2025-02-05 23:53:40
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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 21
21The crowd was frozen, staring in stunned silence. All eyes shifted to Dylan, who hadn’t moved an inch. He raised an eyebrow, the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.“That would be me,” Dylan said coolly.The man’s reaction was immediate—and shocking. He straightened up as much as his heaving chest would allow, then bowed deeply at the waist, his voice trembling with respect and fear.“Mr. Dylan, I-I’m sorry for the delay. Please forgive me!”The crowd gasped as if they were watching a magician pull off an impossible trick. The middle-aged woman, Mrs. Carter, gawked at the scene unfolding in front of her, her jaw practically hitting the ground. Mrs. Parker, the teacher who’d just moments ago puffed herself up with false authority, blinked rapidly, her face flushing a deep crimson. The confident sneers they’d worn so proudly had evaporated into stunned silence.The man in the suit straightened up, his breathing still ragged, but his posture was all deference as he turned to Dylan
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22Mrs. Carter’s mouth hung open for a heartbeat before she snapped it shut with an audible click. Then, her voice rang out, sharp and shrill, cutting through the tense silence.“This is unfair!” she screeched, stomping her foot like a child throwing a tantrum. “You can’t just expel my son because this nobody says so! Who do you think you are?”Principal Thompson straightened, his face devoid of any sympathy. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority. “Mrs. Carter,” he said solemnly, “Mr. Dylan isn’t just anybody. He’s the new owner of this kindergarten. As of this morning, he has full authority over all administrative decisions—including staff terminations and student expulsions.”BOOM!The words hit the crowd like a bomb.A collective gasp echoed around the courtyard. Parents and teachers alike exchanged stunned glances, their previous mockery melting into wide-eyed disbelief. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the space, leaving only shock in its wake.“Wait…
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23Mrs. Carter’s phone buzzed violently in her trembling hand, the screen flashing with Husband Calling. For a brief moment, a smug grin flickered across her furious face. She snatched up the call, turning her back to the crowd with exaggerated flair, ready to unleash her fury.“Darling!” she snapped, her voice dripping with indignation. “You won’t believe what these people are doing to our son! That damn principal—”But she didn’t get the chance to finish.Her husband’s voice exploded through the speaker, loud enough for those nearest to her to hear. “What the hell did you do, Amanda?!”Mrs. Carter blinked, her mouth falling open in confusion. “W-What do you mean, what did I do? I’m telling you what they—”“I DON’T CARE!” he roared, his voice cracking with fury. “Do you have any idea who you’ve messed with? I just got fired from Luxe Dynamics! FIRED! Effective immediately! No explanation, no nothing! They said it was your fault!”The color drained from Mrs. Carter’s face faster than
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24Principal Thompson cleared his throat, trying to regain some semblance of control over the crowd, but even he couldn’t hide the slight tremor in his voice. “I believe this matter is settled,” he announced, though his eyes flickered nervously to Dylan, silently seeking confirmation.Dylan gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod, his expression still unreadable.Mr. Thompson glanced down at Mrs. Carter, who was still crumpled on the ground, and then at the brat, who was now hiccuping between sobs. “I suggest you both leave the premises immediately.”Mrs. Carter didn’t move. She just stared blankly at the ground, her mind clearly struggling to process the ruin that had unfolded in mere minutes.Mrs. Carter, still collapsed on the ground, suddenly let out a guttural sob. She snatched up her phone, her fingers trembling so badly she could barely hold it.“I’ll fix this!” she wailed, more to herself than anyone else. “I’ll fix this, I swear!” But her husband’s furious voice still echoed in
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25Once they were gone, the tension in the room seemed to lift—though unease still lingered.The teacher, Ms. Parker, still on the ground, clutched her clipboard tightly as her face drained of color. She looked up at Principal Thompson, her lips trembling. “Sir, please! I—I wasn’t part of this. I just… I just—”“You laughed along,” Dylan said smoothly, his tone devoid of sympathy.Ms. Parker’s breathing hitched. “I—I was just caught up in the moment! I didn’t mean any harm! Please, Mr. Dylan, I need this job—”Principal Thompson pinched the bridge of his nose, his exhaustion evident. “Guards,” he sighed, “escort her out as well.”“No! Wait!” Ms. Parker shrieked, scrambling to her knees. She reached desperately for Principal Thompson’s pant leg, but he took a step back, looking disgusted. “Please, I’ll do anything! I’ll apologize—I’ll—”Her pleas fell on deaf ears. The guards stepped forward, towering over her. One reached down, gripping her by the arm.She kicked and struggled, her cl
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26 As Molly disappeared into the school building with Principal Thompson, the crowd that had gathered outside the kindergarten courtyard finally began to disperse. Parents whispered among themselves, teachers exchanged uneasy glances, and some of the onlookers hurried away, eager to put distance between themselves and the scene that had just unfolded. Helen let out a slow breath, glancing around before turning to Dylan. “Well,” she said, attempting to sound casual, though her voice wavered slightly. “I guess we should leave too.” Dylan didn’t respond immediately. He stood still, his sharp gaze sweeping over the remaining people, ensuring that none of them dared to linger unnecessarily. His presence alone was enough to make them uneasy—like an unspoken command for them to move along. Helen shifted on her feet, stealing a glance at him. She had never seen him like this before—so powerful, so untouchable. It was one thing to know that Dylan had influence, but it was another to wit
