As Grace left the doctor’s office, she felt so happy.Brian, her baby, was going to be fine.Everything was finally falling into place. Brian was going to get the surgery, and for the first time in years, she would still have over a million dollars to her name.She clutched her phone tightly, ready to transfer the funds and make it official.She walked back toward the waiting room, her hands still shaking from how tense today **had been**.After everything she had been through, after all the suffering and fear, this moment felt good—almost too good to be true.She had secured Brian’s future. She had been saved by a man she barely knew a few months ago, someone most people in Prescott would do anything to have a relationship with, but he had extended his hand to her, of all people.Just as she was about to sit down and begin the transfer, her phone buzzed. Startled, she glanced down at the screen. It was an unknown number. Hesitating for only a moment, Grace answered the call.“Hello?”
Grace wiped her eyes as she struggled to stand.She was rejoicing a few moments ago, but now she was full of despair, and her entire body felt weak. She had no idea how she was going to face Brian now.How could she tell him that the money was gone?That the surgery he so desperately needed might never happen?She wiped her face with the back of her hand, she was shaking but she had to composex she had to stay strong for her son. Grace walked slowly to Brian's ward, she had to be there for her son at least. Each step felt heavier than the last; she was weighed down by so much despair.She stood in front of Brian's ward for a moment. She hesitated as she could hear him inside, talking quietly with one of the nurses. His innocent voice sounded tired but hopeful.Grace took a deep breath before opening the door. As she stepped inside, Brian’s face lit up when he saw his mom.His eyes were filled with concern, as he could see his mommy's face was full with despair. “Mummy, what happe
vsGrace sat on the cold hospital floor, her body trembling as she continued to cry. There was no way out. Suddenly, she could hear a loud voice from the television mounted in the corner of the hallway. Grace didn’t pay attention at first, but something about the tone of the announcer’s voice caught her attention. She blinked through her tears, slowly looking up at the TV screen. Her gaze went to the headline at the bottom, which read, “Nationwide Scam: Thousands of Victims Report Entire Savings Stolen in OTP Fraud.” Grace’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart raced as she wiped her eyes and focused on what the news reporter was saying. “This just in,” the announcer said in a grave voice, “Thousands of people across the country have fallen victim to a widespread scam involving fraudulent phone calls claiming to be from banks.” "Victims report receiving calls where they were asked to provide one-time passwords for supposed account verification.” "Upon doing so, the
Grace stood up, having made up her mind. She had to do this for Brian. She didn’t have any other choice. She started walking down the hallway, her mind focused on one thing. She had to get to that building. She didn’t know what she would do once she got there, but it was better than staying here hopelessly. As she reached the hospital’s exit, she nearly ran into Dr. Matthews. He had left her to check on a patient but hurried back as soon as possible. “Grace?” he said, concern etched on his face. “Where are you going?” “I—I have to go,” Grace stammered, her voice shaky but determined. “I saw the news. There are other victims—people just like me. They’re all gathering in front of the company that took the money for my baby's surgery.” "I have to go. I can’t just sit here.” Dr. Matthews frowned, "Grace, I understand you really want your money back, but are you sure going there is the best option?" “You’re already under so much stress, and Brian needs you here
The crowd immediately lunged forward, their faces twisted with anger and desperation. As Darius stepped forward, the mob pressed forward with arms reaching out and their fists raised, trying to rip him apart. People lunged, desperate to touch him, to claw at him, to make him feel the suffering he had inflicted. But the guards were ready, their faces hardened as they lifted their weapons. The first line of people who dared get close was met with brutal swings of metal pipes and bats, the impact on their bones heard loud and clear. A woman near the front reached out, her fingers almost brushing Darius’s suit before a guard struck her hard across the face. She staggered back, blood trickling from her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and pain. Another man tried to break through; he roared and cursed Darius, but the guard swung a bat into his ribs, and he fell, clutching his side, gasping for breath. The crowd retreated in fear and horror. Grace watched in stunned silence,
As Darius strode away from the crowd, he continued to giggle and laugh, mocking the helpless people who stood there in chilling silence. The guards held their weapons at the ready, daring anyone to move. The crowd instinctively parted, creating a path for Darius, who did not even spare the hopeless people a glance. Slowly and arrogantly, he made his way to his luxury car, a sleek black vehicle. One could say he used the money he got from the scam to purchase it, since Lord Cloud burned down every one of his cars. The crowd murmured quietly but angrily. They didn’t dare look directly at him, and those who did quickly averted their eyes. Grace stood among them, trembling. Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat; her chance to save her son's life was slipping away. She felt powerless, surrounded by people too terrified to act; they were so paralyzed by their fear. Grace felt a desperation unlike any she’d ever known. Then she saw it: Darius was alm
Grace stayed on her knees, her body trembling as tears flowed freely from her eyes. The dollar bill lay crumpled by her side, reminding her of how she was brutally humiliated. The crowd had begun to disperse, some glancing back with pity, others shaking their heads. Grace clutched her chest, feeling hopeless. All she had fought for, all she had risked—it had come to nothing. Darius’s car had already started to move. As she wept, wondering what she would tell her son, a faint sound in the distance caught her attention. The echo of screeching tires, a crash, and then… silence. For a moment, Grace thought it was only her imagination, a manifestation of the despair inside her. But soon, she saw smoke rising from the intersection ahead, where Darius’s car had been heading. Meanwhile, Darius had been leaning back in his seat, a twisted smile lingering on his face as he left Grace and the crowd behind. In his mind, he was already planning his next steps. But his thoughts w
Without a word, Lord Cloud raised a hand and gave him a powerful blow to the stomach. Darius doubled over, gasping for breath, his face contorted in pain as he struggled against the grip of Nathan's men. The crowd watched in stunned silence, unable to look away from the brutal display of power. Lord Cloud leaned in, his voice a low, menacing growl. “You thought you could steal from me? From them?” He gestured to the crowd, his voice dripping with disdain. “You thought you could play god with people’s lives and walk away freely?” Darius coughed, blood trickling from his mouth as he looked up with a mixture of defiance and fear. His lip curled into a sneer, and he forced a weak laugh. The crowd gasped at his audacity, and they murmured among themselves. How could someone laugh in this situation? Darius must be a madman. “Return everything you’ve taken, Darius,” Lord Cloud demanded, his voice like ice. But to everyone’s shock, Darius began to laugh harder, a twisted, mocki