Cordelia nodded and said, "Sure, Irene. You can join me. Anyone else?"A couple more students eagerly volunteered to join Cordelia in her car, leaving Benjamin feeling a bit annoyed but not expressing it. At the end, Cordelia only chose one person among to join Azuka. Taking a look at Benjamin, Cordelia could see the frown on his face, so she asked, "Benjamin, is everything alright?"Benjamin nodded and replied, "I'm fine," but he continued giving Cordelia some light frowns.Cordelia shook her head and said, "You'll also join me in the car, making three. The rest, please use the school bus.”"Okay, Ms. We'll do that," they all responded. Everyone picked up their bags and walked out of the classroom.Now left with Benjamin, Irene, and the other lady, Cordelia suggested, "Let's go out now. We'll move when the buses start to move."Irene nodded, and they walked out with the other lady, Cordelia following. Benjamin quickened his steps and whispered, "Why did you have to let Irene even j
"Wow, Maverick came with his girlfriend.""Aww, she's looking beautiful. Money is good.”Dorothy walked forward, radiating confidence in her stylish swimming costume. With each step, she shook off any trace of doubt, carrying herself with pride. The whispers only fueled her confidence, and she wore a proud smile. Benjamin had been staring at both of them amusingly. "He's able to live a luxury lifestyle because of me. He should thank God because the day I strike and take the hotel, he'll go to trenches," he thought with a smile.At that moment, Maverick and Dorothy walked forward and noticed Benjamin, prompting frowns from both."So, this shameless guy is still alive?" Dorothy chuckled at Benjamin, but he chose not to reply.She continued, smiling, "Have you seen my boyfriend's new car? Something I would have never felt if I was with you. Hahaha."Her words elicited laughter among those who heard, especially those present during the night of Maverick's proposal. They understood the co
Cordelia shook her head, hugging Benjamin tightly in front of everyone. "Please don't do this, please," she pleaded, holding onto Benjamin's hand.Benjamin's heart calmed instantly, and he nodded in agreement. Cordelia turned towards the sports teacher, asserting, "Stop this. You're too old for this. Why will you be fighting with a student?" The sports teacher stopped and sneered, saying, "What do you mean, Ms. Winslow? Were you not present when he hit me? Didn't you see it?" he asked angrily."Of course, didn't you hit him first? You hit him, he told you to stop, not hitting you. You didn't stop and hit him a second time. He still asked you to stop, and you hit him again, making him spit blood. You still didn't stop and called him a bastard, cursing that his mother didn't train him well. If I may ask, is that a good thing to do as a teacher?" Cordelia also asked coldly.The sports teacher was stunned. "So, you're defending a mere student over your colleague teacher?" he asked."Of
Cordelia walked away. Five teachers and five students came forward; they were the ones in the swimming competition. Both Cordelia and the sports teacher were included in the competition – three male teachers and two female teachers, the same as the students.The students started changing into their swimming costumes. The two male teachers headed towards the beach hut to change, creating a brief pause in the anticipation. After they returned, Cordelia and the other madam also entered the hut, leaving everyone waiting for their turn.The suspense heightened until, finally, both Cordelia and the madam walked out. A collective gasp echoed across the beach as all eyes widened, especially Cordelia's.Cordelia had changed into a vibrant swimsuit that accentuated her figure. The fabric draped elegantly across her frame, revealing a tasteful blend of confidence and grace. The swimsuit, adorned with a floral pattern, showcased her beautiful thighs, adding to the allure of her beach-ready look.
"What? A shark?" The exclamation rippled through the crowd as everyone's attention focused on the area where the teachers and students were swimming. To their surprise and dismay, a shark, its fin gracefully cutting through the water, was slowly gliding towards the unsuspecting group."No, this is bad. It's near them. Let's alert them," someone urgently suggested. In an instant, a wave of concern swept through the onlookers, and a collective decision was made to warn Cordelia and the rest."Shark! Shark! Get out of the water!""Guys, there's a shark, swim back!""Cordelia, look out! Shark alert!""Everyone, back to the shore, there's a shark!"The panicked screams echoed across the beach, a chorus of urgent warnings as the students desperately tried to alert Cordelia and the teachers to the looming danger in the water.Despite the frantic warnings and screams from the students on the shore, the urgent alerts couldn't reach the ears of the swimmers in the middle of the water. The dista
"Is he trying to be a hero or something?""He's going to regret this. Sharks are no joke.""He's going to get himself killed. What a foolish move.”Unfazed by the skeptical comments, Benjamin continued his determined run towards the water. The echoes of doubt and mockery faded into the background as his singular focus remained on reaching Cordelia.Meanwhile, the others had successfully reached the shore, their escape from the looming danger almost complete. However, Cordelia, still in the water, struggled with each stroke as fatigue took its toll, her once agile swimming slowing with every passing minute. Splash!” Benjamin threw himself into the water immediately he got close. The moment Benjamin threw himself into the water, it became apparent that he lacked the proficiency in swimming. Panic gripped him as he floundered, struggling to stay afloat.Wow!” Everyone was surprised seeing what was happening to Benjamin. "Is he serious? He can't even swim!""This is like a comedy show.
