The classy tuxedo, neatly combed hair to the left side, and bright face made Andrew look different. His steps appeared calm as the elevator door opened. The brown-haired man immediately captivated Erica and William, who had been waiting for him.
"Oh my goodness, Andrew! You look so perfect!" Erica ran towards her brother, a radiant smile on her face.
"Not only are you surprised, but I am also quite amazed by my appearance. You look beautiful too, Erica, your red dress is perfect. We should thank Mr. William for making us look classy."
William lowered his head with his cane, accepting the praise given by Andrew.
"You both deserve a luxurious appearance. By the way, we should leave now. And Erica, I would like to speak briefly with your brother on our way to the car.
"Sure, Mr. William." Erica hastened with one of William's guards, leaving her brother with the middle-aged man wearing sunglasses.
"So, Andrew, how is it? Are you satisfied with the service I provided? You can tell me if there's anything else you find lacking."
"Nothing is lacking; I feel all this is too excessive. But considering that you will be using 'my services,' it feels well worth it."
Andrew replied firmly, trying to find an opportunity to discuss the book he found earlier.
"I like your way of thinking. This world is too cruel if we only rely on kindness. It would be best if you were someone who weighs the pros and cons. But, from what you said, you have found a way to heal me. Is that true?"
William lowered his glasses and looked at Andrew with a smile that hinted at something.
Andrew gave a crooked smile and said, "One step closer. But, by the way, I think something belonging to you or someone in this house was left in my room."
"Really? What is it?" William changed his expression to curiosity.
"A book, a black book that looks like a diary...."
Andrew's heart pounded, questioning whether his question was right or wrong. Honestly, he feared that the book was intentionally left behind and William would take it back. But on the other hand, Andrew also wanted to know if William deliberately gave the book.
"A book? It doesn't seem like anyone in this house has a diary. That room used to be where I trained my body. So, it's certain that no one has ever written there. I only recently converted that room into a guest room a month ago. Or it's my trainer's book that was left behind. Yes, that seems reasonable, doesn't it?"
William's answer made Andrew slightly confident that the book was unintentionally in that room. However, a lingering suspicion remained, albeit faintly.
"Ah, I see. Well, in that case, the book is safe for me to have. I'm used to writing something to drive away my loneliness. So, having a medium to pour out my thoughts while finding the best way to heal you is best. May I?"
William patted Andrew's shoulder while chuckling and said, "Of course, Andrew! I would even give you thousands of dollars if it could help you in getting rid of this damn illness of mine. You see, using a cane like this is not my style. It feels pathetic and repulsive!"
"You just need to be patient, Mr. William; soon enough, you will regain your healthy body."
William grinned again and nodded his head. Their steps had arrived in front of the house.
Two black luxury cars were seen parked in front of the house with their doors already open. Andrew and William were going to use different cars. Andrew's smile widened as the car door closed tightly. He held Erica's hand and said, "It seems like our lives are truly going to change."
**
Camera flashes welcomed Andrew's arrival. So many paparazzi were taking pictures of everyone getting out of the car that Andrew and Erica felt frightened.
"This is insane. Are we at the Met Gala? Or a movie premiere? What are they doing?" Erica looked nervous.
"Please, Mr. Andrew."
Amidst the confusion that engulfed the two siblings, the car door was opened by one of William's guards.
William stood up, extending his hand to Andrew and Erica. He waved his hand towards the busy paparazzi who were photographing him. Andrew was amazed by this strangeness, feeling like he was trapped in an event he used to see on the internet.
"Don't be surprised; just smile. This is an important event for the wealthy people in this city, so it's normal for many paparazzi to want coverage," William murmured.
Andrew looked at Erica; his sister still looked confused. The flashes were indeed blinding, but following William's guidance, Andrew tried to walk confidently as if he was used to being exposed to paparazzi cameras.
