Max stood outside the Sky Golden Hotel, the grandeur of the place pressing down on him like a weight. Gleaming marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and a valet line filled with luxury cars—it was a world far removed from his. He’d come here for answers, but just standing in front of the hotel made him feel as if he didn’t belong, like an intruder in a place meant for people who had everything he didn’t.
As he stood, taking in the sight, his heart clenched at the sight of David Lesley stepping out of the hotel lobby with Lily on his arm. David was laughing, whispering something that made Lily giggle—a carefree, dazzling smile lighting up her face. Max couldn’t remember her looking like that with him. She’d always seemed happy, but this… this was different.
Was I never enough for her? he thought, the question heavy in his chest.
Gathering his resolve, Max moved forward, his eyes focused on Lily. She froze as she spotted him, the smile slipping from her face, replaced by a look of panic. She glanced quickly at David, who noticed her discomfort and then followed her gaze, landing on Max with a dismissive smirk.
“Lily,” Max began, his voice thick with confusion and hurt, “why did you do this to me?”
David’s eyes narrowed as he took in Max’s worn-out jeans and plain shirt, and he sneered, pulling Lily closer. “Darling, do you know this… peasant?” His tone was dripping with disdain, and the way he tightened his hold on her sent a clear message—Lily belonged to him now.
Max’s fists clenched, his heart pounding with anger, but he held back. He wasn’t here for David. He needed answers from Lily.
Lily shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Max with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. The way he looked, standing there in such an opulent setting, was like a stain on the image she had carefully built for herself. She regretted ever letting him into her life.
Why did he have to follow me here? she thought bitterly. She remembered the thrill she’d felt when he first pursued her, drawn to his good looks and hardworking nature. But those feelings had faded fast. Max was a constant reminder of a life of struggle she wanted to escape. She couldn’t deny his sincerity, but sincerity couldn’t buy designer bags or fine dining. It couldn’t buy her a life of comfort.
Seeing the pain in his eyes, she felt a pang of guilt but quickly buried it. She couldn’t let emotions get in the way of her future.
“Max…” she sighed, her tone distant. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Then say the truth,” Max said, his voice trembling as he held her gaze. “Was I never good enough for you?”
Lily shifted, her eyes darting to David, who watched the exchange with an air of bored amusement. “It’s not that, Max,” she said, her voice growing colder. “It’s just… you don’t have what I need. Look at yourself.” She gestured to his clothes, her expression one of pity mixed with contempt. “I mean, how could we ever be happy?”
Max’s face fell, the weight of her words hitting him like a blow. “I thought… I thought we had something real, Lily.”
Lily sighed, irritation flashing in her eyes. “Max, you barely make ends meet. You can’t even take me to a place like this. I’ve spent months hoping things would change, but… look around you. You’re not part of this world.” She looked at David, her eyes softening. “David is.”
Max’s anger bubbled up, his heart shattering as he struggled to keep his voice steady. “So that’s it? You’d choose him because he can throw money at you?”
David chuckled, stepping between them. “Listen, ‘Max,’ right?” he said, his tone patronizing. “It’s not about ‘throwing money’ around. It’s about knowing what she deserves. And she deserves more than you could ever offer.”
Max ignored him, his gaze fixed on Lily. “You told me… you told me you loved me.”
Lily scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Did you really believe that, Max? Did you really think I could be happy living like… like that?” She gestured to him again, as if he embodied everything she wanted to leave behind. “David… he gives me what I need. We had our fun, but it’s over.”
Max’s chest tightened, his voice barely a whisper. “I trusted you, Lily.”
Lily crossed her arms, her expression hardening. “Trust doesn’t pay the bills, Max. And it doesn’t get me anywhere in life.” She glanced away, her voice cold and final. “I’m done with you.”
For a moment, Max felt like he couldn’t breathe. The woman he’d spent months caring for, the woman he thought he loved, had discarded him like he was nothing more than a temporary amusement.
David smirked, wrapping his arm around Lily’s shoulders. “I think you’ve heard enough, haven’t you?” he said, his voice mocking. “Maybe it’s time you ran along, Max. I think you’ve overstayed your welcome here.”
Max’s fists tightened, and for a split second, he thought of fighting back, of throwing every ounce of his frustration and betrayal into a single punch aimed at David’s smug face. But he knew it wouldn’t solve anything.
He took a shaky breath, his voice calm but laced with pain. “I hope you’re happy, Lily.”
I was a fool, he thought bitterly, wiping away a tear that slipped down his cheek.
Max stood outside the Sky Golden Hotel, every word Lily had spoken replaying painfully in his mind. Her cold, indifferent voice cut deeper than he’d ever imagined possible. The woman he had poured his heart into had ended their relationship publicly, dismissing him as easily as a stranger."Lily… why would you do this to me?" he asked, his voice breaking.Lily sighed, her gaze flat and uncaring. “Max, I’ve made it clear. I need a life that you could never give me. David can. I’m with him now, and it’s for the best.” Her words dripped with finality, her disinterest a knife twisting in Max’s chest. She met his gaze one last time, her voice as cold as her stare. “Goodbye, Max.”Max felt the weight of her rejection, his chest tight and breaths shallow as he struggled to process the betrayal. But before he could even respond, David stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Lily, a smirk on his face.“Looks like you’ve been dumped, Max,” David sneered, folding his arms.
