While Juliet and Michael were wrapped up in each other, exchanging kisses, Anastasia knew it was time for her to leave with Alex. Her heart felt heavy, weighed down by everything that had happened.But before she could go, she leaned in close to Emmanuella, whispering something into her ear. Emmanuella responded just as softly, sharing a moment that no one else could overhear. As curious as everyone might have been, no one knew what they said.Since Alex and Anastasia had driven Emmanuella to the gathering, she wasn’t ready to leave yet. Her boyfriend had arrived, and he would be the one taking her home.Now, it was just Alex and Anastasia in the car, and the silence between them felt thick with unspoken thoughts. Anastasia’s pulse quickened as she struggled to find the right words. Finally, after what felt like forever, she spoke.“Alex, why did you agree to that bet?” Her voice trembled, betraying the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. “It was a trap—to break us up—and you wal
When Anastasia got home, her mind was racing, but she knew what had to be done. She picked up her phone and dialed her grandma. “Ma, please call a family meeting about what you told me earlier,” she said firmly, her voice holding an undercurrent of tension.“Are you ready to accept our terms?” Nancy asked coldly. Anastasia’s silence on the other end of the line was all the answer she could give.***Not long after Anastasia hung up, Nancy wasted no time. She called Anastasia’s parents, relaying the news with brisk efficiency.Just as quickly, Nancy called Anastasia’s cousins, her uncle, and her aunts, and within the hour, the Stewart Mansion was filled with family members, the tension so thick it felt like you could cut it with a knife.They all gathered around the dining table, wine glasses placed before them as they exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what this sudden meeting was about.Anastasia stood, her face void of any warmth, her usual bright smile replaced with a somber expr
"Does he really think she’ll stay with a loser like him?"The voice cut through the chatter in the hallway, pulling every student’s attention. Alex Carter, walking slowly by his locker, felt the words sting more than the usual sneers and pokes from his classmates. His gaze was fixed on the classroom door ahead, ignoring the taunts and whispers as best as he could."I heard she’s dating the poor loser," another voice chimed in, laced with disdain. "But it didn’t stop Noah from proposing to her."Alex's heart skipped a beat. The “poor loser” could only mean him. His curiosity got the better of him, and instead of entering the classroom, he turned toward the other hallway, where the noise was growing louder.“Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!” The chant echoed through the corridor as Alex pushed his way through the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening. When he reached the front, his worst fear materialized before his eyes.“Yes, I will be your girlfriend, Noah.” Janet’s voice
The case of students from upper-status families bullying those from lower-status families was so prevalent at Auguston Comprehensive College that not a week went by without an incident. Today was no different for Noah and Alex.Noah, with his arrogant smirk, couldn’t believe Alex had the nerve to call him a riffraff. This wasn’t just a word—it was a challenge. He had to make Alex pay or risk losing the respect he commanded from the other students.“Battle! Battle! Battle!” The chants echoed through the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. Noah rolled up his sleeves, ready to pummel Alex into the ground. He knew he was stronger and wealthier, and he had the crowd behind him. Victory seemed inevitable.Alex’s heart pounded like a drum in his chest. He knew this was a suicide mission—taking on someone like Noah, who had money and power, was foolish. But Alex couldn’t back down. He wouldn’t let this spoiled brat strip him of his dignity.“Ahhhhh!” Noah charged toward Alex, fi
Alex’s vision was hazy as he slowly regained consciousness. The world around him was a blur of shapes and colors, but gradually, everything came into focus. He was lying in bed with an IV drip attached to his arm. The sterile smell and white sheets told him all he needed to know—he was in a hospital. Confusion washed over him, and he voiced the question burning in his mind.“How did I get here?” His voice was hoarse and strained from the effort of speaking.He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his body, forcing him back down. Just then, a soft, calm voice broke the silence.“Trust me, Mr. Carter, you need to rest for a few more hours before we can be sure there won’t be any complications.”Alex turned his head slightly, wincing as he did. His eyes settled on the figure of a woman in a white lab coat. She walked toward him, revealing herself fully—a doctor with striking blue eyes and red hair, holding a syringe filled with some liquid.“How do you feel now, Mr. Carter?” Sh
The pain seared through Alex’s body, relentless and all-consuming, but it lasted only a few agonizing minutes. He thrashed around the room, his limbs moving as if controlled by some unseen force, as though something foreign was crawling beneath his skin. Then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped. His body went still and unnervingly calm, like the surface of a pond after a storm. But inside, everything was different.Even before the ring had shot onto his finger, Alex had sensed something peculiar about it. Lying on the floor, it pulsed with an eerie energy, almost as if it were alive. The moment the ring attached itself to him, a shiver ran down his spine, as though it whispered secrets that only his soul could understand. His eyes darkened, his sclera consumed by a pitch-black void, and suddenly, his reality shifted.He was no longer in his run-down apartment. Instead, he found himself in a hospital ward, standing unnoticed in a corner. He watched as a couple, radiant with joy, cradl
Alex stared at his fingers, captivated by the transformation unfolding before his eyes. His nails, once ragged and chipped, now gleamed with an almost supernatural cleanliness. His skin, which had been dull and worn from years of hardship, now shimmered with a vibrant glow, radiating health and vitality. It was as though he were witnessing a miracle—his body rejuvenating right before his eyes."What is happening to me?" he whispered, a mixture of awe and fear tingling in his voice.A strange, almost electric sensation pulsed inside his head, a warmth spreading through his skull. In an instant, it was as if a veil had been lifted—memories that had once been hazy and distant now came rushing back with vivid clarity, as though they had occurred only yesterday. He could recall every detail of his past with newfound sharpness, each memory playing out like a scene in a movie.Simultaneously, he felt his bones growing stronger, the frailty that had plagued him for so long vanishing as if it
The confidence surging through Alex was something entirely new—a heady, intoxicating feeling that filled him with a sense of purpose and certainty. With his father’s memories now intertwined with his own, he knew exactly where to go to claim his birthright.“Summit National Bank,” Alex muttered to himself as he shrugged on his jacket. He could hardly believe that he was about to step into a world that had been beyond his reach until now.For centuries, Summit National Bank had been the exclusive domain of the country’s elite—a fortress of wealth and power. This wasn’t just a bank; it was a symbol, a gatekeeper for those whose influence stretched far beyond mere money. To even have an account there meant more than being rich; it meant belonging to a different world. But now, Alex knew—an account had been created for him at this very bank.Stepping out of the taxi, Alex paused to take in the grand facade of the bank. Its towering pillars and ornate architecture were imposing, almost int