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 something? Sophia noticed his silence and continued with a cruel smirk. "Have you ever thought about why I never let you get close to me? If I loved you, don’t you think we would’ve shared more than just chores?” No, Elijah. I only needed someone to do the chores. I mean, a slave—and you fit the criteria perfectly." She laughed coldly, her eyes flicking toward Damian as she pointed at him. "He is my boyfriend. The love of my life. You? You’re nothing compared to him. Just a poor, good-for-nothing person who disgusts me more than you’ll ever know.” Elijah stood there, his body trembling as Sophia’s words echoed in his head, shattering the image he had built of their relationship. His chest tightened, and for a moment, he felt like the air had been knocked out of him. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the raw pain in his heart quickly giving way to anger. He blinked back tears, his voice breaking as he spoke. "How could you say that, Sophia? I thought... I thought we were in love. I gave you everything I had, everything I could offer! I would’ve done anything for you." His voice grew quieter, filled with anguish. "You used me? All this time? You just used me like I meant nothing?” As Sophia’s words echoed in his mind, Elijah's thoughts flickered back to the moments he thought had meant something—the late-night talks, the laughter, the way he thought she looked at him. But now, it all felt like a cruel mirage. Tears welled in his eyes, but he blinked them away, refusing to let them fall. His hands shook as he looked from Sophia to Damian, his heart pounding furiously. "You... you ruined everything!" Elijah’s voice broke, the anger boiling over before he could stop himself. Without thinking, he lunged at Damian, fists flying, trying to defend the last pieces of his shattered pride. But Damian was ready. He caught Elijah’s punch with ease, smirking as he pushed him back effortlessly. Elijah stumbled but charged again, swinging wildly, his emotions overwhelming him. Bang! Damian dodged his strikes, then delivered a hard punch to Elijah’s stomach, doubling him over in pain. "You think you can fight me, kid?" Damian taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. He shoved Elijah to the ground, and before Elijah could get up, Damian landed another blow to his face, sending him sprawling. Ahh! Elijah groaned, trying to pull himself up, but his body was too weak, too drained. He lay there, bruised and defeated, his heart breaking more than his body ever could. Tears finally escaped, mixing with the pain, the humiliation, and the overwhelming sense of betrayal. He glanced up at Sophia one last time, hoping for any sign of remorse, but she only stood there, watching, her face cold and indifferent. Sophia crossed her arms, looking down at Elijah with indifference and annoyance. "Get out, Elijah! She said coldly. "I have unfinished business with Damian. Unless, of course, you want to sit here and watch us make out.” Elijah's stomach twisted, his heart sinking even further, but before he could respond, Damian strode over to Sophia, wrapping his arms around her waist. With a smug grin, he pulled her in and kissed her deeply, right in front of Elijah. The kiss was intense, meant to break whatever dignity Elijah had left. Damian broke away from the kiss, glancing at Elijah with a cruel smirk. "See that, kid?" Damian taunted. "You never had a chance. She’s mine." He turned back to Sophia, laughing softly. "You should just sack him from this house. After all, it's yours. Why keep him around like some sad, pathetic pet?” Sophia looked at Elijah with a cold, detached expression. "You heard him, right? I’ve housed you, a poor orphan, for long enough. I think it’s best if you leave my house now. Just go, Elijah." Gulping, Elijah stared at her in shock. "Leave your house? I don’t understand... why should I leave?" His voice wavered as he tried to grasp what was happening. Sophia stood up, her tone sharp. "You should leave because I own this place. This is mine, not yours.” As she stepped in front of him, for the first time, Elijah saw something darker in her eyes. It wasn’t just disgust—it was the pleasure she took in holding all the power, in watching him squirm and beg for what little he had left. He frowned, his heart sinking deeper. "Sophia, in case you’ve forgotten, every time I went out to work, I brought the money to you to help with things. So what do you mean I should leave?" Sophia smiled, but it was cold, devoid of any warmth. "Those peanuts you brought were just a thank-you for letting you stay in my house. You should be lucky, Elijah. A rich woman like me, stooping so low to even entertain someone as poor as you. Do we look compatible?" She crossed her arms, her words sharp. "Compared to the money I make to the life I live, are you a match? You’re nothing. Now, go out yourself, or I’ll have the security throw you out.” Elijah shook his head, a bitter smile creeping onto his face. "It’s raining heavily, Sophia. Let me stay for the night and leave tomorrow. I can’t go out in this weather— I have nowhere else to go tonight. Please, just until the morning." But Sophia cut him off, her voice hard and final. "I don’t care, Elijah. I want you out now. So leave.” Elijah, feeling the weight of the situation, tried to salvage whatever dignity he had left. He walked over to the wardrobe to gather his things, hoping to leave quietly. But as he reached for the door, Sophia stepped in front of him, blocking his way. He frowned, confused. "What are you doing, Sophia? I’m just getting my things." Sophia crossed her arms, her expression icy. "You’re not touching anything," she said firmly. Elijah blinked, stunned. "What? Why not?" "Because I bought those," Sophia snapped. "Everything in this house is mine. Even the clothes you’re wearing, I paid for. You don’t get to take anything with you."

