2024-08-24 23:02:23Two days after Marvin’s discharge from the hospital, he was driven home. The shock of his wife’s revelation still clung to him like a shadow, leaving him sober and hollow.
It wasn’t just that he had wasted years loving the wrong person—the truth was worse: He had no children. As the car rolled to a stop in front of his house, Marvin barely noticed the towering structure before him. His mind was a battlefield, as the words of his wife replayed in a torturous loop. Therapy had been prescribed for his injured head, but how could twenty-four hours of counseling ever soothe the wreckage of a man who had lost everything? "Hey, I know you're dealing with a lot," said Mr. Fredrick from the driver’s seat, breaking the silence. "But don't be too hard on yourself, okay?" Marvin nodded absently. "Okay," he muttered, already opening the door. "If you need anything, just call me, alright?" Mr. Fredrick added before driving off, his voice was full of concern. Marvin stood at the entrance of his sprawling, two-story mansion, nestled in the heart of the luxurious Richmond Estate. The gates creaked as he pushed them open, but something felt wrong. A sleek, black G-Wagon was parked outside, one he didn't recognize. Frowning, he hurried to the front door. His key twisted in the lock with an unsettling ease. Inside, Marvin's breath caught in his throat. The house was stripped bare. His lavish furniture, the towering entertainment system, the wine collection—all of it was gone. The walls were naked, echoing his every step. "What the hell?" he whispered, his voice began to tremble. Panic flickered in his chest, but it wasn't the missing items that sent a chill through his spine. No, it was something far more important. Ignoring the pain pulsing at the back of his head, he raced upstairs, his heart was pounding as he headed for his private study. His life’s work—his research, his theories—was all that mattered now. When he reached the second floor, he froze. The door to his study, which was always securely locked, was now wide open. With dread swirling inside him, Marvin stepped inside. Sitting casually at the desk, flipping through his research papers, was the last person Marvin ever wanted to see—his father, Mr. Richmond. Marvin's heart lurched. He staggered backward, unable to believe his eyes. The man who had disowned him, the man who had taken everything from him, was now seated comfortably in his sanctuary, studying his work with a cold, calculating gaze. "Dad?" Marvin's voice cracked. Mr. Richmond didn't look up. "You’ve always been good with numbers," he said, his tone was smooth but loaded with something far darker. Marvin’s blood ran cold. "Where's all my stuff?" he demanded, forcing himself to stay calm. "Your stuff?" His father finally looked up, his eyes were narrowing. "When did you ever own anything, Marvin?" Confusion flickered across Marvin’s face. “What are you talking about? I used my money to refurbish this house—” "Your money?" Mr. Richmond scoffed, rising to his feet. His towering figure loomed over Marvin. "You think a few scraps from my company give you ownership of anything? You think your half-baked 'contributions' entitle you to something?" Marvin felt a surge of anger but he bit his tongue. He wasn’t here to argue. "Just tell me where my things are, Dad." Mr. Richmond let out a heavy sigh, his lips curled into a cruel smirk. "I had them burned." Marvin’s world spun. "What…?" His breath caught in his throat, as disbelief rendered him speechless. "Oh, and this house?" Mr. Richmond continued, as if he hadn’t just shattered his son’s life. "It doesn’t belong to you anymore." Before Marvin could react, the door behind him swung open, and in strode three large men. Flanked between them, standing smugly, was Daniel Richmond—his younger brother. And right behind Daniel…was Martha. And the children. Marvin's stomach churned. His rage, which was once barely controlled, now roared to life. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turned white. Seeing Daniel was one thing, but to see Martha—the woman he thought was his wife—standing so comfortably with his brother, tore him apart. Daniel smirked, sliding an arm around Martha's waist. "We’re here to tear down this dump and build something proper," Daniel said, with a voice that was dripping with arrogance. "Martha and the kids deserve better. They’ve waited for me all these years." Martha smiled up at Daniel, planting a kiss on his lips. Marvin felt the ground slip beneath his feet. Mr. Richmond’s voice cut through the suffocating silence. "You’re lucky we even allowed you to stay here as long as you did. Now, this house will be mine again, and your 'research'... well, it never meant anything." Marvin's hands trembled with fury. "Dad, all these is insane." Marvin muttered. "Besides the fact that this wizzle here has synapticore force, he doesn't have the technical know how to run the company. He doesn't know anything about tech." Marvin said angrily. SLAP. The force of the blow made Marvin’s ears ring. Mr. Richmond stood over him, his face became a mask of fury. "How dare you insult my real son?" he spat. "It was because of him, the Bowen group ended their long lasted rivalry with us and agreed to partner with us, awarding us a contract of a hundred million dollars." Mr Richmond said proudly. "Just like that. Something you could never dream of accomplishing." Marvin’s vision blurred with the sting of tears. But as the insults rained down, as his brother gloated, and as Martha and the children watched on with indifference, he felt something shift inside him. Beneath the rage and humiliation, a fire kindled. He may have lost everything, but he hadn't lost himself. Marvin forced himself to remain calm. "Dad," he said quietly, "just let me take my research with me." "Research?" Daniel snorted, striding over to the desk. "You mean this junk?" "Those papers, and the formulas on the board," Martha said, with a voice that was dripping with contempt. She leaned in close to Daniel, with her gaze never leaving that of Marvin. "Let’s see what this ‘genius’ has been working on." Marvin’s heart pounded in his chest as Daniel reached for the papers on the desk. If they touched his work, it would all be over. His only hope, the last remnants of his tech future, would be destroyed. Just as Daniel's hand hovered over the documents, something snapped inside Marvin.
