Wayne didn't respond to Henry's statement but instead looked towards his son Mark. Mark was pale, his hands shaking. How could they be in such a horrible situation? "Mr. Henry, why are you doing this to us?" Wayne asked, trying to sound calmHenry shrugged. "I don’t care about your son or the cake. I just enjoy seeing you suffer. But I'll tell you what, Mr. Hilton. If your son licks the cake, I'll consider letting your family stay on the project. If not, I'll make sure that you never get any work in this town again."Wayne was at a loss for words. He knew that Henry had the power to do what he said. He also knew that he had to protect his family’s future. Most importantly, he hated himself for what he was about to do."Fine, we accept," Wayne said through gritted teeth. "Mark, do it quickly, and then we’re out of here.""But Dad," Mark whispered, his eyes filled with pain, anger, and shame. Wayne understood how Mark felt, and he felt the same way."Just do it, goddamnit!" Wayne said
Adam felt a surge of anxiety as he took a seat in one of the vacant chairs. He had thought that the Hunts were merely a prosperous business family, and that only Henry had any ties to the military. But he was clearly mistaken.Howard Hunt, clad in his military uniform, exuded authority and power, signaling his high position in the army. As all eyes in the room fixed on him, Adam felt his mouth go dry.Adam couldn't help but wonder what the Hunt family wanted from him. Was he in danger? He had never felt so out of his depth before.Howard leaned forward, his eyes bearing down on Adam. "You must be curious why we brought you here, Mr. Adam. But before we get to that, allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Howard Hunt, one of the top five generals of Zalia, and I owe you my life. If it weren’t for you, I would be dead by now."This revelation made Adam's heart stop. He was in the presence of one of the most powerful men in the country."I'm glad I could help, General," Adam said, fe
Howard and the others exchanged knowing glances, seemingly unsurprised. What they didn't know was that the person Adam spoke of didn't actually exist. Adam himself, he had fabricated this mentor to provide a logical explanation for the source of his abilities, and equally importantly, the mentor had to have a dark and mysterious background. This way, the other party will think twice about forcing him to do something, and at the same time, prevent them from having bad plans towards his family.As Howard absorbed this information, his brows furrowing slightly."So, who is this person that taught you?" he asked, a note of curiosity in his voice.Adam, realizing he couldn't reveal the mentor's nonexistence, replied with a thoughtful expression. "I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you his name. He’s a very private person who likes to keep a low profile."The room went quiet as Howard and the others nodded, seemingly buying Adam’s story.Adam kept his cool and added, "I hope you respect that. The
The beautiful woman spun around and marched towards them, her voice loud and annoyed. "Henry, what do you want now? I've had a long day and I need some rest. If you're going to introduce me to another one of your friends who thinks he can flirt with me, I swear I'll–"She cut herself off as she saw Adam standing next to Henry. He was dressed casually, but he looked stunning. His strong jawline was accentuated by the light, and his green eyes shone like emeralds under the chandelier.She felt her steps slow down as she approached them, her cheeks heating up slightly. She had met many handsome men before, but none of them had the same effect on her as Adam did."Who is this, Henry?" she asked, trying to sound casual, but her voice betrayed a touch of interest."This is Adam," Henry said, smiling broadly. "He's a friend, and I thought you two would get along well.""It's a pleasure to meet you, Adam," she said, extending her hand. "I'm Hazel."Adam, for his part, was also mesmerized by t
Hazel blushed a little, feeling embarrassed. "No, that's not what I meant. It's just that...well, you seem like you come from a different background, I guess."Adam nodded his understanding. "I see what you mean. But, yeah, I actually live around here. Well, not anymore. My family and I are going to stay in a hotel tonight. We're thinking of finding a new place to live tomorrow."Hazel was surprised to hear the news. "Oh, I see. Why is that?"Adam flashed her a smile, but kept his lips sealed.Hazel understood his hesitation to share, and she smiled back. "I get it. Sometimes, we need a fresh start in life. So, speaking of work, how did your meeting with the generals go?"Adam was really not interested in making small talk, but he couldn’t ignore the charm of a woman as gorgeous as Hazel. Adam replied briefly. "It was…good."Hazel arched an eyebrow at his ambiguous answer. “Just good? You don’t sound too enthusiastic.”Adam smiled. "Nothing too exciting, but necessary."Hazel nodded,
Hazel followed Adam into his modest house, feeling a pang of surprise at the sparse and simple interior. There was hardly any furniture, except for a few wooden chairs and a table, and the walls were bare of any decorations. It was clear that Adam and his family lived a frugal and unpretentious life, without much regard for wealth or luxury.Adam greeted his mother and younger sister, Rachel, who were waiting for them in the living room. He introduced Hazel as Henry's sister, and Hazel smiled politely at them. Rachel, a lively and curious girl, was instantly fascinated by Hazel's appearance and grace. She had planned to tease her brother about bringing a girl home, but when she realized that Hazel was related to the hero of the nation, she decided to behave herself.Hazel was touched by the warmth and hospitality of Adam's family. They offered her tea and snacks, and asked her about her life and interests. Hazel answered their questions honestly, without flaunting her status or achie
Lily was immersed in her own thoughts, enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the hotel lobby. She was jolted out of her reverie by a familiar voice that made her cringe. She looked up and saw Rachel standing in front of her, grinning widely. Lily felt a surge of annoyance that her peaceful moment had been interrupted. She glared at Rachel, her eyes showing her disdain."What do you want, Rachel? What are you doing here?" Lily snapped, her voice cold and harsh.Rachel’s smile faltered as she felt Lily’s hostility. She tried to act friendly and casual. "Oh, hi, Lily. I’m here with my brother. We’re staying at this hotel for the night. Can you believe it? My brother has a lot of money now."Lily was momentarily stunned by Rachel’s words, but then she scoffed. "Oh, really? How did he manage that? Did he scam someone out of it? Or did he sell his soul to the devil?"Rachel's eyes widened in shock at Lily's open hostility. She tried to defend her brother. "What are you talking about? My brother
Lily's mind was in chaos, knowing that she had made a terrible mistake. Everything happened too fast, but she wasn't a fool. She could see the power and influence that Hazel wielded. Hazel had casually called the CEO of the imperial hotel, and the CEO had immediately agreed to do whatever Hazel wanted. Lily realized that Hazel's status was no less than that of the CEO, and that she had no hope of escaping the consequences of her actions.As expected from the orders coming from Hazel. Lily barely had time to process the news when her manager’s voice rang in her ear. He coldly informed her that she was fired, effective immediately, and that she would not receive any severance pay or benefits for her years of service.Lily was devastated as she faced the scornful glare of the wealthy woman. She knew that no words of regret would soften her heart or spare her from the consequences. Lily felt a pang of panic as she whirled around and faced Adam, searching for a trace of the affection he