James blinked, frozen for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief. “What the hell—”
James’s smug grin faltered. A tall man strode in, his presence commanding the room. He wore a sharp suit, his eyes scanning the scene with authority. “What’s happening in my hotel?” he demanded, voice steady and firm. The receptionist jumped at the sound of his voice. “Mr. Smithson,” she stammered, “this man—Max—he stole a credit card and tried to book a room.” She tried to explain, walking hurriedly from her desk. “Stole?” Max shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. “That card is mine! This is bullying!” Benson Smithson, the hotel’s owner, turned his piercing gaze on the receptionist. “Show me the evidence,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. The receptionist hesitated but nodded, rummaging through her desk. Max’s heart raced. The weight of the situation pressed down on him. He was fighting against more than just accusations; he was fighting for his dignity. James seized the moment, stepping forward. “I know this guy,” he said, pointing an accusing finger at Max. “He’s a thief. He steals for a living.” But Benson barely glanced at him. “I’m not interested in your opinion, James. I want facts.” “And where’s the card?” he asked, looking back at the receptionist. “Uh, it’s… with the police,” she stammered, suddenly uncertain. Benson’s jaw tightened. “Then it’s not evidence of theft. It’s a claim, and claims must be proven.” The police officers had Max pinned to the ground, their weight pressing him down. Benson turned to them, his voice rising. “You’re supposed to fight for justice, yet here you are, messing it up. This man is entitled to due process, not to be treated like a criminal without proof.” The officers shifted, uncomfortable under Benson’s glare. They glanced at each other, unsure of how to respond. “Sir, we’re just doing our job,” one of them said, but his voice lacked conviction. Benson stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “Your job is to uphold justice, not act as judge and jury in a hotel lobby. If you don’t release him, I’ll have your badges.” James scoffed, clearly annoyed. “You can’t be serious. This guy is trouble.” Benson ignored him, his eyes still fixed on the officers. “Let him go. Now.” Reluctantly, they complied, loosening their grip on Max and allowing him to rise to his feet. He rubbed his wrists, trying to shake off the humiliation. Benson turned back to Max, his expression softening. “I’m sorry you’ve been treated this way. You’re welcome to explain your side of the story.” Max took a deep breath, grateful for the chance to defend himself. “I didn’t steal anything. That card belongs to me. I just needed a room to stay. I’m not a thief.” Benson nodded, listening intently. “Then we’ll sort this out. You’ll get a fair chance.” James opened his mouth, ready to argue, but Benson cut him off. “You’re banned from this hotel, Mr. Caldwell. I don’t want troublemakers like you here.” James’s face turned crimson. “You can’t do that!” “I just did.” Benson’s voice was firm. “Now leave.” James glared at Max one last time before storming out, muttering under his breath. Benson turned back to the receptionist. “And you,” he said, “I’m sorry, but you’re fired. Your negligence could have cost this hotel dearly.” Her eyes widened in shock, and she opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. “Please escort her out,” Benson instructed an officer, who moved forward to guide the stunned receptionist away. Once the drama settled, Benson focused on Max again. “Let’s get you out of here. You deserve better than this.” Max felt a swell of gratitude. “Thank you,” he said, his voice steadier now. “I didn’t expect this.” Benson waved his hand dismissively. “You’re a guest here, and guests deserve respect. I’ll arrange for you to stay in our best suite for the night. No charge.” Max blinked in surprise. “Really?” “Absolutely. You deserve a place to rest without the chaos.” Benson gestured for Max to follow him. “Come on. Let’s get you settled.” As they walked through the lobby, Max felt a sense of relief washing over him. The weight of the accusations lifted, replaced by the possibility of a new beginning. Benson led him to the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor. “You can stay as long as you need,” he said. “And if there’s anything else you need, just let me know.” “Thank you,” Max said again, genuinely appreciative. “I didn’t know who to turn to.” “You’re not alone. I believe in giving everyone a fair chance,” Benson replied, his gaze steady. The elevator doors opened, revealing a luxurious hallway adorned with art and elegant lighting. Max stepped out, feeling a sense of hope. Benson pointed to a door at the end of the hall. “That’s your suite. I’ll have someone bring you some food and anything else you need.” Max nodded, overwhelmed with gratitude. “I can’t thank you enough.” Benson smiled. “Just take care of yourself. I’ll see you in the morning to sort everything out.” As Max entered the suite, the door closing behind him felt like a fresh start. The space was beautiful, a stark contrast to the chaos of the hotel lobby. He let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Tonight, he will rest. Tomorrow, he will fight to reclaim his life.The next day, Max stood at the entrance of the Silver Crescent Clan estate, again but this time it looked different from the last time he was bought here. The mansion loomed before him, a blend of stone and glass shining in the morning sun. He took a deep breath, feeling both excitement and anxiety twist in his stomach. This was his family.A familiar butler that was known as the person that he meant the first time he was bought here, so he opened the door. “Welcome, Master Max. Please follow me. Sir.”Max nodded and stepped inside. The foyer was grand, filled with portraits of stern ancestors. Some seemed to watch him, judging him.“Here we are,” the butler said, leading him into a large hall. Family members gathered, their chatter fading as they turned to face him.A few faces showed curiosity, but many were cold. Max felt their eyes assessing him, their whispers sharp.“Is that him?” a woman whispered.“Looks like a nobody,” a man muttered.Max squared his shoulders, pushing back t
