Chapter Eighty-Seven: A Boxer Versus A CultivatorChris entered the Preston family home just as Tony Blake was making his unwelcome advances. Tony, the towering national boxing champion, had his eyes fixed on Stephany with a disdainful smirk. “You’re far too pretty to waste on an impotent man like your husband. You should be with someone who can truly appreciate you,” he said, his tone dripping with arrogance.Chris, having just walked in, heard the remark. His face hardened with anger. “Are you that desperate that you go after people’s wives now?” he retorted, his voice cold and challenging.“Who the hell are you?” Tony asked, annoyed that someone had spoiled his fun. “I’m her husband,” Chris simply said, “Now ket go of my wife, or else..”Tony’s ego was pricked. His expression darkened as he turned his gaze toward Chris. “Or else what? You think you’re a match for me?” he growled.Before Chris could respond, Tony's fist flew out. The punch landed squarely on Chris’s jaw, sendin
Chapter Eighty Eight: Ordinary Men Once they left the Preston's house, Officer Connor gestured for Chris to enter his car, while the remaining police officers handled Tony Blake. Chris, a bit puzzled, smiled and asked, “Wasn’t I going for questioning?”Connor shook his head and chuckled. “We know how arrogant Tony is. Even if he got beaten up, he must have done something to deserve it.”Hearing that, Chris smiled and replied, “So, I’m not giving any report?”“Do you want to give a report?” Connor asked. “We can go to the station and go through the regular processes if you want.”Chris laughed, “No, bro, I was just asking.”As they drove away, Connor commented, “I’m really impressed you took down Tony. It must not have been easy to take down Blake all by yourself, I figured you must be a cultivator now.”Chris nodded, his eyes gleaming with pride. “Yeah, I am. I’m actually a level two master now.”Connor whistled in admiration. “That’s impressive, Chris. Really impressive.”“How did
Chapter Eighty Nine: Cunning Man Chris was taken aback when one of the men in the group claimed to recognize him. For a fleeting moment, he thought they might have figured out his true identity as Brown, from one of the richest families in America.Though he wasn’t displayed to the public from a young age, however, those close to their family knew the Brown children and grand children. He wondered how long it would have taken them to figure it out. However, his relief was short-lived. “Aren’t you Chris? The poor, lame live-in son-in-law of the Prestons? You married such a beautiful and worthy woman with nothing to give her. You must feel like you’ve won in life because I wonder what you’re doing here,” the man sneered. Connor quickly intervened, “Guys, give him a break, please. He’s my guest.” “But he’s not like one of us,” Leo retorted. “He’s not rich. He shouldn’t be here.” “Does it matter if I brought him here?” Connor replied firmly. “Okay, for your sake, we’ll let him
Chapter Ninety: A Dire CallJust as Connor finished making his call and was heading back inside, he encountered Chris outside the private room. He had overheard the disparaging remarks his friends had made about Chris.“I’m sorry, Chris. I didn’t know they were going to react that way,” Connor said, his tone apologetic.Chris just shrugged but couldn’t help but wonder why Connor was friends with jerks like Leo. Normally, he would mind his business and not bother, but it seemed to him that Connor was a genuinely good guy.Hence he had to ask, “Why are you friends with people like them?”Connor hesitated for a moment before replying, “They’re not so bad if you get to know them.”Connor’s brief response hid a more complicated reality. How could he explain that his father worked as a personal assistant to Leo’s father in their company and that Leo’s family had significantly helped his family during a crisis? When their house burned down, it was Leo’s parents who took them in and suppo
Chapter Ninety One: A Desperate Rescue“I have to go. Emily’s in danger,” Connor said, his voice strained.“What’s wrong? What happened to her?” Chris asked immediately, concern evident in his tone.Leo, standing nearby, also asked, “What happened? Is Emily okay?” Both men were well aware of who Emily was, she was Connor’s young and beautiful cousin, well rounded and endowed with the perfect figure one would think of.She is also soft spoken and kind, anyone who met her would really be drawn to her. She originally stays in Pensilvania, she came to California because she wanted to check out the lab at UCLA,where she plans to have her internship. So until everything was concluded and set, she decided to stay with Connor for the time being for the sole reason of it’s proximity to the school. Today, after coming back from school as usual, she just got off the bus and was walking to Connor’s apartment when suddenly, a mini van parked in front of her. She looked around suspicious and
Chapter Ninety One: The Cult of ShadowsWhen they finally woke up, the disorientation was immediate. The bus had stopped, and Connor, Chris, and Leo were still blindfolded. As their senses gradually returned, they realized they were no longer in the familiar confines of the Pinnacle Lounge, or the warehouse that they’ve driven to. They were somewhere else entirely.They were led, stumbling and blindfolded, through a maze of corridors. The journey felt interminable, with the only sound being the shuffle of their captors' footsteps and their own uneasy breathing. When the blindfolds were finally removed, the trio was greeted by an unexpected and dramatic sight.Before them stretched what looked like an ancient throne room, tucked away in the belly of a mountain. The room was vast, with stone walls etched with intricate symbols that flickered in the dim light cast by torch sconces. The ground was uneven, and the air was thick with a musty smell that suggested age and isolation. Th
Chapter Ninety Three: Desperate Measures“I don’t believe you. Where’s my sister? I need to see her first,” Connor demanded, his voice taut with urgency. His eyes searched Jack Stone's for any sign of reassurance.Jack Stone leaned back in his grand chair, his expression unreadable. “Do you think you have any options now? Or that you have any time left? Okay, let’s hear it. What do you plan to do?”Connor’s mind raced, but before he could respond, Leo, struggling with the overwhelming odds and the oppressive darkness of the cavern, decided to act on their behalf. The fear of the unknown gnawed at him, and he was eager to avoid any further confrontation in this grim environment.Leo took a deep breath, stepping forward with a look of determination. “Look, we have money. I’m willing to offer thirty million dollars for our freedom. Just let us go, and you can have it, ten million for me, the other ten for Connor and for Emily. Jack Stone’s eyes narrowed. “Thirty million dollars, you
Chapter Ninety Four: The Ring of DestinyThe atmosphere in the dimly lit underground chamber was tense as the masked man with the dagger hesitated, his hand frozen in mid-air. Jack Stone’s sudden command had brought the situation to a standstill.“Stop!” Jack Stone’s voice rang out, his tone authoritative and commanding.The masked man looked at Jack Stone, confusion etched on his face. “What is it?”“That ring on your finger,” Jack Stone said, his eyes narrowing as he focused intently on Chris. “Where did you get it from?”Chris glanced down at his hand, where a distinctive ring gleamed in the dim light. The ring was crafted from a metal that shimmered with an otherworldly sheen. Its band was intricately engraved with swirling patterns that seemed to shift and flow with the light. At the center of the band was a large gemstone, a deep emerald green, surrounded by smaller diamonds that sparkled like stars. The gem appeared almost alive, pulsing gently as if it held some secret pow