Chapter 6
Allvar blinked, certain he had misheard. "One million…what? Are you serious?" "As serious as I’ve ever been," his father replied, his voice smooth. "Consider it your first task as the future head of the family." Allvar stared at him, then at the gold card, his mind reeling. "Dad, I…I don’t even know where to begin." "You’ll figure it out," his father said, his grin widening. "Just remember, this is only the beginning. Enjoy yourself, Allvar. You’ve earned it." Allvar stood there, stunned, as his father gave him a knowing nod. The weight of everything, the revelations, the responsibility, and the sudden windfall pressed down on him. But beneath it all, a flicker of excitement began to stir. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all. **** Allvar stepped out of the taxi and stared up at the neon-lit sign of the bar. The party was being held in one of the biggest and most extravagant bars in the city, yet he still felt a strange unease. His father’s words echoed in his mind, 'Spend a million dollars.' It was ludicrous. How was he even supposed to do that at a graduation party? His head still spun from the revelation about his family, but for now, he needed to focus. He walked into the bar, the heavy doors swinging shut behind him. The place was nearly empty, his classmates hadn’t arrived yet. Still, the pulsating music and dim lighting gave the bar an atmosphere of wealth and indulgence. Allvar spotted the bar at the far end of the room and made his way over, trying to mask his nerves. He approached the bartender, a burly man with a stern expression, and leaned against the counter. "Hey," Allvar began, glancing around before locking eyes with the bartender. "What’s the most expensive drink you’ve got here?" The bartender barely looked at him, giving only a brief, dismissive glance before returning to polishing a glass. "Busy," he muttered, his tone flat. Allvar frowned, his eyebrows knitting in frustration. "Excuse me?" The bartender didn’t even bother turning fully toward him. "I’ve got other things to handle. I’ll have someone else deal with you." With that, the bartender gestured to a young girl standing behind the counter, barely noticeable until now. She looked timid, almost startled by the call. The girl shuffled over, her hands fidgeting nervously. "I-I can help you. What would you like?" Allvar watched as the bartender moved away, whispering to another bartender and casting a glance in his direction. Their snickers were unmistakable. "Look at his clothes," one of them murmured, thinking they were out of earshot. "He’s probably just here to ask about prices, not buy anything. Waste of time." Allvar’s jaw clenched, but he bit back the urge to snap. 'Let them think whatever they want,' he thought. He turned his attention back to the timid girl, her face anxious as she waited for his response. "So," Allvar began, trying to soften his tone. "What’s the most expensive drink you’ve got here?" She blinked, clearly not expecting the question. "The…uh, the most expensive? Well, that would be the Éternité champagne. It’s ten thousand dollars per bottle." Allvar raised an eyebrow. "Ten thousand dollars, huh?" The girl nodded quickly, glancing at the bartender, who was still laughing quietly with his colleague. Allvar could feel his frustration bubbling up again, but then an idea struck him. 'If I’m going to spend a million, I might as well make it interesting.' "I’ll take a hundred bottles," Allvar said, his voice steady. The girl’s eyes widened, her jaw nearly dropping. "H-Hundred bottles? Are you serious?" "Does it sound like I’m joking?" Allvar replied, his voice calm but firm. The bartender, who had overheard, suddenly froze mid-laugh and turned to stare at Allvar.Chapter 7Hearing Allvar’s words, the bartender, who had been laughing with his colleague, immediately stopped and pushed the girl aside. "I’ll take it from here," he said, his tone suddenly much more respectful.Allvar frowned, confused by the sudden change in the bartender's demeanor. "Why the change of heart?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.The bartender flashed a wide, almost sycophantic grin. "I knew it all along, sir. You’re one of those low-profile rich guys, aren’t you?" he said, his voice dripping with flattery. "I could tell from the moment you walked in. Let me personally handle your order. A hundred bottles of Éternité, right? Coming right up."Allvar’s frown deepened. "Really?" he said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You sure weren’t acting like you knew anything a minute ago."Before the bartender could respond, a sharp voice cut through the room. "Allvar?" Allvar turned around, his eyes narrowing when he saw who it was. Serena, dressed in a shimmering, expensive gown
