2025-03-30 01:06:40The morning was supposed to be like any other.
Joaquin woke up early, moving through his usual routine—shower, coffee, grabbing his keys from the counter.
But before he could step out the door, a heavy knock echoed through the apartment.
It wasn’t the casual knock of a neighbor.
It was firm. Purposeful.
A sound that made his stomach drop.
Joaquin opened the door.
Two uniformed police officers stood there, their expressions unreadable.
"Dr. Joaquin Lopez?" one of them asked.
Joaquin felt his pulse quicken, but he kept his face neutral
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Joaquin adjusted the collar of his coat as he stood outside the grand venue, staring up at the towering building before him. The banquet for the fifty remaining contenders of the Blue Tiger Ranking Competition was being held at a luxury estate—one reserved for elite sponsors and facilitators. Nothing about this place felt casual. Every inch screamed prestige, wealth, and quiet pressure.He wasn’t nervous. But he wasn’t calm, either.For the past two days, he had trained relentlessly at the Suarez estate—throwing punches, dodging blows, simulating combat over and over again with Rick and Cedrick. He barely slept. Barely ate. Not because of the competition—
Chapter 195: A Celebration
After the announcement, Joaquin returned to the Suarez estate. He decided to spend the next three days there to prepare for the upcoming stage. He was already thinking of a plan—how to get his ring back.“Well, congratulations to you, Joaquin! I knew you'd make it,” Miguel said, beaming. He sounded like a proud father celebrating his son’s success.He raised his wine glass.Joaquin gave a small smile and toasted with him.As a celebration of his victory, Miguel had prepared a dinner.Rick and Cedrick were also there to join them.Miguel sat at the center of the long dining table. His son sat to his right, while Joaquin sat to his left.
