Elijah felt a sharp pain pierce his heart as Sophia’s words sank in. His face tightened with disbelief and anguish. "I disgust you? How, Sophia? Didn’t I try my best to do everything you requested?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of confusion and hurt.Sophia scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Requested? Try hard my foot. Are you the one taking care of me, or am I the one taking care of you, Elijah? Bold of you to think I'm in love with you." She sneered, her words biting. "I'm 25, and you're just 20. You're a kid, Elijah. Do you think I would ever be proud to point to a low, poor kid like you and call you my boyfriend? I'd be ashamed."Elijah stood there, stunned, each word cutting deeper than the last. He had known he was younger than Sophia, but he thought they had loved each other. After all, they had been dating for months, and she kept telling him his age never mattered—didn't that mean something? How she was keeping herself till they got married first. Wasnt that also somet
Elijah’s eyes darkened with frustration and anger, his chest tightening as Sophia’s words cut deeper. “I got some of those with my money too, Sophia! You can’t just take everything away from me!” he argued, his voice rising in anger. “You don’t get to tell me what I can or can’t take. I worked hard for what little I have!”But before he could say more, Damian stepped forward, his presence looming large as he towered over Elijah. With a smug grin, he placed a hand on Elijah’s chest and pushed him back. "Watch your tone, kid," Damian warned, his voice low and menacing. "You want to argue with her, you argue with me first. And trust me, you don’t want that." His eyes narrowed, his threat clear as he glared at Elijah.Elijah’s eyes filled with pain as he looked past Damian, locking his gaze on Sophia. His voice trembled,“Sophia, after everything we’ve been through, this is how you treat me? Like trash? Like I never mattered to you?”He took a shaky breath, his heart aching with betraya
Elijah hesitated for a moment, staring at the foreign number on the screen. Something about it felt off, but curiosity got the better of him. Slowly, he pressed the "answer" button and brought the phone to his ear."Hello?" he said, his voice wary.Almost immediately, a deep voice on the other end responded. "Hello, Elijah."Elijah frowned. "Who’s this?" he asked, a mix of confusion and irritation in his tone.There was a brief silence, just a few seconds, but it felt much longer. Then the voice spoke again, calm and deliberate. "Happy Birthday, Elijah."Elijah froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Happy Birthday?" he echoed, shock washing over him. "How do you know my name?" His mind raced—what birthday? He hadn’t celebrated his birthday in years, not since everything fell apart.The voice on the other end continued, as if it hadn't heard his confusion. "Happy 21st birthday, son. Daddy and Mommy wish you the best in life.”The voice on the other end continued, as if it hadn't heard his
The screen came to life. Gasp!Elijah’s breath caught. There he was—a man in his late forties, maybe early fifties, sitting in a luxurious steady room. His sharp features were unmistakable. The room behind Marcus Steel was lined with bookshelves filled with leather-bound books. A golden desk sat in the background, papers neatly stacked—everything about him screamed authority and control. And yet, there was something gentle in the way he smiled, as though he held the entire world at his fingertips.The high cheekbones, the piercing green eyes, and the streaks of silver in his neatly combed hair matched every image Elijah had seen in magazines and on TV. But there was something more personal in the way he looked at Elijah now—something almost... familiar.Seeing that the man on his screen was actually the same as General Marcus Steel he had always saluted, his heart raced, and he felt his entire body tense up. A million thoughts swirled in his head: Was this real? Could he actually be
“Of course,” the General replied, his tone earnest. “You’re my son, and I want to make sure you have everything you need. It’s time you lived a life free of worry. Just let me know how you’d like it transferred.” Elijah’s breath caught in his throat. "Can I mention my account number to you then?" he asked quickly, his heart pounding with anticipation. The General chuckled lightly. "Your bank account will freeze if you get such a large sum at once. I assume you have a crypto USDT account, right?" Elijah nodded immediately. He had one, though it was empty—something he’d never really given much thought to. "Yes, I do," he replied, his voice shaky. "Good. Now, give me the details," the General instructed. Elijah fumbled with his phone, his hands trembling as he went through the app to find his USDT wallet address. His mind raced, barely believing what was happening. Once he had the long string of numbers, he carefully typed it out, gulping as he hit send. He stared at his screen, w
As the car began moving, Elijah pulled out his phone, excitement coursing through his veins. He opened his app and quickly transferred $100,000 from his USDT wallet into his bank account. As soon as the transaction was completed, he saw the balance update on his banking app. His bank account had never felt this heavy before. The sight of six figures sitting comfortably in his account made his heart race. The driver glanced through the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing as he studied Elijah. “Young man, which hotel exactly do you want me to send you to?” he asked Elijah leaned forward slightly. “Just send me to any. Something of luxury,” he said, his tone casual. The driver gave a soft chuckle, eyeing Elijah’s appearance again. “Luxury, huh? Why’re you heading to a place like that? No offense, kid, but you don’t look like someone who can afford a night in one of those places.” Elijah’s lips curled into a small smile, the weight of his recent fortune settling in. “I want
Both Elijah and the guard turned toward the sound, startled. Standing there was a man, probably in his late forties. He wore see-through shades that revealed piercing eyes beneath, his physique still fit and impressive. A glint of metal caught Elijah’s eye, and he noticed an expensive watch around the man’s wrist. Elijah’s heart skipped a beat in recognition—Jason Caldwell. Or, as most people called him, Jay Caldwell. He was one of the city’s most respected businessmen, the CEO of its largest construction company. Seeing him up close was a rare moment, leaving Elijah thinking if Mr Cadwell was the owner of the hotel. "Mr... Mr... Mr. Jason!" The guard stammered, quickly letting go of Elijah’s clothes, his stern expression replaced by an awkward, forced smile. Without even glancing at Elijah, Jay turned to the guard, his voice sharp. "What’s going on here? Why are you holding him like that?” The guard straightened, scrambling to justify himself. "Sir, this young man here.
