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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX. A CHALLENGE ON THE COURT
Author: Tobiey Lanzy
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-05 14:56:40
After putting the rude girl and the mocking salesman in their place, Oliver drove away from the dealership. Their mean comments about him and supposed pretenses still echoed in his mind.

Although their words hurt, he refused to let their negativity spoil his plans. Instead, he focused on the exciting day ahead.

Today was special. It was his first live game, though it was a local basketball match, he couldn’t wait to see not only the match but also the training and warm-ups.

He had bought a premium ticket that would allow him to witness the training session and the match from a front-row seat.

As he drove up to the basketball stadium in his Bugatti Chiron, the powerful stereo blasted music that thumped through the car. He couldn’t help but shake his head with joy.

The thrill of the moment was overwhelming, as memories of his childhood and deep-seated love for basketball surged through him. From his time in the orphanage to his high school and university years, basketball had been more
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    Oliver accepting the challenge only inflated his ego further. The player, now dripping with confidence, began mocking Oliver in dramatic styles.He dribbled in exaggerated circles around Oliver, his movements smooth and taunting. Each time he tossed the ball lightly over Oliver’s head, the crowd erupted in laughter, their jeers fueling the player’s showboating.With a smirk, he fake-passed the ball to Oliver, only to snatch it back at the last second. “Oops, my bad!” he laughed loudly, his voice echoing with mockery. “Didn’t think you could catch it anyway!”He flexed his muscles, struck dramatic poses, and pointed mockingly at Oliver. “Hey everyone, check out the next Michael Jordan over here!” he shouted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. The crowd's laughter and cheers intensified, feeding his already inflated ego and making the atmosphere electric with anticipation.Meanwhile, the player’s friends were encouraging him on. “Yeah, show him who’s boss!” one of them yelled.“He’s a joke!

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    The atmosphere grew tense, the crowd’s anticipation obvious. Some spectators booed Oliver, while others watched with intense curiosity.Comments were flying from the stands and from the fans.“You’re gonna choke!” someone shouted from the stands.“Go back to where you belong, loser!” another voice jeered.“Don’t waste our time, just admit defeat!” a fan yelled.The boos intensified, pouring down on Oliver as he prepared to make his move. The tension in the air was almost tangible, every eye in the stadium locked on him, waiting to see if he could prove a point. Despite the boos and jeers, Oliver remained calm. He took a deep breath, blocking out the noise and focusing on the task at hand. For him, this was just another challenge to overcome, another opportunity to prove himself.He took a deep breath, his hands gripping the ball firmly. He dribbled with precise control, bouncing it rhythmically to find his rhythm. He moved in for his shot, focusing intently. The crowd fell silent as h

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    “Fine! I challenge you to a one-on-one duel. Let’s settle this once and for all!” the player roared, his voice echoing with defiance.Oliver raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "A one-on-one duel? You really want to do this?" He paused, looked the player up and down, then chuckled softly. "Alright, if you insist. Oliver then extended his hand mockingly. " Don't worry, I’ll try to go easy on you this time."Oliver's mocking response only fueled the player's anger further. His face reddened with rage, and he clenched his fists, visibly seething. The player, still seething from his earlier defeat, glared at Oliver with a mix of anger and disdain.“You think you’re hot stuff now?” he sneered. “Let’s see if you’ve got any real skills, or if you’re just a lucky fool.”But Oliver remained silent, his demeanor calm and unruffled. He squared up, his stance looking relaxed and almost amateurish, which only fueled the player's mockery.“Is this supposed to be your game face?”

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    Oliver’s eyes widened in sheer terror. Standing in front of him and smiling sheepishly was Kevin, one of his regular bullies from Bechem University.Oliver was disappointed to see him because he knew his shopping experience might not go smoothly as planned. He tried to mask his disappointment and attempted to move away.Kevin had always been a thorn in Oliver's flesh, passionately hating him for being poor and never missing an opportunity to make his life miserable, and from the look in his eyes now, Oliver was sure Kevin was ready to go the extra mile just to humiliate him again.But Oliver quickly dismissed the thought. He was wealthy now, and despite not having exhausted the earlier funds from his mother, she had provided him with an additional substantial amount. With his mother being one of the most powerful figures in the country, what could he possibly fear? He shook off the notion and wore a calm expression. "Woooh, woooh, woooh," Kevin said, rubbing his palms together with a

