"Outrageous!" Nicholas Athen cried out angrily. "Why would I give you all of my properties for ten dollars? That's not possible. It'll only show that I'm out of my mind.""You were out of your mind when you signed the contract," Bruce pointed out with a smug smile."What contract? You're obviously out of your mind. It turns out that Mr. Carter had picked up a madman and introduced him to the world as Astor Ace's son." Nicholas began to laugh."When I tell you how I bought all of your property with ten dollars, that laughter would be replaced with tears. Do you want a bet?" Bruce had a smug smile on."Dad," Bryan laughed. "Like you said, he is obviously out of his mind. Why would you give him all of your properties for ten dollars? Even a naive businessman won't do that.""Sebastian," Bruce cried out.Nicholas knitted his brows as soon as he saw one of the two gatemen that he had fired walk in."Meet Sebastian, my new P. A.," Bruce announced. After Nicholas had thrown him together with
Bruce paced about the office while Mr. Archibald made phone calls. "I can't let Nicholas get away that easily," Bruce said. "Damn it! I should have thought of this. Nicholas is rich. He obviously has other rich friends.""Whoever helped him must have had something to gain," Archibald pointed out. "That makes sense. I rendered Nicholas useless and from what I've noticed, most rich people wouldn't help someone if it doesn't benefit them. I wonder why the person who helped Nicholas would do so. Is it loyalty?""I doubt that. I've met all of Nicholas' friends. His clique does not seem like the kind that can help for the sake of royalty," Mr. Archibald said."So he's trying to cover something up.""Most likely."Bruce heaved a sigh. "Nicholas must not go scot-free.""I know someone that works with the airline, so I was able to get some information on where Nicholas is heading. He boarded a plane to Mexico.""The news of Nicholas' arrest was everywhere. Why on Earth would that airline let
"Bruce, the plane Nicholas boarded got into a plane crash. Most just got injured, but only one was near death. It's Nicholas."Bruce could remember Archibald's words as he walked into the hall of the hospital Nicholas was rushed to. No one knew of the accident, including his family members, but Bruce knew that very soon the news would be everywhere.Before that happened, Bruce decided to pay Nicholas a little visit. Thanks to Archibald, he knew just where to find him.As he walked, he came across a mirror, then stopped by to have a good look at himself."I should give all my properties to charity and consider being a doctor," he muttered to himself with a big grin. "Damn! I look good wearing a lab coat."He adjusted his glasses and facemask. He heaved a sigh and moved away from the mirror to where Nicholas would be. He doubted if anyone would stop him from going into the room of a casualty. After all, according to the tag on the lab coat he picked from the lost and found of the hospit
"Why do you suddenly decide to take me shopping?" Bruce smiled on hearing Jade's question. He had finally avenged his parents' death. Now, he wanted to focus on taking good care of the little family he and Jade had formed."Why?" Jade asked again with a smile."I have a good job and for the first time in my life, I've been paid a good salary. I decided to take you shopping. Take whatever you want."Jade beamed. "This is very thoughtful of you." Jade watched Bruce for a while, then she added; "For a moment, I thought you were really Astor Ace's son and you're treating me because you've finally killed Nicholas Athen."Bruce widened his eyes. "Why would you think that way?""Why are you scared?" Jade chuckled. "Yesterday, Cole came home drunk and was whispering something about you being Astor Ace's son. Well, just forget it. It was only a silly thought."Bruce faked a smile. "Yes, there's no way I'm Astor Ace's son. Come on, look at me."Jade and Bruce laughed it off, but deep down, Bru
Jade's car engine roared outside the house. It indicated that Jade was back from home. Bruce smiled to himself and got off his bed to get to the living room."One..." Bruce began to count down to ten. In ten seconds, he knew Jade would dash into the house in excitement and deliver good news."Two, Three, Four, Five..." He continued counting as he climbed down the stairs hurriedly."Six, seven, eight, nine..." He had gotten to the living room already."Ten."Jade dashed in with a big smile plastered on her face. She rushed to him and gave him a big hug, throwing Bruce off guard. She pulled away from the hug and looked upward at where the rooms were."Everybody," Jade called out excitedly. "I got a big contract with AAB groups."Jade screamed out at the top of her voice. Before the word, Jack Robinson could be said, everyone at home rushed down the stairs.For quite a very long time now, some members of Jade's family have tried to get a deal with AAB groups, but their efforts were all i
Bruce paced up and down the living room, waiting for the arrival of Jade and her family. He searched around for the Butler Lucia had sent to deposit her money but he was nowhere to be found."How would I face them?" Bruce asked himself. All of Jade's family members thought low of him. "This will make things much worse," Bruce thought out loud to himself.He did not care about what Jade's family thought of him but he knew Jade did. Bruce groaned. What kind of a mother is Lucia? He asked himself. He shook his head in disapproval. He heard the gateman opening the goat. He began to quiver. They were back earlier than they wanted to and it was most probably because Jade's mother thought he stole her money."Where's that goddamn thief?" He heard Lucia shriek and he rolled his eyes. He did not take her money and she knew it."Mom, stop it," Jade said, trying to dissuade her."Bruce." Lucia dashed into the room. "Thief. I knew it. You got married to my daughter so you could take all of her m
"You want our boss dead?" Bruce asked, feigning surprise.Bryan glared at him. "If you say those words out loud again, I'd want you dead too.""You've tried to kill me so many times but you couldn't. Do you think you can kill Astor Ace's son?""That old hag was the one who handled your case. If I was fully in control, you'd have been six feet below me by now," Bryan said. "You're no longer Bryan Athen, son of a billionaire. How do you intend to kill the richest man on earth?""Why do you think I'm here? I'm keeping my enemy close," Bryan replied with a smirk."You're not working here for the money, but to monitor B. A. Ace.""I'm here for both," Bryan said with a straight face. "Won't you invite your new friend over to your house for dinner?""Who is the new friend?""Who else? Me, of course. I told you a secret of mine and you told me yours."Bruce looked confused. "Which secret did I tell you?""That your mother-in-law hates you.""That's not a secret." Bruce looked up at Bryan's f
Three weeks later was Jade's birthday and a party was thrown to celebrate it. Bruce stood from the balcony and watched as people trooped in.For the past three weeks, nothing dramatic occurred and Bruce was grateful for the peace of mind he was getting.With Bryan around, Lucia dared not attack him like she used to. It was baffling how Lucia still feared Bryan. He noticed that the other members kind of did so too.The only troubling part for Bruce during the past three weeks was that he had to monitor Bryan to see if he planned anything sinister against the Fultons or himself so he could stop it. Bruce watched Bryan from the balcony. Bryan got ignored by whoever he tried to talk to and Bruce felt bad for him. For the past three weeks, Bryan proved to be helpful. Bruce wished he could find a way to take Bryan's vengeful spirit. He instantly recalled the time Nicholas was still alive and wealthy. He was as vengeful at the time. At that point, Bruce realized that he wasn't very differe