2025-01-11 01:33:57Jason did not realize how much time he had spent under the drizzling shower as he turned it off and proceeded to dry his body with a rag-like brownish white towel abandoned for his own personal usage.
‘Beggars ain't choosers’, he thought as he recalled the fast-paced episode he was casted in few minutes earlier. His wife was the female lead, the villain in his story since 3 years ago. It began at exactly 6:54 AM when Diane couldn't hold it in any longer. Her ‘uplifting’ early morning monologues of his extent of uselessness which had replaced his cup of iced Americano coffee served cold were enacted just like he hated them. He should have gotten used to it by now but his mind is set on the notion that she'll change for good. ‘Once I get my promotion as the head deliverer. More money, more time for Dee and my Ria Thered be enough for a trip to Miami Beach for Dee's birthday She'd be happy. We'll be happy. One big happy family again I should take a loan to get a house in her name. That should make us work again.’ He thought while smiling wearily He was suddenly brought back to life by a furious knock on the bathrooms door ‘Jason! Some of us have well-paying jobs to go to for Petes sake!’ Danny half screamed from the other side of the door. Danny was his sister in-law's 36 years old husband, a total opposite of what he is. 6 feet pale skin Adonis with frizzled blond hair and icy blue eyes. He was the head product and project manager at Fickle Minds and Arty. Danny had been in town for a couple of weeks supervising a huge project under the franchise of his employers company. Most days, he was mostly out of the house but on days when he has less to do, he finds pleasure in just two things, ‘Watching soccer and broke-shaming Jason. ‘Maybe if you pay more attention to your job like you do to your scrawny skin, you'd have bought the whole city by now, fool! ‘ Danny said with disgust. Jason hurriedly wore his faded pajamas and opened the door to the sight of a half-dressed Danny with a disdainful smirk on his face as he watched Jason walked towards his bedroom before he entered the bathroom to carry out his own daily routine. ‘Technically’, he thought, ‘i'ts my wife's bedroom.’ He hurriedly picked out a grey t-shirt and a pair of black trouser from his section of the wardrobe which was shoved into one of the four corners of the room. His section was more like next to the heap of used clothes dumped in the lowest section of the wardrobe. He often tried his best to straighten out his clothes in folds every time he does his laundry but they always manage to end up under the piles of dirty clothes used by his wife and daughter. As he pulled his shoes from beneath the bed, he noticed that the soles had flattened out badly and he needed to buy another one. As he sat on the edge of the bed to put on his trousers, his eyes met with the face of the clock. 7:30 AM?!, he screamed as he saw the time. ‘I'm late for work!', he thought frantically as he hurriedly put on his clothes and shoes. He quickly made his way to the dining table to eat his breakfast but he met nothing on the table. ‘She must have gotten so busy in the kitchen Ria is already a handful for a 5 years old child.’, he thought. 'Dee!', He called out with a sultry tone 'Is my breakfast ready?', he asked and listened for a response which he did not get. 'Dee...', he called out again ‘Stop calling me that annoying name for goodness sake!' She yelled from the kitchen. ‘I'm so sorry. I just wanted to ask about my breakfast', He said ‘Sit down dear. I'll bring it to you', she said with a sweet voice which surprised Jason. ‘Thank Goodness… She’s no longer in a foul mood.', he thought As he made to sit on one of the intricately designed vintage dining chairs, Danny emerged from his bedroom to the dining table. Immediately Danny saw Jason, he looked at him scornfully, as he sat on one of the chairs. Emerging from the kitchen with two plates, Diane placed one in front of Danny and the other in Jasons front. She hurried back to the kitchen as her husband made to open the covered plate as Danny had already opened his. Diane suddenly halted and turned back to look at Jason. With a sinister smile emerging on her face, she watched as he picked up the spoon and removed the cover. Again for the second time Nothing stared into his face. What jolted him to reality was his wife's evil cackling laughter which was complemented by Danny's equally menacing devilish laughter. 'No food for a lazy man', Danny mouthed as he continued with his meal of fried bacon and corn. Still holding the spoon in his left hand, he watched as his wife continued to laugh at him. ‘I just need to earn more. I'm not lazy. I'm trying my best.’, he thought with tears stinging his eyes ‘Lazy, clueless man! Who in her right senses would waste her time, money and energy to cook for you?', She said as she stopped laughing. 