Achiel was dumbfounded. He stared in horror at the maid. He had never talked to her in his entire life. Though the maid has been trying to be good to him amongst the rest who don't accord him respect. Yet he had never allowed himself to be carried away. Let alone get close to her.
But here she is saying that he did what?!
"We have all been seeing it for the past few months. We all know that she has an eye for him. But I could never have imagined that Achiel would be so disgraceful and insult my sister." Harold explained.
Harold was looking down at the maid. Then he glared at Achiel.
"How dare you do that to my sister?! How dare you insult Mother?!" Harold yelled at Achiel.
Achiel was stunned speechless. He saw Harold steal a smile. Though he had no idea how, he was sure at that moment that Harold did this!
When Achiel looked back at Madam, he looked away immediately. Madam's eyes were red. Fire in her eyes. If a glare could kill, Achiel would be 6 ft down at that instant.
Madam jumped up on her feet in a fit of rage. Everyone had their heads down. No one dared look her in the eyes. She was terrifying on a good day. What would she do on a bad day?!
This trash bag has not only been useless in the family but would bring the name of the family down by cheating?! She would see to it that she made him see hell and traverse it.
"Fall on your knees!!!" Madam screamed!!!
Her scream was so loud that she wanted to pull the mansion apart. Achiel fell at once.
"How dare you! How dare you!!!" Madam yelled even harder.
She was trembling in a great quake.
"Take him out of my sight! Until I think of what to do with him!" Madam ordered.
Two bouncers ran in at once and escorted Achiel out of the living room to one of the rooms.
Everyone was scared of what would happen next. Madam was still standing, trying to get a grip of herself. Some of her children had concluded that she must have had a trauma back in the days. A trauma related to cheating.
None of them could explain why she always lost her composure and mind whenever she hears something related to cheating. It had happened once in the past, and now the second time.
She slowly sat down at last.
Harold lifted his gaze and took a few steps forward. He dropped on his knees.
"It's my fault, Mother. I got you worried. I should have disciplined him. I have been lenient on Achiel these past months because of the company. But I couldn't have thought that he would do that to us. He slapped you across the face." Harold pleaded.
Madam took a sharp gaze at him, and he dropped his head.
"Get up. It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself." Madam ordered.
"No, Mother. Let me remain like this." Harold declined.
"Are you going to stress me even further?!" Madam snapped at him.
This time, Harold has no choice but to jump on his feet.
"Forgive my impudence, Mother." Harold apologised.
Madam sighed and glanced at Hannah, then Derek.
"Isn't it tomorrow we agreed to have a meeting?" Madam asked Derek.
Madam had no idea that Derek was around.
"Yes, Mother. I was returning from a store and decided to bring a gold chain for Hannah." Derek feigned boldness to hide the lie.
"As much as I despise Achiel, he is still my son-in-law. You shouldn't be in the same room with my daughter all alone. Except you want to keep mouths talking." Madam scolded Derek.
Derek bowed humbly,
"I was thoughtless, Mother. I won't make such a mistake anymore. It was just my known affection for her that got into my head." Derek sweet talked.
Hannah smiled, blushing.
"There is no need to be sorry. Achiel has officially been renounced as my son-in-law. You can do it properly henceforth." Madam announced.
Derek dropped on his knees in appreciation,
"I'm so grateful, Mother. You will never regret it. Trust me."
Madam nodded softly. She said,
"You will earn my trust as long as you cooperate with us in the future."
"I'm at your service, Mother." Derek promised.
Madam gazed at Harold,
"Bring Achiel in."
Harold left at once.
"You don't want him to meet you on your knees." Madam said to Derek, who was still on his knees.
Derek took the advice and got up. He walked to Hannah, standing even closer to her than before, brushing sides.
Achiel was dragged in like a dog and was forced to his knees. Achiel lifted his gaze at Hannah first. He saw her smiling. Derek, too. He looked at Madam.
"You are despicable and worthless! Never should you look me in the eyes again!!!" Madam yelled at Achiel.
