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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
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 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 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 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 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 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 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