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Rise and shine Chapter 20
After leaving Ariana, I hurriedly met up with Riley, who was on the verge of hopping into a taxi. Acting on impulse, I seized her hand, bringing her to a halt. The cab driver gave us an annoyed glance as he accelerated away."It's not what you're thinking," I blurted out in an attempt to explain myself."What am I thinking? I'm genuinely happy about your reunion," Riley responded nonchalantly, giving off an air of indifference.I stumbled over my words, "I... She called me urgently, which is why I came."She gave an understanding nod, "Hmm... That explains your hand on her cheek, sharing an romantic moment.""Please, Riley, just hear me out," I implored."Oh! I see. You two even exchanged numbers," she remarked. Then a thought struck me – how did she manage to get my number? "I... I don't know," I stuttered, trying to figure out a way to convince her. She was being stubborn, a side of her I hadn't seen in a while. She was about to speak when my phone rang, Sean's name lighting up on t
Rise and shine Chapter 21
Aiden and Jeremy sat across from each other, their eyes locked in a tense stare. Mr. Ray observed them from a distance."Surprise? I hope you two are getting along," he inquired."Yeah, father," Jeremy replied."That's great to hear. If you prove me wrong, Aiden, I can make you the CEO of the other company," Mr. Ray stated.Aiden's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "I will really do, I will.""Okay, any problems I should know about?" Mr. Ray questioned.They exchanged glances and mumbled in unison, "No.""That's great then. I can see you two are doing well, so I'll be on my way," Mr. Ray stood up, and they followed suit."Aiden, I'm counting on you as my successor. I'm doing this to make you realize your potential, so use your senses," Mr. Ray advised.Jeremy's anger simmered beneath the surface. "I will make myself worthy," Aiden promised.Mr. Ray left the company, and Aiden and Jeremy escorted him out."Do you think we should tell him?" Aiden asked."That's stupid! Just because he sai
Rise and shine Chapter 22
Tom's POV: Sean burst through the door, exclaiming, "They took the bait, one billion!" Allison quipped, "A billion? Hard to believe those two losers pulled it off." I interjected, "Now, let's proceed to the next step." I could sense their curiosity about what came next; it was simple, we were going to take control of the company. *****Max returned home very late that night. He knocked on the door, but no one answered. Growing frustrated, he called out to Ariana, "Hey, Ariana, I know you're in there!" He yelled multiple times, but Ariana's deep sleep rendered her oblivious to his calls. Max banged on the door repeatedly, desperation building as he shouted, "I swear I'll barge in if you don't open up!" With no response forthcoming, he gave up and left, heading to the home of the mysterious woman. At her doorstep, he knocked just once, and she promptly opened the door. "You're back again?" she questioned, her tone revealing a mix of curiosity and something else. "Uh..
Rise and shine Chapter 23
Tom's POV:I stared at Ariana in the sickbed as the IV transfused blood into her. She looked like she had been through a dungeon full of hardships.I don't understand why I'm doing this; I vowed to cut ties with her and have nothing to do with her. But fate keeps pushing me closer to her.The doctor entered, saying, "Thanks, Mister Tom, it's completed," as he removed the tube from me. I tried to get up, but my head felt dizzy. I needed to go to Riley; she's waiting for me."You need to rest for a few hours," the doctor said."No, I have to…" My voice faltered as my head throbbed. I had no choice but to rest as I drifted into dreamland.**Time passed, and I woke up feeling much better.**I slowly opened my eyes to see a blurry figure beside me. After a moment, it became clear: it was Ariana."How are you feeling?" she asked.I sat up in bed. "I should be asking you that, but seeing you like this gives me hope that you're okay." She smiled, her eyes wrinkling. I removed the IV drip on m
Rise and shine Chapter 24
Tom’s POV. In the video, Max was dragging a travel bag, which is certainly the dead body. The one who fabricated it as a suicide is Max. "What will we do with it now?" Riley asked.I looked at Allison, "Let her decide."She let out a puff of air, "I would like to see the people behind the bar. Seeing those people like this makes me want to throw up, but giving this to the police will result in the loss of evidence."I nodded, exactly what I am thinking. We have to use the video well.***As Jeremy was about to open the door, he heard Aiden's voice and he knows that bastard has come to say it all, just to gain his father's trust. He opened the door and was welcomed by the laughter of both."Hey, Jeremy, come sit down," Mr. Ray said cheerfully, two glasses of wine in front of the table. He took his seat opposite Aiden, who smiled at him."You called me?" he started."Yes, I did. Aiden, tell me about the new young stockholder," he announced.He frowned at Aiden, knowing something like t
Rise and shine Chapter 25
The shock on their faces somehow made me happy—yes, that was it. The moment I had been waiting for. Being in that room brought back old memories of Liam. "Hello, are you that happy to see me?" I said, waving at them as their expressions shifted from shock to electrification. I took a few steps further into the room. "That smell nice," I commented casually. "What are you doing here?" Mr. Ray shouted, his voice tinged with anger. "You invited me," I replied calmly. Sean stood up from his seat and offered it to me. I took a seat. "Look, I was the owner of the money he invested in your company. So, in a way, I am the investor." Mr. Ray stared at Sean, realization dawning upon him that he had been deceived. Aiden's anger flared, and he lunged toward Sean, grabbing his collar. However, Sean, evidently skilled in combat, quickly countered and threw Aiden to the floor. Aiden landed hard, his body hitting the ground with a thud. I couldn't help but smirk. "What... How? How could yo