With so many lights attacking, when Andrew was already inside the banquet hall, his vision turned green and purple. It took him a few seconds to close his eyes and return his vision to normal.
"You'll get used to it. I will introduce you to the business world; you will often attend dinners held by billionaires, and I will help you build relationships, Andrew. At least, this is one of the proofs, something you will gain when you successfully heal me," William whispered to Andrew.
"Andrew! Look!"
Erica then redirected Andrew's gaze to a girl who Erica was pointing out.
The girl in a pink dress with neatly tied hair also appeared to be looking at them; her eyes widened. Next to her stood a man wearing sunglasses, supported by a crutch. The man's expression seemed fierce. They were none other than Nadine and Orlando.
"I beg you, don't do anything bad, Andrew. Take it easy, please!" Erica pleaded, panic evident in her voice.
Andrew smirked. "I can't promise that. We need to see what they will do. If it's good, then I'll stay quiet. If it's bad, I'll make sure he ends up in a wheelchair."
"Andrew, I'll meet my friend over there; you can join me later. Enjoy the food," William said, patting Andrew's shoulder before leaving with one of his guards. Andrew nodded and shifted his gaze back to Orlando, who was getting closer. Erica was seen holding her brother's arm, consumed by nervousness and fear. Andrew noticed her anxiety. "Relax, Erica. What are you afraid of from these two fools? They wouldn't dare to touch you. Trust me." "Well, well, no wonder I've been smelling a strong stench. It turns out there's a piece of trash brought by a whore here," Orlando waved his hand in front of his nose. Nadine, standing beside him, did the same. "Who are you calling trash and a whore? It seems like you will back home with a broken leg now," Andrew clenched his fist. Erica, witnessing the situation, immediately pulled Andrew away. However, Andrew held his sister's hand and remained in his position. He showed no fear of Orlando's words. He slowly began to understand the power he pos
"I apologize for what Orlando did to you. He is still very unstable and made a mistake in his approach! I believe what happened earlier was simply a misunderstanding!" Mr. Smith bowed, forcing Orlando to do the same."Daddy! What are you doing?! Why are you apologizing to someone who stole my data?! Don't you remember he's an employee--""Shut up, Orlando! Quickly apologize to Andrew!" Mr. Smith snapped at Orlando, a satisfied smile on his face as he watched Andrew.Orlando gave Andrew a disdainful look and quickly lowered his head without uttering a word."Thank you, Mr. Smith, for teaching your son basic decency. And what about you? Orlando's girlfriend, don't you want to show the same attitude? Are you sure you want her as your future daughter-in-law, Mr. Smith? Her behavior as a woman is appalling; she called my sister a whore." Andrew now nudged Nadine, and she looked flustered and wide-eyed, shaking her head.Mr. Smith narrowed his eyes at Nadine, anger clearly visible on his fa
Andrew and Erica entered the VVIP room while William was toasting with his colleagues. All eyes turned towards them. "Who is that?" one of them said. William looked in the direction they were pointing and said, "Ah, Andrew, come here, Son!" Andrew smiled widely, bowing his head, and walked towards William. William tapped his glass with a spoon, stood up from his chair, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Andrew. He is my associate." Nearly ten people in the room raised their glasses and smiled at Andrew. It was an excellent sight for Andrew, who had never experienced a life befitting a great person who had it all. What William did left a lasting impression. Andrew's desire to heal William's illness increased. A sense of gratitude welled up in his heart. He never expected to be regarded as he was now. Usually, he was just a cockroach mocked by many people for being disgusting. "Please have a seat, Andrew, Erica. Let's enjoy a different meal than what's served outside.
