Welcome to Flame Hills city in Melrovia where the poor and wretched find it hard to fit in. It's a city having different estates and skyscraper building in different forms and shapes.
A place were poverty stricken people can't afford.Among the five richest family was the one at the lowest called the Harpers. Madame Sharon Harper was among the most beautiful even in her late forties. She had a short blonde hair that was styled so beautiful and a make up on that accentuated her blue eyes and blue corset dress she was wearing.There was a big proud smile on her face as she stared at everyone who attended her birthday event with so many beautiful gifts her eyes yearn for.It was twilight in Melrovia and the Harper's residence were filled with brilliant lights and cheerful noises.Every guests that was present were mostly men of big families. Men who has their eyes on her first daughter, Hermione.It was time to get her gifts so she sat on a big designated red and golden chair. One of the men wearing a very expensive suit came to her. "Mrs. Harper. I have to say, your beauty is astounding."Sharon nodded. "But I'm guessing you're not here for me."The man nodded. "I'm Bennett Sanchez from Sanchez industries. I came here with the intention of marrying your daughter, Hermione. I present to you this gift..." He brought out a well designed scepter that caught Sharon's eyes. "It's a pair of Jade scepters. I'm wishing you more long life."Sharon took it with a smile on her face. She couldn't hide the look of delight. She was overjoyed.Someone scoffed. "That's just a scepter, Ben. I can provide a dowry of a mansion in Flame Hills worth thirty million dollars and another twenty million in cash.""Come on, Phil, that had to be the cheapest. Thought you could do better than that. I'm willing to give a mansion worth eighty million in Flame Hills if..." He looked at Hermione who arrived in together with her sister and he smiled. "If you marry me."Hermione smiled and sat down on a chair behind her mother. She was also considered the most beautiful. Just like her mom, she had blonde hair, blue eyes but a more younger version. She was beautiful and elegant. The cynosure of all eyes.Sharon couldn't help but chuckle. She was so pleased to see everyone offering such sky-high dowries just to get her daughter."Well, I could do more than that. All of my family's billions in assets can be yours." Another one said from the crowd.Someone in the crowd scoffed since he felt disgusted by what was going on. He shook his head and took steps toward Sharon.Just his appearance alone got all eye on him and made the disagreeing place quiet.He was wearing a worn out jean and black shirt, looking so miserable and different."I think you all are forgetting that you're vying for my wife." He voiced out with a stern expression.Hermione looked away in annoyance, since she didn't want to look at his face. Yes, he ended up poor but it couldn't stop him from being so perfect when it comes to looks, and body structure.Dylan Clifford was once the heir of the second most richest company in Melrovia, Clifford Corporation (C.C.) after Apex Conglomerate (A.C). Although their real value was unknown, it was estimated that their wealth totaled up to three hundred billion dollars more than everyone in the building combined.Things went awry for him after his dad was accused of fraud and corruption, then one night, they were involved in a ghastly accident that burned them both to crisp.His grandfather was already disappointed with his father so he took back control over the company, rendered him his father's son or accomplice, and took everything from him after the death of his father and mother.It was eight months ago that his life came crumbling down. A month after he married Hermione Harper."Come on, look at you, Dylan. You're nobody. You don't even deserve to be here." One of them said."Did you at least bring any gift for me?" Sharon questioned.Dylan looked at her. "Too poor to afford anything.""And that is exactly why you and my daughter have nothing to do with each other." Sharon told him. "You're worthless. A good for nothing. You do not deserve my daughter."Dylan chuckled darkly. "You once think I did.""Why the hell are you here, Dylan? What do you want? What more do you have to beg for?" Hermione asked him with a contorted and disgusted expression.Dylan looked at her, his stern gaze becoming soft and affectionate. "My aunt, she's sick. I don't have the money for her treatment.""And how much do you need for it?" Sharon asked."Half a million." He answered her.Sharon's brow raised. "Half a million?""She was diagnosed with cancer. I've sold off the only house I legally have but it's nowhere near the exorbitant fee incurred by her treatment. I need help." He laid out, hoping his money loving mother in law has some good in her heart.Sharon nodded. "Okay. Kneel and beg for it."Everyone smiled, some laughed since it could be a sight to see.Dylan, just like every other rich heirs was arrogant. He hardly smiles and no one dares cross his path. His arrogancy was on another level, he was fully at the top, his hands on people's necks. He was feared.After his life crashed, people who had scores to settle with him went after him. It took long for him to be able to mellow and accept his fate.Though he was still arrogant but no one fears him anymore.Dylan fell on both his knees, unfazed by the fact that he was told to kneel. He was desperate so he could do anything.His aunt, his mom's sister was the only family that took him in after his father's family banished him and rendered him useless. Her dying and him not knowing what to do about it and how to help will forever eat at his conscience.He usually made things difficult for her and even if she hardly says it, he knew and now she's on the brink of death.Everyone kept laughing hysterically like they were watching the biggest joke of the year.Hermione could only shake her head while her sister, Madeline sighed since she actually felt pity for him. She always liked him and she knew her family was being unfair toward him."It's been long we know you're an ordinary pussy, Dylan. Look at you." A man derided.But Dylan was unfazed, his gaze was more fixated on his mother-in-law, Sharon. "Help me save my aunt." He begged.Sharon chuckled. "Look who's begging, Dylan. Oh, how the mig