Rise and shine Chapter 26
Chapter 24 - Tom's PerspectiveWhen I received the call about something urgent happening, I assumed it was a dangerous situation. It turned out something significant occurred, but it wasn't perilous. A large crowd had gathered outside the company, preventing me from entering."Help us, please!" they shouted. "We have heard a lot about you. Please assist us, please provide for us," another faction of them shouted. Riley seems to have done something impactful for these people, given their familiarity with me.I raised my hand for silence, and they quieted down. Observing them, it was evident that they were impoverished and in need of accommodation. I suggested they choose a spokesperson. After some hesitation, an elderly man emerged from the crowd."Please, we need your help. The welfare house we were living in has been marked for redevelopment, leaving us homeless. We have nowhere to go, and we have been hearing about your high reputation. Please help us," he said, and others murmu
Rise and shine Chapter 27
In Ray's room, Mr. Ray's voice was almost a yell, "How could you offer him that much money?" Jeremy sat solemnly beside him, with Aiden present too. "We had to do it to borrow the money. Once we're stable, giving him 20% won't affect us," Jeremy explained. Mr. Ray exhaled in anger, "That prick! Where could he even get that amount of money?""We need to strike before he makes a move," Aiden suggested. Jeremy chimed in, "Father's right. Let's do to him what he did to us.""Rest assured, I'll have him traced, along with his accomplices," Mr. Ray assured them, cautioning, "And both of you, be extremely careful from now on." They both nodded.Suddenly, Mrs. Ray rushed downstairs, "You need to see this!" She turned on the television. The screen displayed a picture of Tom, as the reporter's voice conveyed the latest update."In an inspiring act of generosity, a man has built the Waflare House—a place where people find refuge and community. This heartwarming initiative has garnered praise f
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chapter 35
"What will we do?" Sean asked Riley, who sat without any sign of concern. "Won't you say anything? The boss is in danger right now." "And why should I care? Should we sacrifice ourselves for him? I'm sure he will find a way to save himself," she said nonchalantly. Sean groaned in anger as the door flung open and Baroan entered. Sean quickly explained things to her. "Then we have to swing into action, Riley," Allison called to her. She didn't reply. "She said it's none of her concern. We have to find a way out by ourselves." "Why was he abducted?" Allison asked. "In front of his house," he said. "I'm sure you can track them with the nearby CCTV. I will call a reliable police officer for backup." Sean nods, "Okay, I will." Riley stood up and was about to walk out. Allison held her. "What happened? Why are you doing this?" "That jerk dared to cheat on me. After numerous times I overlooked it for him, he let that woman sleep over in her house," she yelled. Allison was surpr
- Rise and shine
Chapter 34
Tom's pov.I pushed her away slightly, feeling the weight of my words, "We shouldn't be doing this," I said, but my voice betrayed the turmoil within me.Araina moved closer, her eyes pleading. "Why deny it, Tom? I love you. I want to be with you.""It's impossible. I'm already in love with someone else.""Are you sure you love her, Tom? I can sense your feelings," she insisted, drawing nearer. Pushing me gently onto the sofa, she kissed me. This time, I couldn't resist. As we kissed, I felt myself betraying Riley, every second eroding my loyalty."Get rid of the footage now," Max's voice boomed with urgency."Why, babe? It's is safe in my hand," she sneered."What are you saving it for ? What's the real purpose?" Max demanded, his tone edged with concern.She smirked, "As assurance.""Assurance for what?" he pressed."That you won't leave me. That you'll stay, no matter what," she stated, her eyes fixed on him.Max sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the situation. He knows it's dan
- Rise and shine
Chapter 33
Tom's POV:We kept walking for a few minutes without talking to each other. Ariana seemed to have something on her mind, but she remained silent. Finally, she spoke, "I accepted your offer." I wondered what offer she was referring to and what we needed to discuss. It was as if she could read my thoughts when she continued, "About the house, I would like to move out from that house." "Oh, that... it's a great idea. I'll get you an apartment," I said. "Thanks," she replied, but she still hadn't voiced what was really on her mind. "What do you really want to say?" I asked. She stopped and faced me, her voice trembling, "Tom... can you..." "What is it?" I asked. "Can we go back to how things were?" she finally uttered. I was shocked, startled, and at the same time, my heart melted as she said it. ******* Max and Jeremy watched the body, blood splattered around it, a gruesome sight. Max wanted to rush up and see who the killer was. "You don't have to... he wouldn't be there anym
- Rise and shine
Chapter 32
Max arrived at the destination the man gave her, an unfinished building likely intended for a factory. He stood on the rooftop, feeling uneasy as the chilly wind sent shivers down his spine. He wished he could escape this situation."You're a man of time," a voice suddenly came from behind him, and when he turned around, he saw the old man. The old man had orchestrated that blind encounter perfectly."Where is it?" the old man asked.Max let out a sharp exhale, "You should have pretended you didn't see anything.""Why would I pretend when I've seen it all? I can't believe the son of the most prestigious family could do this," the old man replied with a smirk."I should have let him kill you," Max lamented."Anyway, where is the money?" the old man demanded."That's a lot. I'll give you one million," Max bargained.The man burst into laughter. "I'm not here for that. So, you don't have the exact money?""Consider this an opportunity. There's no evidence," Max said, his voice icy cold.