'You are not even ashamed that you want to eat out of your wife's parent's food.', She hissed. Emerging from her grandparent's bedroom, Ria who was obviously still halfway in dreamland while still wearing cute pyjamas with Minnie mouse pictures plastered in different part of the fabric, staggered to where her Father was and proceeded to sit on his thighs. The sight of his daughter relieved him of the ‘energy draining vampires' for a moment. 'Hey sweetheart, good morning.' He said staring at her lovingly. ‘I did not watch Cocomelon before I slept off', Ria replied with an innocent voice. ‘Don't worry, you'll watch it today', he assured her. 'Daddy', she called 'Yes, Cupcake', Jason replied while smoothing out her scattered blonde hair. ‘Where is your food?’, She asked while playing with his fingers 'Dad is done eating', Sweetheart, Diane replied before Jason could ‘Yes and I have to go to work now. Daddy should not be late.’, he said as he lifted her off his laps. Obviously feeding off his innocent daughter's bubbly energy, Jason rose and picked up his scooter's key and proceeded to walk his daughter while holding her hand to the kitchen. 'Remember Cupcake, Daddy loves you so much Dee, I'm off to work... I love you’ Totally ignoring his presence, she looked at her daughter and held out her arms for a big ‘wakey bear hug’ like they called it. ‘Good morning, Love. Your munchy fruity milky pop is ready. Go bring your chair and I'll feed you.’, Dee said lovingly ‘Okay mummy!’, Ria said excitedly as she ran towards the sitting room. Seeing as he is being ignored, Jason made to leave for work. ‘Daddy!’ Ria called as he opened the door ‘When am I going back to school like Amelia and Owen?’ She asked with a sad tone ‘Very soon, Ria. Very soon.’ He answered as though he was reassuring himself. ‘Very soon. Head deliverer. More time. More money. One big happy family.', he thought ‘Okay daddy. I love you so much’, Ria replied as she dragged her small chair on the wooden floor towards the kitchen ‘I love you too, Ria. Be a good girl’, Jason said as he exited the house and turned right towards the garage. He knew that he was already late and trouble was hovering ahead because his boss had suddenly turned a new leave, a very bad one, he thought. ‘Not good for a Thursday morning. But I'll be fine... Surely.’ He reassured himself as he hopped on his scooter and rode out of the courtyard out onto the street to Xavi's Cafe and fillings, his worst nightmare and right now, his only saving grace.
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It was already few minutes past 8AM when Jason reached Xavi Cafe and fillings. He knew he was late and had to face his boss and not the present head deliverer, Jones. Jones was a 65 years old Irish-Latino sturdy man who looks like he took 20 years off his age with his pinkish baby like skin, grey iris and black hair. Jason believes that Jones understood him better than anyone else.‘I know I'm safe with him. I hope he is able to convince the boss.', Jason thought as he drove into the garage. As soon as he parked his scooter in the general section, he spotted his boss' car in the reserved corner his brain sent a shiver down his spine. He felt a throbbing pang in his heart as he turned off the ignition. He harbored the thought that he might one day have a cardiac arrest as a result of the shocks his heart receive from the fear of his boss. He had secretly hoped that his boss would not be at work so early.‘Past 8 isn't so early if you asked me’, he reminded himself. ‘Well, here goes not
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 3
After the first 3 rounds of delivery, the delivery van started emitting thick smoke from the exhaust pipe as he made his way back to pick up the next batch of pastries and beverages. ‘This Thursday sure has something up its sleeves.’ Jason thought wearily and felt obligated to report the boss directly as he had been instructed to do so whenever the vehicles develop hiccups.As soon as he parked the van and made his way to his boss's office, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand in their roots. Jason had learnt to pay attention to this rush of dread but at that moment he had zeroed in his mind on what he had to do.‘Yo man! What's up with the van?’, The 6 feet tall brown skin security guarding the parking lot asked approached the van.‘I really don't know.’ Jason replied dismissively as he exited the van.‘You should be careful with our boss's babies. He doesn't like them bothered.’ The well- built and taller security with a strong German look and accent chipped in. ‘You shou