Elijah glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed he had just about 25 minutes left before his birthday, just as his dad had mentioned. The realization sent a surge of excitement through him as he turned back to the receptionist. "Yes, that’s right. I’ve heard great things about it—stunning views, a private jacuzzi, a private terrace,” he repeated confidently, refusing to let anyone doubt him.The receptionist’s face tightened as she glanced at the well-dressed couple nearby, who were watching the interaction with growing interest. Clearly annoyed, she forced herself to stay calm. "Um, sir, the penthouse suite is quite expensive," she said, raising an eyebrow, as though challenging him.The young lady beside the man turned to him with a slight pout, wrapping her arm around his neck. “Darling, why not book the penthouse for us?” she suggested sweetly, casting a dismissive glance at Elijah.The man hesitated, eyeing Elijah skeptically. "Hmm, why not another room, since he says he wa
The room erupted into a mix of applause and astonishment, with several workers looking at each other in surprise. Sophia, standing among them, froze for a moment, her heart racing although she was aware she was the one to be promoted. She felt dozens of eyes turning to her.Damian extended his hand toward her and said warmly, "Miss Bennett, please step on stage.”Sophia inhaled deeply, smoothing her already pristine office wear as she walked forward. Her heels clicked against the polished floor, and the applause grew louder. As she reached the stage, she turned to face the crowd.Damian gestured for her to stand beside him. "Ladies and gentlemen, this promotion is not just a reward but a reflection of consistent effort and excellence. Congratulations, Miss Bennett."Sophia nodded politely, her lips curving into a gracious smile as she acknowledged the crowd. "Thank you," she said, her voice clear and steadyAs Sophia stood on stage, basking in the applause, the murmurs among the worke
The men remained silent, their shame deepening under Victor's harsh words. One of them finally stammered, "S-Sir, we tried our best, but that man... he wasn’t ordinary. His men... they were like machines—""Enough!" Victor roared, slamming his hand on the armrest, making some of the men flinch. "Excuses don’t interest me. You’ve embarrassed me and my son!"Daniel stopped pacing, his face twisted with fury. "They’re pathetic, Father. I told you they were useless! Elijah humiliated me in front of everyone, and these fools couldn’t even defend me!”Victor leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening. "I underestimated this person," he said, his voice low and calculating. He turned his gaze back to the kneeling men. "Get out of my sight. I’ll deal with your incompetence later.”“Sir,” one of them began, clutching his injured shoulder, “we… we need some money to treat our injuries.”Lawrence’s expression darkened, and without a word, he rose from his seat, the golden necklace around
"Save it!" Daniel interrupted, pacing back and forth as his anger boiled over. "You think this is minor? Do you know how badly this has gone? Do you know how humiliated I am?! You're the one who sent men and now look! It's a disaster!”The bystanders who hadn’t already dispersed began whispering amongst themselves, their curiosity growing at Daniel’s outburst. Daniel’s father sighed heavily on the other end of the call. "Listen to me, Daniel. Don’t make things worse for yourself. Leave the place now.""But Dad—!" Daniel began, his voice shaking with frustration."Enough!" his father interrupted, his voice sharp and commanding. "I’ll send someone to pick up those ten useless men you hired. They’re of no use to you now. Just leave before you embarrass yourself further."Daniel gritted his teeth, but he couldn’t argue with his father’s authority. "Fine," he muttered, though his tone was far from calm."And as for this Elijah," his father continued, his voice colder now, "don’t worry abo
Minutes later, Sierra walked out of the fitting room, and Elijah’s attention immediately shifted to her. The dress she had chosen fit her perfectly, its simplicity complementing her natural beauty. She adjusted the hem slightly, brushing a hand down the fabric as if to get used to the feel of it. Elijah’s lips curled into a subtle smile as he watched her approach. “Looks good on you,” he said sincerely. Sierra glanced at him, her expression soft but slightly self-conscious. “It’s just a dress,” she muttered, trying to downplay it, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Brandon, still standing at the counter, looked at Sierra and then at Elijah, visibly holding back his words. It was clear he hadn’t expected Sierra to actually leave the fitting room with a new dress that had been paid for. Elijah picked up the bags of clothes and sneakers, holding them effortlessly. “Ready to go?” he asked Sierra casually, as though the tension in the air from earlier didn’t exist. She nodded,