Chapter 8Allvar sneered, his lips curling in disdain as he stood outside the bar, finally piecing it together. His ex, his classmates, he had always known deep down what kind of people they were. Now, it was all glaringly clear.As he was about to walk away, the sound of laughter grew louder. A group of his old classmates entered the bar, chattering excitedly. None of them acknowledged him, not even with a glance, except for one person."Allvar!" A voice called out. He turned to see his best friend, Mikel, weaving through the crowd toward him. Mikel, the only one who had bothered to check in on him earlier, clapped a hand on his shoulder."Man, I can’t believe how fake they all are," Mikel muttered, shaking his head. "They’re only avoiding you because they’re jealous. You were always the best in class, and Serena was the hottest girl around. They couldn’t stand it."Allvar gave a bitter smile. "It doesn't matter anymore. They’re all vultures."Mikel’s eyes darkened as he glanced t
chapter 9The bar fell eerily silent after Allvar’s bold order, but only for a moment. The hush didn’t last long before the group of former classmates erupted into laughter, their amusement spreading like wildfire."Did you hear that?" one of the guys hooted, slapping his knee in exaggerated laughter. "The 'loser' wants to buy the most expensive drink here? He couldn’t even afford bread back in the day!"More laughter echoed across the room, and the mockery began to build, each voice eager to take their turn."Yeah, right," another chimed in, smirking smugly. "Éternité? The guy can’t even find a job, and now he thinks he can afford champagne worth more than all the money he’s ever seen in his life?""Maybe he’ll offer to pay in Monopoly money," a girl quipped, earning a round of snickers from those around her.Serena’s new lover, sitting back comfortably with a self-satisfied grin, glanced at Allvar with an air of condescension. "What a joke," he muttered, loud enough for everyone to
Chapter 10More laughter filled the air, and Allvar’s eyes flicked up, locking onto the man’s smug face. The waitress nervously clutched the card, eyes darting to Allvar before continuing her sentence. "I… I was just returning your card, sir," she stammered, holding it out toward him. "The drinks are too heavy, so my colleagues are bringing them over."The entire bar went silent. Serena’s lover, who had been smirking the entire time, furrowed his brows. He leaned forward, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Wait… what do you mean, 'bringing them over'?"The waitress blinked, seemingly confused by the reaction. "I mean," she said slowly, glancing at the group, "the payment went through. We’ve already charged his card for all ten bottles."What?A heavy, stunned silence followed."You’re joking," Serena’s lover blurted out, his face twisting in disbelief. "You mean to tell me he actually 'paid'? For 10 bottles of Éternité? That’s… that’s 100 grand!"The waitress nodded, visibly perplex
11Allvar’s fingers itched to tighten into fists, but he kept his expression neutral as the accusations flew at him from every direction. The bar had fallen into a tense, anticipatory silence, with everyone waiting for his reaction. Serena’s lover, eyes gleaming with malice, leaned forward and laughed darkly.“You’re not getting away with this, man. No way in hell you paid for all that. You think we’re fools? Just admit it — you stole the card,” he sneered, glancing at Serena, who was smiling smugly by his side.Serena tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “It’s not too late to turn yourself in, Allvar. You know what? I think you should. You might avoid a worse sentence if you confess now.” She paused dramatically, then added with a twisted smile, “Lucky for you, my boyfriend’s uncle works for the police. He could help… or not.”Her lover’s grin widened as he pulled out his phone. “That’s right! My uncle would love this. Catching a thief like you? That’s a career boos
12 Allvar hung up the phone and straightened up, his entire demeanor shifting from tense to confident. He slipped his phone back into his pocket, a calm expression settling over his face. Serena’s brow furrowed as she noticed the change in him. “What’s with the sudden attitude? You really think some lowlife you called is going to help?” she sneered, though her voice wavered slightly. Her lover, sensing her unease, pulled her close. “Babe, don’t worry. He’s bluffing. It’s all part of the act. Uncle Tom will handle this, no problem.” He gave her a reassuring squeeze, but the smirk on his face faltered just a little. Allvar met their gazes coolly, his confidence unwavering. “We’ll see who’s bluffing when this is over.” Serena laughed, but it lacked the same malice as before. “You’re really digging your own grave, Allvar. When Uncle Tom gets here, he’s going to eat you alive.” “Sure he will,” Allvar said evenly, his eyes not leaving hers. “But I wonder how your boyfriend will feel w
Allvar barely had time to process what was happening when the voice cut through the noise. It was icy, commanding, and sent a ripple of unease through the crowd."Let him go."Heads turned, eyes searching for the source. Stepping through the door was a striking woman, her beauty undeniable, with sharp features and an aura of confidence that made the entire room hold its breath. Her gaze locked onto Uncle Tom, and even he faltered for a moment before regaining his composure.Uncle Tom's lips curled into a sneer, his eyes lingering on her in a way that made the onlookers shift uncomfortably. “Who do you think you are, huh? You think you can just waltz in here and tell me how to do my job?” His voice was dripping with lewdness as his gaze raked over her. “If you get in my way, I’ll be happy to take you down to the station too. Maybe give you a lesson in respect.”The woman didn’t flinch, her expression remaining ice-cold. She didn’t even bother to acknowledge his crudeness, instead raisi
