After a few minutes, Mason arrived at the Williams Private District, and the image of the mansion came into view. He glanced at his sister, who was now calm but awfully quiet, making him wonder what was going through her head."Are you sure you're okay?" Mason asked for the thousand times, and without a reply, Haley nodded her head, glancing outside the windshield where countless bullets tried to penetrate but couldn't. He guessed she might still be processing the thought of the incident that still lingered in her mind. Mason heaved a sigh; if he had not acquired those legendary driving skills, only God knows what would have become of them as those thugs were not ready to let them go but kept shooting at the windshield even when the bullet couldn't penetrate.Mason shook off the thought. "We should not tell Mom," Mason mumbled, clearing his throat. Informing their mother would cause her unnecessary worries, and it was the last thing he wanted to do. If he had gone to the auction alon
Mason made his way into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him. He took off his tie and sank into the comfort of the bed. His eyes lingered on the ceiling, but the thought of the incident clouded his mind. If those guys were able to send two sedans with armed men to kill them without the fear of getting caught, it means they are dangerous and might have planned to come after Haley again. He needed to find those bastards and do something about it, but Maon had no idea where to start. Even the police were unable to identify who those men were.'The Celestial System,' the thought crawled into his mind. He remembers Emoji telling him the system identifies possible threats; maybe it can also identify who those men were.Mason crawls into a sitting position. "Emoji," he muttered, and after a few seconds, Emoji appeared beside him, wearing his usual facial expression."Seems like you're alive," Emoji beamed, earning a frown from Mason. Was he expecting me to be dead? "You could have war
Once it was 6 a.m., Mason got up from his bed and entered his bathroom. After twenty minutes, he exited and entered his walk-in wardrobes. He wore casual clothes since he wasn't going to work or school. After glancing through his clothes for a few seconds, Mason settled for a fitted black sleeve shirt, which he folded to his elbow length, assisted by the Vacheron Constantin watch adorning his wrist. His shirt was toked in his back trousers, matching his black shoes. After glancing at his reflection, Mason made his way downstairs."Are you going on a date?" A tiny voice called behind him. Mason turned to see Helen and Sally trailing behind him. Helen ran into his embrace."Hello, princess," Mason smiled, ruffling her hair. "No, I'm not going on a date," he replied to her previous question. Helen furrowed her brows and assisted with a chuckle, shaking her head. "That is what they all say," she whispered, running away when Mason's eyes widened in surprise."Come back here you rascal,"
"Looks who finally decided to show up," Jacob muttered with a smirk playing on his lips. Even when Mason had a hunch Jacob would be here, deep down he wished he wasn't. "Where have you been, Mason? Have you been trekking all day?" Jacob, not missing the chance of being a jackass, laughed, and others beside him giggled."It's too bad you're looking all dolled up, but sadly, you can't afford a taxi," Flora, beside Natalia, said, sending a wave of silent laughter."If he can borrow expensive clothes, why can't he beg for a couple of dollars for a taxi?" a voice asked, but Mason ignored them, taking the empty spot at the corner of the room. He was here because of Cleopatra, and if she hadn't called him, he wouldn't have shown up as he was the one who proposed the school project."Wait! Did he trek to this place?!" Another voice cut in."He isn't even sweaty for walking such a far distance," astonishment laced their tone, but Mason remained calm. He knew they would all be eating their wor
Natalia, sensing Jacob's hesitation, quickly jumps in. "Why would you want Jacob to call Haley William? Don't you know the Williams are busy people and are occupied by businesses worth millions daily?" She said this, rolling her eyes. The group, listening to Natalia's statement, shifted their gaze to Mason, who didn't seem impressed like the other students. Looking for an opportunity to defend her friend in the future, Flora quickly jumped into the conversation. "If you don't know Mason, the Williams family are very busy people who are more invested in making money, which you can never make in this life. They are not poor like you, who borrow clothes to impress others," she said, sizing him with her eyes. Mason was not surprised by Flora's comment. "Who told you that my clothes were borrowed?" he asked, and Flora rolled her eyes. "You have a talent for spreading or supporting lies, and it would do you a lot of good if you tried shutting your mouth sometimes," Mason deadpanned with a
"What! Why would you pick Mason to pose with her?" The words left Jacob's mouth without thinking. "Let me be the male model," he said, turning to the supervisor, who gave him a skeptical look before turning to Cleopatra. "Is he in the group?" she asked."No," Cleopatra replied, with a furrowed brow in surprise at Jacob's sudden outburst. Jacob, foaming with anger, stared at Mason, who was staring at his phone. "Excuse me, but you have to leave," the supervisor pointed at Jacob, who stared at her surprise."You want me to leave?" The supervisor didn't answer his question and just stared at him sternly. Jacob hesitantly stood to his feet, moving towards the exit."You better not be comfortable," Jacob muttered when he got close to Mason, who didn't reply but smiled and pointed to the door. Jacob's rage was evident as he exited the room, his eyes glaring at Mason.The supervisor turns to the rest of the group and ushers them into the drawing-room, which is filled with drawing kits. Th
