Chapter Sixty FourThe crowd outside the Garden of Eden buzzed with restless energy. Anastasia turned, her eyes narrowed with curiosity and a touch of frustration. She glanced back at Henry and Jasmine.“What’s going on here?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Why are we being blocked?”One of the guards, stone-faced, stepped forward. “The entire place is reserved,” he stated, his voice curt, yet strangely respectful.“Reserved?” Anastasia repeated, raising an eyebrow. “For who?”The guard maintained his impassive expression. “A high-priority guest. Supreme importance. The entire venue will be closed down for the week.”A ripple of discontent spread through the crowd, with some well-dressed patrons murmuring in disbelief. A tall, sharply dressed man scoffed nearby, his eyes flashing with indignation.“This is ridiculous,” he growled, adjusting his gold cufflinks with an air of entitlement. “I’ll throw any amount of money to get in. Name your price.”Others in the crowd nodded, a wave of
Chapter Sixty FiveThe entire country seemed to be buzzing with activity.Every radio station, TV channel, and gossip magazine was aflame with speculation about an upcoming grand wedding. The prestigious Garden of Eden had been locked down for seven days, its iron gates guarded with the same intensity as a national treasure.News anchors filled the airwaves with breathless anticipation.“This is no ordinary wedding,” one exclaimed, eyes wide with intrigue. “The wine is coming straight from Italy, and the food? It’s all being flown in from the finest chefs in France! Rumor has it that no expense is being spared.”“But here’s the catch,” another anchor chimed in, glancing at her co-host with raised eyebrows. “No one knows who’s getting married. Not a single soul has seen an invitation, and the guest list remains a complete mystery.”A smirk played on her co-host’s lips. “You know what this could mean. It has to be royalty—a prince or maybe even a president. Who else could command that l
Chapter Sixty SixHenry stopped, gripping the handlebars of his old bicycle tightly as he stared down the massive, snarling dog in front of him. Its low growl rumbled like thunder, teeth bared as it edged closer with each second. He tried to stand his ground, inhaling deeply to steady his nerves.“Hey! Go away!” Henry commanded, his voice wavering slightly. The dog ignored him, its focus unbroken as it crept closer, muscles tensed, eyes dark and threatening.To Henry’s frustration, the two security guards near the dealership entrance stood motionless, smirking slightly as if entertained by the scene.“Why aren’t you calling off this beast of a dog?!” he barked at them, a flash of irritation crossing his face.One of the guards, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a smirk plastered on his face, shrugged. “It’s just doing its job, sir,” he replied coolly, voice dripping with sarcasm. “We get plenty of people here trying to pose in front of the G-Wagons just for pictures. They pretend they
Chapter Sixty SevenFrustrated but determined, Henry pushed off on his bicycle, pedaling down the street, feeling the sting of humiliation settle into his bones. The wind was cool, but his mind was ablaze with the memory of that woman’s sneer, her dismissive tone echoing in his head.After a short ride, he approached the next dealership, a sleek Mercedes-Benz showroom. He hesitated for a second, catching his reflection in the glass: just him and his old bike. Shaking off the doubts, he stepped inside.Almost immediately, a young salesman approached, his expression warm and welcoming. Noticing Henry’s slightly worn look, the young man offered a sympathetic smile.“Welcome, sir. Would you like to take a seat?” he said, his voice kind and respectful. “Can I get you some cold water? You look like you’ve been through a lot.”Surprised by the warmth, Henry nodded, taking the offered seat gratefully as the young man handed him a cold bottle of water.“Thank you,” Henry murmured, taking a lo
Chapter Sixty-EightHenry sat down in the sales office, signing each document with steady precision. The young salesman handed him the final paper, his hands slightly trembling as he watched Henry pull out a sleek black card. Henry swiped it smoothly, the room holding its breath as the machine processed.A second later, the screen flashed: *Transaction Approved.*The young salesman blinked, momentarily speechless. He had hoped Henry was serious, but to see that amount go through was a shock. And then, it hit him—his commission.“Sir, thank you! Thank you so much!” the salesman exclaimed, practically bouncing with joy. His face lit up, unable to contain his excitement as he realized he’d just earned a life-changing amount.“My family… sir, you don’t know what this means. I can finally help with bills back home, and… my brother! I can send him to college!” The salesman’s voice cracked slightly, his gratitude overflowing. He grabbed Henry’s hand, shaking it fervently. “You’re a blessing,
Chapter Sixty-NineHenry chuckled softly, shaking his head. “No, love. I’m not hiding anything from you. Have you noticed how hard I’ve been working these past few days?I’ve been staying up late, making deals, and trying to get everything in order. I’ll tell you everything soon, I promise.” He paused, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Besides, you need this car for work, and I don’t. It’s my way of saying thank you for all your support.”Jasmine looked at him, her heart swelling. “Thank you for providing for us when I had nobody. You stood by me even when my family was against us. I’ll always be grateful.”As he spoke, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. “I know you’ve been working hard, Henry,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I believe you’ll be blessed with a good job and a better position in society.”“But I have a question, though,” she added, her brows furrowing slightly. “What will I do with the Mustang that Prince gave me? The one from Dubai?”Henry sighed,
Chapter Seventy Henry’s brow furrowed as he watched Damon’s face twist in frustration. Damon was pacing, clutching his phone tightly, his voice taut with anger and panic.“What do you mean there’s nothing here? The shelves are empty!” Damon shouted, his voice trembling. “I put my heart and soul into this opening. I can’t believe this… There was supposed to be enough stock to fill this place.”Henry stepped closer, his hand resting on Damon’s shoulder, grounding him. “What happened, man?”Damon’s eyes were wide, desperate. “The truck carrying the meds? It got into an accident on the way here. Logistics completely failed. And now? I’ve got nothing to show. Nothing, Henry.” His voice cracked, his frustration laced with the sting of near-tears. “They’ll cut that ribbon, and there will be empty shelves behind it. It’s humiliating.”Henry could see the weight of this moment bearing down on his friend. Damon had put everything into this launch; failure wasn’t an option. He was a man who pr
Chapter Seventy One Damon and Henry sat together on the patio, chatting like old friends. Damon’s wife, Jasmine, moved through the small gathering, offering drinks and food with a warm smile. The evening was going smoothly—laughter, the gentle clinking of glasses, the warmth of friendship filling the air.Suddenly, the peace was shattered by the roar of an engine. A sleek sports car’s rumble grew louder, turning heads. The Ferrari Turbo skidded to a dramatic stop at the end of the driveway, its tires smoking slightly, the metallic red paint gleaming in the fading sunlight. All eyes turned to watch.Henry frowned, recognizing the theatrics. Damon sighed quietly, sharing a knowing look with Henry. “It’s Alexander, isn’t it?” Henry muttered.“It’s always Alexander,” Damon confirmed with a resigned nod.Alexander stepped out slowly, as if each movement was a carefully crafted show. He wore a crisp designer suit, sunglasses perched on his nose even though the sun was nearly gone. His ch