Achiel, who had been looking at Madam, dropped his gaze.
"You are now a rejected son-in-law and will be treated worse than the maids in this house!!! You will do all the dirty jobs! And if you dare to run away, you would be hit by a running vehicle!!! I will make sure of it!" Madam promised.
Achiel wanted to tell her that it was a lie and he was being framed, but looking at things, he was smart enough to know that it would be worthless.
"And any of you that goes around talking about what he did, I will cut you into pieces irrespective of whoever you are!!!" Madam threatened.
At her threat, everyone bowed, muttering indistinctly. Most of them said,
"Yes, Mother."
"If it's not because of the promise that I made to my father, I would have beaten him to death or thrown him in the street." Madam swore, very furious at Achiel.
Also, she was considerate of society, too. She was very conscious of her status. If Achiel was thrown in the street, it would become a rumour that the son-in-law of Auroville Groups is now a bum on the street.
"He will live in the worst apartment from now. But first, he would spend a day in the dark room. Harold, take him away." Madam ordered.
Achiel gazed at Harold in confusion. Naturally, whenever Madam orders someone to be taken out, she isn't usually specific. And only the bouncers do it.
But now she had called Harold's name. There must be something horrible about to happen.
"You must be thirsty, bro." Harold smirked.
He dragged Achiel way.
"Thirsty? I'm not thirsty." Achiel argued.
But regardless of what Achiel said, he was dragged to the pool, which was next to Harold's building.
"What are we doing h---"
Before Achiel could ask the question, a force hit him from behind, and inside the pool, he fell. Because of how sudden the push was, Achiel sank, his nostrils filled with water that he gasped for air.
Harold turned to the bouncers,
"What are you waiting for?"
The two hefty men jumped into the pool and dragged Achiel out. They carried him and walked to the dark room.
"Let me see you go around claiming that you had nothing to do with the maid." Harold warned.
Harold signalled the men. The men threw Achiel inside the dark room.
"Hey!" Achiel yelled.
Achiel ran to the steel door, which shut right in face. He felt dizzy. The water from the pool must be kicking in. He was exhausted. He broke down on his knees, his heart shattered.
Suddenly, he heard a chiming behind him. He turned at once. He saw a screen in the thick darkness,
Ping! A host has been found successfully. To accept this Lavish System, press 'Yes'.
Ping! Host has successfully activated the system.
Ping! Host agrees to lend out his body for three days. No interruption in Host's daily activities.
Ping! Host has typed in $1 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Ping! Host will exhaust the reward in a century.
When Achiel woke up, he was embraced by a stream of darkness. His eyes were widely opened, but he couldn't see a thing. It was at that moment that he recalled where he was. He was in the dark room. He sat up. Slowly, he remembered all that happened yesterday. The worst day of his life. How he was cheated on and framed by his wife's elder brother. He tried to avoid the memories. Suddenly, he recalled something rather stunning. His encounter with a strange man in the dark room. A strange man who told him about things which he didn't quite understand. He was trying to remember the other details of the encounter when he heard a loud knock on the door. He quickly jumped up. His hour of punishment must be over. The door was opened from outside, and a ray of light entered the dark room. He walked to the door to see a maid. It was the same maid. The maid who framed him."Please follow me, It's time." The maid said. She couldn't look him in the face. She hurried away immediately. He foll
Achiel felt dumbfounded. He didn't know how to react to the sudden incident. Naturally, the ATM should dispense nothing more than $20,000 at a time. On top of that fact, no ATM stand in the whole of Jade City has up to a million in it. For each day, only a hundred thousand dollars is stored in the machine. The reason was that the majority of the citizens love to go cashless. Almost everyone could use their card or phone to pay wherever they got to shop.Only a few people use the ATM stands. But today, not only has the ATM vomited 2 million dollars, but it broke the limit of the day. Achiel was surrounded by a heap of two million dollars!!! He had never seen that much money in his entire life. If there was one thing which had just been proven. It was the fact that the system was real!!!He looked around. He was lucky that there was no one coming. He saw a nylong sac in sight. He ran and picked it up. He quickly stacked up the cash in the sac. He tied it with one of the laces of hi
While Achiel wondered in disbelief because of the call and message he had just received, the system window suddenly popped up in his mind again,Ping! Host has just spent three hundred billion dollars. Ping! Host's available balance is $999, 999, 999, 699, 998, 000, 000Ping! Because Host has spent that much money, Host's biceps have been improved. Undergoing physical transformation. Achiel felt a surge run through his body, and he felt dizzy for the first few seconds. But then again, like nothing happened, he was back to being hale and hearty. This was just too much for him to process. He should rest, but he didn't have the time for that. "Hoveland. Hoveland?" He thought.That was the first thing he could think of. He headed out of the building and off the compound. He hailed at a cab, and off he went. The cab stopped at a particular part of the road. No commercial cab was allowed to drive into the premises of Hoveland.Hoveland is the biggest company in the whole of Jade City.
