Cleodora's question ignited different expressions on everyone's faces, including Mason, who mentally cracked his brain for a reply. When he realized Cleodara was still staring at him, waiting for his response, Mason cleared his throat, avoiding her sister's eyes.He was about to answer the question, but Cleopatra quickly chipped in, casting a frown at her sister, who spread a mischievous grin on her. "Cleodora, will you stop with your nonsense question!" Cleopatra warned, her eyes passing more threat than her voice contained. Cleodora, seeing her sister's expression, erupted into laughter, raising the glass of water to her lip. "Calm down, sis, I was just joking, that's all. Why are you uptight suddenly?" she asked, but Cleopatra ignored her question and dagger her eyes at her.Cleodora rolled her eyes and then turned to Mason. "You know I was joking, right?" She whispered with a grin.Glancing between the sisters, Mason nodded his head, then returned to his food without saying anyt
Mason returns to his seat, flipping through the right weight journal, glancing at the diagrams, which start from precise and detailed skeletal sketches and end with the final diagram of the completed machine presented by the system. Excitement soared through Mason's veins as he earnestly read the detailed explanation of the system, including the safety precautions to take when using such a delicate device. Even though the equipment hadn't been produced yet, Mason felt like he had decades of experience operating the machine. “I can't believe I hold the answer for a brain tumor,” Mason muttered to himself, with a broad smile spreading on his lips. The thought of the number of lives such discoveries could save and give hope to society crossed his mind. It would be revolutionary work if he was able to pull it off. Pulling out of his thoughts, Mason tilted his head in the direction of the approaching footsteps. His assistant Billy, dressed in a smart suit, smiled and halted behind him
Mason arrived at Aleric University, heading towards the familiar building of the engineering faculty, when he noticed the group of students turn to a girl who stopped in their presence, panting, trying to catch her breath. She raised her head and muttered something to the rest of the group, and they all took to their heels, running in the same direction.Mason furrowed his brows, surprised and curious about the situation. He glanced around and then noticed another group of girls running into the building's entrance.Mason increased his pace and was about to ask one of them what the commotion was about when he heard one of the girls say.“I can't believe a student can do something like that. How irritating,”“I heard she is an escort, so I am not surprised,” another one said. “Maybe she caught a virus during her job,” one of the students said, making the rest erupt into laughter.Mason furrowed his brow, wondering who the girl was talking about.“Let go and see,” another one chimed in
Screeches of car tires soared through the air as Jeremiah, sitting behind the wheels of his car, skillfully drifted into the next street leading towards the Aleric University Medical Center.He glanced in his rearview mirror from the girl to Mason, who ignored Jeremiah's injured hands and nodded for him to step on the gas as they had limited time left.Jeremiah hit the gas, and people who were crossing the road increased their pace, clearing the path for the incoming car, which hit its brakes and stopped at the entrance to Aleric Medical Center. Jeremiah turned off the engine and exited the car to assist Mason, who carefully carried the girl into the hospital while maintaining a rapid pace.The nurse at the counter in the lobby noticed the two boys ushering an unconscious girl into the building, quickly put down her telephone, and rushed to help them.She adjusted her eyes from the blood on Mason's shirt and placed her two fingers on the girl's neck to check her pulse. “Put her here
The head nurse glanced at the unconscious patient in shock as reality hit her hard. She didn't know the patient she assumed was a poor and uninsured student at Aleric University turned out to be the daughter of not just a rich man but one of the most recognized neurosurgeons in the country, and his only daughter could die due to her carelessness in deciding to transfer her to another hospital.With the consequence of her decision flashing between her eyes, the head nurse swallowed the lump in her throat and adjusted her gaze to nurse Tina, who could see her panic and was relieved she didn't follow her instructions, which could have ruined her career.“Why isn't anyone doing anything?” Mason and the doctor yell at the same time, forcing the young man to glance at him before adjusting his gaze between the nurses.“How long has she been here?” he asked nurse Tina, who was about to give him an answer when the head nurse interrupted.“Why didn't you inform me we have a VIP patient who is a
Everybody who was wondering what the VC assistant was doing here turned their eyes on him and the nurse who was walking in their direction."You can go now," the VC assistant said to the girl, who glanced at the head nurse before retracing her footsteps. The man rested his gaze on the young chairman and was about to bow his head when Mason quickly cleared his throat and stretched out his hand. "Oh my God, you're the VC assistant!" Mason exclaimed with a smile. "Good morning, sir," he greeted, and the assistant, understanding his action, quickly took his handshake."Good morning, Mason. How is our prestigious student doing today?" he asked with a reciprocated smile."I'm fine, sir," Mason replied, turning to Jeremiah, who overcame his stunned expression as he recalled that his best friend was now prestigious, which must be why the Vice chairman's assistant recognized him.The head nurse, who didn't expect to see higher-ups at the medical center, quickly overcame her shock. She smiled
The head nurse, forcing out a smile, watched as the figures of Mason and Mr. Charles approached her. The look on their faces gave her a hint that Mason had exposed her corruption to Mr. Charles, who must have believed him as he wore a frown while staring at her.Thinking of a way out of the situation, she quickly stepped forward. "Mr. Charles, is there a problem?” she asked, facing a surprised expression as she shifted her eyes from him to Mason, who also wore a similar expression. "Does this have anything to do with our misunderstanding?" she asked when nobody replied.Mason, amazed by the lady's acting, shook his head and said, “Mrs Hegal We all know about the crimes you have been committing using the medical center, so please drop the act.”The head nurse, feigning a surprise expression at Mason's accusation, heaved a sigh and turned to Mr. Charles. “Sir, there was a misunderstanding between me and this student earlier, and I didn't get the opportunity to correct it, so whatever he
“That is good,” Mason said to Mrs. Hegel, his voice filled with authority. “The information you provide to the university will determine their next course of action, so if I were you, I would produce all the names to speed up the investigation and resolve these issues as quickly as possible,” he added.The head nurse hanging by a thread nodded, her face filled with regret and shame as the scholarship student she had thought was a nobody had done more damage to her career by underestimating him, and even when she wasn't sure the university would pardon her, she was ready to give out the details of the center activities and those who were involved in using the VIP wings to extort money from the student. “I believe Mr. Chalres can handle everything from here,” Mason said, then glanced at the VC assistant.Mr. Charles nodded his head. “I will inform the school management and prepare the necessary information that will be released in the memo,” he replied.Mason nodded his head and turned
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
“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