The selection ended at 1 p.m. Those chosen were happy, while Natalia was unhappy with the supervisor's decision."Those selected to represent your group should be available tomorrow." No excuses," the supervisor announced to the students filling out the room. Mason, who was glancing at his watch, waiting for the crowd to move out before exiting the room, was stopped by Cleopatra."Mason," she called, walking towards him; her long hair was now tied into a pony, making him admit she was born to look beautiful no matter the hairstyle. "How are you going home?" Cleopatra asked, stopping next to him and catching the eyes of the other students whispering among themselves."Yes, can I help you with something?""Some of the students and I are planning to have lunch, and I thought you might want to tag along?" she replied.Mason stared at Cleopatra's face for a second, trying to decipher her intention. Since they had been in the same department, she had never glanced in his direction, and no
When Mason got to the VIP room, most students were already seated while the staff handed them the menu. Mason glanced at the far corner of the room where Cleopatra was waving at him, pointing at the empty seat beside her. Mason strode towards her but didn't miss the frown on Jacob's face as he sat beside her.Mason picked up the menu, staring at the familiar exotic dish on the menu, most of which their chiefs had prepared several times. Mason could tell most of the other students didn't share the same sentiment with him as they murmured under their breath."Even the pizza here cost $10,000!" Mason gazed at a boy whose face was pale from the menu. The two boys beside him also had the same look. Mason remembers them as the three Musketeers; they were the silent students in their departments and were always together, which derived their names.Mason knew Jacob had purposely selected this restaurant to humiliate and, in the process, had also dragged these students who weren't as fortunate
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, who 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, closing the door 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 dazzling
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
“That's alright,” Mason replied with a casual smile, unfazed by the curious glances from those around them. With a fluid motion, he retrieved his phone from his pocket and tapped at the screen, which lit up, and exchanged numbers with them, sealing their brief conversation with a friendly nod. After a few warm goodbyes, he headed toward the administration building where his car was parked. Mason circled out of the parking lot and headed downtown Aleric City, navigating through the familiar streets lined up with shops and cafes, bustling with activities. After a few miles, he finally arrived at Heaven Institution, where Helen attended school.Keeping his promise to pick her up, Mason slowed down and navigated toward the elegant, modern building with its sleek glass facade. In front of the building, staff dressed in sharp formal wear gathered in the late afternoon light, and their polished shoes gleamed as they exchanged polite smiles and warm handshakes with the parents who had come t
After the test scores were announced and the dean of students exited the classroom, several chairs scraped against the floor as the students, still reeling from the shock of the results, slowly filed out in a somber group, reminiscing about the surprising twists of the test. At the back of the line, Mason and Jeremiah lingered, their expressions different from those of the others. Meanwhile, Mr. Hasatin stood at the front, his piercing gaze fixed on the two boys as if he could bore into their skulls with his eyes.In seconds, they confidently strode to the entrance of the faculty, capturing the attention of several pairs of watchful eyes. Rumors of their outstanding test score had rapidly spread throughout the university, creating an unmistakable buzz that refused to be ignored, and other students who didn't know who they were exchanged looks of curiosity.“Bro, I think I have become popular!” Jeremiah muttered, panning his eyes at the notifications popping up on his phone screen. Mas
“Austin,” Mr. Hasatin's voice resonated through the classroom, causing all the students to turn their attention to the front. The air was thick with a mix of anticipation and dread as he scanned his list of names before looking up at the boy, who sat frozen in his seat. Austin's gaze flickered nervously around the room before finally settling on Mr. Hasatin, whose expression was stern yet tinged with disappointment as he continued, “Your test score is 10 out of 100!” The words hung in the air, punctuating the silence and eliciting a wave of murmurs and gasps from the other students. Austin, who was short of words, quickly forced a lump down his throat as the reality of his test score slapped his face. More whispers from other shocked students emerged as they lingered their gaze on the boy who had never missed a class and was regarded as not only Mr. Hasatin’s disciple but the best student of his course. “Oh my God, I can't believe this!” A girl sitting in front of Mason excla