2025-02-06 23:49:16
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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 22
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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29 Jane stormed into her office, slamming the door so hard that the glass panel rattled. The sharp sound echoed through the space, making Lisa flinch at her desk. Papers lay scattered across Jane’s desk—reports filled with nothing but bad news. Partnerships were crumbling, investors were withdrawing, and the Nelson family’s rejection was spreading like wildfire. Before Lisa could say a word, Jane’s phone rang, the harsh vibration making her stomach twist. She snatched it up, pressing it to her ear. “Jane Cooper speaking,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Ms. Cooper,” came a clipped male voice. “We’re officially withdrawing our investment from your company, effective immediately.” Jane’s breath hitched. “Wait, what? This—this is sudden. Let’s discuss this. I can assure you—” “There’s nothing to discuss,” the man cut in coldly. “Our board has made a unanimous decision. This is final.” Jane gripped the edge of her desk, her nails digging into the wood. “Please, ju
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86 Dylan’s voice broke the silence in the room, low and steady, carrying an air of gravity that seemed to weigh the walls down. “She’s been poisoned for over a month.” The words hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating everything around them. “The doses were small at first, but in the last three days, the amount has tripled.”Olivia’s pulse thudded in her ears as the room seemed to spin. Her stomach lurched. Poisoned? Her mind raced, trying to wrap around the idea, but it couldn’t seem to hold on to it. She stared at Dylan, her eyes wide in disbelief, her voice barely a whisper. “You mean someone… deliberately tried to kill her?”Dylan nodded gravely, his expression unreadable. His eyes locked with hers, and for the first time, Olivia saw the weight of the truth in them. “Not just her,” he added, his voice thick with the kind of pain that came from knowing too much. “You too, Olivia.”A sharp gasp escaped Olivia’s lips, and she staggered back a step. Her breath hitched, and she
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85Olivia’s pulse quickened as the pieces began to click together. She had noticed something—something about Lucas’s behavior had always seemed off, like he was hiding something, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it until now. She glanced at him, her voice trembling slightly. “Lucas… are you telling me you knew what was going on? You knew Odile was being poisoned, and you didn’t tell anyone?”Lucas’s eyes flared with a flash of anger, but there was also something else—a glimmer of guilt, a shadow of a deeper, darker truth. He shifted uncomfortably under Olivia’s gaze, and for the first time, Dylan saw him break.“Alright, fine,” Lucas muttered, his voice low, resigned. “I knew. But what was I supposed to do about it? I couldn’t exactly come out and say, ‘Hey, I think someone’s poisoning her,’ and look like an idiot.” He let out a bitter laugh, his eyes flitting to the floor. “You have no idea what it’s like, okay? How everyone looks at you when you’re the one who knows, but you
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84Lucas stood at the threshold of the room, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his face a mask of fury. The veins in his neck were visible as his breathing deepened with every passing second, and his eyes were narrowed, burning into Dylan. His lips were pressed into a thin, hard line. There was no relief, no sense of gratitude in his expression. Instead, there was a coldness, a distance, that sent a chill down Olivia’s spine.“Are you seriously standing there like everything is fine?” Olivia’s voice rang out, filled with a mix of confusion and growing concern. She rose from her seat, her hands clenched at her sides, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Lucas, this is a miracle! She’s alive. She’s healing, and you’re standing there looking like you’re about to explode. Can’t you see that?”Lucas didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. His gaze remained fixed firmly on Dylan, his jaw clenched so tight it seemed like his teeth might break. His posture was rigid, as though he were tryin
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83A few minutes later, a subtle transformation began to take place. Odile’s pale skin, which had been a sickly grayish hue, slowly regained color, returning to a more natural tone. Her lips, once a lifeless, blue-tinged shade, now blossomed into a soft, healthy pink. The change was unmistakable.The room fell silent as all eyes were drawn to Odile’s miraculous recovery. The tension in the air was thick with disbelief, awe, and confusion. Gasps echoed from every corner of the room, a collective sound of astonishment that seemed to reverberate off the walls.Olivia, still standing at the bedside, instinctively covered her mouth with her trembling hands. Her heart hammered in her chest, unsure of what she was seeing. Was this really happening? She couldn’t fathom how Dylan, the quiet, unassuming figure, had achieved what none of the world’s best doctors had been able to. Her eyes never left Odile as the little girl breathing grew even steadier, and a faint color returned to her cheeks.