Dylan left the villa and into the busy street, looking like his world has turned to complete nothingness. He still couldn't believe he ended up becoming a sad loser. He gritted his teeth cause the horns of every vehicle that pass by aggravated his anger.Why did he have to be unfortunate? Why did his mom and dad die so pitifully leaving him in a wicked and unfair world?A world that he thought he had in his grasp but only to be whipped by it a thousand folds.And now, the only family he has is fighting for her life but he's got nothing that could save her. How more unfortunate can his sorry life become?Even his own beloved wife turned her back on him and is now planning to marry another man, his own cousin, under his watch. But it's not going to happen.Even with nothing, he'll die first before he agrees to any divorce.He let out a shaky and tired breath as the condition of his aunt absorbed his memory once again. What is he gonna do? He can't just let her die. He can't lose her.Agr
Is he dreaming or did he just hear ten billion dollars? This isn't even the kind of prank someone should be pulling because it's way too expensive.Clifford cooperation was formidable in it's heyday with a market value of three hundred billion but most of them were fixed assets. From what he knew, his father doesn't even have up to ten billion dollar cash in his bank so everything Lord Owen was saying sounded impossible.How can his dad have such a wealth and he didn't know about it? It's hilarious.Apex conglomerate was out of Clifford Cooperation league. It was rumored to have trillions of dollars in assets and it even had a huge influence in the underground world. He couldn't believe his own father created such a behemoth and he didn't know about it.Lord Owen sensed he was still in disbelief and he spoke again to make him understand. "Mr. Clifford was a genius. You might not know this but your father initially founded C.C not your grandfather.""What?""Back then, after seeing his
Dylan knocked on the primary physician's office. It didn't take long for him to hear an approval to come in then he entered.Seeing him, the doctor immediately stood up in surprise. Putting her white jacket in order with a bright smile on her face. "Mr. Dylan. You're here."His aunt's primary doctor was Dr. Lydia Mayfair and she was only twenty-four years old. At that age, she was already a renowned doctor with a good track record. She was also very beautiful with short brown hair and hazel eyes.Dylan frowned at her, wondering why she was looking so flabbergasted at the sight of him, but business was more important. "I don't know how you train your employees in this hospital cause right now, I'm angry at the fact that one of them called Rita exited my aunt out of the ward because of my inability to pay. If anything happens to my aunt, I want her life."Her eyes widened at the information. "Oh, my God. That happened? That bitch! Doesn't she know her place?" She voiced out and left her
Dylan arrived at the Harper family's villa. Even though it was called a villa, it was just an unremarkable little three-story building. It was a far cry from a real villa.One of the guards in the villa walked toward him. "The madame will be angry if she sees you.""But you're gonna let me in, anyway, and besides what can she do?" He asked the guard. "I'm the man of the house, Romeo. I'm still part of this family so you can't stop me from visiting my wife, do you understand?"The guard nodded. "Of course."Dylan looked up and saw the light in Hermione's room was off so he wondered if she was already asleep. He didn't even know if he should believe any words coming out of madam Sharon's mouth. She was deceitful anyway. She likes to make things up just to fulfill the fantasies in her head.Rushing toward the door to the villa, he stopped in his tracks as he saw what made his heart suddenly become uneasy. His widened eyes stared at Hermione and Sean coming out of the living room, holding
The next day, Dylan just sat on a bench in the hospital as he patiently waited for the surgery to be over. He wasn't sure he has ever been so anxious or scared. He didn't feel this way when his parents died because their death was unexpected. It just happened so there was nothing to feel anxious or scared about. He only felt pain and that's it.But with his aunt, the fear in him pierced his heart like a sword. He could only wait and pray the surgery is successful like the doctor promised. She's the only family he's got. The only one who showed him love and took him in when everyone insulted him and turned their back on him.He looked and saw the door of the ward open making him stand up to see Dr. Lydia taking off the mask on her face, still wearing the blue scrubs. He gulped as he anxiously expected something good."How's she?" He asked her.Dr. Lydia smiled. "I told you it was going to be successful, so chill, Mr. Dylan. The surgery was successful."Dylan let out a breath of relief.