14Uncle Tom stumbled, trying to gather himself. "B-but I—"The woman, now standing just a few feet away from Allvar, spoke again, her voice like ice. "Release him. Now."Without hesitation, the chief barked, "Get those cuffs off him, immediately!"Uncle Tom fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking so badly he could barely fit the key into the lock. The crowd watched in silence, everyone too stunned to speak. Even Serena's boyfriend, who had been smug and arrogant moments before, now looked like he was ready to melt into the floor.As the cuffs clattered to the ground, Allvar flexed his wrists, wincing at the red marks left behind. He looked up at the woman, who nodded slightly in acknowledgment but didn’t say a word to him.Serena, who had been watching wide-eyed from the sidelines, finally found her voice. "I... I didn’t mean for things to go this far," she stammered, her voice small and trembling.The woman turned to her, her gaze chilling. "You didn’t stop it either," she said sim
Derek’s face hardened as he tried to muster whatever defiance he could. "What do you want from us? Haven’t you done enough already?" His voice was laced with false bravado, but his shaking hands gave him away.Allvar stepped forward, his polished leather shoes clicking softly on the marble floor. His sharp, tailored suit made him look even more imposing. He tilted his head slightly, studying Derek as if he were an insignificant insect. "Done enough?" he repeated, his voice calm, dangerously so. "You mocked me, insulted me, and attempted to humiliate me in public. And now, you think you can walk away without facing the consequences?"Serena whimpered, clutching Derek’s arm tighter. "W-we didn’t know who you were! We didn’t mean—""Didn’t mean?" Allvar’s icy gaze locked onto hers, cutting her off mid-sentence. "What you mean is you didn’t think I was someone who could fight back. That’s always the problem with people like you. You respect power only when it’s shoved in your face."Emily
209Mr. Alves froze, the receiver trembling in his grip as the weight of the words settled over him. He couldn’t breathe, his eyes flickering nervously to Allvar, who still stood there, calm and composed."Y-you can't be serious..." Alves whispered, as if trying to reason with the invisible figure on the other end of the phone.The voice was cold and unforgiving. "I don’t make jokes about business, Mr. Alves. You’ve disrespected someone you shouldn’t have. Pack your things. Security will escort you out shortly."The line clicked dead.For a moment, no one moved. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the restaurant's air conditioning. Derek and Serena gaped at the manager, their smug smiles wiped clean."What did—" Derek started, his voice cracking."Vacant?" Serena’s voice was a high-pitched squeak. "H-he said vacant!?"Mr. Alves stumbled back, his face still ghostly pale. "T-this is impossible," he muttered, eyes darting to Allvar, who now smiled ever so faintly,
208Allvar clenched his fists in anger, grinding his teeth at Derek's audacity. Serena scowled with flaming cheeks, rolling her eyes dismissively.Allvar remained composed, arching a brow at their reaction. "There seems to be an issue here that requires your assistance," Allvar replied calmly into the phone.On the other end of the line, the voice grew sharp with concern. "What sort of situation, Young Master? Are you alright?"Allvar couldn't help but let a small, wry smile flicker across his face, his eyes glinting with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "I've been accused of theft, of all things," he explained, his voice laced with disbelief. "The manager here refuses to believe the gold card is mine. He's threatening to call security on me."He went on and relayed all the events that had transpired, describing how he had been openly mocked and ridiculed by the manager.The butler listened attentively, a frown forming on his aged face. Such disrespect towards the young master wa
Allvar's lips curled into a faint smirk, his calm demeanor betraying none of the turmoil his accusers expected. “How… How did this hobo come into possession of this?" Mr. Alves gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief as he scrutinized the exclusive card in his hand. Allvar remained impassive, his posture relaxed as he watched Mr. Alves struggle to reconcile the elegant card with the man before him. The manager cleared his throat, masking his astonishment with an air of accusation. His gaze darkened as he fixed Allvar with an intense glare. “You’re a criminal! Where did you get this card? This isn’t something just anyone can own. Where did you steal it from?” “From my family," Allvar replied casually, his tone devoid of concern. Emily froze, her pale face reflecting her confusion. She trusted Allvar's integrity but couldn't fathom how he had acquired such an item. In stark contrast, Derek and Serena scoffed simultaneously, their eyes rolling in unison. “Like your pathetic fam