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    Oliver remained unflinching, his expression showing no sign of distress. The salesgirl expected him to react with shock or anger, but instead, he continued to exude calm confidence. She raised an eyebrow and asked, “How would you like to pay?”Unfazed by the staggering amount, he replied, “I’ll pay with my card. If you’ll just process it, please.”Confidently, Oliver reached into his pocket and pulled out the golden card his mother had given him. He placed it on the counter with an air of assurance.The salesgirl’s eyes widened as she saw the elite card. Kevin, unable to resist a chance to taunt, sneered, “Did you steal that from the Luxor Hotel too?” He continued with mean-spirited comments, “Maybe it’s not even real. What makes you think you belong in a place like this?”Oliver met Kevin’s taunts with a calm and steady gaze. “If you had a brain, you’d realize that your attempts to belittle me are as futile as they are pathetic. I’m here to shop, not to entertain idiots. So why don’

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    As Oliver pulled into his driveway, his breath was caught in awe. There, illuminated by the golden rays of the sun, was his brand-new Audi RS Q8. He had instructed his driver to pick it up from the dealership earlier.Eager to test it out, he hopped inside and felt the luxurious interior wrap around him. The engine roared to life with a powerful purr, and as he took it for a quick spin around the neighborhood, he couldn't help but smile widely, feeling an exhilarating rush of happiness. The car handled smoothly and had a lot of power, which made him really happy. After driving a few laps, he parked it back at home, completely thrilled with his new ride..The next day was the much-anticipated dinner and birthday party Mr. Damon had invited Oliver to. He dressed in one of the suits he had purchased the previous day. Though the suit and trousers look slightly oversized, he still managed to look quite good in them.He didn't have the chance to try them on at the store due to the drama wi

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    "Doesn’t he know Mr. Hawkins?" a tall man in the back commented. "This CEO doesn’t tolerate disrespect, even in small things like parking. His job's probably over before it even started."Some people chuckled softly at the thought, while others exchanged worried glances."Bold for a newbie, huh?" someone remarked, shaking their head. "He doesn’t know who he’s messing with."Amidst the chatter, Oliver’s mind was racing. He felt a storm brewing inside him, the anger and frustration bubbling just below the surface. This public humiliation—the insults, the crowd gawking at him like some sort of spectacle—it was infuriating. He knew he had the power to retaliate, to put this man in his place. But he also knew that violence wasn’t the answer. Not here, not now. Oliver’s chest rose and fell with each steadying breath as he controlled his emotions, eyes hardening with resolve.Finally, he addressed the CEO. “Mr. Hawkins,” Oliver began, his voice steady but tinged with the simmering fire be

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    CHAPTER 114. A LINE CROSSED.

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    CHAPTER 113. THE MAN WITH A BIG EGO.

    After a long, exhausting night, Oliver returned home and collapsed into bed, drifting into the deepest sleep he'd had in days. He slept soundly, like a baby, too tired to even dream. Morning came quickly, and a soft knock on the door stirred him awake. The door creaked open, and his mother stepped inside, her presence filling the room with warmth."Good morning, Oliver," she said with a soft smile, "Did you sleep well?""Yeah, I did," Oliver replied, rubbing his eyes. "Morning, Mom."She approached the bed, sitting lightly on the edge. “I need you to visit Pearl Dynamics today. I was supposed to go myself, but something came up. You know how I’ve always insisted that you get more involved with the companies. It's important that you understand how each one operates.”Oliver sighed heavily, still feeling the weight of last night’s events, but he knew this was non-negotiable. “Alright, I’ll handle it,” he said, forcing himself out of bed.After his mother left, he dragged himself to the

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    CHAPTER 112. SILENCING ALL CRITICS.

    Gasps filled the room. The weight of the revelation hit everyone like a tidal wave. Vanessa’s jaw dropped as she stared at the price in disbelief, her hands trembling slightly. Anita’s eyes widened, and a look of awe replaced her earlier skepticism. There was a murmur of shock and admiration as everyone absorbed what they had just witnessed."Four hundred thousand dollars?" someone whispered, stunned."That’s insane," another added. "I didn’t even know you could get a custom Patek like that."Nathan, on the other hand, was left speechless. The blood drained from his face as if all his confidence had evaporated in an instant. His once smug expression faltered, replaced by sheer disbelief. His gift—while appreciated—was a far cry from what Oliver had just unveiled. The room buzzed with whispers as people began comparing Nathan’s painting to Oliver’s gift."It’s not even close," someone muttered, loud enough for Nathan to hear. "Oliver’s on a whole different level.""Yeah, Nathan’s gif

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    CHAPTER 111. REVEALING THE TRUTH.

