2023-11-20 12:10:00Abe sighed. “Ricardo knows nothing about business. He squandered the profits lavishly on parties and women. In one year, we were bankrupt. Ricardo sold GlobeMall to a billionaire and became a salaried caretaker of this establishment instead. He continues to incur losses, and I think the mini-mall will be shut down sooner than later.”
Tyler gritted his teeth. “Ricardo stole the place from my father and ran it into the ground! Tell me. Where can I find him?”Abe pointed to the third-floor arena. “Mr. Ricardo built an exclusive club up there. It’s frequented by many billionaire heirs. The club’s income is quite handsome, but he wastes all the profits on his extravagant lifestyle anyway.”Tyler nodded and turned to leave. “Alright. I will talk to him.”Abe held back the young man anxiously. “I know Mr. Ricardo wronged your father. But don’t go around offending him. He has over a dozen ferocious security guards around him at all times. Moreover, he has connections with the Cooper family. That man is not to be trifled with. You could lose your life!”“Thanks for your concern, Abe,” Tyler said, patting the middle-aged man’s shoulder. “But I am here just to talk. And remember, your loyalty will be rewarded.” Saying this, he ignored Abe’s warnings and stepped into the elevator.The third-floor arena was a large clubbing area with VIP tables and luxurious cabins. The charges were so high that only wealthy customers could indulge in bookings. It was an adult section, and therefore, both liquor and escorts were allowed, which attracted many billionaire scions.As Tyler stepped out of the elevator, two heavy-set bouncers stopped him. “Are you a janitor or what?” one of them asked threateningly. “What are you doing on this floor?”Tyler showed no emotion. “I am here to speak to Ricardo.”The bouncers raised their brows and began laughing. “Mr. Ricardo doesn’t talk to poor stragglers. Get lost!”The young man remained unfazed. “Tell him Tyler Grant is here to see him. I am the son of Hugh Grant, the previous owner of GlobeMall.”The guards chuckled again. “Are you drunk or what, kid? Do you claim to be the previous owner’s son? That’s hard to believe. By the looks of it, your father is probably a roadside beggar!”Tyler gritted his teeth, and his aura immediately spiked. The bouncers’ laughter abruptly subsided as the surrounding air thickened, and they felt suffocated.Just then, the sound of heels echoed. A young lady dressed in a conservative bodycon walked down the corridor. She was slender and yet voluptuous at the right places. Her hair was fashionably pinned in a hairdo, and light makeup lit up her otherwise angelic face. Tyler’s aura simmered on laying eyes on her.“What seems to be the problem, Marv?” she asked one of the bouncers. The duo straightened up and turned to the classy lady, who seemed to be their immediate boss.“Miss Mathews, this homeless person somehow barged into the mini-mall,” Marv replied. “He claims to be the previous owner’s son. We’re just laughing him off. You can join us.”The young woman was not impressed by the bouncers’ conduct. “Marv! Pat! Shame on you! It’s not your job to make fun of anybody! Even if he is a homeless person, he will listen to reason and leave.”The duo nodded reluctantly, and she turned to Tyler. “Hello. I am Yara Mathews, manager of this restricted VIP section. Please understand you can’t enter without a table reservation. All three of us will be fired if you do so. And the charges are too high for you to pay in this lifetime. If you want to meet Mr. Ricardo, you can wait outside the mini-mall. When he leaves for home, you might request an audience.”Yara’s professionalism impressed Tyler. Not only did she explain the issue properly, but she also tried hard not to be disrespectful. Tyler was going to barge in after demolishing the bouncers, but now he decided to play along.“How much does a table reservation cost?” he asked Yara. On hearing his words, Marv and Pat sniggered.“Miss Mathews, he’s wasting your time,” Pat urged.“Buddy, this is not a roadside hotdog joint where you can dine at a dollar’s cost,” Marv warned. “You better leave before we lose our temper!”Yara ignored the bouncers’ comments and answered Tyler’s question. “A reservation costs three thousand dollars only for entry. You’ll have to pay additional for other amenities and services. I hope you realize now that you can’t afford it.”Tyler scratched his beard, thinking for a moment. Then he fished in his pocket and retrieved the Guardian International Bank debit card he received from Butch Salvatore.He held it up to Yara with confidence. “I’d like to make a reservation.”