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82Dylan took a deep breath, his focus sharp as he prepared for the delicate procedure. He had already sterilized the tools and set the teapot near the edge of the table. With a steady hand, he grabbed a scalpel and made a precise cut along the side of Odile’s neck, just beneath her jawline. The incision was shallow, but it was enough to allow for the leech to do its work.“Hold still,” Dylan murmured, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. He gently wiped the blood from the wound, ensuring it wouldn’t interfere with the procedure.Olivia stood frozen, her eyes wide with worry as she watched him work. Zara, standing just beside her, couldn’t tear her gaze away either, her hand clutching Olivia’s arm in a grip that spoke of her anxiety.Once the cut was made, Dylan reached for the teapot, where the leech had been soaking. He removed it carefully, the creature curling slightly as it was lifted from the hot water. It had been prepared just so, its temperature now perfect
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81 Carmen, who had been hovering near the door, nodded quickly and hurried off without a word. Olivia’s attention shifted back to Zara, who was still standing by the foot of the bed, her face pale and troubled. “You heard him, right mom?” Olivia said, her voice low and serious. “Do you understand what’s at stake here?” Zara nodded, though she didn’t look convinced. “I don’t know, Olivia. I just… this feels wrong. I mean, a leech?” “I don’t care what it feels like,” Olivia shot back, her eyes flashing with a sharpness that sent a chill down her mother’s spine. “We’re doing this because Odile is in danger. Don’t forget that. Now, help Carmen if you can, or just wait here. But we need to get everything.” Zara nodded again, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Olivia talk to me with respect!” She yelled furiously then calmed down and said, “Okay, I’ll go check with the maids. But this… it’s all so strange.” Olivia’s gaze softened for a moment, a hint of weariness in her eyes. “I kn
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80Dylan stood up straight, his gaze never leaving Odile’s frail body. His thoughts raced as he took in the subtle details—her pallor, the faint tremors in her hands, the slight sheen of sweat on her forehead. Every part of him screamed that something was wrong, something far worse than just a sickness. Poison. His instincts had never failed him before, but this time, the stakes were higher than they had ever been.“Right,” Dylan said, his voice cool, controlled, but laced with urgency. “I need you all to listen closely. We need to gather a few things.” He turned toward Olivia, his voice becoming firmer. “I need a list of anything that could have come into contact with her in the last few days. Things that might have been… tainted.”Olivia looked at him, her brows furrowing in confusion. “Tainted? What do you mean?”Dylan’s gaze flicked from Odile back to Olivia. “Anything unusual, anything that could have been laced with poison. I need you to think, Olivia. Everything. And I mean eve
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79Dylan approached the bed where Odile lay, his expression unreadable but his movements careful, deliberate. The dim lighting cast deep shadows under his eyes, making him look even more exhausted than he already was. But there was no time for fatigue now.Odile was small, frail—too pale. Her breathing was shallow, her lips almost colorless. Something about her reminded Dylan of his daughter, Molly, and for a brief moment, his chest tightened with something dangerously close to grief.He needed to save her, she was just like Molly and he couldn’t let her die. No way!But he shoved that feeling aside. He needed clarity, focus.Dr. Everett was already unpacking his instruments, his hands steady as he lined up the medical supplies on the small wooden table beside the bed. The faint clink of glass vials filled the silence, accompanied by the soft rustling of bandages. Dylan barely noticed. His focus was on Odile.He reached for her wrist, his fingers pressing lightly against her skin. Wea
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78The silence stretched unbearably, thick with unspoken words and the weight of pride that had long divided them. Olivia could barely breathe under its pressure, but she refused to break. Not now. Not when everything was at stake.Dylan still hadn’t answered. His sharp eyes swept over them, taking in every detail—the tension in Lewis’s stiff posture, Zara’s trembling fingers as they clutched her dress, Lucas’s rigid stance, his barely restrained fury. And Olivia—standing in the center of it all, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, her eyes pleading yet unwavering.Seconds passed. Each one felt like an eternity.Then, finally, Dylan spoke.“Very well.”Relief crashed over Olivia like a tidal wave, so intense that her knees nearly buckled. Zara let out a sharp exhale, gripping Lewis’s arm for support. Lewis, who had fought against this more than anyone, closed his eyes, the last of his stubbornness unraveling.But Lucas—“You’ll regret this,” he muttered darkly, his voice