Gasps and terrified whispers spread through the onlookers as the shark approached Cordelia, its jaws poised to strike."Oh no, someone has to do something!"I can't watch this, it's too much!""Benjamin, please do something!""Ms. Winslow, be careful!""Is there no one to help her?!”Cordelia who knew there was nothing she could do finally took a last sad look at Benjamin before she closed her eyes waiting for what was going to happen. The shark was about to finally take its first bite when Benjamin, who had gotten forward, pulled Cordelia with great force.Gap! The shark closed its jaws, missing Cordelia.Boom! Benjamin didn't waste time and delivered two strong blows with his strength to the shark.Awww! The shark screamed, feeling the pain.Bang! Turning around, Benjamin kicked the shark with all his might.Wow!”Whispers among the students filled the air with admiration for Benjamin's unexpected bravery, especially from the business students who found pride in his resilience."Di
Cordelia covered her mouth, shaking her head as she uttered, "No, no, nothing will happen, as long as there's no blood, Benjamin is fine." She struggled to maintain composure. As students around her started whispering, suggesting the worst, Cordelia couldn't bear the negativity.Attempting to silence the pessimistic voices, Cordelia lashed out, "Shut up! Don't you have a sense of reasoning? How can you wish for death for your fellow student? Are you alright?" The students fell silent under her stern gaze.As the sports teacher tried to assert his perspective, Cordelia interrupted with a mocking clap. "Clap for yourself, sir. Can you hear yourself? Aren't you a coward? You were running like a fish escaping danger, while I was trying my best to help the others out. Benjamin came inside to also help me without thinking of anything, but you're here spewing some kind of nonsense?" The sports teacher found himself a bit embarrassed by Cordelia's rebuke."How can I wait to sacrifice myself?
The rugged man clenched his fists, his pride warring with his fear. “You can’t be serious,” he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.Abdelkarim cocked the gun audibly, tilting his head. “Do I look like I’m joking?”Reluctantly, the rugged man lowered himself to his knees, the humiliation evident on his face. His companions followed suit, each moving with visible hesitation. The restaurant’s patrons and staff watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they bore witness to the surreal scene.One of the men reached for Abdelkarim’s shoe, his hand shaking as he wiped at it with his sleeve. Abdelkarim smirked, glancing down at their feeble attempts. “Pathetic,” he muttered. “Put some effort into it.”As the men continued their reluctant task, Abdelkarim’s tone turned colder. “Now, let’s add some respect to the mix. Each of you will address me properly while you’re down there.”The rugged man looked up, his face twisted with fury and shame. “What do you mean?”Abdelkarim leaned in s
The room fell into an eerie silence, the earlier chatter and laughter evaporating like smoke. All eyes were on Abdelkarim, who stood tall with the gun firmly in his grasp. Even the rugged man who had slapped him seemed caught off guard, his eyes widening in a mix of disbelief and anger.Benjamin, who had been calmly observing moments earlier, straightened in his seat, his sharp gaze narrowing as he assessed the situation. He hadn't anticipated this escalation, and for a fleeting moment, his surprise flickered across his face. Cipherella, sitting beside him, froze, her lips parting slightly as her eyes darted between Abdelkarim and the scarred man.The tension was palpable. The rugged man pushed his chair back slightly, his hands clenching into fists as if ready to retaliate. His companions, who had been laughing moments ago, now looked uneasy, their confidence shaken."You think this is funny?" Abdelkarim said, his voice steady, but the undercurrent of anger was unmistakable. He point
The room went tense as Abdelkarim froze, his gaze darting nervously to the man’s threatening expression. Around them, a few other patrons glanced over.Cipherella’s delicate brows furrowed with concern as she leaned closer to Benjamin, her voice barely above a whisper. "Master, they’re trying to bully him," she said, her eyes darting between Abdelkarim and the rugged man.Benjamin didn’t respond immediately. His sharp gaze remained fixed on the scene, observing every detail—the posture of the men, Abdelkarim’s unease, and the simmering tension in the air. Finally, he nodded slowly and said, "Let’s just watch for now.”"But Master—" Cipherella started, her worry evident."Relax," Benjamin interrupted gently, his tone calm but firm. "Let’s see how he handles himself first. If things go too far, I’ll step in."Cipherella hesitated, but she trusted Benjamin’s judgment. She bit her lip and stayed quiet, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as her eyes returned to Abdelkarim.Meanwhile, Abd
As they entered, Benjamin's gaze swept over the bustling interior of the establishment. The atmosphere was thick with chatter, clinking glasses, and faint music playing in the background. At one side of the room, a group of rugged-looking men occupied a long table. They were loud, drinking and eating heartily, with wisps of smoke curling from the cigarettes and cigars they casually puffed.Their appearances were striking—some had jagged scars running across their cheeks.Others had scarves tied around their heads, their expressions hard and uninviting, with sharp eyes that scanned the room like predators on the lookout. A few wore leather jackets with frayed edges, while others had rugged shirts and boots.Benjamin took note but didn’t linger on them. Instead, he calmly made his way to an unoccupied corner on the other side of the room. He settled into a chair with an air of quiet authority, his face betraying no hint of concern. Cipherella followed closely, her gaze flickering brief