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‘Watch out man!’ Iglesias called out behind Jason as he almost bumped into one of the waiters exiting the kitchen with a breakfast box. Jason heard nothing. All he wanted to do was flee. It was not until he exited the building through the back door that he realized that his keys were not in his pocket and he was still wearing his work clothes. ‘I’d rather dump them in a trashcan rather than return them anyways.’, he thought.He had momentarily forgotten what he had just witnessed as the ache in his head made it difficult for his thoughts to conjure. Jason whimpered as he felt his head throbbing as the scene and exchange of dialogues came rushing back. He felt his stomach churn as though he was hungry and nauseous at the same time. As he held unto the delivery boxes stacked by the door in order to relief himself of his aches, he heard the door open behind him. He did not turn because he knew that whosoever it could be was probably out to mock him. Then he heard the familiar voice
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 5
Dee thought she was glad that he was nowhere to be found 3 days after the incident but by the sunset of the third day, she could feel her anxiety level spike up beyond what she could control without her medications. Her anxiety issues which got diagnosed when she was 16 years old had worsened over the years until she met Jason. She was almost 22 years old when she met him and just 2 days before her 23rd birthday, she discovered she was pregnant with Ria. Since that day, her breakdowns occasionally made its grand appearance whenever she’s extremely stressed. ‘Where is he… where is he… where is he… where is Jason?’, She whispered repeatedly as she paced around her bed while pulling at her hair unconsciously. She stopped suddenly in the middle of the room while staring into the wall as the feeling descended on her again felt as though her throat was closing up as she felt the floor beneath her feet quake slowly. As Dee struggled to steady her feet while reaching for the bed, she heard
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The funeral house was located at the southern end of the Catholic Mid-west district church. Neither Jason nor his wife was a devoted church goer but as the church owned the only funeral house which was allowed to exist in the southern province of Arkwrath, it made sense to bury the deceased in the ways of the people. The way of the people required the widow of the deceased to be present during the funeral ceremony at the church but not at the graveyard during the burial. Even though Dee had never regarded black as a colour fit for her body, she was shrouded in a knee-length black silk dress flattering her hourglass figure at the funeral with a tiny shawl hanging loosely on her shoulders. The funeral ceremony was packed with people she could not recall knowing or seeing until that day especially the several men who were all suited up. Dee was too lost in the myriad of the thoughts of losing her husband and the euphoria of false freedom she knew she never wanted when she was called to
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Dee woke up in her bed with a throbbing ache in the right side of her head which made her wince inaudibly as she struggled to open her eyes. The curtains of her room had been left wide open and she could see the sun setting across the horizon. She had always loved watching the sunset especially when she sits by the pool of hers’ and Jason’s mansion which they lost to a deadly loan shark whose constant threat made them escape the city for her parents’. Jason had however never provided her with answers to the question of what he used the money for. She closed her eyes again as she felt the numbing ache returning with extra throbs. Dee caught herself drifting into dreamland again until she felt something warm snuggling close to her body. She instantly opened her eyes and turned her head to check what it was. It was then that she realized that Ria was sleeping beside her on the bed. She wondered why Ria was sleeping beside her as she rarely sleeps in the room with her without her father
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 8
Sidney, who was coincidentally the doctor assigned to Dee told her that she was indeed pregnant. He confirmed that it was the pregnancy coupled with stress that succeeded in shutting her body down several times. She, however, did not react in any way to the news as it merely confirmed her fears. She knew she could not tell Danny as he was not interested in having a child as he wanted to be hundred percent child-free. Telling her sister, she knew will spell doom for the whole family and ruin her sister’s happy marriage. Dee wanted an easy way out. As soon as Dee left the hospital after 6 days of medical care and attention, she began to seek the easy ways out of a lifetime burden and the evidence of her unfaithfulness. She knew Jason would automatically be identified father of the baby but a living being had to take responsibility because she knew she was too broke to cater for a pregnancy talk more of a child. ‘ZacXavi is the easy way out.’, she thought as she picked up her phone l
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 9
