"Wow!" Chloe exclaimed. "This suite is like a dream come true!" The furniture was modernistic, with luxurious lounges and spa tables. Finger foods and a choice of drinks were available at their tables. Attendants arrived at the press of a button with warm towels and compliments.Carol and Chloe giggled excitedly when the anchor announced that Haley B would arrive on stage in a few minutes. The duo had a marvelous view of the center stage from the private suite.The crowd erupted as Haley B walked into the spotlight. She wore a red sequin gown that almost looked fluid under the neon lights. Her hairstyle had a Hellenistic look about it, matching her fluid clothes and red shoes.The star celebrity smiled at the crowd and looked toward the patron suites. "Tonight, I reminisce about my reason for being alive," she said, and the audience simmered down. "I dedicate this song to my one true love…"People gasped and broke into chatter. Was Haley B speaking symbolically, or was she going to con
Victor's bike sputtered to a halt outside his home. He lived in a two-bedroom house in a peaceful locality. The neighborhood was modest and was primarily inhabited by salaried workers. It was the best he could afford with his savings.The living room lights were on, which meant Carol was already home. Victor sighed in relief, hoping the bitterness between husband and wife was finally over. However, the vehicle parked outside triggered him immediately. It was a familiar Mercedes car. "Goddammit!'Victor parked his bike in a temper and rushed towards the porch. Just then, the front door opened, and James Colbert walked out with Carol. "Thanks, sweetheart. We'll do this another time," the billionaire said, planting a kiss on Carol's hand. Victor's jaw clenched. "What are you doing here, Colbert? Didn't I warn you to stay away from my wife? Get your hands off her!"While James took a step back in surprise, Carol came to his defense. "Victor! Why do you have to be so rude to him? He came h
Victor's features softened. His eyes found the kitchen table where a hot dinner was served. She had cared enough to cook for her husband tonight. He returned to his senses, and a profound wave of regret filled him. Victor realized he had vented the entire day's stress on his wife. The fight with Monolith goons, the tussle with concert guards, and the torture by his in-laws—the whole sequence of events had drained him mentally. And Carol almost paid the price for it. An innocent soul like her did not deserve such treatment. "I don't know what came over me," Victor said, releasing her.Carol didn't make any eye contact with her husband. "I think you should sleep in the guest bedroom from today onwards," she said before leaving the kitchen.Victor freshened up, had some dinner, and settled into bed. He checked his phone for messages. There were many updates from Clive Baron, Edward Shannon, and Alan. The company merger and project planning were going smoothly. Victor found a new messag
Dr. Hodge stared at Victor in disbelief. He gulped anxiously, trying to process the man's threats. Did the man claim he'd topple the hospital's owners? And that he would wreck Hodge's life? Why did Victor Damone talk as if he was some bigshot? Or was he just a crazy person rambling nonsense? Victor appeared to be in his mid-twenties, sporting an overnight stubble. However, he was tall and fit with a soldier's look, and his words carried authority. The young man's confidence was so unwavering that Hodge was almost shocked into silence.In a trustee meeting, James Colbert explained to him how Edgar's grandson was close to bankruptcy without job prospects. He also warned that Victor might cause disturbances because of his quick temper. This recollection gave the old doctor some hope and courage.James had asked him to endanger Edgar's life so nobody would suspect foul play. In return, he'd be awarded deeds to an estate in the countryside. The Colberts owned quite some land in the city an
Hodge was shocked into silence, and he took a seat. His cell phone rang. The pudgy doctor saw the caller ID and asked aloud, "Why is the Chairman of the Hospital Board calling me at this odd time?""The show begins now," Victor said ominously.Hodge gulped anxiously and received the voice call. "Hello, sir? Can I call you back since I am in the middle of surgery," he lied."Shut your big fat mouth, Hodge!" the Chairman barked. "Put me on speaker!" The Director did so."First of all, about the idiotic head nurse, Emma... She is fired!"Emma gasped and covered her mouth. Victor's threat came true!"Sir… Why are you firing her all of a sudden?" Hodge blabbered. "I can vouch for her competence and integrity.""I told you to shut your trap, Hodge!" the Chairman thundered. "Think about your situation first! You're fired from the position of Hospital Director! I've submitted to the State Medical Board to suspend your practicing license!""Wh-what happ-ened, sir?" the fat doctor stuttered, col
Victor took his time to appoint a new Board of Directors for Springfield Global Hospital. Clive Baron sent him a list of eligible candidates, and Victor interviewed them before deciding. He chose those known for their humanitarian activities and had impeccable records.One of the talented staff, Chief Resident Lou Kramer, was elevated to Medical Director. He found a suitable person to fill the Head Nurse position. Only after ensuring Edgar's absolute security and comfort did Victor leave the hospital.It was already late at night when Clive came to pick him up. "Sir, you caused massive ripples throughout the city today," he said, watching his master in the rearview mirror. "The news about the storm at Springfield Global Hospital spread like wildfire. Nobody had ever imagined that the entire management of a reputed organization would be overhauled within hours. People here are acquainted with a certain way of life and are resistant to change. Therefore, such a dramatic event has shocke