    Despite her defense, Oliver wasn’t satisfied. He couldn't shake off the overwhelming sense of betrayal—not from the people around him but from the circumstances that had conspired to humiliate him. His insistence on proving himself only spurred Nathan's amusement further.Nathan burst into mocking laughter, his voice echoing through the room. "Oh, this is just too rich," he sneered. "Mistakenly picked the wrong one? C'mon, Oliver, don’t kid yourself. If it walks like a fraud, talks like a fraud, well... it’s probably a fraud."Oliver’s frustration was mounting. He grabbed his phone, dialing his mother’s number again, the cold sweat on his forehead betraying his rising desperation. When the call didn’t go through, his grip tightened, and he cursed under his breath. Nathan’s taunts grew more relentless. "You’re a joke, man," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Trying to pull this off like you’re some big shot, and now look at you—sweating bullets over a fake watch. You m

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    Another girl in the corner whispered, "It’s embarrassing. I thought Oliver had more class than this."Nathan circled around Oliver, his voice dripping with mockery."You wanted to make me look like a fool, huh? Well, how’s it feel now? Must hurt, doesn’t it? Standing there, trying to defend a cheap knockoff while I’ve got a real, genuine gift." He leaned in closer, his grin menacing. "Face it, Oliver. You’re nothing but a fraud, and everyone here sees it now."Oliver stood there, his composure cracking. "I know it's not fake," he repeated, his voice quieter now, almost as if he were convincing himself as much as everyone else. "There’s been a mistake… it has to be."But the more he protested, the more Nathan’s smirk grew. "Mistake?" Nathan scoffed. "The only mistake here is you thinking you could come in here and show me up. But now everyone knows the truth, Oliver. You're just a guy trying to punch above his weight, and you fell flat on your face."Anita, who had been quiet througho

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    CHAPTER 109. FRAUD IN THE SPOTLIGHT

    "He started it! Two can play this game, right? If Oliver's so sure, why doesn’t he show the receipt for his fancy watch? Or better yet, let’s check the authenticity right now!"The room grew quiet as Nathan’s challenge hung in the air. Oliver, calm as ever, didn’t flinch. He merely replied, "Show the receipt for your painting first, Nathan. After that, I’ll be happy to provide mine."A murmur went through the crowd as people exchanged curious glances. The tension was thick, almost tangible, as they awaited Nathan’s response. But before Nathan could come up with an excuse, someone else from the party chimed in. "Why don’t we just check online? Patek Philippe has an official site where you can validate their products using the serial number. Let’s see if it’s genuine."Anita, standing close to Oliver, felt a knot form in her stomach. Her fingers twitched with anxiety. She knew Oliver had money and could easily afford a watch like that, but the idea of him being humiliated in front of e

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    CHAPTER 108. UNMASKING DECEIT

    Nathan's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, a flicker of fear crossed his face. But he quickly masked it with more arrogance, his voice rising in desperation. “You're talking nonsense. You're just bitter because you can't afford anything like this, and now you're trying to ruin the night. You're just some arrogant narcissist.”Anita, sensing that the tension was about to boil over, stepped between them. "Come on, this isn’t necessary," she pleaded, her hands out in front of her. “It’s a party. Let’s not ruin it over this.”But Oliver was resolute. “If Nathan’s so sure about the authenticity of his gift,” he said, locking eyes with Nathan, “then I’d like to prove that the painting is not original.”The room fell silent at Oliver’s bold challenge. Nathan’s expression faltered again, but he quickly masked his unease with more bravado."Prove it?" Nathan scoffed, though his voice had lost some of its earlier confidence. “You’re just trying to make me look bad. You’re the one ruinin

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    CHAPTER 107 TRIUMPH IN VANITY

    He glanced at Anita once more, hoping that the grand gesture would make her fall for him. But Anita remained stoic, her expression unreadable, though her eyes flickered with something more calculating than impressed.Meanwhile, Oliver, who had been observing silently, maintained his calm demeanor, though a subtle smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Nathan might have thought he’d outshone everyone, but Oliver had seen enough of such displays to know where this was headed. He knew arrogance often led to a downfall. He just had to wait.Meanwhile, Nathan was in his element, soaking up the admiration from the room. He grinned from ear to ear, loving every second of the attention. Vanessa couldn’t stop gushing about the gift, her voice high with excitement.“You never cease to amaze me, Nathan,” she said, her eyes still wide with disbelief. “This is... I don’t even know how to thank you! This is the most expensive gift I’ve ever received!”Nathan, feeling on top of the world, brushed