As Elijah reached the counter, he immediately recognized Brandon. His lips curled into a light smile, and he greeted politely, “Good afternoon.”Brandon, however, wasn’t having it. He crossed his arms and frowned deeper. “What do you want, please?” he asked with obvious irritation in his tone.Sierra noticed the hostility immediately, her brows furrowing. “Is that how you frown and speak to customers?” she questioned sharply, her voice carrying an edge.Brandon shot her a glare, clearly unbothered. “Customers?” he scoffed. “He came here yesterday and lied about buying clothes. After picking out $28,000 worth of items, he didn’t even have the money to pay. I’m yet to hang them back!” Brandon’s voice dripped with condescension as he turned his eyes back to Elijah. “Did you come to waste my time again?”Before Brandon could continue, Elijah cut in calmly, “Yesterday, there was a fault with my bank. Don’t worry, everything is working now. The clothes are still available, right? Just hand
The head of staff hesitated, still processing what had happened. "Uh... I—I think it’s around $15,000, sir. That includes the tables, chairs, glassware, and a few damaged fixtures."Elijah nodded and looked back at Daniel, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You heard her. Fifteen thousand dollars. Pay it now."Daniel’s face flushed red with anger and humiliation. "Fifteen thousand? Do you have any idea who I am? Why should I pay—"Slap!Elijah delivered a sharp slap to Daniel’s face, cutting him off. The crowd gasped, and even Sierra flinched slightly. Elijah’s voice was low but firm. "I’m not asking. You caused the damage, and you’ll pay for it. Or do you want me to call my men back to convince you?"Daniel swallowed hard, his fear evident. His hands trembled as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He opened a payment app and shakily asked the head of staff for the restaurant’s account details.The head of staff quickly provided them, and within moments, the transaction wa
Elijah’s cold gaze settled on the four remaining suited men. His tone was calm but carried an edge of command as he spoke. "Join him. All of you. Take those seven down together. I want to hear screams. Break their bones… and do it well."The suited men nodded sharply, no hesitation in their movements. One of them smirked, cracking his knuckles. “It’ll be over before you know it, Master Elijah.”Without another word, the five men advanced like predators closing in on prey.The seven men with weapons, now visibly shaking, tried to stand their ground. “Come on! We’re not scared of you!” one shouted, though his voice cracked.The air erupted into chaos as the suited men reached them. Screams pierced the evening, echoing through the area.“No! Please—ARGH!” one of the seven howled as his arm was twisted unnaturally, the sickening crack of bone splitting the air. Blood spattered the ground as another man tried to swing his bat, only to have it ripped from his hands and shattered across his
The five suited men exchanged a quick glance, their lips curving into faint smirks. One of them stepped forward slightly, nodding in acknowledgement. "Understood, Master Elijah," he replied crisply.The ten men, seeing this exchange, grew more agitated. “You think we’re scared of you?” one of them barked, raising his bat. “You’ll regret messing with us!”“Yeah!” another chimed in, gripping his sickle tightly. “You’re just playing tough, but you’re outnumbered!”Elijah folded his arms and leaned casually against the nearest surface, his expression unbothered. He turned to Sierra, who was standing nervously beside him, and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry, they’ll wrap this up quickly.”Sierra looked at him, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and disbelief. "Elijah, are you sure—"He cut her off with a slight smirk. "Relax. It’s already over.”Two of the ten men, gripping their sickles tightly, exchanged a nod before charging toward the suited man who had stepped forward. The air was thi
The atmosphere thickened as the ten rugged men stepped closer to Elijah, their leader sneering as he raised his bat. “Kid, time for your limbs to go,” he said.But just as they were about to lunge, Sierra suddenly ran forward, stepping between them and Elijah with her arms outstretched. Her voice trembled but was resolute. “Please, don’t harm him! It wasn’t his fault. Daniel caused all of this!”“Sierra, move!” Elijah’s voice was firm, but she shook her head, standing her ground.Daniel’s face twisted in rage. “How dare you?” he shouted, his voice booming. He jabbed a finger toward his men. “Clear her out of the way and deal with him!”she shook her head, standing her ground.Daniel’s face twisted in rage. “How dare you?” he shouted, his voice booming. He jabbed a finger toward his men. “Clear her out of the way and deal with him!”Elijah remained calm, his gaze scanning the surroundings as if waiting for something. His hands rested casually in his pockets, but his eyes darted toward