The crowd watching the scene murmured at Mason's interference to settle the problem away from the public's eyes. Those who had been quiet instantly protested moving towards the shop.“Why are you telling the store owner to address the issues inside his shop?” A spectator grumbled, showing his disapproval of Mason's decision. The rest of the crowd instantly backed up the statement.“Are you ashamed to settle this here? Is it because you don't have the money to pay for what the boy destroyed?” Another voice chimed in.“He is acting all high and mighty; I bet he is going to beg the shop owner not to call the cops on the boy,” another voice muttered.“I am sure child services would take him away,” another one added.Mason was disappointed; they were more interested in the drama than helping the boy. He ignored the crowd's rant and glanced in the direction where Sonia sat patiently waiting for him. He proceeded into the shop, nudging the door and shutting it with the close sign. The crowd
The shop was filled with silence, and apart from the rasping breath of the store owner, the only noise came from the crowd who stood outside the store watching from the transparent glass; most of them had turned on their camera to video the scene but none interfered. Mason's gaze pinned the store owner to the ground, and his aura suffocated him. The man could tell that Mason wasn't going to let him go until he completed his promise of either breaking his hand or his leg."Please, I made a mistake. Alright! I was foolish to throw a bottle at a child, and I regret it now, but please don't hurt my hand or my leg. I also have kids!” The man whimpered, crawling backward, but Mason's long stride closed in on the space, and when his eyes dropped to the man's leg, the owner shrieked. “Please don't do it; I'm the breadwinner of my family!” He yells in pain and frustration.Mason raised his gaze to the man's pale face, mixed with sweat and tears. He halted his step as the man’s back pressed ag
Mason walked to the store's exit and nudged the door open. The crowd standing behind the transparent glass divided with the open door, adjusting their gaze from the figures inside the store to Mason, who ignored their curiosity and the pending questions that spread through the cold night. “What did I miss? Is the show over?” A stranger joined the crowd and inquiredOne of the spectators nodded, pointing to Mason's retreating figure as he walked toward the parked car across the street. "That man must have settled it,” the voices replied with subtle disappointment.When nobody appeared to be certain, they shifted their attention back to the store, where the woman and the boy stood, waiting for the store owner to package their groceries.Meanwhile, Mason approached the car with Sonia still sitting in the driver seat. She adjusted her gaze from him to the directions he was coming from, and when she noticed the crowd was slowly disassembling, she returned her gaze to Mason, strapping on t
The group glanced at themselves before diverting their attention to Mason, who sat calmly with the mockery having zero effect on him. Jack leaned forward with a mocking gaze, expecting Mason to bash him a reply, but Mason, with an expressionless face, took a bottle of water placed on the table by the restaurant staff. After tilting the plastic cover, he glanced at the man and said, “From the few seconds I met you, I started wondering when you were going to shut your mouth,” Mason said in a calm tone, his reply sending chills through the room. Jack, who was stunned like the rest of the group, glanced at Mason, and he quickly replaced his expression, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of embarrassing him.Jack scoffed and shook his head. "So you would rather allow a woman to take your drink for you, huh? I knew you were a coward,” he added.Mason raised the bottle, cheering to him. “Sorry to burst your bubbles, Jack, but I'm not a coward, nor am I drunk. I just don't feel like dr
Carol was caught off guard by Mason's interruption. His cold eyes laser at her, seizing the attention of the group, which halted the whispers threatening to spread around, and they locked their gaze on him. Coral clamps her palm, feeling his gaze piercing into her skin. Mason could see right through her facade, and when she scanned his face, she saw the visible irritation her words had caused. The accusations she had made were a lie and were based on Jealousy, but Carol showed no remorse, ignoring the impact the news would have on Sonia’s image.Jack, who also heard the statement, wore a stunned expression, adjusting his eye to Sonia, and when Sonia didn't cast a glance at them, he leaned back, trapped in his thoughts, wondering if Carol's words were true, but before he could dwell on it, Mason's voice dragged him back to reality.“You are despicable! What kind of person would spread a terrible lie just because they are jealous?" Mason asked, and Carol, with a raised brow, was about t
Everyone except for Mason and Sonia was astonished to see the image of her place under an article addressing the information about the new dean of students at Aleric University. The fact that Carol thought that Sonia wouldn't be able to attain a job as a lecturer in the school but ended up being the school dean sent more shock to her bones.“Oh my God, Sonia is a staff at the university!" A girl exclaimed, and the rest of the people sharing similar expressions raised their gazes to stare at each other. The accusation Carol spread was eradicated, and the room was filled with discussion of Sonia getting a job at the university, which has caused many heartbreaks to applicants whose applications were rejected.“Oh my God, I can't believe the dean of Aleric University is my colleague!” A voice beam reads between the published article's lines.Another boy, who was also reading the article, chimed in. “My chance of getting a job there would be higher.”"I am closer to Sonia than any of you,