- Rise and shine
Chapter 31
After two weeks, Jeremy finally secured his release with some help from influential contacts, but the staggering $200 million fine weighed heavily on their shoulders.Mr. Ray expressed his concern, "We can't even sell the company for that amount. How could we come up with such money?"Jeremy reassured him, "We'll be okay. All we need to do is sell the company, and I'll do my best to make the auction successful."Aiden chimed in, worried about paying off Mr. Gabriel, "But how will we deal with Uncle?"Jeremy replied confidently, "I'll meet with him myself."Mr. Ray intervened, concerned for Jeremy's safety, "No, you won't. I can't lose another child."Jeremy remained determined, "You're not losing anyone. I'll negotiate with him, and if necessary, we can use him against Tom."Mr. Ray asked cautiously, "Can you make that happen?"Jeremy nodded.****The other light was off while the spotlight was on Jeremy as he presented the company, trying to hide their desperation.But people knew th
- Rise and shine
Chapter 30
"Where the hell is Max?" Mr. Ray hauled as he threw his phone away.His wife trembled beside him, not knowing what to do, while his two sons knelt in front of him."How the hell do you even manage to get hacked through?" he yelled at them.With a quiet voice, Aiden replied, "Dad, we don't even know. This person doing this is really a professional.""Is that all you have to say? Is that it? So you mean you recruited a bunch of unprofessionals in security?" He bowed his head in embarrassment."Why did you even do that malicious act?" Jeremy spat at him.Aiden shot him a hot glare; it was believed that all prestigious companies always found their way around tax paying, even Mr. Ray wouldn't blame him for that."That doesn't matter. What matters now is what's next," Mr. Ray said."It's just a matter of time. The prosecutor will soon be here for an invitation," Jeremy uttered."So, who is going to go with them?" Mr. Ray inquired.They all fell silent, debating who should take responsibilit
- Rise and shine
Chapter 29
Chapter 29:They stood there, numbed by the sudden appearance of a person who had seemingly caught them off guard. At first glance, he didn't seem entirely human – a man in his sixties, frail and thin. His plea for help trembled in the air with his shaky voice. Glancing at each other, they noticed something odd about his eyes; he was blind.Surveying his surroundings, he continued, "Please, anyone there?" Without hesitation, Jeremy grabbed the shovel and swung it forcefully, knocking the man to the ground, causing him to lose consciousness and bleed from his head. Before he could strike again, Max intervened."What do you think you're doing?" Max questioned, his tone filled with concern.Jeremy's gaze turned cold as he responded, "He just witnessed us.""He's blind, he saw nothing," Max reasoned, trying to diffuse the situation."It's better to eliminate any possibility. What if he heard us?" Jeremy argued, raising the shovel once more."I can't let you do that," Max firmly declared,
- Rise and shine
Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Tom's POVI slammed on the brakes suddenly, causing Riley to lurch forward against her seatbelt. She looked at me, and I could hardly contain my urgency."Tell me everything now. What really happened to you? How did you end up presumed dead?" I demanded, my voice edged with frustration.Riley took a deep breath, her expression heavy."It's a bit complicated," she began, her sigh a mixture of weariness and anxiety."I need to hear it," I insisted firmly, my eyes locked onto hers.She hesitated before giving in. "Okay, if you're really determined to know. After I was sent away, and following my fiancé's death, I was left with nowhere to turn. I was stranded and felt utterly hopeless. So, out of necessity, I sought out Mr. Gabriel."She paused, her gaze distant as she continued."Mr. Gabriel is my uncle, my father's estranged brother. He's a ruthless and cunning mafia leader. I ended up working for him, aiding him in his criminal endeavors. My family was desperate to get me b
- Rise and shine
Chapter 27
In Ray's room, Mr. Ray's voice was almost a yell, "How could you offer him that much money?" Jeremy sat solemnly beside him, with Aiden present too. "We had to do it to borrow the money. Once we're stable, giving him 20% won't affect us," Jeremy explained. Mr. Ray exhaled in anger, "That prick! Where could he even get that amount of money?""We need to strike before he makes a move," Aiden suggested. Jeremy chimed in, "Father's right. Let's do to him what he did to us.""Rest assured, I'll have him traced, along with his accomplices," Mr. Ray assured them, cautioning, "And both of you, be extremely careful from now on." They both nodded.Suddenly, Mrs. Ray rushed downstairs, "You need to see this!" She turned on the television. The screen displayed a picture of Tom, as the reporter's voice conveyed the latest update."In an inspiring act of generosity, a man has built the Waflare House—a place where people find refuge and community. This heartwarming initiative has garnered praise f