Benjamin settled back onto the couch, gesturing for Cipherella to sit. She listened intently as he recounted the night's events."Cipherella," he began, "I met Abdelkarim yesterday. His boss wasn’t exactly treating him right, and he seemed ready for a change."Abdelkarim shifted uneasily, but Benjamin continued. "We ended up being followed by three of Darnell's men. They tried to corner us, but I convinced them to switch sides and work for me. Abdelkarim here was part of that, and he’s proven he’s willing to take on something bigger.”Cipherella raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. “And they just… agreed? Just like that?”Benjamin nodded, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Sometimes all it takes is to show someone what they’re worth. They’d been risking their lives for scraps. Now, they have a reason to be loyal." He glanced at Abdelkarim, who looked both grateful and a little overwhelmed.Cipherella sighed, finally relaxing a bit. “If you trust him, Master, then that’s enough
The men exchanged nervous glances, doubling down on their story despite Darnell's threat. The first man cleared his throat, attempting to sound confident. "Boss, like we said, it was just a routine check. We saw the car following and thought it could be a minor threat, so we stopped to make sure it wasn’t an issue. But they turned around as soon as we approached."The second man nodded quickly. "Exactly, boss. We didn’t think it was worth disturbing you for something so small, figured we could handle it ourselves.”Darnell's gaze remained icy, not buying the excuses. His eyes bored into each one of them, but they held firm, each nodding in agreement, sticking to their story. "We were just looking out for you, boss," the third one added, trying to muster confidence. "Didn’t want to waste your time.”Darnell narrowed his eyes at them one last time, as if weighing the truth of their story. Finally, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the tension. “Fine,” he said sharply. “Get back in
The men climbed out of their cars and walked over to Darnell’s vehicle, where he stood waiting, his expression already dark with suspicion. As they approached, he wasted no time.“What’s wrong?” Darnell’s voice cut through the silence, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Where’s the last car?”The men looked at each other, shifting uncomfortably, clearly at a loss. Finally, one of them spoke up. “We...we don’t know, boss. One minute, they were right behind us, and the next...they weren’t.”Darnell’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want excuses. Give me an answer.”They fumbled for words, but all they could offer was a helpless shrug. Frustrated, Darnell took a deep breath and crossed his arms. “Fine. Who was in the last car? Give me their names. Now.”The men stammered for a moment, then rattled off the names of the three who had been in the missing car, exchanging nervous glances as they waited for Darnell's reaction.Darnell narrowed his eyes, his impatience evident. “Call them. Now,” he ordere
As the men disappeared down the road, Abdelkarim turned to Benjamin, a worried crease on his brow. "Do you trust them? What if they tell their boss everything?"Benjamin's expression was unwavering. "They won’t."Abdelkarim’s eyebrows rose, disbelief flickering in his gaze. "How do you know?"Benjamin smirked, a trace of confidence in his eyes. "Because I gave them something Darnell never has: respect. They’ve been doing his dirty work for scraps. Darnell treats them as disposable. But me? I just paid them a month’s worth in minutes and offered them a way out. Right now, loyalty is cheap—but it’s the one thing Darnell can't buy.”Abdelkarim nodded slowly, his gaze steadying with newfound determination. “I’m ready to work for you, Benjamin,” he said with a slight smile. “But... tonight, I don’t have anywhere to stay. I might just end up sleeping in the car.”Benjamin’s expression softened. “Don’t worry about that. You’ll stay with me,” he replied. “As long as you’re willing to follow m
Benjamin looked at them intently. “How much do you want to be paid?” he asked, his voice calm but commanding.The men glanced at each other, hesitating for a moment. Finally, one spoke up, “Every month… pay us double what Darnell does.”The other nodded, adding quickly, “Yeah. 2000 dollars each.”Benjamin smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He had expected them to ask for something outrageous—10,000, even 50,000 dollars a month. Instead, they only wanted a mere double of what Darnell paid them. To someone like him, 2000 dollars was nothing, even if he had to pay them that amount daily.“Deal,” he said without hesitation, nodding once.They stared at him, dumbfounded. “Wait… deal? Just like that?” one of them asked, disbelief evident in his voice.Benjamin shrugged. “2000 dollars a month is nothing to me if you’re loyal and good at what you do.”They exchanged glances, still stunned by his response. "You... you really mean that?" one of them asked, sounding almost hopeful.Benja