"Roger Smith," Dave replied in a defeated voice. "Do you remember him? He was prom king and dated the hottest girls in school." Victor indeed remembered Roger Smith. He was a condescending jerk from a well-to-do family. Most of the girls were crazy about him back in the school days because of his carefree attitude. Since the boy showed promise in his studies, he went on to work a cushy job in the corporate sector."Is he already wealthy enough to purchase such an expensive property?" Victor asked. Roger's background was affluent, but Prince County land prices were too high even for someone like him. Only bigwigs like Clive Baron and Claire Holt could consider the purchase without denting their savings.Dave sighed. "No, he's not buying it for himself. Roger is an executive in a big company and is scouting on their behalf." "Then what is the issue?""Roger says he is interested in the villa but needs some convincing. I hope you can talk to him since you are quite persuasive. You were
The Mayfair Lagoon was Springfield's most sophisticated hotel. It was built in 1934 by a French architect. The Holt family took over the establishment ten years back and renovated it into a world-class hotel. Today, it was the hotspot of wealth and power in Springfield, frequented by billionaires and celebrities alike. Daphne walked into the main lobby and gasped in surprise. "This place is so beautiful..." The Mayfair Lagoon had the old-world charm of Hollywood with its Persian rugs, taxidermy, and plush velvet armchairs. Uniformed bellhops stood in attention or moved around holding luggage. Lara covered her mouth and wowed everything she saw. "I heard the fifteenth floor is called the Executive Floor and is mostly reserved for top-notch billionaires and celebrities. People like us are not allowed up there. One day when I become a famous actress, I'll book a table all by myself."Roger Smith walked ahead, his chest swelling in pride. "You won't have to wait that long, Lara. I'll bo
Victor checked the time on his Cartier watch. It was a Valentine's gift from Eva. He wondered what she'd be doing right now—probably still awake, waiting for her lover. Even though the duo were intimate just a few hours ago, he already missed her warm, slender body., and her naughty smile.Victor had spent all night hunting down criminals—drug peddlers, child traffickers, rapists, and burglars. They were petty offenders but still made Springfield unsafe. He would be back home already if he hadn't followed Kate to the abandoned asylum."First things first, Raven," Victor began. "Why did you call me a monster? What was that uncalled-for outburst all about?"Kate crossed her arms and gave him a quizzical look. Did Roadkill seriously not know? Was the psychopath clueless about his own murderous tendencies?"I will not fall for that," she replied defensively. "You're trying to find whether I have gathered any evidence to incriminate your brutalities. Once you know everything, it will be co
Kate's grip loosened a bit on her knives. Did the stranger say he was Roadkill? Why was the name so familiar? A moment's reflection brought back her doubts and anxiety.Of course! The poster vigilante, Roadkill! He was so popular among the youth that cosplayers dressed up as him in comic-con. Teen girls loved him so much they got the tattoo 'R' over objectionable parts of their bodies. There were steaks and drinks named after him!Kate ground her teeth in disgust. The Raven used to be Springfield citizens' poster heroine and sole protectress. That ended when Roadkill arrived. However, the female vigilante wasn't really upset that he stole the limelight from her. She was more disturbed by how he did it.Kate went through the newspaper articles, online blogs, and witness reports of cases in which Roadkill was involved. Even though the police department publicly denounced him, they made no attempts to curb his vigilante activities. On the other hand, the Raven was painted as a hobbyist a
Kate jumped from rooftop to rooftop undetected in the darkness, her beastly green eyes glowing in the night. She was light as a feather and agile like a feline. She used parkour moves, advanced gymnastics, and physical resilience to traverse buildings.Kate was trying to put some distance between herself and the crime scene she had recently visited. Less than ten minutes later, she found a group of drunkards harassing an innocent lady. The latter was returning from shopping and somehow missed the curfew time.The villainous group ambushed her in an alley and surrounded her. After robbing the lady of her belongings, they went too far. Inebriated and stoned, they attempted to tear off her clothes and rape her.Luckily, Kate heard her cries and jumped down from the building for a rescue. She offered no warning to the perpetrators. Her powerful chops, jabs, and slams floored them in a minute. The end result was that the men needed hospitalization to survive.After making an anonymous call