They arrived at the third floor where they needed to go to get the 'love in a city' necklace, found the counter, then he narrowed his eyes as he saw the person in charge of the necklace was an acquaintance.She was his wife's best friend, Martha. An opposite of Hermione. She was also one of the people who felt pity and he remembered how she apologized on behalf of Hermione.After Martha heard the reason they were there, she looked at Dylan with a frown on her face. "What is this, Dylan? What joke are you trying to play here? You, buy the 'love in the city' necklace?" She sighed and shook her head. "Just leave."Dylan sighed. "I'm serious.""Not too long ago you were looking for money to pay for your aunt's hospital expenses and now you're here to buy that expensive necklace? Do you think I'm an idiot?"Rita and fattie burst out laughing.Then Rita said, "Don't mind him, he's pretending to be rich. I don't understand what he's going to get out of it but enough of it before you disgrace
Martha looked at Dylan with mixed emotions. The night suddenly became a long one for her with different questions spiraling in her head but she was scared. She knew it was best to keep shut but how can she?Then finally she gained the courage and asked, "I don't understand, Dylan…"She gained Dylan and Mr. Grayson's attention."...how can you be able to casually buy a thirty million dollars worth of necklace? How can you be so rich? Have you been fooling everyone? Have you been deceiving Hermione and madame Sharon?"Dylan shook his head. "You won't understand.""Then make me understand! What is all this? You just waltz in here and dare to buy such an expensive necklace when long ago you were begging for alms? You're unbelievable, Dylan…""How dare you…"Dylan immediately stopped Mr. Grayson's hard from hitting Martha. "Don't hit her." He told her before looking at Martha who already flinched in fear with her face distorted."She dares insult you, master Dylan. She has no respect for y
Dylan had endured a grueling day, and as he finally arrived home, a genuine smile spread across his face upon seeing Allison waiting for him. The moment he walked through the door, she rushed to him, enveloping him in a brief, warm hug. However, her smile quickly faded into a frown as she pulled away. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. “How could you keep this from me for so long?” Before Dylan could respond, Stephanie, who had been observing the exchange, interjected with a disapproving look. “He kept it from all of us, including me, his godmother.” Dylan responded with a gentle kiss on Allison’s forehead, his eyes filled with affection. “Well, you know now, don’t you? Sometimes, it’s best to leave certain things in the past and focus on moving forward.” At that moment, Madame Beth cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention. Maya, with a beaming smile, walked over to her father, who happily lifted her into his arms. Daddy
Hermione and Alison stood up simultaneously, their eyes fixed on the TV in shock. Hermione, holding her baby, quickly set the child down and moved closer to the screen. “Oh my God, Mom, what’s going on?! Dylan is on the screen! What’s happening?!” she shouted, turning to her mother for answers. Sharon, equally stunned, gulped and struggled to comprehend the situation. Her breaths came in short, heavy gasps as she shook her head. “I have no idea, Hermione! We’re both seeing the same thing!” Hermione took a shaky breath, her eyes wide as she turned back to the screen. There, Dylan stood, facing the crowd and the camera with a smirk that made him look impossibly handsome. She couldn’t tear her gaze away. “Surely… it can’t be his twin, right? This doesn’t make any sense,” she murmured, still fixated on the image. Sharon looked away briefly, blinking as she tried to make sense of the revelations. “Come to think of it, Dylan really was the one who made that contract possible, and he bo
Two months later The city buzzed with anticipation as the day everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. Streets were quiet, and businesses paused as people hurried home or went as invited guests to the event, eager to witness the news revealing the boss behind Apex Conglomerate. Television screens flickered to life in living rooms, bars, and cafes, broadcasting the event that had captivated public interest for months. The camera zoomed in on a poised reporter, standing in front of Apex Conglomerate’s sleek, imposing headquarters. Her voice carried a mix of excitement and suspense as she addressed the viewers. “Ladies and gentlemen, the moment has finally come. Today, we stand on the brink of discovering the identity of the elusive leader behind Apex Conglomerate, the mastermind who has remained a mystery for years. Speculations and rumors have run rampant, but the truth has been kept tightly under wraps—until now.” The screen transitioned to a live feed from within the co
"Stephanie! Oh my God, Stephanie, is that really you?!" Caroline exclaimed, her voice filled with astonishment as she saw Stephanie entering the ward, accompanied by Dylan and a young girl. Stephanie's reaction was immediate; she covered her face with her hands, overwhelmed by emotion. Tears welled up in her eyes as she recognized Caroline. "Oh my God, Caroline..." she choked out, rushing forward to embrace her. "You're alive! I can't believe you're really alive!" Caroline, her own eyes glistening with tears, nodded as they pulled away from their hug. "It's so good to see familiar faces," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I thought you had left the country." Stephanie shook her head, her expression serious. "I came back after everything happened. I realized that your children needed me, so I stayed. For them." Caroline looked puzzled. "Children?" Her eyes then fell on the little girl in Dylan's arms, her breath catching in her throat. "Oh my God, is this my granddaught