The revelation of the Higs family forsaking Carol and her family left her in a destructive state. The new soar in the air once filled with thrill and excitement, and the group surrounded and consoled her as she cried helplessly. Sonia, who hadn't been emotionally present at the reunion, was the first to walk towards the room's exits, and Mason, not intending to overstay his welcome, also stood to his feet and trailed behind her, leaving the group's consoling sound to Carol.When they arrived at the existence of the restaurant, the night air graced their skin, and Mason raised his eye to the dark, predicting it was going to rain. With the valet out to get Sonia's car, Mason glanced at her and said. “Miss.Sonia Why didn't you say anything from the beginning, allowing Carol to say and think about you?” He asked, speaking to her for the first time since they came to the restaurant.A small smile appeared on her face. “It isn't the first time she has done something like that, and besides,
“What?!” Mason asked and adjusted his gaze from Sonia to the man, waiting for her to exit the car. “That's my brother,” she repeated, staring at his stunned face, and when he understood his ears weren't playing games with him, the little story she had shared with him when he arrived at her place played back in his mind. Mason averted his gaze back to the man standing in the light, and even when he silently prayed, she wasn't referring to the man as her biological brother; he knew his prayers could never be answered due to the resemblance on the man’s face. Sonia unfastened her seat belt, attracting Mason's attention. “What are you doing?” He asked, subtle worries lacing his voice. “I need to settle this once and for all,” she replied with a straight face. The rage in her eyes told him it wasn't the first time her brother had tried the incident. “Let me come with you,” he said, unfastening his seat belt, but Sonia shook her head, her face now washed with worry. “No, you can't, Mas
Mason, with trembling legs, pushed himself up from the surface of the rink, taking his time to steady himself before shifting his gaze toward the group of girls who stood nearby with concerned expressions. As he made his way towards the group, the memory of the recent incident filled him with embarrassment. "Are you okay?" Helen and Cleopatra asked in unison, their voices filled with concern. Mason, however, remained silent but nodded before sliding into one of the empty chairs avoiding the worried expression written on their face as they searched for the truth behind his concealed distress. Fiona, who was quietly lingering in the shadows of the other girls, took a moment to gather her thoughts before clearing her throat to catch her sister's attention. “I understand people lose their balance all the time, sis; even I’ve stumbled more than a few times, but the way you worried about him is something else,” she said. “How do you know each other?” she asked, with a furrowed brow. Cl
After much contemplation, Helen finally nodded her head. With a nervous expression, she locked hands with Fiona, who guided her toward the rink.“You're going to be fine,” Fiona reassured her. With a pounding heart, Helen's breath came out in quick puffs as she tried to steady herself with each tentative step. “Look at me.” Fiona pulled her gaze away from the ground, and as they locked eyes, Helen, unwilling to let Fiona go, tightened her grip and slowly glided across the room.In a matter of seconds, with Fiona gliding next to Helen, she develops the courage to glide solo, with her movement becoming more precise than before.“Mason, I'm doing it!” Helen exclaimed, her voice echoing across the expansive skating rink. She cast a glance over her shoulder toward her brother, who stood at the rink's edge, waving at her. “That’s my girl! I always knew you could do it,” he exclaimed, his voice brimming with pride as he watched her glide effortlessly across the surface.After a few rounds
Fiona eyed Mason intently, noticing the determined glint in his eyes that hinted he wasn’t about to back down from the challenge ahead. Predicting the outcome of his decision, she stepped forward with her weight perfectly balanced on the edge of her skating shoe as she blocked his way. With a steady voice, she proposed, "How about I demonstrate the process, just to set a good example?"Helen, hearing the suggestions, didn't waste any time in nodding her head in agreement, and when she didn't hear a response from her brother, she snapped her head in his direction, urging him to let Fiona take the lead. Mason glanced at his concerned sister, with a brief sigh, then nodded his head in agreement. “By all means, lead the way,” he said, allowing Fiona to show him the ropes. “Great,” Fiona nodded at him, doing a routine stretch while her small audience watched as she prepared to showcase her skills. With a deep sigh, she exerted a subtle force, allowing her legs to glide effortlessly in f