His eye lids felt as though they were glued to his eyeballs as they have stayed shut since he became conscious enough to realize that he had been trying to open them. The more he tried, the more he realized that it was a futile effort. Jason felt trapped in some place, something as small and stuffy as a shoe box. The air around him was hot, too hot that he felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness despite his struggle to stay awake. As he struggled desperately to free himself from whatever was holding him captive, he felt his body sprawling out effortlessly onto a softer platform. It was at this point that he felt his head spinning; more like his whole body was tied to a spinning wheel. Then, it stopped. Everything stopped again as he felt his whole body been stuffed into a much smaller box and space again. …The doctor was sited behind his table which was crowded by several medical books, hospital records and a hospital file named ‘X-Classified’ printed beneath ‘ARKWRATH H
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CHAPTER 52
Olivia was already drained by the end of the evening. She had spent the night engaging in spontaneous, high-stakes conversations with everyone Jason had met, responding to their questions, trying to fit into a world where she wasn’t quite sure where she belonged. It had been exhilarating, but now, as she slid into the car beside Jason, she felt every ounce of fatigue in her body. The moment the door closed behind them, Olivia leaned her head against the cool glass, closing her eyes for a moment of quiet. She had assumed they were headed back to his mansion, or perhaps to one of the hotels Jason now owns. After all, this night was all about Jason, wasn’t it? The thought of him heading back to the solitude of his father's mansion didn’t even cross her mind.But as she began to drift into a light sleep, the sudden jolt of the car’s movement woke her from her slumber. Her eyes fluttered open, the grogginess clouding her thoughts.Jason, sensing her waking, leaned over and whispered softl
CHAPTER 51
Olivia couldn’t tear her gaze away from him, though she tried. His mysterious aura seemed to pull at something deep within her, a mix of curiosity and… caution. She’d seen him speak to countless people tonight, his words measured, his movements precise, and that mask, that damned mask, seemed to make him even more enigmatic.. A part of her wanted to unravel the mystery of him, to know what lay beneath that mask, beneath the layers he so carefully kept hidden. But she wasn’t sure if she was prepared to face whatever truths he kept locked away.She sighed, pushing the thoughts aside. Her focus should have been on the room, but instead, it kept returning to Jason, his gaze, the way his presence shifted the energy in the space. He wasn’t just another man; he was dangerous in the most captivating way.Across the room, Jason was deep in conversation with Mary Laston, the CEO of L'ton Industries. A woman who seemed to consume power with every breath she took. Mary was the kind of woman who
CHAPTER 50
The grand hall of ArkWrath Manor buzzed with a quiet, but palpable, tension. Guests milled about in the sea of glimmering gowns and sharp tuxedos, the air thick with whispered conversations and unspoken alliances.At the center of it all stood **Olivia**, her pixie cut framing her sharp, determined features. Gone was the girl who had entered the ArkWrath empire mere months ago, uncertain and unnoticed. In her place was a woman who carried herself like she owned every inch of the room. The dress Jason had selected for her tonight—a fitted midnight black silk gown, velvet and flowing, with lace embroidery along the hem—was breathtaking. The long slit up the side of the gown allowed her to move like a shadow, fluid and untouchable. Jason ArkWrath—president of the entire ArkWrath empire—had, according to the press, chosen wisely. Jason appeared at her side again, his deep-set eyes hidden behind a black and gold mask that matched his dark tailored suit perfectly. There was a certain wild
CHAPTER 49
The night had finally arrived. The city of ArkWrath buzzed with anticipation as the opening chords of a new era played out in the luxurious ballroom of the ArkWrath estate. The welcoming party was not just an event—it was a statement. Every detail, every glance exchanged, every whispered word carried weight. Jason stood before the large mirror in his suite, his father’s new butler—a tall, perfectly composed man named Benet—having finished the final adjustments to his attire. Jason’s tuxedo was tailored to perfection, black as the night with gold accents that subtly hinted at the opulence of the ArkWrath legacy. His mask, a work of art, rested over his face, hiding his expression from the world. The ArkWrath family did not simply walk into a room; they commanded it. And tonight, Jason was going to make sure the world saw him as more than just a name—he was the face of this empire. He barely noticed Benet fussing with his cufflinks, his mind preoccupied with the events to come. His f
CHAPTER 48