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The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 011 First Transaction
Yara raised an eyebrow in irritation. What was the stranger playing at? She had been considerate with him all along, explaining why he couldn't afford to enter the restricted club. Wasn't he now taking advantage of her kindness? She considered for a moment to expel him with the help of her bouncers.Yara had been raised by parents who held values and morals above everything else. Their conservative beliefs led to their social status remaining middle-class.Yara's parents could not provide their daughter with the best things in life. However, she never resented them for the modest upbringing. In fact, she was grateful.The principles helped Yara become self-dependent and uncompromising. Growing up, she sharpened her mind and enhanced her body to get ahead in the world.Yara was a model, a part-time hostess, and had already graduated from business school. However, her job applications to five-star hotels and top companies were rejected primarily because she had no references.Yara's coll
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 012 Take Me To Ricardo
Yara turned around with a look of disappointment. The stranger had turned out to be a fraud and pretender after all. Why did she have such unreal expectations?Marv and Pat sniggered and cracked their knuckles. They'd give the homeless man a beating before throwing him out."Why don't you try again," Tyler said, ignoring the advancing men. "Sometimes transactions don't go through."Yara pursed her lips. He wasn't wrong. It was actually her training to swipe up to three times if the customer insisted. She sighed and began the transaction again, entering $3000 as a charge.Beep! The transaction was successful!Yara turned around in surprise. Marv and Pat's faces looked like they were made of leather. Did the homeless man really have three thousand dollars? Was he going to dine in the restricted lounge?"Your table is booked for the night," Yara told Tyler with a charming smile. She was still reeling from the fact that the stranger possessed an active GIB card. How much money did he reall
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 013 The Bossman’s Arrogance
Ricardo shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. "I don't know this guy. Is he a janitor? I told you I can't pay any salaries this month. Get him out of my sight!"Yara took a deep breath. Ricardo had cited silly excuses to withhold staff salaries for the month. The truth was that most of the profits went into the purchase of illicit drugs, jewelry, and escort girls. There was barely anything left behind to pay the staff.Ricardo’s employees were disgruntled but were too scared to protest or approach him. Anybody with the Coopers' blessing was untouchable.Yara offered him a sharp reply. "Actually, this gentleman booked a table just to gain entry into the restricted section. He is intent on speaking to you."Ricardo raised an eyebrow and eyed the young man again. "Is that so? What do you want? Looking for drugs?"Tyler regarded the arrogant boss silently. "I am Tyler Grant. My father is Hughes Grant, the previous owner of GlobeMall. Do you remember who he is and what you put him throu
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 014 Ten Million Dollars!