With the manager gone, Fiona led the way into the building, assisted by the rhythmic click of her heels echoing against the polished floor. Behind her were Helen and Mason, who pulled his gaze from his watch to stare at Fiona leaning in to whisper something to Helen. she immediately lit up with a radiant smile and nodded enthusiastically, thrilled by whatever secret she had just shared. As they stepped into the expansive skating rink, with the door closing behind them, the familiar lyrics of the music reverberated through the air, creating an infectious energy that contrasted with the chill of the surroundings. Along the spacious bar table was a female staff member, skillfully carrying out her task without glancing in their direction. Mason smiled as he glanced around the environment, recollecting his first time inside the building; the space was filled with both professional and learning skaters who had their hearts in their mouths as they glided across it. Above the ground is a da
The manager, seeing Mason holding out his card, erupted into another round of laughter. He knew an average bank account would struggle to accommodate a single transaction of $100,000, let alone the staggering amount that Mason was now claiming he wished to pay.After laughing to his content, the manager wriggled his brown eyes across the black, and when he finally saw the distinctive inscription etched into the dark material before him, an unexpected wave of emotion surged within him. He felt a lump form in his throat, a mixture of surprise and disbelief, as he turned to Mason.“I…Is that a black card?!” The manager stammered, his mouth watered with confusion, as he fought the overwhelming urge to rub his eyes, hoping to clear the fog of uncertainty and confirm what he was seeing was real.Mason, with whom the question was directed, remained quiet, allowing the sound of reality to sink into the man.“How is that possible? You don't look—” the manager felt another lump automatically su
“Have some faith in your brother, Helen,” Mason said, faking a hurt expression. “I don't need to practice how to skate since I have a natural talent for it,” he grinned, maneuvering their way towards the other side of the park. Unlike the rest area of the park, surrounded by people and chaotic happiness, the building, which Mason assumed was meant for skating, stood empty and silent, prompting him to look up for any sign of life within its uninviting façade.“Are you sure we are in the right place?” Helen asked, her little brows knitting together as she surveyed the scene. "It looks deserted. Why is it so empty?" She asked, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Mason, who couldn't provide an answer to her question, tilted his head slightly toward the two men positioned near the entrance. The way they stood, broad-shouldered and alert, instantly sparked a sense of recognition. Their postures were rigid, exuding an air of authority, and he quickly deduced that they were not
A flurry of activity outside the windshield suddenly broke the lingering silence inside the car. Helen, who was sitting in the passenger seat, gazed in awe at the vibrant scene through the tinted glass, while her hands rested on the door that separated her from all the fun outside.“It's Aleric Dreamland!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with wonder as they fixated on the towering Ferris wheel that loomed against the vivid sky. From afar, they could hear the sounds of laughter and the screams of riders ascending into the air. “Holy cow!” Helen muttered, Peeling her eyes from the scene, she turned to Mason, who had already predicted her next question. “Are we going to the park? Are we going to ride the Ferris wheel?!” she inquired, her voice bubbling with eagerness, not leaving room for him to answer her first question.Mason let out a small laugh, then nodded his head. “Yes, princess, we are going to the Dreamland, and you can choose whatever activities you want to do today,” he r
As Mason approached the entrance to the fifth-grade iris classroom, two men in black suits, which he recognized as Helen's security guards, were sentinel outside the closed door. When they spotted him and the lady walking next to him, they instantly shifted their attention, performing a precise and synchronized bow that demonstrated both respect and discipline. Mason, without a word, returned their greeting with a firm nod. Ms. Telsa gently place her card on the door, and as the door slide open, the hushed murmurs of the classroom faded, and all eyes turned to the newcomers. A curious blend of surprise and interest filled the room, and the students dressed in their neat uniforms collectively directed their gaze from Ms. Telsa to the man who had interrupted their ongoing class.Mason, who wasn't expecting such a scene, instantly glanced at the watch before he navigated his gaze to the lady standing in front of the classroom.‘Are all the teachers in the school this young?’ He muttere
When she finally noticed Mason's gaze, she instantly let out a forceful smile then glance at her colleague before walking away to greet another parent. “Shall we?” The girl with tinted gray hair asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she nodded toward the entrance of the building. With a subtle yet confident gesture, she stepped forward, and Mason trailing behind her, commanded attention by his presence. They took a turn into the long hallway, and Mason's gaze dropped to her figure. Her long gray hair flowed down her back, catching the soft glow of the lobby lights and adding an ethereal quality to her appearance. The fitted uniform she wore clung to her curves in all the right places, accentuating her silhouette while remaining professional. Mason’s eyes were drawn to the way her tan skin glowed against the crisp fabric of her outfit, making it challenging to pinpoint her racial background. Each step she took made her movements almost dance-like as she navigated throu