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 looking at the face of General Marcus Steel, the man whose poster loomed over the city, whose name everyone whispered with respect, and—could he really be my father?** The man tilted his head slightly, studying Elijah through the camera. "You don’t believe me, do you?" Elijah didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His mind was still reeling from the shock. His hands shook as he held the phone, trying to piece together what he was seeing. This has to be a trick. It has to be. But the man on the screen smiled faintly, though his eyes remained serious. "I understand. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t believe it either." His voice was low, calming, almost soothing. "But Elijah, it’s me. It’s really me. I’ve waited for this moment for years.” Elijah blinked, finally breaking his stunned silence. The name rang in his ears like a bell. This was the man whose face was plastered on posters, the man whose power loomed over entire nations. And now he claims to be his father? His father? Elijah’s grip on the phone tightened, knuckles white. His voice was barely a whisper. "You... you’re Marcus Steel?” "You... you’re Marcus Steel?" The man nodded, but there was a trace of sorrow in his expression. "Yes. I’m your father.” Elijah’s grip on the phone tightened, his knuckles white. His chest ached from the whirlwind of emotions tearing through him—anger, disbelief, hope, confusion. "No. This... this can’t be real," Elijah said, his voice cracking. "My parents are dead. He stared at the screen, his heart racing and mind swirling. He had grown up in an orphanage, surrounded by the laughter of other children and the comforting chaos of a makeshift family. But those memories were bittersweet—filled with longing and the ache of knowing he had no parents to call his own. He remembered the creaky old beds, the scent of the shared kitchen, and the kind-hearted but overwhelmed staff who did their best to care for dozens of kids. Every birthday, he would watch the other children receive letters or visits from their families, while he was left wondering who his parents were. The thought of having a father—a real father—felt like a distant dream. “How could you say you’re my dad?” Elijah blurted, struggling to reconcile the man on the screen with the reality he had lived. “I’ve never had parents. I grew up as an orphan. I’ve been told my whole life that I had no one. So how can you just suddenly appear and claim to be my father?” His voice cracked slightly, the pain of his past surfacing as he fought against the rush of emotions. Was it possible? The man before him had the power and stature that everyone admired, but could he really be his father?” The General's expression softened as he gazed into the camera, sensing Elijah's turmoil. “There are a whole lot of things your mom and I need to explain to you, Elijah, but for now, there's no time.” Elijah stared at the screen, still reeling from the revelation. “My mother?” he echoed, his heart racing. “Yes,” General Marcus Steel confirmed, nodding. “Your biological mother. There are a whole lot of things your mom and I need to explain to you, but for now, there’s no time.” Wow! Elijah couldn’t even form a coherent thought. It felt surreal—like a dream where a celebrity suddenly calls you up, claiming you’re related to them. A part of him wanted to scream with disbelief, but another part—a deeper part—was filled with a flicker of hope. The possibility of having wealthy parents who could have given him a life free from the struggles of the orphanage was staggering. Why, then, had he grown up in that place? Seeing the confusion etched on Elijah’s face, the General continued, “You shouldn’t think too much about it right now, son. But you’re 21 now, and it’s time to break the restrictions we placed on you.” “Restrictions? What restrictions?” Elijah asked, his brow furrowing. “Restrictions on your knowledge and on your life,” the General explained. “Now that you’re 21, you’re finally mature enough to handle things. You don’t need to continue living the kind of life you’ve been living—the hardship, the struggles. I would have sent a private jet to pick you up, but right now, I can’t do that due to some pressing matters at hand. However, I do have a well-prepared gift for you.” “A gift?” Elijah repeated, still trying to catch up with the whirlwind of information. “What gift?” The General smiled, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. “Something that will change your life, son. I promise.” Elijah's eyes widened in disbelief. “What could that be?” he asked, trying to wrap his mind around the situation. “Why