The following evening, Michael, dressed in a sharp suit, accompanied Olivia to the charity dinner. His suit was a high-end custom-made offered by his father Edward Ventura.Excitement buzzed in the air as they arrived at the charity dinner, thrilled to be a part of such a prestigious event. As they walked through the door, Michael's custom-made suit caught the attention of the other guests. Whispers and murmurs filled the room."Look at him, he doesn't even have the logo on his suit," snickered a woman in a designer gown, pointing at Michael."Oh, how embarrassing it must be to not have the latest trend on your outfit," added a man in flashy sunglasses. "He probably couldn't afford it," snorted another woman, rolling her eyes. "I wouldn't be caught dead wearing something so outdated.""Why would he even bother showing up here?" questioned a man with a disdainful smirk. "Clearly, he doesn't belong in this elite crowd."Olivia's smile faltered as she heard the whispers, feeling a pang
During the charity dinner, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation as the auction segment was about to begin. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight for this wonderful cause."The elegant host stepped forward, welcoming the guests and thanking them for their support towards the good cause. As she spoke, the crowd listened attentively, hanging on her every word."And now, ladies and gentlemen," the host continued, "we come to the most exciting part of the evening. Our auction segment, where we have an incredible array of items up for bidding, all for a noble cause. The bidding is about to begin, so please keep your paddles ready!"The room erupted in applause as the auction began. Among the items up for bid was a stunning piece of fine jewelry, a breathtaking necklace adorned with shimmering diamonds and a rare sapphire was gently placed on the velvet display, its beauty captivating the room. The gemstones twinkled under the glow of the chandeliers, casting an e
With a malicious glint in his eyes, Maxwell turned towards Michael, a smirk playing on his lips. "Eighty thousand dollars," he declared, his voice echoing through the silent room. His gaze met Michael's, holding a clear message. "Can you afford that, Michael?"The room held its breath, the tension palpable. Guests exchanged glances, whispers fluttering like butterflies around the room. The host, a man seasoned in countless auctions, had never experienced such an electrifying spectacle. He raised an intrigued eyebrow, his eyes scanning the room in anticipation of the upcoming spectacle.Michael's gaze met Maxwell's with unwavering determination, a cool confidence emanating from him. The corners of his mouth twitched, resembling a slight smile as he contemplated his next move. The room held its breath, the tension palpable, as everyone eagerly awaited Michael's response.A few whispered exclamations danced through the crowd as Michael's voice cut through the silence, "Two hundred thousa
Olivia, who had been cheering for Michael's success in winning the bid, felt a pang of jealousy pierce her heart. "I can't understand why Michael would spend such an exorbitant amount on a necklace just for a girl." She thought assuming it was for the girl she first saw him with at the coffee shop. This girl was actually Emily . Her eyes darted around the room, and she noticed the expressions of shock and awe on the faces of the other guests.One woman wide-eyed and amazed, whispered to her companion, "Did you see that? He just won the bid for an eight hundred thousand dollar necklace! Who is this guy?"Another man, his eyebrows raised in disbelief, muttered, "Must be nice to have that kind of money to throw around."Olivia couldn't tear her eyes away from Michael as he approached her, the necklace glimmering in his hand. He looked at her with a soft smile. "This is for you, Liv," he said, his voice laced with warmth.Her jaw dropped, and she couldn't believe her eyes. "Is that... f
Michael's phone buzzed interrupting his quiet evening at home he'd planned for himself. The caller ID read, "James." Michael’s heart softened, a smile tugging at his lips. James was a good friend, the kind who'd been there for him when things had been rough, especially during the time Ryan had tossed him into a trash alley. James had been his savior, providing him with fresh clothes and healing oils."Hey, James," Michael greeted, "It’s been a while. How have you been?"James's voice came over the line, warm and familiar. “I’ve been good, Mike. Listen, I was calling to invite you to my cousin's birthday. Melody's turning 23, you remember her?”A pang of reluctance hit him. Melody was far from his favorite person. “Ah, James, you know she and I don’t exactly get along.”James was quick to reassure him. “I know, I know. But she’s changed, Mike. I promise she won’t give you a hard time. Besides, I could use a friendly face there.”Michael sighed. He owed James, and he was not one to for
24 Shaking his head in disbelief, James muttered, "No way. That can't be right."The fat guy, who had been engrossed in his dessert, looked up with a bewildered expression on his face. "I didn't even order that lobster!" he protested.Melody turned to her friends, desperation creeping into her voice. Her hand instinctively reaching for her credit card. "Guys, I can't pay for this. I only have $15,000." She looked at Nina and asked, "Do you have any money?" Nina rummaged through her bag and pulled out two hundred dollars. "I have some cash, but it's not enough," she replied.James sighed and reached into his wallet. "I only have $150," he said, disappointment evident in his voice.Melody's gaze fell upon the fat guy, who was busy licking his plate clean. She cringed at the sight and asked, "Do you have any money?"The fat guy grinned and burped. "Nah, sorry. The worst is already here, so I might as well enjoy it," he said, pointing at his empty plate.James turned to Michael, a glim
Once outside the restaurant, James couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Mike, where did you get the money to pay for Melody's bill?" he asked, trying to make sense of the situation. Michael hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to answer without revealing his secret. He knew he couldn't tell James the truth about his newfound wealth, at least not yet. "I had some savings, that's all," Michael finally replied, hoping it would be enough to satisfy James's curiosity. But James wasn't convinced. "Savings? Come on, Mike, we both know you weren't exactly rolling in dough before," James pressed, his brow furrowed with suspicion. "Where did you really get the money and that card?" Michael could feel his anxiety rising with each passing second. He knew he needed to come up with a believable explanation soon, or risk exposing his secret to his friend. "Look, guy, can we just drop it for now? I promise I'll tell you everything once I can," he said, hoping to put an end to t
The following evening, Michael and James made their way to Donovan's party. It was located in the exclusive neighborhood of Belvedere Heights. The mansion, bathed in soft, ambient light, stood majestically against the evening sky. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by a tastefully decorated room, its elegance rivaling a grand ballroom.James, brimming with excitement, nudged Michael forward as they spotted some old classmates. "Come on, Mike. Let's go say hi," he said, his enthusiasm infectious. Michael reluctantly followed, his heart pounding in his chest with apprehension.As they joined the group, James regaled the crowd with stories of their high school days, and everyone laughed along. Michael, on the other hand, felt out of place, his anxiety heightened by the occasional mocking comment from his former bullies. One of their former classmates, Lary, who happened to be Donovan's best friend, caught sight of Michael and sneered, "Well, if it isn't the loser who could never