206“Hey!! You're making a mistake here!” Serena called out in a harsh voice, her face scowling at the waiter, who turned slightly to acknowledge them once more.“Do you know who this man is?!” she demanded, pointing dramatically at Derek, who had the audacity to look smug. Emily could only roll her eyes at their theatrics.With newfound determination, Serena stomped toward their direction, intent on blocking their path. She crossed her arms and glared daggers at the trio. Pleased with the development, Derek swaggered forward to join her, standing beside her like a soldier in solidarity. He eyed the waiter and Allvar with disdain, sneering as if he owned the entire establishment.“Do you know who I am?!” Derek bellowed, his voice dripping with arrogance. “Do you realize what weight my family name carries? How dare you relegate me to the background just to attend to this nobody?!”He jabbed a finger toward Allvar, his contempt thinly veiled, while the waiter’s face twisted in confusion
205Allvar took a slow, deep breath to calm himself. Then, with steady hands, he reached into his wallet and extracted a sleek gold card his father gave him, it shimmered under the restaurant's ambient lighting. He placed it on the table with quiet confidence."I would like to be considered a VIP as well," he declared, his voice steady, betraying none of the inner storm churning within him.Derek's response was swift, his laughter sharp and full of disbelief. "Oh, come on! You think that piece of plastic makes you special here?" He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing into a mocking glare. "This isn't some game where you can just buy your way to the top. It's about who you are, and clearly, you're playing out of your league."As Serena joined in, Allvar's gaze turned toward her, wondering what had ever drawn him to such a cruel woman. Her beauty was undeniable, but now, her biting cruelty far eclipsed any physical allure she once held."Absolutely, darling. It's adorable you think a b
204Their heated exchange was abruptly interrupted by a waiter, who approached with an apologetic yet firm demeanor. “I must ask you to keep the noise down. This is a respectable establishment, and we need to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.”Derek’s face, now a picture of barely restrained fury, turned towards the waiter, his fists clenched at his sides as if he were physically holding back his anger. “Fine,” he spat out through gritted teeth, the words venomous. “But we refuse to sit near these… individuals.” His eyes, sharp with disdain, flicked towards Emily and Allvar, a clear line drawn.Serena, echoing Derek’s sentiment with a venomous edge to her voice, added, “Absolutely. We’d rather not share our space with such… bastards.” Her lips curled around the word, her disdain palpable. She tossed her hair, an attempt to regain some semblance of control, though the slight tremble in her hands betrayed her composure.The waiter, taken aback by the harshness of their words, replied in a
203Derek and Serena exchanged glances, scrambling to regain their footing after Emily's deft rebuttal.Derek cleared his throat, forcing a tight smile. "Now see here, we simply want the best for you both. It would be a shame if...appearances were deceiving." He glanced meaningfully at Allvar.Emily's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Derek. His arrogant demeanor was starting to crack under the pressure. "Appearances? Or your fragile egos now that the tables have turned?"Serena clenched her jaw, nostrils flaring as she watched the exchange. How dare this woman speak to them this way! And yet, she was wary of making another misstep against a business tycoon like Emily.Drawing in a deliberate, slow breath, Serena adopted a smooth, almost affectionate tone as she turned her attention back to Emily. "My dear, we're only trying to offer you some guidance. You see, Derek's father, Victor Hawthorne, holds a significant presence in the City, owning numerous businesses, including the expansiv
202Serena’s sharp words hung in the air like a storm cloud, but Emily didn’t flinch. Instead, she stood, her posture graceful yet commanding, like a queen addressing her subjects. Her emerald green dress shimmered faintly under the restaurant’s lighting, and all eyes were drawn to her.“You’re right,” Emily said, her tone smooth and deliberate, “you don’t know who you’re dealing with.”Derek scoffed, though his unease was clear as he glanced at Serena. “And who exactly are you, sweetheart? Some arm candy Allvar picked up to feel better about himself?”Allvar stiffened, his brows furrowing, but Emily raised a hand to stop him before he could interject. Her lips curved into a confident smile. “Arm candy? That’s cute.” She stepped forward, her gaze sharp as it swept between Derek and Serena. “Allow me to introduce myself properly. Emily Chopra, CEO of Chopra Enterprises.”The name dropped like a bomb.Serena blinked, her mouth parting slightly as if she hadn’t heard correctly. Derek fr