57Their voices trembled, barely above a whisper, as the guards chef team hesitated before reluctantly answering, "It... it was Mr. Smith, sir. He... he told us to... to REMOVE Michael and his sister from the party."Mr. Peterson's expression contorted into a mask of rage, and his voice boomed even louder, echoing through the air. "How DARE he?! How DARE he abuse his authority?! This is UNACCEPTABLE!"His fury reverberated, causing the guards to quiver in their boots. Mr. Peterson took a deep breath, attempting to regain some composure, though his anger still radiated like a searing furnace."Go inside, all three of you, and bring Mr. Smith out. But remember, do it discreetly. We don't want to disturb the party."The guards nodded anxiously, quickly scurrying off to locate Ryan. Meanwhile, Michael couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and anticipation. Emily was still confused, he just squeezed her hand and smiled reassuringly at her. They combed through the yard for a few minutes u
58Despite Mr. Peterson's warning, Ryan and Samantha paid no attention and walked away, their laughter bouncing off the walls into the moonlit night. The group of security guards watched on in disbelief, realizing they had unwittingly been working alongside such reckless individuals.Ryan, feeling a surge of confidence, turned back to Mr. Peterson and retorted, "You don't know my father, John Smith. When he finds out you threatened us, you'll be in serious trouble." Mr. Peterson simply smiled in response and calmly stated, "Oh, don't worry, Ryan. Your father has already been informed." As if on cue, Ryan's phone suddenly chimed, interrupting his bravado.Startled, Ryan's hand instinctively shot towards his pocket and he pulled out his phone, quickly glancing at the screen. The sight of his father's name flashing on the caller ID immediately sobered him up."Hello?" Ryan answered, his voice trembling slightly."Put the phone on l
59The tension in the air was thick as the CEO, Mr. Peterson, clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. His anger radiated through his entire being as he addressed the three security guards who stood before him."You've got a lot of nerve letting that happen!" Mr. Peterson's voice was filled with fury. "Mr. Ventura was humiliated because of your incompetence!"The three guards exchanged glances, their faces filled with a mix of shock and fear. Jake, the youngest of the three, nervously stepped forward. "Sir, we're sorry. It was a mistake. We never meant for things to escalate like that."Mr. Peterson's eyes narrowed, his anger showing no signs of abating. "Your apology means nothing to me. You were entrusted with the safety of our guests, and you failed miserably."Janet, the only woman in the group, mustered the courage to speak up. "Mr. Peterson, please give us another chance. We promise we'll do better. We'll undergo additional training if needed."Her plea fell on deaf ears as Mr.
60 Michael made his way to the hospital to inquire about the operation. Spotting Dr. Anderson in a bustling corridor, he approached the doctor, who greeted him with a joyful smile. "Dr. Anderson, it's good to see you," Michael greeted him warmly.Dr. Anderson, recognized Michael and replied with a joyful smile, "Mr. Ventura good to see you too! How can I help you today?"Curious and eager for answers, Michael blurted out his burning question to Dr. Anderson. "How were you able to carry out the surgery so quickly? Last time we spoke, you mentioned that it wouldn't be possible due to the lack of available kidneys."Dr. Anderson's smile widened. "Ah, yes. It's a remarkable story, Mr. Ventura," he began, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "You see, we were able to procure a kidney for Mr. Thompson because, well, almost nothing is impossible with money."As Michael absorbed the doctor's revelation, the weight of those words settled in his mind. "Almost nothing is impossible with money,"
61Michael's heart skipped a beat as his sleepy haze quickly transformed into panic. He sat up in bed, fully awake now, his mind racing. "Samantha, please, don't do anything rash," he pleaded, his voice filled with concern.Samantha's voice trembled on the other end of the line. "I can't take it anymore, Michael. I'm standing on the bridge."Fear gripped Michael's heart as he immediately swung his legs out of bed, desperate to help her. "Tell me where you are. I'm coming to you right now."There was a moment of hesitation before Samantha managed to choke out the name of the bridge and the general direction. "Please be quick, Michael, and come alone without the police," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. "I don't know how much longer I can hold on."With adrenaline surging through his veins, Michael sprang into action. He quickly dressed himself, his thoughts consumed by Samantha's desperate plea for help. He knew he couldn't waste any time. He dashed out the door, his min
62 Harshly, he asked, "If you still love me, Samantha, then why did you break up with me?"Sobs shaking her frame, Samantha struggled to speak through her tears. "I started dating Ryan because he manipulated me, fed me lies about you. He made me believe terrible things..."Michael's anger began to fade, replaced by a mix of sadness and understanding. He sat down beside the bridge, his voice gentle now. "Samantha, I'm so sorry that happened to you. But you have to know that I never meant to hurt you."She nodded, her tears flowing unabated. "I know, Michael. And I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have let someone else's words cloud my judgment."Quiet sobs escaped Samantha as she continued speaking. "But now I realize that I've never stopped loving you. I want us to be together again, as a loving couple." She glanced at him with hopeful eyes.Michael sighed, looking torn. "I need time to think, Samantha. This is a lot to process, especially after everything that has happened."Desperation fil
63The next morning, Michael's phone rang and he saw Samantha's name on the caller ID. Excited, he fumbled and dropped his phone."Damn!" Hurriedly picking it up, his heart pounding, he answered with feigned calmness, "Hello?"Samantha's delicate and smooth voice greeted him, "Hi Mike."She used to call him like that when they were dating, and hearing him call him that brought back old happy memories of them. Michael, trying to keep his excitement in check, asked, "Hey Samantha, how are you feeling today?"Samantha sighed, "Honestly, I've been feeling really lonely since I broke up with Ryan. I have nothing to do and my days are so boring."Thinking quickly, Michael asked, "Well, what would you like to do to stop being bored?"Samantha's voice perked up, "Surprise me!"Feigning busyness, Michael replied, "I actually have a busy schedule, but I can free up some time today just for you."With joy, Samantha exclaimed, "That's amazing! I love you, Mike!"Smiling mischievously, Michael b
Michael, astonished and hurt, stared at Samantha, trying to decipher the reason behind her sudden outburst. "Samantha, what... what's wrong? Why did you do that?"Samantha leaned in, her voice dripping with contempt. "Do you really think this pathetic excuse for a restaurant is good enough for me? Is this your idea of a surprise, Michael? You're a lousy fool, and I never actually broke up with Ryan. You were too oblivious and destitute of spirit to realize it. Goodbye."With those cutting words, she marched out of the restaurant, leaving behind a trail of stunned silence. In her wake, the other customers couldn't help but react to the shocking scene they had just witnessed."I can't believe she did that," whispered an elderly woman at a nearby table."I feel so bad for him," empathized a young couple sitting across the room.Meanwhile, as Michael sank into his seat, his face burning with shame, he couldn't help but reflect on the true nature of Samantha's character. The restaurant aro