Ricardo began laughing, and soon, his guards followed suit. Even some of the guests sniggered. The young man might be a good fighter, but by his looks, he was definitely not wealthy.“Is this guy drunk or delusional?” one of the regulars muttered. “Does he really think he can purchase a mall?”“His clothing suggests he doesn’t even have a few hundred dollars!”“I heard he spent all his life savings on booking a table. Now he thinks he can be the owner? What an ego trip of poverty!”“Does he even have money to rent a toilet?”“Are you out of your mind, kid?” Ricardo asked with a scoff. “Your father is a manual scavenger, and your house is a dog kennel. And yet, you claim to have enough money to purchase GlobeMall? Give me a break!”More laughter followed from the crowd. Yara glanced at Tyler, this time with pity. Why was he so intent on humiliating himself in public? Was beating down Ricardo’s guards, not a big enough victory?“Are you deaf or dumb?” Tyler retorted at the boss. His voic
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 015 Justice Served
Beep! Transaction successful!Yara turned to Tyler with a mixed expression of relief and admiration.“Congratulations, Mr. Tyler Grant. You are the new owner of GlobeMall! Mr. Carlisle will send you the papers shortly!”Tyler nodded at Yara and scanned the club. The crowd that had gathered around began gossiping spontaneously.“Whoa, is he secretly a billionaire?”“What kind of card allows a transaction of ten million?”“Is he a foreign investor?”“How could Ricardo be so wrong?”Even though most of the guests in the club’s restricted section were wealthy scions, they were shocked to see Tyler squander ten million dollars casually. Even their billionaire parents would think for days before risking such a staggering amount.Ricardo’s voice disrupted the crowd’s buzz. “I won’t let you do this!” he spat at Tyler. “Your pathetic father can’t have it back! No way!”A sharp smack echoed throughout the room. The former Bossman collapsed on the couch, clutching at his face in agony.Tyler had
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 016 Drugged To Die
Tyler rushed to the men's washroom, where a crowd had gathered, gossiping noisily. It's as if they were visiting a zoo."Oh no, such a young lad fell victim to addiction!""Whose son is he? Which billionaire family?""We've called an ambulance, but it doesn't seem the kid will survive."Tyler and Yara arrived and pushed through the crowd to find a pale boy sprawled on the bathroom floor. He was no older than eighteen and wore branded clothes.Yara knelt by him to check his pulse. Feeling nothing, she put an ear to his chest."I think he's dead," she announced to Tyler with a grimace. The crowd gasped and began buzzing again. Most of them were drunk and considered the tragic scene as dark entertainment.Tyler had been silent all along. Because he was observing the boy's medical condition with his Chiron's Eye. He diagnosed an overdose of a psychedelic drug called Lysergic Acid, otherwise known as LSD."This is not a circus! Clear out the washroom and lock it up!" he ordered. This surpri
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 017 Closed Gate
Tyler borrowed Yara's car for a few hours, leaving her in charge of GlobeMall. He also needed time to think things through.While he was leaving prison, Butch Salvatore assured he had no material gifts to give. Then what the hell was the overloaded GIB debit card? It had millions of dollars!How much was the actual balance on the GIB card? Did Butch consider millions of dollars as immaterial?Tyler browsed debit messages on his phone to find his account's balance, but the main balance was crossed out in the text. Were the numbers too confidential to be shown through messages?Tyler cast a glance at the boy reclining on the front seat. Tony Anderson slept like a log. It was expected since he had just been rescued from a fatal drug overdose.Tyler had purified his blood, but the process took a toll on Tony's frail body. Soon, he came to his senses and opened his eyes."What's going on?" Tony mumbled in confusion. "Who are you, and where are you taking me?"Tyler gestured to him to calm d
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 018 Marian Hotel
The phone rang so suddenly that both Jerry and Ned leaped in fright."It is the long ring!" Ned exclaimed, breaking into a sweat. The gate phone usually had short rings for communications with the hotel's security team. However, the long ring meant that the big boss was calling.Jerry pressed the receive button. "Hello? Mr. Anderson? This is Jerry from the main gate."Silas Anderson was on the other end and wasn't in a good mood. "I don't care what your name is. I just received a message that someone swiped the diamond access card. Who is it?"Jerry gulped anxiously. "Sir, please don't mind the notification. A bum who calls himself Tyler Grant found your lost diamond card. He tried to gain entry fraudulently. We've confiscated the card and will call the authorities right away. He'll be arrested for and thrown into prison."There was a suspenseful pause before Silas replied. "Fools!" he thundered. "Tyler Grant is my esteemed guest! Do you think I hand out diamond cards to every commone
