When night fell, Zane put his plan into action. The air was cool and the streets were bathed in the soft, eerie light of the full moon. As he stepped out of James's house, a few curious eyes followed his every move, peering out from behind curtains and half-opened windows.Some of these residents were part of an online chat group, a virtual neighborhood watch of sorts. The notifications started buzzing as soon as Zane left the house. One of them quickly typed, "Look out your window, my assumption was right. He left just as the lunar eclipse started.""Really?" came a swift reply. The sender rushed to their window, pulling back the curtains just enough to get a clear view of the street. "His movements are very suspicious. What if we follow him to see what he's up to?""That's a great idea," another agreed. Without hesitation, a few of them decided to act on their suspicions. They kept their distance, staying a few dozen meters behind Zane, careful not to draw attention to themselv
Zane stood calmly before the three men, his posture unwavering and composed. The air was thick with tension as the men glared at him, their eyes full of suspicion and distrust.One of them stepped forward, his voice laced with accusation. “We know you have ill intentions toward us, and now, unfortunately for you, you’ve been caught.”Another man joined in, his tone equally hostile. “Your actions have been suspicious ever since you arrived here. Now, just admit your bad intentions, or you won’t leave this place unscathed.”The third man, his face hardened of distrust, added, “We won’t hesitate to call the rest of the villagers to drive you out of this village. From the start, we’ve been wary of your presence.”His words hinted at the sudden return of James to his hometown and the arrival of Zane and Emma. Zane, however, remained unprovoked by their harsh words. His demeanor was serene, almost disarmingly calm. He offered a warm smile, a stark contrast to the aggression directed at
Zane stood calmly, observing the unconscious man lying on the ground. The man's chest rose and fell steadily, reassuring Zane that he was not seriously injured. Turning his gaze to the two remaining men, Zane offered a calm, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, he’s just unconscious,” he said gently. “I’m sure he’ll wake up soon.”The two men exchanged uneasy glances, uncertainty etched on their faces. Zane continued, his tone steady and sincere, “I have no intention of hurting anyone. But please, trust me. I need your help to excavate that site.”His words hung in the air, a mixture of urgency and calm persuasion. The two men felt the weight of his request.They were hesitant, their minds swirling with doubt and fear, yet they found themselves with little choice but to comply. Though skepticism lingered in their hearts, they reluctantly nodded. They couldn’t ignore the fact that Zane had the upper hand. Before long, they arrived at a slope near their village. The air was filled wit
Seeing his efforts had borne fruit, Zane felt a wave of relief wash over him. Not only Zane, but Emma also shared in this feeling of relief. Emma walked over to Zane, her steps slow and deliberate. When she reached him, she gently wrapped her arm around his right arm, holding him close. She looked up at him, her eyes were filled with admiration and gratitude."Zane, you did it," she said, her voice soft but full of emotion. The words were simple, but they carried a deep meaning.Zane nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face.He had not only achieved his goal, but had also made those around him happy.James, who had been watching from a distance, felt a similar sense of relief. He turned towards Zane, his expression one of profound gratitude. He approached them, his steps confident yet humble. When he reached Zane, he said, "thank you, Zane. You have brought an incredible blessing to us," James said, his words filled with genuine appreciation. Zane responded with a simple
Zane had embarked on a long journey from James' house to the city. The following morning, he found himself lying on the bed in his apartment. His body sank into the soft, plush mattress, wrapped snugly in a thick, smooth blanket. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the gentle rays of the morning sun peeking through the cracks in his window, casting a warm glow on his face.The tranquility was interrupted by the sound of his phone alarm blaring beside him. Once the alarm was off, he took a moment to stretch his muscles, feeling a satisfying crack in his joints. “Ah, this is refreshing,” he murmured to himself, adjusting his position to sit up. He reached for his phone and noticed a new text message from Cecilia. “Boss, Ms. Emma told me that you arrived in the city early this morning. I’ve prepared your breakfast, I hope you enjoy it.”Zane couldn’t help but smile as he read Cecilia's message. It warmed to know that he was surrounded by such caring and thoughtful people. “
The room suddenly fell silent, and a palpable tension filled the air after Jasmine delivered the news. Their eyes widened with surprise by the unexpected development. Despite the urgency of the matter, Zane remained composed, exuding an air of calmness that seemed almost unshakeable. He sat quietly, absorbing the information without a hint of visible concern. His mind raced, not to dwell on Paul's reasons, but to devise an alternative solution quickly.Jasmine, her face showing a trace of panic, broke the silence. "Mr. Gardner, Mr. Moore made this decision unilaterally. He has also agreed to pay the penalty as per the agreement." Her voice wavered slightly, revealing her underlying anxiety. She continued, her tone a mix of urgency and hope, "I can arrange a mediation meeting with him if you are willing, Sir."Zane, maintaining his steady demeanor, responded calmly, "Jasmine, let it be. Instead of negotiating with him, how about we seek out other investors? What do you think?" H
Whitmore remained alone in the room, feeling a deep-seated anger boiling inside her. She clenched her fists tightly, muttering under her breath as she cursed Zane, "Zane Gardner, this time your arrogance has gone too far. Do you really think you can get away with this?"With emotions running high, she stormed out of the room, determined to confront Zane directly. Meanwhile, Cecilia had already returned to her office to resume her work. On the other hand, Zane was still deep in discussion with Jasmine, going over potential investors they were planning to meet.As they were engrossed in their conversation, the door to Zane’s office suddenly swung open. Both Zane and Jasmine looked up to see who had barged in so abruptly. Standing there with a face full of fury was Whitmore, her eyes blazing with anger.The sight of Whitmore in such a rage made Jasmine quickly decide to excuse herself and leave the room. She couldn't imagine what was about to unfold between Whitmore and Zane, but s
While Zane was engrossed in his work at the office, tackling his tasks with relentless focus over the past few days, Claire decided to visit him at his office. The sound of a gentle knock on his office door echoed through the room. Zane looked up from his desk, and invited the visitor to come in.Standing in the doorway was Jasmine, his diligent assistant, her presence familiar yet always professional. “Yes, Jasmine?” Zane inquired, his tone polite but curious.Jasmine, with her usual calm demeanor, responded, “Sir, there’s a visitor here for you.”Zane tilted his head slightly, a gesture of mild curiosity. “Oh? And who might that be?”From behind Jasmine, a woman stepped forward. She had neatly arranged blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face elegantly. She was dressed in a sleek, executive-style outfit, consisting of a knee-length silver pencil skirt paired with a soft pink blouse that complemented her refined appearance.“Hi, Zane,” the woman greeted wit