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27Afternoon at the KindergartenDylan arrived at the kindergarten right on time. The moment he stepped out of his car, his sharp gaze scanned the playground. The children were running around, playing in groups, but his eyes immediately locked onto Molly.She was standing near the swings, chatting animatedly with another little girl. But the second she saw him, her face lit up like the brightest star in the sky.“Daddy!” Molly squealed, abandoning her conversation and sprinting toward him with all the energy in her tiny body.Dylan crouched down just in time to catch her as she flung herself into his arms. He lifted her effortlessly, holding her close. “Hey, princess. Did you have a good day?”Molly nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! Today was the best!”Dylan arched a brow, intrigued. “Oh? What made it so good?”Molly grinned widely. “Nobody asked about my mommy today. Nobody said I didn’t have one!”A strange mix of emotions stirred inside Dylan. Relief. Satisfaction. And an undeniable
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28Dylan grabbed a duffel bag from the small hallway closet and tossed in a few essentials—some of Molly’s clothes, her favorite stuffed bunny, and a couple of his own belongings. They hadn’t brought much when they moved here, and they were leaving with just as little.Molly, however, was bouncing excitedly around the apartment, gathering the things she deemed important. She hugged her bunny to her chest and ran back to Dylan.“Daddy! I got everything!”Dylan glanced at her tiny backpack, clearly overstuffed. He arched a brow. “You sure you don’t want to double-check?”Molly shook her head vigorously. “Nope! I got Mr. Hops, my drawing book, and the sparkly rock I found at the park!”Dylan smirked. “Well, as long as the sparkly rock made the cut.”Helen, who had been standing quietly near the door, cleared her throat. “The car’s waiting outside.”Dylan nodded, giving the apartment one last glance. The peeling wallpaper, the old couch, the tiny kitchen—it had served its purpose, but it
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99The tension between Dylan and Gregory was thick, like a storm that was about to break. Gregory, unwilling to back down, waved his lackeys over with a sharp gesture, barking, “Come on, get over here!”Reluctantly, the others hesitated for a brief moment. They had seen the situation spiral from a playful challenge to something more dangerous, and none of them wanted to be caught in the middle. But they had no choice; Gregory was their leader, and they had to follow his orders. One by one, they moved into position, forming a human barricade between Dylan and his car.Dylan watched them with a cold, unblinking stare, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. His knuckles were white, and the anger simmering beneath the surface was almost palpable. He exhaled sharply, debating whether to stay calm or just push them out of the way. He could easily force his way through. After all, this was his car, his time being wasted. But as his eyes flicked from one man to the next, his temper flared
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98 He leaned in slightly, trying to push the situation further. “That’s it? You’re just going to believe a security guard?” Gregory scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Just because he saw you park it doesn’t mean it’s yours, you know. You could’ve rented it for all we know.”Dylan’s smirk never faltered as he leaned in slightly, his eyes locking onto Gregory’s with cold intensity. “Well, let’s see about that.” Dylan didn’t waste a moment as he punched in a few digits on his phone, opening up the settings of the car’s system. With a swipe of his finger, the car’s personal settings appeared on the screen—details that were only available to the owner.Gregory’s cocky grin faltered for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “What are you doing?” he demanded, stepping closer. “You think that’s going to prove anything?”Dylan didn’t respond immediately, letting the silence hang in the air for a few seconds, building the tension. He tapped on the screen again, then slid his finger to
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97 Gregory swallowed, his eyes flicking to the other men, his bravado slipping away inch by inch. He could feel the heat of Dylan’s glare on him like a physical weight, and for the first time, he started to question just how far this confrontation might go. “Don’t move, Greg,” Allen said, his voice betraying his anxiety. “Maybe we should just… call it a day.” Gregory glanced at Allen, then at his other lackey, who seemed just as unsure now. For a moment, he looked back at Dylan, his chest heaving with the tension of the standoff. The grin was gone, replaced by something darker—something more calculating. “You’re not getting off that easy, Dylan. You still owe me an explanation.” Dylan’s eyes didn’t leave Gregory’s, his posture unyielding. “I don’t owe you anything, Gregory. I gave you everything you needed. You just refuse to see it.” The other lackey, who had been quiet up until now, let out a short, nervous laugh. “Maybe we should just… let him go, Greg. It’s not worth the tro
