51A few minutes later, Hilary returned, accompanied by Dr. Anderson. Michael wasted no time in conveying his decision to fund Robert's vital operation."I've made up my mind, Dr. Anderson," Michael declared firmly. "I will be funding Mr. Thompson's operation."Dr. Anderson's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You? But how? Can you afford such a hefty sum of money?"How could someone like Michael afford such a hefty sum of money? Doubt clouded the doctor's eyes.Michael maintained a calm demeanor, smirking ever so slightly. "Affordability is not an issue, doctor. Rest assured, I am fully capable of following through with this."The doctor's disbelief lingered in his eyes as he cautiously questioned Michael's ability to financially support such a costly operation. "Forgive me for doubting, but how can I trust that you won't back out?"Michael's confidence shone through as he responded, "I understand your skepticism, Dr. Anderson. But I assure you, I am determined to see this through. "Dri
52He hesitated for a moment, weighing the consequences of his response. Taking a deep breath, he decided to play it cool and nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, he's my dad. Why?"The director's eyes widened with excitement, and a smile stretched across his face. "You should have mentioned it earlier!" he exclaimed. "I knew Edward Ventura quite well. We were good friends."Michael's curiosity piqued, and he couldn't help but ask, "How do you know my dad?"The director let out a chuckle, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. "Ah, well, your father and I crossed paths many years ago. We shared a few adventures together, you could say. But that's a story for another time. Right now, I have something important to discuss with you."Michael's intrigue grew, his mind racing with questions. "What is it?" he asked eagerly.The director leaned in, his voice hushed and confidential. "I need you to donate just the precise amount required for the operation, nothing more. A million dollars should
53The next morning, Michael couldn't contain his excitement as he headed over to Vanguard Industries to retrieve his invitation ticket. As he stepped into the building, a familiar feeling washed over him. He walked towards the reception desk and immediately noticed a change at the reception desk. There sat a young, attractive girl with a radiant smile, completely contrasting the previous old and grumpy receptionist who had been let go. With a warm greeting, Michael approached the receptionist. "Good morning! I'm here to see Mr. Peterson, the CEO," he stated, hoping to get some assistance.The receptionist's eyes sparkled as she returned his greeting. "Good morning! It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Lily, and I'd be happy to help you. Just give me a moment, please." She swiftly typed a few things into her computer, her fingers dancing across the keyboard effortlessly, she was undoubtedly summoning Mr. Peterson.Curiosity piqued, after a brief pause, she looked up at him, her vo
54During their engaging conversation, Michael's gaze unexpectedly collided with Ryan's sharp eyes. Startled, Ryan jolted and sauntered over to him, a smug smirk dancing across his face."Michael!" Ryan exclaimed, clearly surprised to see him there. To Michael's astonishment, Ryan was accompanied by Samantha, their arms tightly intertwined. As they approached, Michael hurriedly leaned towards Emily and whispered, "Ryan is coming this way, brace yourself."Ryan confidently stepped closer, his condescending smile never fading. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Michael. What brings a filthy, luck-driven, and pretentious guy like you, accompanied by your shabby and hideous, but above all, prostitute sister, to this fine establishment?"Michael's blood simmered at the cruel words that Ryan spat at him, yet he fought with every ounce of willpower to maintain his composure. Taking a deep breath, he looked directly into Ryan's eyes and said, his voice laced with forced calmness, "Ryan, there's n
55Ryan's exchanged a passionate kiss with her. The chemistry between them was undeniable.After their moment, Ryan led Samantha towards the hotel exit, a mischievous glint in his eyes. As they approached three burly security agents, he knew it was time to set his plan in motion. He leaned in and whispered to Samantha, "Watch this, it's going to be fun."Confidently, Ryan approached the security agents, a determined expression on his face. "Excuse me, gentlemen," he said, his voice oozing authority. "I need your help."The security agents frowned, curious about this unexpected request. "What seems to be the problem, sir?" the leader of the group asked.Ryan's smile widened, reveling in the delight of the impending chaos. "There are two impostors and usurpers in the party," he declared with a hint of menace. "You must immediately remove them before they cause any trouble."Samantha, caught up in the excitement, eagerly chimed in. "Yes, they're causing so much trouble already! It's simp
56"We...we didn't know," one of the guards stammered, his confidence faltering. "If that's the case, we're truly sorry. We didn't mean any harm."Michael's anger began to give way to a sense of satisfaction. He had successfully defended himself and Emily against their unwarranted mistreatment."Consider yourselves lucky then," Michael replied, his voice laced with authority. "If you let us continue on our way without further trouble, I may consider forgiving your actions. But let me warn you, should you choose to persist along this path, there will be severe consequences."The security guards exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the weight of Michael's words. Reluctantly, they stepped aside, allowing Michael and Emily to proceed.Just as tensions were now calmed, Ryan appeared on the scene, laughing at Michael and treating him like a pathetic loser and liar. Turning to the guards, he taunted, "Don't even bother listening to him. He's just a fucking liar."The agents exchanged glances,
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