One hour passed, and anxiety enveloped Andrew. He appeared to be frowning as his younger sister still hadn't returned. After all, Erica had promised to spend only half an hour with her friend. Andrew wanted to approach Erica, but he needed help with the barrage of questions from William's colleague. Moreover, he didn't wish to Erica to get angry if he observed her too intensely. His phone, which had run out of battery, added to Andrew's distress. He truly had no means of reaching his sister out there. "Why, Andrew? You seem anxious," William asked. "Yes, Mr. William, I'm just worried because Erica hasn't returned yet. It's been an hour already. I'm afraid she might have gone off with her friend." "You're overreacting, Andrew. I'm sure she's fine. No one would dare to disturb her, especially in this elite environment. They're having a conversation out there. Let her enjoy her time. Erica may also be tired of being inside. Calm down, enjoy these dishes for now." William's words too
Andrew's eyes quickly scanned every guest that came to find Orlando. His steps were swift, like that of an eel. Behind him, William's guard followed him as per William's orders. The guard's footsteps made Andrew turn around and say, "Help me find Orlando! Look over there." They dispersed, the hundreds of people in the room making it quite challenging. Finally, Andrew's eyes caught sight of his ex-girlfriend, Nadine, who was enjoying cake in the corner of the room. Andrew's breath became heavy; he gripped Nadine's arm and pulled her roughly. "Where the hell is Orlando?!" Nadine panicked, seeing Andrew consumed by anger. But she still tried not to show her fear and shrugged off her ex-boyfriend's hand. "Control yourself, Andrew!" "Shut up and answer my question! Where is Orlando?!" Nadine concealed her nervousness. But her confidence that Andrew was a weak man who wouldn't dare do anything wrong made her respond calmly to Andrew's question. "What's your business in looking for Orla
The loud applause welcomed Andrew as he reentered the meeting building. The lights dimmed, now only illuminating two middle-aged men at the front, none other than Santiago and William. There was a reason they were the center of attention; the highlight of tonight's meeting was taking place. Santiago began to speak, delivering his speech. This made Andrew realize that William would need more time to help him. "Shit! Why did you have to give a speech at such a crucial moment, William!" Not wanting to waste time, Andrew left the building again. His head was buzzing; the calmness that had come earlier had disappeared. "Argh! What else can I do?! Where can I get information about that car?" Restlessness was evident in Andrew's expression as he walked back into the darkness of the street leading towards the park, where his beloved sister disappeared. "Okay, I have to empty my mind. Earlier, I had a vision because I managed to calm myself. I beg you, oh, necklace! Grant me your power an
Two men clinked their glasses under the dim light in a dark-colored corner of the room. The glass in their hands held the world's finest wine, and a smirk appeared on the face of one of the men, none other than Orlando."Great job, Steve." Orlando patted the shoulder of the white-haired man in front of him. "Your group is clever enough to create a hidden place like this in the middle of the city. I didn't make a mistake choosing you to help me.""Thank you for your praise. You're working with the Black Spider, Mr. Orlando. Let me ask you, has there ever been a failed mission in the decades that this group has existed? Even when my father passed the mandate for me to continue this group five years ago, we remained at the top. Professional and efficient are our mottos. Besides, I work according to my payment, and you offered a price that makes me work above our motto."Orlando gave a crooked smile and finished his drink. He nodded and then walked to a nearby room. The room had dimmer li
The sound of shuffled cards could be heard from the room where Erica was held. Three guards were focused on the stack of coins and money on the floor, unaware that Erica's eyes were watching them from the bed above.Yes, Erica was awake now, no longer in her unconscious state. However, she wasn't impulsive enough to immediately shout or resist."Where am I? My body feels so sore..."Erica's eyes scanned the room, her vision slightly blurred from the blow she received to the head while resisting in the car. Erica could only see the three men as mere shadows with the dim light.The bound condition of her hands and feet made it even more difficult for Erica to move and lift her aching body slightly, the pain instantly hitting her."Damn, they tied me up tightly. I can't do anything."Erica tried to twist her hands, searching for any gaps to loosen the restraints, but to no avail. Amidst the pain she felt, a tall shadow figure appeared from the direction of the door. Erica closed her eyes