you don’t have to do this alone. You’ve got a whole community rallying behind you, and now, you’ve got me too.”Samuel nodded slowly, still struggling to find the right words. “I appreciate that, Sarah. I really do. But...why now? Why come back into my life at this moment? And how did you even get involved in all this?”She chuckled, the sound warm and familiar, easing some of his tension. “Well, it’s a long stor
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 29
Samuel sat in the dimly lit corner of the police station, staring at the worn-out table before him. The faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead made the room feel even more stifling, but his mind was far too preoccupied to care. Across from him sat Sarah, the woman he had last seen years ago, now standing before him with a certain familiarity that made his heart skip. Her presence stirred up emotions he hadn’t thought about in ages. And beside her, Joey was pacing back and forth, glancing at them with curiosity. Samuel could feel the unease in Joey’s eyes as he studied Sarah. The younger man didn’t know her, and it was clear from his gaze that he was perplexed by the sudden appearance of this woman. Joey had been Samuel’s closest ally for a long time, yet this new dynamic clearly threw him off. However, Samuel didn’t feel the need to explain. He knew that some things were better left unsaid—at least for now. “So, Samuel,” Sarah began, breaking the silence that had hung thick
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 30
Samuel sat across from Sarah, his eyes narrowing as he processed her words. It was already shocking enough that she had appeared out of nowhere, claiming to be here on behalf of her late grandfather. But her next statement left him completely stunned.“I’m here to bail you out,” Sarah said calmly, her voice carrying an air of certainty as if this was no big deal.Joey, who had been leaning against the wall, froze mid-step. He stared at Sarah, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. “Wait a minute,” Joey said, stepping forward. “You’re here to bail him out? Do you even know how much his bail is? It’s seven hundred million dollars.”He let out a laugh, but it was more out of incredulity than amusement. “Lisa and Arthur set that amount so high because they knew no one could pay it. Not even the richest people in the country could come up with that kind of money overnight.”Samuel remained silent, studying Sarah’s reaction. He was curious to see if the mention of such an astronom
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 31
Samuel exhaled deeply, his fingers drumming on the table as he processed Sarah’s unwavering stance. Despite his protests, it was clear she wasn’t taking no for an answer. The bail was already paid, and the decision was made. "Fine," Samuel said at last, his tone laced with resignation. "I’ll go. But not yet. There’s still unfinished business I need to take care of in City A." Sarah frowned, her eyes narrowing. "Unfinished business? Samuel, you can’t keep delaying this. You know how my grandfather worked—his plans are meticulous and unforgiving. If you miss the deadline to retrieve what’s waiting for you, there won’t be a second chance." "I know," Samuel replied firmly. "But I have responsibilities here. Loose ends to tie up. If I just leave without addressing them, everything I’ve worked for will crumble. You have to understand." For a moment, Sarah said nothing, her piercing gaze fixed on him. It was a silent battle of wills, and Samuel could see her frustration bubbling bene
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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
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'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
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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
