2025-02-13 23:55:00
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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 31
31Jane tapped her screen, opening her social media app. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, crafting the perfect post:Jane Cooper:"Betrayal cuts the deepest when it comes from someone you once trusted. After years of sacrifice, I was on the verge of securing the biggest deal of my career—until my ex-husband, Dylan, ruined everything out of petty jealousy. He couldn’t handle my success, so he made sure I lost it all. Some men just can’t stand to see a woman rise above them."She paused, rereading the words. They were strong, but they weren’t enough. She needed to twist the knife deeper. With a wicked gleam in her eyes, she continued:"And while I’ve been rebuilding from the damage he caused, he’s been doing just fine—thanks to Helen Nelson’s generosity. It’s funny, isn’t it? Some men will do anything to avoid earning their own way in life."Lisa let out a low whistle. “Savage. I love it.”Jane stared at the post for a moment longer, then, with a satisfied smirk, hit Post.The mome
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32 On the Other Side of the City… Mr. Nelson leaned back in his grand leather chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the mahogany desk. The city skyline stretched behind him, the lights twinkling in the night like scattered stars. He had barely hung up with Helen when he pressed a button on the intercom. “Charles,” he said, his voice cool but commanding. Within seconds, the heavy double doors swung open, and Charles Emerson, his sharp-eyed young butler, stepped inside. Dressed in a crisp black suit, the man in his early thirties carried himself with effortless precision. His neatly styled dark hair and piercing gaze gave him an air of quiet competence. He inclined his head slightly. “Yes, sir?” Mr. Nelson turned the phone screen toward him, showing Jane’s post and the firestorm it had ignited. “Get this post off the internet. Now.” Charles adjusted his cufflinks, scanning the words swiftly. “I’ll have my contacts work on it immediately, sir.” Mr. Nelson’s eyes darken
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33Lisa slammed her glass down on the table, ice clinking violently against the sides. “No way,” she hissed, snatching her phone back and refreshing the page over and over again.Jane leaned in, her expression darkening. “Try searching it up. Maybe it’s just a glitch.”Lisa’s fingers moved fast, typing keywords into the search bar. Nothing. It was as if their entire post—and the storm it had created—had never existed.Her jaw tightened. “This isn’t a glitch, Jane. Someone took it down.”Jane’s lips curled into a sneer. “Took it down? Who the hell has that kind of power?”Lisa exhaled sharply, setting her phone aside as she reached for her drink again. “I don’t know, but if Dylan had anything to do with this, then he’s got some serious connections.”Jane scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, please, Lisa. Don’t be foolish. Dylan? Powerful connections? The guy’s a joke. You really think he’s capable of pulling something like this off?”Lisa hesitated, the memory of that night at Jane’s place
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34The Next Morning…Sunlight streamed through the villa’s expansive windows, casting warm golden streaks across the polished marble floor. The air carried a serene stillness, disturbed only by the distant chirping of birds and the occasional rustle of leaves outside.Dylan stirred on the couch, his back stiff and aching from a restless night. Sleep had barely touched him—Jane’s betrayal, the online scandal, and the endless thoughts swirling in his mind had kept him awake. He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face before finally pushing himself up. His throat felt dry.Water. I need water.As he took a step toward the kitchen, he heard heavy footsteps approaching.“Hey—”Before he could finish, a sharp, authoritative voice sliced through the air.“Stop right there!”Dylan’s head snapped up. Standing at the entrance of the living room were two of the villa’s security guards, both looking at him like he was a criminal caught in the act.The taller of the two, a broad-shouldered
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35The door creaked open.All three men froze.A small, sleepy voice broke the tense silence.“Daddy?”Dylan turned sharply, his heart twisting at the sight of his four-year-old daughter, Molly, standing at the top of the staircase. She was still in her pink pajamas, her curly hair a messy halo around her head, and she rubbed her eyes with tiny fists.The guards exchanged confused glances.Molly pouted, her little brows furrowing. “Daddy, why are you yelling?” She clumsily made her way down the stairs, her bare feet padding against the wooden steps.Dylan exhaled sharply, his frustration melting into concern. He didn’t want her waking up to this nonsense.“Molly, baby, go back to bed,” he said gently, forcing his voice to remain calm.But Molly was already making her way toward him. She latched onto his leg, looking up at the two guards with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.“Who are these men, Daddy?” she asked, blinking up at them.The younger guard stiffened, glancing between Dylan
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36Molly huffed, pointing an accusing finger at them. “I told you!”The younger guard stammered, his cocky attitude gone. “W-We didn’t know—”“You didn’t listen.” Dylan’s voice was sharp, his patience long gone.Helen’s eyes flashed with irritation. She crossed her arms and gave the guards a cold stare. “Apologize. To both of them.”The older guard’s jaw clenched, but he swallowed his pride. “Mr. Grenville we’re sorry.”The younger one hesitated, then turned to Molly, his face red with embarrassment. “Kid, uh—Molly—we’re really sorry. We were wrong.”Molly tilted her head, unimpressed. “You were mean.”The younger guard flinched. “Yeah… yeah, we were.”Helen nodded, then took a step closer. “Now beg.”Their eyes widened. “What?” the older guard blurted.Helen arched a brow. “Did I stutter? You almost threw your boss and his four-year-old daughter out of their own house. If you want to keep your jobs, you better start groveling.”The younger guard’s face paled. He exchanged a panicked