Clearly unsettled, Eva tried to get up from the bed. But she failed because her legs and arms were bound. The young woman had been stripped and made to wear a hospital gown.What was going on? Didn’t she lose consciousness in the restaurant? Where the hell did they bring her? Or was she asleep, having a nightmare?Eva heard a few voices talking but couldn’t recognize them.“The fresh specimen has a bun in the oven, sir…”“What? Is the woman pregnant? Now, that sounds like good news. We can have both her grey matter and her uterus. Jackpot!”Eva’s heart froze in horror. What nonsense were the strangers blabbering? Then, the realization hit her. She had been abducted!“Where am I?” Eva called out to the voices. “What’s going on here? Answer me! I am the Mayor’s executive assistant! You guys are in a lot of trouble! The military police will barge in at any moment and gun you down!”Eva heard footsteps. Moments later, three smiling faces loomed over her. “Ah, the specimen is awake,” a mid
Eva stopped eating her food and stared at the young man. He looked innocent, probably fresh out of high school, a college freshman. Was he a fan of Victor Cromwell?“How did you know it was me?” she asked apprehensively.“Please don’t be alarmed, ma’am,” he replied, joining his hands. “I am George. I am actually a big admirer of Mr. Victor Cromwell and the wonderful work he has been doing for Springfield. You’re always by his side in meetings, conferences, and photo ops. Therefore, it isn’t irregular for commoners like us to recognize you.”Eva was still unconvinced. “You are a fan of Victor’s work? Are you okay with military rule? Most of the city appears to be against it.”“Yes, of course they are against it!” George exclaimed. “Governments rise and fall all the time. Governance styles also change. Springfield is becoming a military-industrial complex, and people must get with the times.”Eva nodded, reassured that the boy was a modern arts student, an idealist. Why else would he tr
Eva Atelier stepped out of the shower, looking resplendent. She wore only a white bathrobe and smelled of lavender and honey. The beauty just had a long, warm, and luxurious shower. However, the timing could have been better since it was past midnight.Victor had gone out after an hour-long lovemaking session, leaving her yearning for a thorough cleansing. Perhaps he would return soon, and they could go at it again. She was already horny thinking about her man.Victor usually disappeared every night and returned before dawn. Eva never asked him about his whereabouts. She assumed he was meeting important people and hatching plans for Springfield's betterment. The girl equated herself with a superhero's girlfriend, never disturbing his high-stakes, clandestine nightlife.It had been a month since Eva started living with Victor at the Mayor's mansion. It was now public knowledge that the two were dating. The media picked up the news on the first day and played it until the entire city kn
Haley B stumbled out of a high-end liquor store with a vodka bottle in her hand. She was clearly inebriated. The young, beautiful celebrity had fallen off the wagon and had been drinking every day since Victor died.Haley B had postponed all her movie and concert schedules indefinitely and wasn't accepting any more offers. All she wanted to do was bury her sorrows in alcohol. When her media team tried to convince her otherwise, she fired them.At the moment, with a liquor bottle in hand, and wearing a loose hoodie and track pants, Haley was in disguise. If the paparazzi found her intoxicated, she would be on national news, and the internet would break. Not that she cared much about her celebrity status anymore.Haley looked around at the pedestrians and drunkard crowds. Nobody gave her a second look. People probably thought she was a homeless woman.Her Mercedes stood outside with a chauffeur and two guards. Haley eyed them from a distance with blurry vision. Indeed, she had had a lot
Dear Readers, Thanks for staying with the story this far. You're all awesome. I have tested your patience with slow updates and such tests will be less frequent in the future. About the story: The Invasion Arc ends with the last chapter. It will be followed by the Dark City Arc, that will introduce new characters and spring many more twists. Victor Damone is now Victor Cromwell, the legal heir of a royal family. However, escaping his past won't be as easy as he thought. Let's see how the Peerless Man deals with the upcoming dangers. Stay tuned!
Victor recognized the vigilante named Roadkill because he was, in fact, Roadkill. When he first arrived in Springfield as Victor Cromwell, he immediately noticed the societal change. People were bolder, more outspoken, and political. On the other hand, something was uncanny about the steep rise of both crime and criminals.Even after the military boosted security and restored the economy, public order continued to worsen. It meant certain forces were actively inciting crimes. Robberies, burglaries, and murders were frequent.As soon as the sun set, a hush fell over the city. People were scared to go outdoors in the dark. Anti-social elements hung out in the alleys. Drugs, smuggling, and trafficking were at an all-time high. It was dangerous for women and children to go out alone after dusk.Victor decided to take matters into his own hands. He walked the streets and alleys himself to investigate the cause of this anomaly. Since he couldn't publicly reveal his identity and face, he dis