Latest Chapter
251 Adultery
"What are you doing?" Tyler demanded, preparing for a fight. He detected no bloodlust, but the confrontation was unexpected.The beauty glanced at his face up close. "I'm doing what I came here to do, Tyler Grant. To take what is owed to me. Have you forgotten our promise?""What are you talking about? Our promise? I've never met you before!"Amelia disregarded his shock. Her hand moved to his face, and her soft fingers touched his rugged cheek. Something in Tyler allowed it. What was wrong with him suddenly? Why were his defenses down?"Listen, lady. I don't have the time—"Then, abruptly, the memory flooded into his mind. A blast from the past. He was probably younger than ten years.It was Christmas, and the boy wanted to purchase food from Mama's Bakery. Because of his disheveled appearance and lack of money, the obese guard turned him away with humiliation.Tyler was about to leave when a little ran outside the bakery, calling to him. She offered him a chocolate pastry.The boy d
250 Amelia
On hearing the lovesick words, Tracy's cheeks immediately turned red in embarrassment. "Oh… I'm so sorry…"Naturally, lovers separated by distance and time were forced to sacrifice their sexual urges. They would look for a chance to jump each other's bones during a reunion. Tracy was old enough to know that."Stupid, stupid me!" she blurted, evidently flustered. "You lovebirds need private time!" Before leaving, Tracy whispered to her brother, "Good choice, bro. You knocked it out of the park. Amelia is a keeper. Don't let her escape."Tyler pursed his lips. "Don't worry. I won't let her escape so easily," was the rather morbid reply.Once Tracy exited the bakery, Tyler sat across the table and gave the stranger a piercing gaze."Who are you?" he asked bluntly. "What do you want from me?""And what was that lover's farce about? I don't know any Amelia! I've never heard or seen you before."In response, the exotic beauty stood to her full height gracefully. She was in a black, trendy
249 The Stranger
Tyler met Derek Sentinel at the junction of Bakery Alley in West Sapphire. As soon as the young man saw her sister's boyfriend, he grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into an electric pole."You swore to protect my sister! Why did you leave her alone?! Where were you when she was taken?"The wind was knocked out of Derek. He took the punishment without complaints and instead lowered his face in shame.Earlier, the Indigo Captain had received a call from Tyler demanding he come to Bakery Alley immediately. Apparently, Tracy's life was in danger, and it was because of his stupidity."Did the cat get your tongue?!""Sir…" Derek groaned. "I was with Tracy when the stranger arrived and invited her to this location. Your sister insisted it was a private meeting between women; therefore, men weren't allowed. She wouldn't listen to me at all!""You know how stubborn your sister is. Moreover, the stranger claimed she was your close acquaintance. My hands were tied."Tyler let the man go bu
248 The New World Order
The conference room echoed with tunes. The perplexed dignitaries whipped out their devices and began answering the calls and reading the messages."What?! The child trafficking group was wiped out?""I don't believe this! The bombs were found, and the terrorists surrendered?""The hijacked plane was returned?""The workers in the collapsed mine were rescued?" "The hostages are back home?""The humanitarian supplies were recovered?"Apparently, all the problems the elite members had stated had already been solved! They looked at each other in utter disbelief, trying to understand what was going on.It was time for Yara to speak up. "Respected dignitaries! Let me illuminate you about what happened! Lord Tristan fixed your problems while you were on your way from your nations! This is how capable he is.""What? Impossible!""That's inconceivable!""Is Lord Tristan really that powerful?""His scale of operations is even grander than Lord Butch!"The grateful members turned towards Tyler
247 The Elite Conference