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37Dragonia’s ReturnDylan leaned against the sleek red Ferrari, his arms crossed as he watched Helen walk Molly into the school. His daughter turned back one last time, her bright eyes lighting up as she waved at him. He waved back, a warm smile on his face, playing the part of the doting father.But the moment Helen’s car disappeared down the street, his smile faded. The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating glint. The playful father was gone.The man the world once feared had returned.He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out an old phone he put there when entering the car. It was a simple, unassuming black device, one he hadn’t touched in years. A phone that was never meant for casual use. It carried only one purpose: business. His business.Dylan pressed a familiar number. He hadn’t dialed it in years, but his fingers moved without hesitation. Muscle memory.The line rang once.Twice.Then—A sharp intake of breath. The sound of a chair scraping
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38But before he could face his old comrades, he needed to look the part. Years of blending in had left his wardrobe uninspiring. If he was going to reestablish dominance, he had to start with presence.His eyes landed on an upscale boutique, its sleek glass windows showcasing perfectly tailored suits, each one exuding power and refinement. Without hesitation, he pulled up in front of it and stepped out.The moment he walked in, the atmosphere shifted.The soft hum of polite conversation stilled for a brief second before resuming in hushed whispers. Dylan’s sharp gaze flicked around the room, taking in the subtle yet unmistakable expressions of disdain.The salesmen, dressed in pristine suits, gave him a once-over, their smiles practiced but unimpressed. The customers, clad in designer brands from head to toe, openly stared, some even nudging their companions to whisper behind manicured hands.“Did he lose his way?” a woman muttered, eyeing his simple jeans and leather jacket as if th
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65Lucas scoffed, clearly irritated with the tension in the room. His voice dripped with sarcasm as he took a step forward, crossing his arms over his chest. “This is getting ridiculous,” he said, his eyes narrowing at Dylan. “You seriously expect us to buy into this nonsense about poisoning? You’re making a fool of yourself.”Dylan’s gaze shifted toward Lucas, his expression unwavering. “I’m not here to entertain your delusions, Lucas. You should start thinking about who’s actually telling the truth here.” He gestured to Bernard, who was still standing rigid, refusing to speak.Lucas scoffed again. “So now you’re the expert? What, you’ve got a PhD in medical deception too?” His smirk was obnoxious, clearly mocking Dylan’s words.“I don’t need a PhD to see a damn lie when it’s staring me in the face,” Dylan snapped back, stepping closer to Bernard, his eyes never leaving him. “It’s about time you stop lying, Bernard. It’s time to face the truth.”Zara, who had been quietly observing t
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64Lucas scoffed, clearly irritated with the tension in the room. His voice dripped with sarcasm as he took a step forward, crossing his arms over his chest. “This is getting ridiculous,” he said, his eyes narrowing at Dylan. “You seriously expect us to buy into this nonsense about poisoning? You’re making a fool of yourself.”Dylan’s gaze shifted toward Lucas, his expression unwavering. “I’m not here to entertain your delusions, Lucas. You should start thinking about who’s actually telling the truth here.” He gestured to Bernard, who was still standing rigid, refusing to speak.Lucas scoffed again. “So now you’re the expert? What, you’ve got a PhD in medical deception too?” His smirk was obnoxious, clearly mocking Dylan’s words.“I don’t need a PhD to see a damn lie when it’s staring me in the face,” Dylan snapped back, stepping closer to Bernard, his eyes never leaving him. “It’s about time you stop lying, Bernard. It’s time to face the truth.”Zara, who had been quietly observing t
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63 Lucas scoffed, clearly irritated with the tension in the room. His voice dripped with sarcasm as he took a step forward, crossing his arms over his chest. “This is getting ridiculous,” he said, his eyes narrowing at Dylan. “You seriously expect us to buy into this nonsense about poisoning? You’re making a fool of yourself.”Dylan’s gaze shifted toward Lucas, his expression unwavering. “I’m not here to entertain your delusions, Lucas. You should start thinking about who’s actually telling the truth here.” He gestured to Bernard, who was still standing rigid, refusing to speak.Lucas scoffed again. “So now you’re the expert? What, you’ve got a PhD in medical deception too?” His smirk was obnoxious, clearly mocking Dylan’s words.“I don’t need a PhD to see a damn lie when it’s staring me in the face,” Dylan snapped back, stepping closer to Bernard, his eyes never leaving him. “It’s about time you stop lying, Bernard. It’s time to face the truth.”Zara, who had been quietly observing