Max sat in the back of the police car, staring blankly out the window as the city lights blurred past him. The events of the night replayed in his mind, each memory piercing like a fresh wound. Lily’s cold, dismissive voice. David’s taunts. The betrayal, public humiliation, and the stinging slap from the security guard. It all left him feeling hollow, his heart shattered beyond repair.The silence in the car was heavy, punctuated only by the crackle of the police radio. The reality of what he’d done was beginning to settle, but he didn’t have the energy to regret it. The pain and anger had taken over, leaving him with nothing but a numb sense of loss.When they arrived at the police station, Max barely registered the officers as they led him inside, processing him with a detached efficiency. After a brief wait, an officer sat him down and placed a form in front of him.“Max Reid,” the officer said, looking down at the paper, “you’re being charged with assault, battery, disruption of b
Max wandered the empty streets, his mind adrift, every step heavy with exhaustion. The day’s events weighed on him, each memory sharp and unrelenting. Lily’s betrayal replayed in his mind like a cruel joke, her words lingering, hollow and cold. David’s smug expression, the laughter of onlookers, the sting of the police slap—they all reminded him of his limitations, his lack of status, and the poverty that defined his life.He soon found himself in a quiet park, a sliver of peace amid the chaos. The moon cast a gentle glow over the trees and empty benches, giving the place a sense of calm he hadn’t felt in ages. Max sank onto one of the benches, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees as he buried his face in his hands.What if things were different? he wondered, a fleeting, desperate thought. If he had the wealth that people like David flaunted, would Lily have stayed? Would he be sitting here now, alone and humiliated? In his mind, he pictured a life of luxury, a life where he never
Max sat in the plush leather seat of the Rolls-Royce, the hum of the engine barely audible as they glided along the highway. He stole glances around the car’s interior, marveling at the intricate details, the polished wood panels, and the soft ambient lighting. This was wealth beyond anything he’d ever imagined, beyond even the flashiness of David’s Porsche. Still, his mind was a swirl of questions and disbelief. Who was this “master” Kevin kept mentioning, and why did they want to meet him?Kevin, seated across from Max, maintained a respectful silence, sensing Max’s hesitation. After the initial few questions, Max had stopped asking anything altogether, still half-convinced he was part of some elaborate joke or, worse, a setup. But Kevin’s sincerity and unwavering politeness had left him curious enough to follow through.After what felt like an eternity, the car slowed, pulling through massive, ornate golden gates with the word “Reid” crafted in elegant letters across the top. Max s
Max stared at the documents spread out before him, the intricate logos of renowned companies gleaming up from the pages. His hands shook as he flipped through the lists, each name sending a fresh wave of disbelief washing over him.“Groove Inc.,” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. The very platform that had broadcast his humiliation with Lily and David. And now… he owned it?Next came another familiar name: Nix Inc. He remembered researching it for a project at university—a global powerhouse with groundbreaking innovations in tech. He’d spent hours analyzing their business strategies, marveling at the sheer scale of their operations, yet he’d never even imagined his life would intersect with theirs like this.“Groove, Nix, Ember Oil, Apex Luxuries…” Max’s mind reeled as he skimmed through the assets his family controlled, each company more influential and financially commanding than the last. Hotels, tech giants, oil companies, mineral mines, and luxury brands—all connected, all
Sunlight filtered through the elegant curtains, casting a warm glow over the luxurious room where Max had slept for the first time. He sat up, taking in the intricately carved furniture, the plush carpet beneath his feet, and the massive windows overlooking the sprawling estate. It all felt surreal. Just yesterday, he’d been worrying about making rent and finding enough to eat. Now, he was surrounded by opulence he’d only ever seen in magazines.Max stood and made his way to the bathroom, turning on the shower. The warm water washed away his fatigue, but his mind continued to spin as he processed his new reality. Yesterday, he thought, I couldn’t even imagine coming up with $5,000 to get out of jail. And now I own companies worth billions.Once he was dressed, he looked at his reflection in the mirror, his old clothes starkly contrasting with the refined surroundings. A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Kevin, his grandfather’s butler, entered, bowing slightly. “Good mor
As Max held the sleek black card in his hand, his grandfather extended another envelope toward him. “There’s also a transfer to your regular bank account,” Mark said, his gaze steady.“Consider it some pocket money. It should cover your immediate expenses and allow you to… adjust to acting like the head of the consortium.”Max opened the envelope, revealing a card with his usual bank’s logo and a printed balance receipt. His eyes widened at the amount. Pocket money, his grandfather had called it, but to Max, it was an unfathomable sum—more than enough to settle his debt to his friends, buy clothes, and support himself for years if needed.This was a different world, a world where “pocket money” carried more zeros than his lifetime of savings combined.He took a deep breath, a mixture of excitement and anxiety churning within him. “Thank you, Grandfather. I’ll… I’ll do my best to manage everything responsibly.”Mark’s gaze softened, pride evident in his expression. “I know you will, M
CHAPTER 10Max pushed open the door to his dorm room, a surge of warmth flooding him as he was greeted by his friends. Rudd, Greg, and Marcus instantly sprang to their feet, bombarding him with a mix of hugs, playful punches, and shouts of relief.“Max! Where the hell have you been, man?” Rudd exclaimed, clapping him on the shoulder. “We’ve been freaking out since you left.”“Yeah,” Marcus chimed in, grinning as he grabbed Max in a bear hug. “You had us thinking you were gone for good or something!”Max couldn’t help but laugh, his heart swelling with gratitude. It was comforting to return to familiar faces, the friends who had been his family through thick and thin. For a moment, he forgot all about the grandeur of the mansion, the Bugatti, the millions of dollars—these were the people who’d stood by him long before he’d known the truth of his heritage.“We even got you something,” Greg added, gesturing toward the small table in the corner, where a box of Tasty Fried Chicken sat, fil