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96“Maybe you should get a hobby, Gregory. Or a life,” Dylan replied coolly, his words dripping with sarcasm. “Instead of worrying about what I’ve got, why don’t you focus on fixing the mess you’re in? Because trust me, it’s not looking good for you.”Gregory sneered at him, his thin lips pulling back to reveal a row of yellowed teeth. He narrowed his eyes, sizing up Dylan with a look of disdain. “Oh, I’ve got a life, alright. A better one than you. You think you can come in here and throw around your little threats, huh? You think you’ve got the upper hand?”Dylan shrugged, the motion casual, but there was something in his posture that screamed confidence. “What’s the matter, Gregory? Did you forget to pay off your connections? Or is it just that you’ve pissed off everyone who might actually give you a hand?”The wiry lackey, still holding his arms across his chest, glared at Dylan with renewed skepticism. “This whole thing’s ridiculous. You really think you can just roll up here and
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95 Gregory’s brain clicked back into place as he watched Dylan sit behind the wheel of the Ferrari, the engine purring to life as though it had always belonged to him. His mind raced, but his mouth was quicker to catch up.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Gregory sneered, his voice dripping with disbelief as he took a step forward, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “This is all a setup, isn’t it? There’s no way you’re actually driving this car. You must have stolen the keys from someone or some—”“Stolen?” Dylan interrupted, his voice biting through Gregory’s words like a razor-sharp edge. “You really think I’d steal a car like this just to mess with you? I don’t need to steal anything, Gregory. I’m doing just fine without having to sink that low.”Gregory scowled, his fists clenching at his sides. His lackeys, who had been standing frozen in stunned silence only moments ago, now began to murmur among themselves, their disbelief transforming into something more dangerous—skepticism.“Yea
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94Gregory blinked, a few more times than necessary, as if his brain was failing to catch up. “Wait… wait, wait. This is a joke. It has to be.” He scoffed, trying to muster his usual bravado. “No way that’s yours. That car’s gotta be rented or stolen. You’re still the same loser. You’re still broke as hell.”“Broke, huh?” Dylan’s voice had a dangerous edge, his lips curling into something far darker than the amused smirk he had worn earlier. “Do I look like someone who’s broke to you?”Gregory’s jaw tightened. “You’re playing games, Dylan. There’s no way you’re rolling in money. This is all some kind of con, right?”Dylan chuckled low in his throat. “If you don’t want to believe it, that’s fine. I’m not here to convince you.”One of the lackeys, the wiry guy with the crooked grin, stepped forward. His eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, studying Dylan closely. “I don’t buy it,” he said, voice hard and accusing. “You’re full of shit. You think you can just roll up here in some fancy
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93 Dylan sighed again, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “You do realize how pathetic this is, right?” Gregory’s smile twitched. “Pathetic? You still don’t get it, do you?” The shorter lackey snorted. “You must’ve really thought you could hide from us forever.” Dylan’s eyes flicked from one man to the other, his jaw tightening. “Ganging up on someone in a parking lot? Hoping for a reaction? What’s next, shoving me into a locker?” One of the lackeys scoffed. “You think this is funny?” Dylan shrugged. “A little.” Gregory’s expression soured, his patience finally running out. “You really don’t know when to shut up, do you?” The wiry lackey stepped up even closer, fingers twitching as if itching for a fight. “I think it’s time we show you how little you matter to us.” Dylan’s gaze flickered with cold amusement, waiting to see who would make the first move.Dylan rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the headache that was creeping up. Gregory’s voice grated on his nerves, a const
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92Dylan exhaled slowly, his breath steady as he neared the parking lot. The boutique’s exterior lights cast a dim glow across the pavement, stretching long shadows that flickered as cars passed on the nearby street. His car was just a few steps away. A quiet escape.But of course, things were never that easy.A low, familiar chuckle cut through the air. Dylan’s shoulders stiffened before he even turned his head. He already knew who it was.Gregory.The man lounged near the entrance of the boutique, flanked by three of his usual lackeys. Dressed in expensive but gaudy suits, they looked out of place standing on the pavement like a pack of hyenas waiting to pounce.Dylan had hoped to avoid them, to slip into his car unnoticed, but that hope was dashed the moment Gregory’s sharp voice rang out.“Well, well, well,” Gregory drawled, his smirk practically audible. “Look who’s here. The charlatan himself.”Dylan clenched his jaw but didn’t stop walking. He had no interest in engaging with G
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91Olivia heard the knock just as she was about to drift into her thoughts again.A firm, almost hesitant rapping against her door. She sat up, rubbing a hand down her face before calling out, “Yes?”“It’s Carmen, miss,” came the soft voice of the maid from the other side. “Your parents would like to see you in the dining room.”Olivia frowned, pushing off the bed. Her parents? Now?Her heart kicked up slightly. It had to be about earlier—the poisoning, Dylan, Lucas. Maybe even Odile. They wanted to talk.“Did they say why?” she asked, already making her way toward the door.“No, miss. Just that it was important.”“Alright. I’m coming.”She ran a hand through her hair, smoothing out the loose waves before heading downstairs. As she stepped into the dining room, her frown deepened.Lucas was already there.Seated at the long mahogany table, his arms folded across his chest, his expression dark. He barely spared her a glance.Zara and Lewis sat across from him, both with serious, unread