Jason stood by the grand windows of his mansion, the floor-to-ceiling glass offering him a sweeping view of Arkwrath serene coastline. The sun was just beginning to set, casting its golden light across the shimmering water. This mansion was the perfect place for power players like himself to keep their secrets hidden. But secrets, as Jason had come to learn, were never fully hidden. They had a way of bubbling up, especially when you had too many people to trust.His father’s call had come just two days ago, and now, with the welcoming party drawing near, Jason was still grappling with the weight of the conversation. Winston, his father, had been unusually insistent that Jason make time to visit Aunt May. The invitation was personal, informal, and in Jason's eyes, fraught with potential complications."Aunt May insists on cooking for you," Winston had said, his voice gruff but warm. "She wants to meet the man who's taken over everything that once belonged to her husband. I understand
CHAPTER 47
As the day wore on, Olivia couldn’t help but feel the weight of it all. She had no idea how much her life would change from this point forward, but one thing was certain: she was now part of Jason’s world. And as much as she tried to deny it, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder what else lay behind that mask, behind that calm, composed exterior. She would have to learn to navigate this world, to keep her emotions in check. But deep down, she knew the hardest part would be keeping her growing attraction to Jason hidden. Because no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t deny the undeniable pull he had on her. And that terrified her more than anything else..Olivia stared at her phone, her eyes scanning the schedule once again. The calendar she’d just synced with Jason's was now filled with precise, almost meticulous details of her upcoming days. There were meetings, appointments, tasks—all arranged with an efficiency that left no room for ambiguity. As she went through the events, o
CHAPTER 46
Olivia had returned to her seat and she didn’t trust him. Not yet. But as Jason’s fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, she realized that her choice was already made. She had no other option but to trust him, at least for now.Again, Olivia sat in the uncomfortable silence of the room, her eyes darting between Jason and the space around them. There was an air of discomfort about the situation, a palpable tension that seemed to follow Jason wherever he went. He was different from the man she had first met—different from the son of Arkwrath who had been an unspoken legend. Jason was no longer just a figure in the shadows of his father’s empire; now, he was its heart, and every action he took seemed deliberate, controlled, and... unsettling.She had tried to understand him in the moments she spent around him, but now, in this office—his domain—it felt like the game had just begun. Jason didn’t seem like the kind of person to make idle conversation. He spoke when he needed to, and when
CHAPTER 45
Olivia sat across from Jason, her mind racing as she observed his every move. He was different now, no longer the man she had once seen in passing, no longer the son of the man who had ruled the empire with unyielding control. Jason was the empire now. And Olivia couldn't help but wonder: was this his true nature? Or was it all an elaborate façade? His calculated demeanor, the coldness with which he spoke, it was as if everything was part of a game—a game she didn’t fully understand but would soon be forced to play.Jason’s gaze never wavered as he stared down at the screen of his laptop, the soft glow illuminating his sharp features. His presence in the room was suffocating even. He exuded an energy that made everything else seem insignificant. Olivia shifted in her seat, feeling like an intruder in this vast, cold office.Then, just as she thought she had figured out his demeanor, he spoke again, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.“You’re going to start living with
CHAPTER 44
Jason stepped out of the elevator and into the atrium of the Arkwrath Tower. The faint hum of the city outside echoed in the massive glass windows, but inside, there was nothing but silence and the sense of impending change. The air seemed thicker, charged with a subtle tension as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for him to take the first step into his new role. As he crossed the polished marble floors, his heels clicking against the surface, a realization hit him. This was it. This was the moment. He wasn’t just stepping into his father’s shoes—he was claiming the throne. He was no longer the son of the man who had once built the empire; he was the emperor now. And whether he liked it or not, the world was going to watch him. His every move, every decision, would be scrutinized. Agreed with, disagreed with, criticized, and most of all, gossiped about. Jason had always known this would come. But now, as he entered his father’s old domain, there was a tangible weig