"What do you think you are doing?" Arold yelled at Achiel. "Are you trying to make a joke out of Mr Ari? What app are you using to mimick the call?!" Arold walked towards Achiel in rage. Arold seemed to be having trouble believing what was right in front of his eyes. Though Mr Ari's voice had been heard over the speaker of Achiel's phone, yet Arold didn't want to believe it. It was as though he was trying so hard to understand how someone like Achiel would be the very important person they had been waiting for. How is it possible?!!!"We should teach you some lesson for trying to pull a prank on -"Whoosh! Strike! Slap! Mr Ari sent ear-ringing slaps across Arold's face. Everyone was very shocked to see what Mr Ari had done. Even Achiel was equally surprised. "Mr Ari? Why did you slap me? I was trying to -"Arold had not asked another question when Mr. Ari landed him another sequence of slaps. Two of his teeth flew off the roof of his mouth. Blood followed suit, chasing the two te
Achiel arrived at the mansion to a raging Madam. She was fuming in rage as she glared at him. "Mother, I was out." Achiel bowed. "What the hell do you think you are doing? What's it by the time?" Madam yelled at him. Though Achiel already knew what the time was, he decided to give it another check. Else, he would infuriate her more. "It is two minutes past 4 pm." Achiel answered. "What should you be doing at this time? Huh, Achiel? What should you be doing?!" Madam demanded angrily. Achiel didn't plan to answer her question. Answering her question would only make her get even more furious. "I'll be on my way then. I'm sorry." He bowed softly and left. Achiel needed every sort of deception he could amass in order to hide his new profile. He shouldn't act up for the meantime. He knew that. That was why he was trying to let things progress accordingly. Like it would in the past. "That crazy boy. What the hell has got over him?!" Madam exhaled as she watched him go. She sat down
It's 7am. The main hall of the great White Mansion, which belonged to the great Mr Auroville and inherited by his wife, Dorothy, was teeming with so many people; sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grand sons-in-law, grand daughters-in-laws and great grand children. Dorothy, Mrs Auroville is celebrating her 99th birthday today. Though she was very old and advanced in age, yet she had a lovely stature that deceives people of her real age. Some said that she had spent her youthful ages drinking tea made from the old ginseng root and some other roots, which are now proving effective in her old age. She was adorned and set in a very special and beautiful chair. The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling of the large hall complimented the tone of the interior, giving such a surreal feeling and sight. Gentle wheezes of ancient sprays washed through the air, giving such a pleasant smell in the hall, no matter the confluence of different colognes
The awe that filled the large hall was overwhelming. Not one of the people present understood what the hell was happening.Who did Grandmother just hug? Achiel? The trash bag? How? Why?The other two families who had been aiming insults at Madam couldn't even bring themselves some relief off the shock. Harold's jaws were dropped to the floor. Madam's eyes almost popped out of the sockets. Hannah was staring as though she had just seen a ghost. What was happening made absolutely no sense to any of them. What was more interesting was the fact that none of them dared to question grandmother. They would only have to wait to see what the reasons are. Grandmother slowly pulled away from Achiel at last. When she pulled away, it was as though a heavy burden was heaved off the shoulders of everyone. Grandmother turned to look at everyone. "Everyone of you is preoccupied with gaining my favour to get a higher share at the company. He is the only one who cares about my health. He wants to
The wave of shock that travelled across the hall was so unprecedented. All eyes went from the large screen to Achiel. Achiel, what? Achiel Auroville?How? How is this possible? This trash bag?Achiel took a moment to look at the reaction of Madam. She was staring at him with a wild disbelief seeped in her face. Grandmother couldn't believe her eyes, too. Though this would be the first time Achiel came to the birthday party of grandmother, everyone knew his name. Achiel was not only looked down upon by the family of Madam but also the other families of the children of grandmother. This is too hard for the people to believe! There is no way possible that it made any sense. They have known Achiel all their lives. He couldn't own such a grand company and keep quiet about it. From where would he even see the money? How would he have been able to make such a huge amount of money. He couldn't even afford clothes for himself!!!They all knew that Achiel was adopted. There was no story w