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62 Dylan exhaled sharply, his eyes never leaving Bernard’s. He could feel the weight of the silence pressing down on him, but his voice cut through it like a blade. “What’s her blood pressure?” he asked, his tone cold and deliberate.Bernard faltered for a moment, his eyes darting to Olivia, to the syringe in his hand, and then back to Dylan. “It’s… it’s—”Dylan didn’t wait for him to finish. “Wrong. You didn’t even check.” He took a step forward, his presence closing in like a storm. “Tell me, doctor. How do you treat poisoning?”Bernard’s face twisted with frustration, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he clenched his jaw, gripping the syringe tighter as if it would somehow anchor him in this increasingly tense situation.Olivia’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide as she turned to Dylan, her voice trembling. “Wait… poisoning? Dylan, you said—”Dylan didn’t look at her. His eyes were locked on Bernard, and his voice was unwavering. “Yes. Poisoning. And you don’t even know how
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61Bernard scoffed, a dismissive sneer twisting his lips. “You really think you know better than me, kid?” He waved a hand in the air, as if brushing aside Dylan’s concerns like they were nothing. “You’re clearly just an ignorant fool who thinks he’s got the answers. Stick to whatever it is you’re good at, and leave the medical stuff to professionals.”Dylan’s nostrils flared, but before he could retort, Lewis stepped forward, his jaw tight and eyes narrowing into a glare. “This is a doctor, boy,” he spat, voice laced with authority. “You don’t get to question him. He’s here to help, not play some game with you.”Lucas, leaning casually against the wall, let out a dry chuckle, folding his arms smugly. “See? You’re nothing but a know-it-all idiot,” he added, voice oozing with condescension. “Stay in your lane, Dylan. You have no clue what you’re talking about.” His grin widened, and Dylan couldn’t shake the feeling that the guy was enjoying this—like he was egging Bernard on.That alon
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60 Bernard’s hand hovered over Odile’s arm, the syringe in his grip steady—too steady, as if he had done this a thousand times. But Dylan’s sharp gaze caught something others might have missed. A fraction of hesitation. It was small, just a split-second pause before Bernard reached for another vial. He unscrewed the cap, preparing to mix it with the first one in the syringe, but his movements weren’t as fluid as before. His fingers fumbled slightly, and Dylan noticed how he barely glanced at the labels. Dylan’s jaw clenched. No real doctor would be this careless. Olivia, who had been standing beside Odile’s bed, wrung her hands together. “Will this make her fever go down fast?” Her voice was laced with hope and fear. Bernard smiled, but Dylan caught how forced it looked. “Of course. She should feel better in no time.” Lewis nodded, relief washing over his face. Zara, though still tense, didn’t protest further. But Dylan couldn’t ignore the growing unease coiling in his gut. He
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59 Dylan let go of the door handle, quietly stepping back as the attention in the room shifted entirely to Dr. Caldwell. If they were too busy fawning over him to notice, he wasn’t about to leave just yet. His gut told him to stay.The arrival of this so-called doctor had shifted the room’s tension, and for the first time, Lewis and Zara’s confidence wavered. He wasn’t about to walk out just yet.He turned slightly, his sharp gaze locked on Dr. Caldwell, watching every move the man made. Something about him didn’t sit right. The way his eyes flickered too quickly over the room, the smoothness in his voice—it felt too rehearsed, too convenient.Zara, arms still crossed, narrowed her eyes. “Dr. Everett has never mentioned having a replacement. Why would he send someone we don’t know without informing us first?”Dr. Caldwell smiled, unfazed. “I understand your concern, truly. But emergencies happen, and doctors must be flexible. Dr. Everett knew your daughter needed immediate attention,
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58 Dylan’s fists clenched at his sides, his patience hanging by a thread. Every second wasted on this pointless argument was another second closer to Odile’s death, and these people—her own family—were too blinded by arrogance to see it. Lucas folded his arms, his smirk widening. “And if you’re wrong?” Before Dylan could answer, Zara’s sharp voice cut through the room like a blade. “Whether he’s right or wrong, we don’t care.” Dylan’s jaw tightened, his emerald eyes burning with frustration. “What?” Zara stepped forward, her expression filled with disdain. “You heard me. You’re nothing but a pathetic amateur, a charlatan scammer trying to weasel your way into our family’s business. Do you think we’re fools? Do you think we’d let some random nobody dictate what happens to our daughter?” Dylan let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Are you serious? You’d rather let her die than take a chance?” Lewis, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke, his voice dripping with authority.
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57 Dylan’s muscles tensed, a storm brewing inside him. He had no doubt Lucas would follow through on his threat. The guy reeked of privilege and unchecked confidence—the kind of person who always got his way, no matter the cost. But Dylan wasn’t about to back down. Olivia’s breathing was ragged, her head snapping between the two men, panic flashing across her face. “Lucas, stop this! Dylan is the only person who can help Odile right now!” Lewis crossed his arms, unimpressed. “And why should we believe that?” Olivia turned to her father, her voice rising. “Because I felt it, Dad! When I was dying, I felt his power. It wasn’t a trick, it wasn’t some coincidence—he saved me!” Lucas scoffed, shaking his head. “Sounds like desperation talking.” Olivia’s eyes burned with frustration. “It’s the truth!” Dylan took a deep breath, his anger threatening to boil over. “Look,” he said, voice tight, “I don’t care what any of you think of me. But Odile is dying. And if you let that happen b