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The day had arrived.The leaders of Westwood's most influential power families gathered under the immense, towering arches of the Westwood Grand Dome. A place where the fate of the entire family and business empires was decided, where rivalries were settled, and where power was both displayed and demanded.Today’s summit was especially crucial. The Astralyte, that coveted substance with unmatched power, was up for distribution, and each family had their eye on a portion. The negotiations would be tense, but they were necessary. Without a proper share of the Astralyte, a family’s grip on power would weaken, and the balance of control in Westwood could shift forever.The leaders entered the grand dome one by one. Each arrived with their usual entourage, their eyes scanning the vast space. The tension was palpable, like a storm about to break.At the very back, as though entering with an aura that made the air hum with power, was Marvin Richmond. He walked in with an unshakable confid
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Marvin looked at her for a moment, silently he just stared at her.Then a slow smile crept across his face.“Is it because of that you’re keeping such a face?” he asked gently.Helena didn’t answer. She looked away, biting her lip. The sparkle in her eyes was gone.Without another word, Marvin pulled her into a tight embrace. His arms were wrapped around her like a shield.“You… you’re really the love of my life,” he said with a chuckle. “Such a jealous dragon—keeping your prince charming all to yourself.”He laughed softly, hoping to crack her mood.But Helena’s face remained serious, her body was still tense in his arms.Marvin knew her silence was louder than any word. So, his tone changed.“Helena,” he said, brushing her damp hair away from her cheek. “Listen to me. My journey to Westwood isn’t just some wild adventure. It’s for something big. Something powerful.”She glanced up at him, still unsure.“There’s a resource,” he continued. “It’s rare and it is found only in Westwood.
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FOUR DAYS LATER…The large TV screen on Marvin’s wall glowed with a bright image.News anchors were speaking quickly, but the real heat was coming from the analysts sitting at the round table. A live economic debate was on.“…there’s no denying it anymore,” one analyst said, pointing to the chart behind him. “Helios Enterprise has once again seen a shocking boom in the last 72 hours. Investors are rushing in, and demand for their new solar-based tech is through the roof!”“Exactly,” another added. “People are turning away from fuel-based power systems, gas generators, and even wind turbines. Helios’ solar products are more affordable, portable, and last longer.”“Especially their solar-battery drones, sun-powered vehicle chargers, and the new solar refrigeration boxes for hospitals and farms,” a third chimed in. “These aren’t just gadgets… they’re game changers!”Marvin smirked.He was lying in bed, naked, tucked under a light sheet. His body was well-built, and his mind sharper than
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Mr. Richmond was caught off guard.He blinked, his mouth was slightly open, as if the question had struck a nerve he didn’t expect to be touched.He looked away for a moment, then back at Marvin.“I…” he began, then sighed. “I won’t lie to you.”He rubbed his fingers together nervously, the rabbit was still resting on Marvin’s desk like a silent witness to their tension.“Yes. I want something too.”His voice lowered, honest now.“I don’t want to miss out on the Astralyte benefits. As you know I’ve been cut off from the power families, my company have been hit with numerous sanctions and not just that, my name has been dragged through the mud... but if Astralyte becomes the new standard—if it fuels everything—then the fifteen percent you are due annually from our partnership would improve.”He paused, calculating his next words carefully.“The other family heads are not as efficient in research and discovery like us the Richmond. We Richmonds would have an edge when we too get to bene
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Mr. Richmond stayed quiet for a moment, then took a deep breath.“I came to—”“Eight seconds,” Marvin said flatly, not letting him finish.Mr. Richmond raised a hand, his voice was now more pleading.“Alright, alright,” he finally said. “I’ll talk.”He paused, adjusting the rabbit in his arms.“A new resource has been discovered in Westwood. Something big. Something powerful. But the Richmond family… we were restricted from tapping into it.”Marvin’s eyes didn’t blink.“You mean the subject topic for recent WG-8 Summit,” he said calmly. “I know about that.”Mr Richmond leaned on his seat, his tone was cutting like a knife.“The Richmond family was restricted… because of your greed.”Mr. Richmond gave a slow nod, breathing in deeply.“I agree to that fact,” he said. “But—”“So you want me,” Marvin cut in again, “to help you get back the license… to be part of the beneficiaries of the Astralyte?”There was a pause. Mr. Richmond nodded slightly, like a man admitting his crime.“Yes,” he
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It was him.Mr. Richmond. His father.A silence filled the room, thick like fog.“What are you doing here?” Marvin asked in a cold tone.His voice was low, calm, but sharp.The older man gave no answer—only a quiet smile, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along."Hello Marvin."Mr. Richmond rose slowly from his seat, still holding the twitching rabbit in his lap. He took a step forward and gave Marvin a warm look.“You’ve grown into a fine man,” he said with a calm voice. “How are you doing, son? By the way I must say… I’m truly impressed by what you’ve built here. The designs, the systems, the team—everything is remarkable. You’ve really done well with your company.”Marvin didn’t say a word. He walked past his father without looking at him.“Follow me,” he said in a low, controlled tone.Mr. Richmond followed behind, still cradling the rabbit in one arm as they moved through the glass doors into Marvin’s private office.The newly refurbished room was large, modern, and f