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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
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 4
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
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 5
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
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 6
“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
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 7
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
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 8
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... he's a thief! I caught him trying to break into one of the parked cars." Elijah’s mouth opened in protest, but he held back, curious to see how Jay would respond. Jason’s gaze narrowed as he looked Elijah over, his expression of doubt and curiosity. “Young man, who are you? You dare to walk into a hotel like this, trying to steal?” His eyes trailed over Elijah’s worn, wet clothes, lingering on the muddy shoes. Elijah met Jason’s gaze, sensing the respect he had for this man and pushing him to respond calmly. “I’m here to book a room and spend the night, sir. I was only admiring the cars, and then he ran over with his accusations.” He nodded toward the security guard. “Ask him if I was actually doing anything suspicious.” Jason paused, studying Elijah, then a
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 9
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
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 10
As Elijah stepped into the elevator, he felt a rush of excitement. It had been ages since he'd even ridden in an elevator, let alone one this sleek and polished, lined with mirrors and soft lighting. The feeling of luxury surrounded him as he pressed the button for the top floor. The doors closed with a quiet hum, and he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.This was his first real taste of what having money and freedom felt like. No more being looked down on or treated like he didn’t belong. For the first time, he had control over his life, and tonight was just the beginning.Soon, the elevator glided to a smooth stop at the top floor, and with a soft ding, the doors slid open. Elijah stepped out into a quiet, dimly lit hallway lined with luxurious carpeting and framed artwork. Taking a deep breath, he walked down the hall, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Finally, he reached his suite door. With a quick swipe of the key card, the door unlocked with a satis
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A few minutes passed as Elijah and Felix sat quietly in the car, then Elijah’s phone buzzed. He picked it up and saw the same number calling back.He answered swiftly. “Hello?”The policeman’s voice came through. “Yes, Mr. Westbrook. We checked—someone named Damian Cresswell was indeed brought here. He’s been in the holding cell since yesterday. Actually, we’re about to proceed with his case today.”Elijah gave a slow nod. “Is your station head around?”“Yes, sir. He’s in his office now.”Elijah’s expression sharpened. “Alright, I’m coming around then.”Elijah hung up and glanced at Felix. “Confirmed. He’s there. Let’s go.”Sierra and Betty finally pulled into the bustling lot of one of the city’s largest and most luxurious shopping malls. Its wide entrance buzzing with people going in and out, arms full of bags.Sierra smoothly parked her new car, the engine purring to a stop as she turned the key and unbuckled her seatbelt.“Whew! This place looks packed,” Betty said, already eyeing
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Sierra drove for about twenty minutes, until she reached a busy street corner where Betty was already waiting, her phone in hand and her shades halfway down her nose. As soon as Sierra pulled up, Betty’s face lit up."Get in!" Sierra called with a grin, and Betty eagerly hopped into the passenger seat.The moment she settled in, Betty’s jaw dropped as she looked around the sleek, polished interior. “Wait—hold up. Whose car is this, Sierra?”“Mine,” Sierra said casually, one hand on the wheel, the other adjusting the music.“Yours?” Betty blinked in disbelief. “Ah, really? You bought a car?!”Sierra nodded with a small smile. “Yeah. Well… technically I paid like one percent of it. Elijah did the rest. He said it’s a gift.”Betty's mouth flew open. “What?! Elijah just gifted you a whole car? This is insane!” She ran her fingers along the dashboard, eyes wide. “This is so beautiful, my God. Girl, this interior? The smell? I feel like I should be paying rent just to sit in here.”Sierra l
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As Celestine pressed her lips to Elijah’s, he responded, his hands instinctively finding her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened—fierce, breathless.Elijah’s fingers trailed down, brushing the curve of her thigh before gripping it firmly, drawing her to him. Celestine let out a quiet breath against his lips, her body melting into his as his other hand slid up her back, steadying her. It was bold. Uncharted. Dangerous. And yet—neither of them pulled away.Celestine’s fingers curled around Elijah’s collar, tugging him closer as their lips met again—slower this time, more deliberate. Her breath hitched when his hand moved along her thigh, tracing the soft skin with a mixture of reverence and fire. She leaned into him, her body fitting against his like a puzzle piece long misplaced.“Elijah…” she whispered against his mouth, her voice unsteady yet wanting.He paused for a heartbeat, forehead resting against hers, eyes searching hers as if to confirm this wasn’t just adrenaline or
Chapter 226
Celestine’s eyes blazed as she snapped, “You idiots! Who said I would’ve even listened—been cool—if Elijah hadn’t asked me to hold back?” Her voice cut through the boardroom like a whip, her anger barely restrained.The men flinched, guilt and humiliation plastered across their faces.Elijah rose slowly, his calm presence regaining control of the room. He looked over each of them before speaking, voice steady and absolute.“Just as I promised,” he said, “you won’t be fired. You won’t be handed over to the police.”The board members exhaled in visible relief—too soon.“But,” Elijah continued, his tone sharpening, “there will be punishment. Return the million immediately—every dollar.”They nodded eagerly.“But for one full year,” Elijah said, “none of you will have any authority to interfere in company decisions. You’ll remain on the board, yes—but you’ll hold zero approval power. Think of it as being ghosts in the room. Present. But powerless.”They gasped.“This is too much,” one of
Chapter 225
It was the fourth man, the soft-spoken one who had claimed he only handled operations. His hand was raised stiffly, almost as if it pained him to do it. His voice cracked slightly, but there was no mistaking the words.“I’ll talk,” he repeated, eyes fixed on Elijah.The silence that followed was deafening.Elijah didn’t move, didn’t blink. He let the weight of the man’s confession sit heavy in the room for a heartbeat longer before slowly lowering the tablet to the table.“Good,” he said, his tone still calm. “Start talking.”The others gulped—visibly, audibly. One of them shifted in his seat. Another wiped at his brow, suddenly clammy. The room seemed to shrink around them as the man slowly stood, shoulders hunched beneath the weight of what he was about to reveal.He looked directly at Elijah, then at Celestine, whose expression remained carved from stone.“I—I’m sorry,” he began, voice trembling. “Please… don’t let Ms. Valencia send me to prison. I—I’ll tell the truth. All of it.”
