Chapter Fifty Nine: The Vanishing TrailChris Followed the man and wanted to ask him directly. However he noticed the man was moving suspiciously and kept looking at his back. Sensing that something was fishy, Chris decided against asking him and followed him instead. He followed him from a distance so as to avoid suspicions of the man noticing him. He saw the man enter an old van that was parked at about six blocks away from the store, it was as if the man intentionally left the van there to avoid anyone noticing how he came there. Seeing this, Chris went back and brought his car, and decided to follow the man. Chris gripped the steering wheel of his sleek M13, his mind racing with questions as he followed the van through the winding roads that led out of town. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the countryside. He kept a safe distance, wary of alerting the driver of the van. As they left the outskirts of the town behind, Chris noticed the landscap
Chapter Sixty: Unearthing Secrets Chris crouched behind the thick foliage, his breath steady as he peered through the underbrush. The van had pulled up to the secluded cemetery, its occupants unaware of his presence. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the clearing, giving the place an eerie, timeless quality. He watched as the man who had sold the amulet stepped out of the van, soon joined by a small, wiry man with sharp, calculating eyes. Chris's heart quickened. This had to be the leader of their group. "Bruce Lee, were you able to sell it?" the small man asked, his voice carrying an authoritative edge despite his stature. “Hahaha.” Chris laughed and had to shut his mouth for fear of being caught. Was Bruce Lee Really his name or was that like a nick name that the man got himself? Bruce Lee, the man who had sold the amulet, nodded with a satisfied grin. "Yes, I was able to sell it for half a million." The small man's eyes widened, a greedy glint flashing i
Chapter Sixty One: A Familiar Face in the ShadowsChris crouched in the shadows, his heart pounding as he watched the graverobbers unload their spoils. The eerie silence of the graveyard was only broken by the occasional murmur from the men and the rustling of leaves in the night breeze. He kept a careful watch, ready to act if needed, but also acutely aware of the danger he was in.Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The men stopped their work, their heads snapping towards a sound coming from the opposite direction of where Chris was hiding. His breath caught in his throat. He had been sure they were about to discover him. But no, they were looking somewhere else entirely.From the shadows opposite Chris, a figure emerged, moving cautiously yet deliberately. As the figure stepped into the dim light cast by the graverobbers’ lanterns, Chris's eyes widened in recognition. It was Officer Connor.Chris was stunned. What was Connor doing here? How had he found this place? As he watched
Chapter One. The living in son in law Stephany strode into the house, her laughter mingling with the voices of her friends, filling the room with lively energy. Her high heels clicked against the polished wooden floor as she led the way, a few shopping bags swinging from her arms. Her friends, chattering animatedly, followed her into the living room. "Chris, we're back!" Stephany called out, her tone cheerful but commanding. Her eyes swept across the room, quickly zeroing in on the mop and bucket still standing in the corner, a small puddle of water beside them. The floor, far from the gleaming surface it was meant to be, bore streaks and patches of dirt. Chris, who had been in the kitchen making tea, emerged at the sound of her voice. He froze for a moment, the teapot in his hands, as he caught sight of Stephany's disapproving gaze. He knew what was coming. Chris, the son in law of the of the illustrious Preston family, had once been a promising figure in the busin
Chapter Two: Spend with caution. Eleanor Preston stepped into the house, her presence immediately commanding attention. Her eyes, though kind, missed nothing as they scanned the room, taking in the sight of her daughter, Stephany, surrounded by a lot of shopping bags. "Stephany," Eleanor began, her voice warm yet tinged with concern, "I see you've been shopping again." Stephany looked up, a flicker of guilt crossing her face before she forced a bright smile. "Just a few things, Mom. Nothing extravagant." Eleanor walked further into the room, her gaze shifting to Chris, who was quietly finishing up his tasks. She offered him a brief, unsmiling nod before turning her full attention back to her daughter. "Stephany, you know we need to be careful with our spending right now. Spring Fashion Week is coming, and Luxury Flair hasn't planned anything significant because we're still searching for investors. Last year’s profits weren't enough to support this year’s endeavors." "You'
Chapter Three: An Unexpected Opportunity Chris stood at the kitchen sink, scrubbing the last of the dinner plates, when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and saw a familiar number that hadn’t contacted him for over two years. Hesitating for a moment, he decided to answer. "Hello, this is Chris." "Chris, it's your Uncle Martin," came the gravelly voice on the other end. "I have some incredible news. The tech company you invested in—it’s blown up. They've made an enormous profit. We're talking about a hundred billion dollars." “What are you talking about?” Lost for a minute, Chris called the attention of his uncle. “The investment you did two years ago with the company’s money.” His uncle explained. “Uncle, I’ve been saying this, I made that investment with my money, I only used the family company name as a platform” “You said it yourself, you used the company name, by default, it has become the family money, and at this moment, I am telling you
Chapter Four: The Morning Awakening Chris was jolted awake by the sharp, loud voice of his mother-in-law, Eleanor. "Is this not the man who was talking about helping to get the investment money yesterday?" Her tone was mocking, dripping with disdain. "And here he is, still sleeping at ten in the morning. Lazy as ever." He had been so excited the night before and didn’t get to sleep until the early morning hours. He rubbed his eyes, the remnants of sleep quickly fading as he registered her words. Eleanor stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed, her expression one of stern impatience. "Get up, Chris. I need you to take this document to Stephany at the office. Now, she needs it for a pitch.” Without another word, Eleanor tossed a manila envelope onto the bed. Chris sighed, dragging himself out of bed and quickly getting dressed. He grabbed the envelope, his mind still processing the events of the previous day. He hurriedly made his way out of the house, catching a t
Chapter Five: A New Bargain Chris stood in front of the towering Brown Conglomerate building, its imposing facade reminding him of the days when he worked there. He had just started working and hadn’t spend half a year when he was asked to leave and asked never to set foot on the office building. Fortunately for him, time have turned and he was now invited back by the same people who sent him away. He took a deep breath, straightened his tee shirt and walked through the revolving doors. Inside, the lobby was a bustling hub of activity, with employees moving swiftly, their expressions focused on their various activities, no body seem to notice him. Chris approached the VIP elevator, an old habit he got used to from his days as a member of the Brown family. As he reached the elevator, a young receptionist, who was new to the building, ran from her desk to stop him. She was neatly dressed, her demeanor sharp and condescending. "Excuse me, Mr. Man," she said, her eyes scann