~ THE THIRD DIMENSION ~A stream of golden light was descending from the sky at an insane speed. Its velocity was beyond the speed of the lightning. It was traveling in a wave and twirl. It kept going and going. When it zoomed past a mist of cloud, the details of the stream of light broadened. Earlier, it appeared as a golden stream of light, but now there seemed to be a hint of blue overshadowing the light. The blueness was like a hue around the golden light. Although the hue was not harsh yet, it was never to be overlooked. Suddenly, the stream of golden light collided with the peak of a bamboo tree. When the collison was made, a blinding light traveled from that place to the end of the whole forest. It was as though the whole place was enveloped in a white brilliance. After a short while, the light died out. When the light died out, there was a lanky and tall man seen standing on the tip of the peak of the bamboo tree. It was as thought hebhwd grown out of thin air. The body
The towering God of Cosmos stood tall and mightily behind Achiel. Mira still couldn't find the appropriate way to react to it. At first, she thought that he had disappeared with Achiel, but they were still there. Her eyes must be blurring out following the great shock. Suddenly, she noticed the God of Cosmos moving his hands here and there around the room. Mira's eyes followed the directions of his hands that went to and fro. In each direction that he waved his hand, a portal appeared. He waved his hands in five places, and five portals appeared. There was a portal that had been cackling all along. It was through that portal that Achiel wanted to take Mira to the kingdom. "Choose one." The God of Cosmos said out of the blue. "Huh?" Mira was startled by the instruction. She thought that the God of Cosmos had referred to her. When she lifted her gaze slowly to take a quick peek at the immortal being, she realised that she got it all wrong. He wasn't talking to her. He was talkin
"I can't believe that it really worked as you said." Mira added, awed by the scene that was unfolding on the screen of the phone. "But for how long will he function? I mean, how long would it take for the clone to disappear?" Mira asked. Her tone and voice showed how genuinely concerned and interested she was. She seemed to be clueless yet was fighting for all the intention there was to know. "You didn't have to ask the same question twice. Either way, I'll answer you." Achiel corrected, smiling at her. She should return the smile, but her busy mind wouldn't give her a break from the tumbling thoughts. "For as long as we want." Achiel answered. Mira's brows furrowed when he said those words. The confusion was scribbled on her face. It was way too glaring to be hidden. "We?" Mira finally asked the important question. Achiel sighed as he looked away from the screen of the phone. "I know that all these are strange to you, but you need to grow on the fact. It's something that you
Outside the Shangri-la tower, there was a scary type of quietness. The level of quietness was really something that could never have been envisaged by anyone. The reason was that there were lots and lots of people who stretched from those premises of the Shangri-la to several kilometers away in a long, broad, and single file. For all these numerous people that have different tastes and have subscribed to different notions and beliefs, to be this quiet, it was something that could never be overlooked. The quietness didn't come of its own accord. Instead, everyone was staring seriously at his phone. Those who were not staring at their phones were looking at the large billboard that was etched into a corner of the tower. Everyone was staring keenly at the screen that was accessible to them respectfully. But what was happening on the screens of all the phones and the billboard were the same thing. Everyone gasped at the same time. On the billboard, there was a lanky man who looked
