Dusk lingered in the sky as Mason drove out of the Cleopatra villa. It was already 6:30 pm, making him wonder how fast time flies. He glanced at his phone, noting the missed calls on the screen. It was almost seven, and Helay must have called his line to remind him of the family dinner. Mason shrugged off the thought of returning her call and drove towards the WPD. "Buzz!" his phone vibrated. He was about to pick it up when he saw one vehicle trailing behind him. He didn't take it to heart until the vehicle mirrored his turn toward the WPD. Mason wasn't sure who they were, but he was sure they weren't anyone friendly."Emoji," Mason called, overtaking a taxi. The taxi driver honked and cursed at the luxurious car speeding ahead. Emoji appeared beside Mason, who had his attention focused on the road. "I think the Viper gangs are chasing me," Mason said while his eyes roamed through the crowded cars underneath the traffic light. When he saw the opening, he accelerated and attracted the
"Please, I haven't committed any crimes! I can't go to prison; I have families!" Another man fell to his knees, breaking into sweat. Their leader's eyes widened in surprise, watching as his gang members crumbled to their knees in the presence of one man. Though they were young recruits, and he had trained them to be the best, they were already defeated by the words of a man. Tobi stared at Mason, who wasn't affected by the murderous look. "Do you think bragging about a dashcam will save your life?" Tobi's voice thundered through the space. It was the first time he had been hired to beat up someone, and it didn't turn out as planned, but it seemed Tobi wasn't ready to give up.Mason was quiet. He knew the only way to crumble a gang without getting physical was to destroy them by themselves, a great plan Emoji had suggested. "Get your ass up from the ground, you fools! He is bluffing!" Kobi sneered at his apprentice, who glanced at each other as if contemplating the order.When they b
With every step Mason took, inching closer, Tobi crawled backward, shivering with fear. He could clearly see the danger lurking in Mason's eyes, which he didn't notice when his gang member was around, but now that he was at a disadvantage, everything was evident.“Please, you can't do this!” Tobi pleaded, winking at the pain in his abdomen.Mason, adamant about his words, scoffed with a knitted brow. “Of course, I can,” he growled in a dreadful tone, raising the bat above his head.Tobi's eyes mirrored his movement, and he saw the iron bat descend in one swift strike, making him scream. “P…Please stop! I haven't killed anyone! I haven't committed any crimes. This was the first time; please forgive me.” Kobi broke into tears, staring at the bat that halted mid-air above his leg. Mason was about to say something, but Kobi quickly shivered to his knees, rubbing his palms together, pleading. “I didn't want to take the deal Jacob proposed, but I needed the money,” Kobi said with tears flo
The drive to the mansion was fast and short. The men in suits bow their heads in respect as Mason navigates his way into the compound, illuminated by sophisticated street lights. Their guests' cars were parked inside the compounds. Deciding not to park the Bugatti in the garage, Mason saw a good spot and turned off the engine. He was about to exit his car when the constant vibration from his phone caught his attention.Mason slid his finger across the screen and opened the school group chat, which greeted him with numerous unread messages, with more coming in. Mason furrowed his brow since the school group chat is always quiet and is only active when there is an announcement or new gossip is going on on campus. He scrolled down, and his curious expression turned into a frown because the viral topic causing the commotion was about him and nothing about the school's activities."Mason Williams paid $62,856 for a meal!" The text that instigated other messages announced.Mason shifted hi
The contest of who would be the lucky viewer hit when Peter, one of the three musketeers, joined the stream. He wore his regular attire, and from the look of his background, Mason could tell he was at his dormitory. After adjusting to the stream, he said, "Good evening, everyone. I'm Peter from the Department of Engineering, and I will be joining the stream to answer a few questions today," he announced, muting his mic so the other ladies could speak.Stacy was the first to speak, as she had been waiting to hear from Peter about the rumor going through the university about a poor student who paid $62,856 for a meal. Most girls were curious about Mason and only wanted to confirm whether he was rich or a fraud. "Hello, Peter, I'm Stacy," the girl said, and Peter nodded in response, though he already knew who the five girls on the stream were. Every guy on campus knew they were Aleric University's beauty goddess, who attracted the attention of every male student, and Peter was no except
The comment section was going wild with shock and curiosity; even the five beauties on the stream also had their faces filled with awe and inquisitiveness. Peter, who was in his dormitory, was dumbfounded while staring at his screen, slowly comprehending the reality of receiving 10,000 stream flowers, approximately $20,000. He didn't know who the new guy, whose name is Celestian, was, and yet he gave him such an amount in one go. Peter shifted his eyes to the part where the comment was and noticed that his stream had increased from a single digit to three thousand views. “Oh my God, am I dreaming?” he muttered, not overcoming his shock.The new viewers flooded his stream with comments, attracting external viewers; When a stream earns a high amount of gift, the platform will receive notice, and its algorithm will automatically promote the stream to a wider range of people who might be interested."Oh my God, is this happening?" A viewer commented, seeing the name of the number one gif
Mason glanced at his watch; he didn't expect to spend up to thirty minutes watching the live stream, but he was satisfied with how the event turned out. He closed the car door with a soft slam before making his way to the mansion. The guards, who were posted at the entrance, saw him from a distance and bowed their heads in respect, which he reciprocated with a nod. Inside the mansion, Mason made his way to the dining room, where he heard more than one voice having a conversation. When he got closer, he could hear a masculine voice half-yelling, probably disagreeing with whomever he was talking to. Within a few minutes, Mason appears in the room, occupied by his family and other foreigners whom he assumed were his distant relative. Amidst the group were two familiar faces he remembered; one was Thomas, and the other was Jerry, who seemed to be irritated by what Grace had said. Mason shifted his gaze to his mother, who shrank her eyes, staring at Jerry, who was heaving with anger. “I
"Everyone, this is Mason, Haley's twin brother," Grace said with a smile, which Sarah and her associate reciprocated with a stunned expression. Though their minds had already thought of the possibility of this man being Haley's twin, Still hearing Grace say it left them dumbfounded. Mason watched as his aunties and cousin glanced at themselves, confusion evident on their faces. Sarah, who was the first to overcome her shock, cleared her throat. "I thought you were joking when you introduced the little girl as your daughter, Grace, not to talk of a son," she said, shifting her gaze from Helen, who didn't meet her eyes, to Mason, who could tell she was wearing a forced smile twitching at her mouth. "You're Haley's twin brother! Even Richard didn't tell me about them." Grace smiled at their stunned expression and said, "It was best the public never knew about it," Sarah's heart was filled with rage and shock, discovering her brother had other children, which she nor the public was
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