“What if I don't have a girlfriend? Can I still come?” Mason asked calmly. Cleopatra flickered a curious gaze at him, but before she could reply, Benedict's voice interrupted.“Gather around everyone,” she instructed, and the students who were scattered at various corners of the sections quickly clustered together to listen to the announcement. After headcounting everyone, Benedict glanced at her wristwatch before returning to the group. "We are taking a ten-minute break, and then we are going to assemble here for the last round." Please strictly adhere to the rules and regulations, and if you have any questions, please ask now before we go,” she said, and when nobody raised their hand. She nodded. “You can go for your break now.” The group hummed in unison before separating to carry out their various businesses.Mason wanted to approach Cleopatra and continue with their conversation, but the vibrating phone in his pocket caught his attention. Mason didn't want to answer the call in
Mason, wearing a confused expression, glanced from the device on the security man’s hand to his pocket, where the detector was placed. He knew what the red light signified, but he didn't want to believe it. “What do you have there?” The man asked, in a cold tone, just like the expression on his face. Mason, not waiting for the security man to empty his pocket, slid his hand into it and pulled out a diamond earring, sending a series of gasps and whispering throughout the room. Mason raised his gaze to the man. “What the hell is this?!” his voice thundered, showcasing his anger and confusion. The security, not responding, glanced at him with a frown. “What is your name, kid?” The man asked, making Mason furrow his brows at him. ‘Kid!’ Mason scoffed, with a hint the man was among the recruits of security who didn't know he was their boss.“Is this some kind of joke?!” Mason's voice thundered and silenced the whispers that spread through the room."It won't be a joke if you don't start
Instructor Benedict secretly waited for permission to proceed with the investigation. She turned to Mason, who slowly bobbed his head, giving her the go-ahead. Though he already knew who the thief was, he needed to prove his innocence to his colleague and punish the person who was trying to spit on his name by framing him for the crime. Without wasting any more time, Benedict and instructor Carl followed the security officials to the control room, where every activity inside and outside the Williams Private Museum was recorded and stored. Tension filled the atmosphere as silent whispers spread through the students, who constantly snapped their heads in the direction of the door, eagerly waiting for Instructor Benedict and the other staff to return with news to confirm the ongoing rumors. Some students who couldn't wait went as far as to place bets predicting who the thief was, and thanks to Flora's rumor spreading like wildfire, most bets were placed on Mason.“I know Mason to be str
A few minutes after Mason left the museum, the security staff was on high alert due to the incident, and every other activity like the tour was halted, and every student was instructed to make their way to the exit.“I can't believe that boy ruined my chance to explore the other part of the Williams Museum!” A girl grumbles, making her way to the exit. Her friend walking beside her shook her head with a disappointed expression.“Do you know people would kill to have the chance of exploring these walls, and yet ours was ruined by one greedy student?” “I wish he wasn't selected,” another girl said, showing her dissatisfaction. Fredrick, who was trailing behind the girls, wasn't interested in their conversation; rather, his attention was fixed on the figure ahead of him. He had been looking for an opportunity to get close to Cleopatra, and with Mason around, he couldn't get a chance with her. When he finally spotted Cleopatra, making her way out of the museum with the other students, h
The trip to the Williams Central Hospital was short. Just like Mason had predicted, the senior medical staff dressed in formal clothes stood waiting for his arrival in front of the hospital, and when they saw Mason's car, their eyes lingered on it, anticipating who it was.The black Bugatti stopped in front of the hospital, and Mason slid out of the driver seat, attracting the curious eyes that panned in his direction. The figure, whom he assumes to be the hospital's director based on the files his assistant sent him, was the first to step forward, bowing her head.“Good day, Mr. Williams. "My name is Valery Antonio; I am the director of the Williams Central Hospital," she said, introducing herself, and Mason shook her hand with a nod before averting his gaze to the man who stepped forward with his lips drawn into a thin smile.“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Williams. My name is Akin, and I'm the chief of surgery,” the man said, stretching his hand for a handshake. “I am g
Mason slid into the seat at the head of the table, and the medical staff waiting for him to sit first proceeded to mirror his actions. Mason adjusted his gaze to his assistants, who walked into the room holding some documents and nodded at him to proceed. Billy moved around each seat, dropping papers containing the impromptu reason for the meeting. When they all read through them, the aftermath of the information left a stunned gaze on their faces. The director, who was also a doctor, raised her hand and glanced from the file to Mason.“Excuse me, sir, but if I read it right, you intend on starting a clinical trial for a brain tumor?” she asked, and even when she already knew what the answer was, Mason nodded his head. "Sorry, Mr. Williams, but this brain tumor isn't just any tumor; it has been ruled incurable; where does it derive its nickname as the death angel?” She continued, glancing at the medical staff, their expressions mirroring hers.“Dr.Valerie I already know what kind of
“You mean I would need the mind-reading ability to make the right decisions concerning the clinical trial?” he asked, and Emoji nodded his head.Mason, who had been curious about what the mind-reading ability would be like, stared at the screen, prompting a smile to appear on his lips. It was a win-win situation for him since he would not only be making the right decision, but he would also be able to use the ability to know the staff's thoughts concerning the clinical trial.By clicking on the screen, he swiftly activated the feature that instantly synchronizes with his body. Immediately, the hologram vanished, and the meeting proceeded as if nothing had occurred."Mr. Williams, to carry out this clinical trial, you would need the best neurosurgeon." If you don't mind, I would love to be the leading surgeon on it,” he said, and Mason raised his gaze to the man without a reply, and after a swift second, Dr. Akin's thought played in his head like loud music.He must be stupid to think
The air instantly roamed with silence, and the other two medical staff members, who didn't know what was going on, constantly adjusted their gaze from their boss to the man whose face whitened underneath his gaze. Is this man aware? How is that possible?' Dr. Akin thought to himself as he couldn't shake off the feeling of Mason knowing something. He quickly shifted his eyes from his piercing gaze to the director, whose expression reflected her confusion, sensing something that he had done and she wasn't aware of, but somehow their boss knew about.As if Dr. Akin's prayers were answered, the pager in his breast pocket beeped, breaking the silence in the room. He quickly pulled it out and stared at the message. "Sorry, sir. I have been summoned into an emergency operation. If my attention is not needed here, I shall take my leave," he bowed. Mason didn't say anything, but he waved his hand to dismiss him. Dr. Akin heaved a silent sigh and nodded from the director to Dr. Lukeman before
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.Cleopat
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