Klaus's question attracted a lot of reactions. His words were weighty, and not one person was willing to look to the other side. "Klaus!" Zoe suddenly called at him. Klaus took a glance at her. When he saw her, he looked a little tipped off. For a sheer second, he had forgotten that Zoe was here. In the grand scheme of events at this moment, Zoe was the least important person around when it came to status and class. It was already a wonder that she was present here. Perhaps if she didn't have a feather, she wouldn't be here either. Even Klaus has his. "Don't be offended by my choice of word." Klaus plucked his gaze from her and turned to the whirring camera first before paying attention to the people present. "Pay close attention while I explain this. After this, the couple would be invited in to be celebrated and tied." Klaus's composure had tuned."Although it would totally be an honor to do this even though we are not worthy." Klaus's tone suddenly changed. Something strange
On the floating peak of Shangri-la, there were numerous people settled down on high-end chairs made out of the purest red gold ever refined. The skin of real-life wild cats that were hand woven were sewn about the chairs, serving as resting pads and the main places where the bum would rest. There were several men of dignity positioned in thoughtful patterns across the space. The sight was so beautiful and opulent. Each of the dignitaries present at that place had a red feather at the top of their hats; each person had a hat on. irrespective of whatever you are wearing, there was a hat to match, and on top of each person's hat was a red feather. The invite!The red feather was the pass for each of the persons that was present on the Peak. The feather looked very rare. It looked to have been plucked from the wings of a Phoenix or several Phoenix.Although the color was red, yet there was this subtle highlight of yellow that made it seem as though it was multicolored. But the truth w
About 19km away from the Shangri-la Peak, there was a flood of heads. An ocean of bodies standing in the way, making shuffles at occasional periods. The ginormous number of people stretched from that position up to the front of Shangri-la Peak. It was as though the world was about to end, and everyone had come out of their houses. It was even scarier than that. The whole city had come to a standstill because of the crazy number of people occupying all the roads and places.Voices, echoes, and screams were flying around. But one thing each of the people on the street shared was the urge to move forward."Has the wedding started?" A random person asked. "I'm not sure. The Peak is not floating yet. As soon as it starts floating, I'm sure that'd be a sign?"Two strangers were explaining to others who were surrounding them. "Get out of my way!" A lad sent a flying punch into the face of the last person to speak.Before the victim could react, the lad had run forward, pushing his way t
"It's you. It's really you." Laura repeated the words in an attempt to be emphatic. She had done it also to convince herself that she was in her right mind and was not seeing things. Achiel remained where he was standing as though he could not move. "How... How did you find me?" That was the tenth time that she had asked that same question. When she had received a message from godofcos claiming that he was outside her house. She had come running outside. Getting to the door of her apartment, she had seen Achiel standing there. The man from the store!!!She had been trying to engage him in a conversation, but the man had been staring at her all along. Standing there like a statue. But then suddenly, he replied her abruptly. Ever since then, he had gone mute again. She was really confused and didn't know what to make of this situation that she had earned herself. Achiel was trying to make things less weird between the both of them. If he went fully into talking to her, she might
Achiel was still standing where he was, staring at his phone. But the noise coming from distance was getting louder, and he couldn't ignore it any longer. He looked away from the phone, from the chat scene, in the direction of the noise. The group of high school students were still there. He wasn't ready to be concerned with who they were. Instead, what they were doing was something that he couldn't ignore. There was a lad who had been forced to be on his knees, while a group of bigger boys hit him repeatedly. Achiel had seen this at first but brushed it off because he was trying to gift Lauretta. Although, earlier, things were not alarming amongst the group compared to now. He started to walk towards the scene. In a matter of time, he was already close to the group. "Are you still going to keep talking?" One of the three big boys said to the victim, hitting him on the back of his head. "You will report to the principal again, won't you?" Another guy slapped the victim across t