Max’s phone buzzed against the silent office. He almost ignored it, buried in work, but something made him look. The caller ID showed a hospital number, and his brows furrowed.“This is Max Carter,” he answered.“Mr. Carter, this is Nurse Stevens at Memorial Hospital,” a calm voice spoke. “Emma Hawthorn’s been in an accident. You’re listed as her emergency contact. We need you here to sign off on her surgery. She’s in critical condition.”Emma Carter. Or, Emma Hawthorn now, as she’d chosen to be called since the divorce. The name hit him like a punch. His ex-wife, the woman who’d once been his everything and then left him shattered, needed him now. She’d put him down, belittled him, and tossed him aside, yet here he was—her only lifeline.Max felt a strange blend of sympathy and bitterness rise in his chest. But he didn’t hesitate. He shoved his work aside, grabbed his keys, and headed out of the office, his footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor. Memories of their marriage surfaced
‘This feeling,’ Max thought as he pushed through the hospital doors, ignoring the looks of confusion and shock from Richard and Fiona behind him. The chauffeur held the door of a sleek black car open for him, and Max slid in without a backward glance, leaving his ex-in-laws to stew in their own disbelief.As the car sped toward the office, Max’s mind switched gears. The hospital drama with Emma was now in the background; something more pressing had surfaced. His phone buzzed, and he glanced down at the message from his assistant: “Urgent. Lenox is pushing for a buyout of all investor shares.”Lenox. Max’s foster brother, once family, now rival. Their relationship had twisted and broken over the years. After the reveal of their shared blood, they’d never built any real closeness. Lenox didn’t like the thought of Max coming out of nowhere to take everything from him, leading to an endless game of one-upmanship. Lenox wasn’t someone to take lightly, and Max knew it.The car pulled up to
Max was on his way home from work when his driver pointed out that a car had been following them. Max turned around and peered through the back glass to confirm. He noticed a silver SUV trailing behind them, so he asked his driver to take a detour."They're still coming after us sir, what do I do ?" His driver asked. Max pulled out his cellphone and called Marcus. "Hey Marcus, I don't know what to do, but someone seems to be following us." Max said with a hint of panic buried in his voice."Calm down master Max, tell me exactly where you are and I'll send some officers to your location this minute," Marcus said, trying to get him to calm down. The driver increased his speed trying to evade the pursuers.But as he made a right turn, the SUV rammed into the back of the car. The driver lost control and crashed into the tree on the alley. He was lucky the air bag got deployed and prevented him from sustaining a fatal injury.Max was concussed and his vision became blurry. His ears rang
Marcus and Alfred took Max to what looked like an old abandoned manor. It was made of bricks and had a distinct look about it. They drove into the main compound and helped Max get down. He was limping as a result of the beating he had taken earlier that evening. "Damn Alfred, you really tuned him up good, didn't you ?" Marcus said as they walked towards the main entrance. It was bolted shit and bound with a set of chains and a heavy padlock. Marcus brought out the key from his pocket and unlocked the padlock and the door while Alfred helped Max stand on his feet. "I had to make it look real, no hard feelings right?" He asked Max who was too stunned by the building in front of him to answer. "Well, Master Maxwell, to your family manor, you see up until now I haven't told you somethings because I was waiting for the right moment, your name, your real name is , Maxwell Arnold Quentin III (the third) You are the only true heir of Lord Archer Arnold Quentin, and Lady Martha Arnold Que
James lingered at Emma’s side until the moon began its descent. She clung to his arm, her voice soft and pleading. “Aren’t you staying the night with me?” Though he hesitated, her glassy eyes made him falter. With a forced smile, he sat back down, intending to leave once she drifted off. Her breathing eventually grew shallow and steady, but James found himself rooted in place. The night outside pressed against the window like a silent spectator, and with every tick of the clock, James felt his resolve weaken. Guilt gnawed at him, an emotion he couldn’t quite define, tangled between duty and something darker. Elsewhere, outside the hospital. Fiona Hawthorn stepped into the cold embrace of the night, her heels clicking faintly against the pavement. She lit a cigarette with shaking hands, taking a long drag that filled her lungs with smoke and a fleeting sense of calm. “You know smoking is prohibited here, right?” The voice startled her, deep and smooth like velvet over
Maxwell leaned against the hospital bed, the weight of Marcus’s words pressing down on him like a vice. His pulse raced, his mind spinning as decades of lies unraveled before him. “Your father,” Marcus began, his tone steady, “was the second-in-command of the Silver Crescent Clan, a family revered for its strength and influence. But his stepbrother, Alphonse, resented him. Alphonse was failing as clan leader—his reign marred by poor decisions and rebellion among the ranks. When certain members conspired to overthrow him, Alphonse pinned the blame on your father, Archer.” Maxwell’s fists clenched as he leaned forward. “So they turned the brothers against each other?” Marcus nodded solemnly. “The accusations created a rift that couldn’t be mended. Alphonse, blinded by paranoia and rage, believed the lies. He feared your father’s influence and sought to eliminate him... and his family.” The room seemed to close in around Maxwell as Marcus continued. “Alphonse hired assassins t
Maxwell stepped out of the room, his footsteps echoing faintly as he walked beside Marcus toward the hospital's main entrance. “You sure you’ll be okay on your own?” Marcus asked, his voice low but firm.“I’ll be fine. Just need some time to think,” Maxwell replied with a faint smile.Marcus nodded but didn’t leave it to chance. As he walked toward his car, he gave a subtle signal to one of the guards stationed nearby. The man nodded, understanding his silent instruction to keep a watchful eye on Maxwell while maintaining a discreet distance.Maxwell turned back into the hospital, his steps unhurried as he let his thoughts wander. The events of the past few weeks had transformed him into someone else. He was a man with purpose now, carrying the confidence of someone who had climbed out of the abyss, stronger and more determined than ever.As he rounded a corner, a faint hum drew his attention. By the vending machine stood a familiar figure. Her frame was smaller than he remembered—it