The dignitaries in the conference room came from all over the world—Europe, China, Russia, India, Japan, and so on. They were CEOs of multinationals, government officials, and even from international agencies.As soon as Yara announced Tyler's new alias—Tristan Salvatore, the room became flooded with gossip and whispers. The members exchanged surprised glances and even voiced their confusion."Miss Mathews!" the representative from China began. "With due respect. We accepted your invitation because we were promised an audience with Lord Butch Salvatore. We've met him before, and he is a much older man."The others nodded in agreement. "We do not recognize Lord Tristan, regardless of him being related to the man we seek.""Moreover, we usually meet in the Salvatore Estate. Why are we at Emperor's Cove in Sapphire City?"Yara offered the group a professional smile and stepped forward. "I regret to inform you that the Lord Salvatore you knew passed away a few months back. His unfortunate
246 The New Lord
Tyler pursed his lips, feeling guilty all over. "But I will help you find the perfect bridegroom!" he added quickly. "My job is to protect you, and I won't let any random guy become your husband!"Michelle raised her streaming eyes slowly. She was still weeping, but a bitter smile appeared on her face. "Thanks! I'm grateful! Please don't leave my side, ever!"Tyler wiped a tear off her cheek affectionately. He pulled out a handkerchief and raised her chin. "I won't. Now, stop crying like a baby. You are the future Queen of Petra! Don't let others see your weaknesses!"Michelle took the hanky and kissed it lovingly. "May I keep it?"The young man chuckled and turned to leave. "Of course. Now go and inform the High Council that you are ready for the royal banquet. As the Princess of Petra, you have a reputation to uphold. I will see you next during that event."Michelle nodded obediently and watched the man walk away. Tyler approached the terrace railing, leaped over it, and disappeared
245 The Proposal
Tyler was utterly tongue-tied for a few moments. What did the Douglas heiress just say? She wanted to marry him?The young man knew Michelle for a short time. But he always saw her as a little girl. Tyler's sole inclination was to protect her. That would also align with the late Prince of Petra's wishes.However, the Princess' proposal to marry him and become the King of Petra was astounding. He had no idea she thought about him that way."Michelle…" Tyler began. "Is this a prank?"The girl joined her hands against her heart and stepped closer to him. "I love you, Tyler Grant! Please become my husband and my King. I will make you very happy!"The young man chuckled nervously. "This is ridiculous! You cannot be serious!"The Princess peered into his eyes with passion. "I have never been more serious in my life."Tyler sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I cannot accept that proposal. I have never seen you that way."Michelle's smile faltered, and she bit her lip, visibly hurt. "Is i
244 King And Queen
Michelle tugged at Terence’s sleeve. “Terry… You’re making a big mistake… Don’t make Tyler angry… He is very powerful… It won’t end well…”“Please stay out of this, Princess. Whatever tricks this lout has been playing on you, I will put an end to them today. Let me handle the fraud. I will arrest and put him in prison!”Tyler crossed his arms and took a deep breath. “Okay, I don’t have time for your nonsense. So, let’s settle this quickly. If any of you can pull your trigger, I will surrender and ask for forgiveness.”Terence eyed the man in confusion for a moment, then laughed aloud. “Do you have a death wish? So be it!”He turned to the other guards and pointed at Tyler. “Men! Open fire at him!”“NOOO!” Michelle screamed. She tried to rush forward, but the others had formed a barrier.Whoosh! It appeared as if a sharp gust of wind blew against the men. Tyler’s image seemed to disappear for a second and then reappear.A second later, the entire royal guard found themselves on the ter
243 The Crimson Captain
One of the three Crest estates of Sterling Hill was Monarch Hall. It was across the river from Tyler’s Emperor’s Cove.Monarch Hall differed from the other two estates in that it was built two centuries ago. It was an imposing structure designed like a fortress, with turrets, towers, and battlements reminiscent of medieval times.The royal family of Petra owned Monarch Hall. The late Lord Malcolm barely ever visited it. However, after the latter’s passing, his granddaughter, Michelle, vacated the Douglas Mansion and moved to Sterling Hill.It was believed that the Princess made this decision on the advice of her dying grandfather. Malcolm was on his deathbed when he summoned Michelle and warned her she was surrounded by enemies on all sides.“Stay close to Mr. Grant…” the old man said. “He rescued you once and will protect you in the future. He is the only man I trust.”Malcolm referred to the incident when a demon abducted Michelle the previous year. She was taken to the dungeons, wh