not let us do this, son?” General Marcus Steel suggested with an encouraging smile. ““Name your price, son,” he said with quiet confidence. “Whatever you need, I’ll make it happen.” “What?” Elijah asked again, almost incredulously, as if he hadn’t heard clearly. The General nodded, his expression serious yet warm. “Yes, any amount. Just mention it, and Daddy will give it to you as a gift.” Elijah shook his head in disbelief. “Me? Amount of money I want?” The weight of those words hung in the air, and his heart raced. He felt like he was living in a fantasy, yet the reality was overwhelming. “Are you serious?” “Absolutely,” the General replied, his tone reassuring. “You deserve it, son. Just tell me the amount.” Elijah took a deep breath, his mind racing. The hardships he had faced suddenly felt surreal. The thought of having a safety net, of no longer needing to struggle for every penny, was intoxicating. "I... I don’t know,” he stammered, still grappling with the magnitude of the situation. “How much should I even ask for?” The General laughed, a deep, rich sound that filled the air. “Alright, how about I give you a million dollars for a start?” he proposed, a hint of pride in his voice. “I’ll give you more later once you’re done using up this.” “What? A what?. Gulp!” He swallowed hard. A million dollars? The words echoed in his mind, each syllable hammering against the walls of his disbelief. Are you serious?” His heart raced with excitement and disbelief. The sum seemed astronomical, almost too good to be true. “You really mean it?”
“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
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
As the app loaded, he spotted a live video that immediately caught his eye. He clicked on it, and in an instant, the face and voice of Sierra Lane filled his screen. Her voice, rich and velvety, seemed to pour out of the phone, captivating him entirely.Sierra Lane, the TikTok sensation with a voice like no other. In her early twenties, she’d already gathered millions of followers who couldn’t get enough of her soulful performances. Sierra herself was striking, with long, wavy hair cascading down her shoulders, framing her expressive face. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she sang, and she wore a comfortable yet stylish outfit, perfect for her laid-back yet engaging vibe. Her talent wasn’t just in the smoothness of her voice but the warmth she brought with each note, making every live session feel like an intimate, personal concert. The walls were adorned with a few colorful posters of her favorite artists, and various musical instruments were scattered around—a guitar leaned c
As Sierra finished her song, she glanced down at the comments, hoping to see another message from FlibbityBoo. Her smile faltered just slightly when she noticed that he was no longer watching the live. A small pang of disappointment hit her—she had hoped he would stay long enough for her to thank him properly or maybe chat a bit more. Still, she couldn’t help but beam with joy over the incredible support he had shown.Turning back to the screen, she spoke to her audience, her voice full of excitement. “Wow, I honestly can’t believe tonight! FlibbityBoo, if you’re still watching somehow, thank you again. You really made my night—no, you made my whole week!”….Elijah checked the time on his phone—it had already been 25 minutes, and he was starting to feel his stomach rumble. He was just about to lay down on the bed to wait a little longer when the doorbell suddenly rang."They’re here already?" he murmured, pleasantly surprised. He quickly walked over to the door, expecting to see a t
The woman looked down and gently placed a hand on her daughter’s head. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. She’s my daughter. She wanted to come along, but if this is a disturbance, I can send her back…” “No, no,” Elijah quickly shook his head with a reassuring smile. Then, he crouched a bit to speak to the little girl directly. “Hey there, little one. It’s almost one in the morning—shouldn’t you be asleep by now? Don’t you have school tomorrow?” The young girl looked up at her mother for a moment, then back at Elijah, her tiny voice both sweet and determined as she replied, “I already had enough sleep.” Her voice was adorable, and it made Elijah chuckle. He nodded approvingly, amused by her steady answer. “Alright, then. You’re a tough one.” With a welcoming gesture, he invited everyone in. They made their way to the terrace. When they reached the terrace, the woman looked up at Elijah with a friendly smile. “What’s your name, sir?” Elijah returned her smile warmly. “I’m Elijah Westbr