Dylan’s return to the hospital sparked a flurry of emotions within Alison, who dashed towards him with tears streaming down her face. “Where have you been?” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with worry.Dylan’s eyes widened in surprise, and he gently grasped her arm, pulling her away from him slightly. “Why? What’s wrong? Why are you so upset? Is everything alright? Is Jenna alright?”Alison nodded with a sigh. “Yes, Jenna is stable, thankfully. But I was so worried about you. You were saying something earlier, then suddenly disappeared. And when I tried calling you, there was no response. You can’t imagine how worried and anxious I’ve been, especially with my sister in the hospital.”Dylan let out a sigh of relief and enveloped her in a comforting embrace. “I’m sorry for causing you worry. I didn’t mean to add to your stress. But I’m back now, and everything’s under control. Those responsible for this situation are facing the consequences, and we’re safe now.”Alison gazed at him, a
Gunshots echoed through the air, causing Sean to gasp in shock and stumble backward in fear. Before anyone could fully grasp what was happening, a dozen men, led by Azure King, appeared behind Dylan, their presence intimidating and determined.Dylan sneered, his confidence unwavering. “You were right, Sean. I am the boss of Apex Conglomerate, which means I have people at my beck and call. Why should I be intimidated by mere threats from inconsequential people like you?”Romero’s hand began to tremble as he continued pointing the gun at Dylan’s mother. “Move an inch, and she’s dead. I’ll pull the trigger, and I promise you, Dylan, even if I die here, you’ll lose.”Dylan sighed, taking Adonis’s gun from behind him. In a split second, before anyone could react, he fired. The bullet pierced through Romero’s forehead, and he slumped to the floor, lifeless.Sean’s eyes widened in horror, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. He immediately raised his hands and fell to his knees. “Pl
Dylan did not hesitate for even a moment upon receiving the address from Romero. The urgency in his steps reflected the agitation in his mind, as he ensured his gun was securely tucked at his side. The possibility of seeing his mother alive, even if shackled and bound, overpowered all sense of reality. He couldn’t think straight. He needed to understand why he had seen his mother, who he had believed to be dead. Though he suspected it might be a trap, a flicker of hope kept him moving forward.As he approached the building described in the address, its dilapidated exterior did nothing to allay his fears. The structure looked abandoned from the outside, but as he steeled himself and ventured further inside, his eyes quickly fell upon a wooden door, flanked by two imposing men.One of the men, noticing Dylan’s arrival, smirked and spoke in a tone that was both welcoming and sinister, “The boss has been expecting you.” Without further ado, he swung the door open, inviting Dylan into in
Standing alone outside the hospital, Dylan dialed Azure King’s number, his fingers trembling slightly with the weight of the situation. As the call connected, he spoke urgently into the phone."He’s closing in on me, Adonis. I fear he’s not playing games anymore. I reckon he was aiming for Allison, but he ended up shooting her sister instead.""Damn it, this just escalated real fast. There's a good chance Romero Hermes is feeling the heat now. He's itching to wrap this up and he's not backing down. He's baiting you, and you can't afford to fall into his trap," Azure King cautioned over the phone.Dylan’s jaw clenched with determination. "I won't let that happen. But I want him taken down, and I want it done swiftly. I'm not interested in seeing him rot behind bars. I just want him out of the picture for good," Dylan declared firmly before hanging up.On edge and with a heart weighed down by concern, Dylan reached out to Stephanie, knowing she was anxiously awaiting updates on Julia’s
Dylan stormed out of the house, his heart racing with worry, his fingers frantically dialing Allison’s number, his mind praying fervently for her safety. The gunshots he heard sent a shiver down his spine, signaling that something had gone terribly wrong.“Dylan, where on earth are you rushing off to?” Stephanie’s concerned voice trailed after him as she hurried to catch up.Dylan came to an abrupt halt, his gaze locking with Stephanie’s as he struggled to contain his urgency. “Steph, listen to me. Stay put inside the house, alright? Don’t come out,” he instructed firmly, a sense of urgency lacing his words like a tight knot.Stephanie’s brow furrowed in confusion and worry. “But why? What’s going on out there? And where in the world are you off to in such a hurry? she demanded, her concern mounting with each passing second as she noticed how restless he was.Dylan’s lips pressed into a thin line as he struggled to find the right words. “Look, Steph, I… I was just talking to Allison o