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Elijah held up the tablet. “Profit’s down, but revenue’s steady. Someone’s hiding cash—or pocketing it. And it’s not her.”He turned the screen toward them, showing a flat revenue line against a dipping profit. “She boosted output, cut downtime, saved a merger—every move you blamed her for made you money. So why frame her? Covering a stash? Or just mad she’s in charge?”The board sat stunned, their answers twisting back to expose their own failures—or worse. Celestine’s gaze hardened, catching the implication.Elijah lowered the tablet, his gaze shifting from the board to Celestine. The room’s tension was a coiled spring. He met her eyes, voice steady and calm.“Ms. Valencia, shall I continue? Do you want me to find out where the missing one million is? Might get stressful, but if you want, I can stay here, demand every report printed, trace every source, dig until I see where it went. Just an hour.”Celestine’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flicking over the board before lo
Chapter 223
Every head snapped toward him. The board members, caught off guard, stared in unison, their eyes narrowing as they processed his sudden intrusion. The younger man, still clutching the tablet he’d slid toward Celestine, blinked rapidly, his fingers tightening on the device.The man with the glasses spoke first, his tone sharp and suspicious. “Why? What does he want with that?” He leaned forward, adjusting his frames as he scrutinized Elijah, his voice rising slightly. “Who even are you to ask for it? This is a board matter—private. You’ve got no business touching our reports.”The first man, fingers still hovering near his tie, chimed in, his brow furrowing. “Yeah, what’s this about? You’re not part of this discussion. If you’ve got something to say, say it—don’t just demand our data.”The fourth man, softer-spoken but now edgy, added, “This isn’t a free-for-all. What’s he going to do with it? We don’t even know why he’s here.”Celestine’s eyes flashed, and she raised a hand, her voic
Chapter 222
They hesitated. The first man responded again, carefully."There were additional logistics tied to new equipment, staffing expansions, and an upgraded IT infrastructure."Celestine didn’t look convinced."Then it should’ve been noted more clearly. The report lacks transparency.”She turned the last page slowly, then looked up."So, basically, this entire file is a mixture of carelessness, vague justifications, and missing pieces. And you’re handing it to me as proof of discrepancies in my father’s company?"No one said a word.Celestine leaned back slightly, her fingers tapping the file softly."I expected better from all of you.”Finally, the one who had adjusted his tie earlier, cleared his throat and leaned forward, his voice measured but tinged with a cautious edge. “Sorry to say this, Ms. Valencia, but… most of the recent mistakes here—they’re your fault.”Celestine’s eyes snapped to him, narrowing slightly. “My fault?” Her tone was sharp, incredulous, cutting through the room l
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The interior was stunning—wide glass panels, elegant lighting. Several workers moved about, men and women all dressed sharply, focused on their tasks. There was a calm yet purposeful energy in the air.Elijah leaned toward Felix and spoke in a low voice, “You’ll wait here. I’ll go in. When I’m done, I’ll come find you.” He tossed the Prado keys to him. “Be careful.”Felix caught the keys and gave a small nod. “Okay, brother.”Elijah continued with Celestine, heading toward a large frosted glass door guarded by security. As they approached, the security guard stepped aside and opened it for Celestine.“If you need me inside, just press the button, boss,” he said.Celestine nodded without a word and walked in, Elijah right behind her.As they walked in, Elijah took in the interior of the boardroom — a spacious, elegantly furnished room with a large round table in the center. Seated around it were five men, all dressed in sharp suits. Some had laptops open before them, others held tablet
