Nathan approaches Matilda's house gate, his heart racing with excitement. As he gets out of the Uber, he takes a moment to straighten his shirt and pants, feeling self-conscious about his attire. He walks up the driveway, his eyes fixed on the grand house at the end, imagining the fun and laughter that awaits him inside. But, as he gets closer to the gate, he notices a security guard standing in front of the entrance, checking the invitation cards. Nathan takes a deep breath and approaches the guard, trying to appear confident and relaxed.The guard, a tall and burly man with a stern expression, looks Nathan up and down, taking in his simple clothing and shoes. He then glances at the invitation card Nathan holds out to him."I'm sorry, sir. But I'm afraid you're not on the list." The guard says with a tone of disdain.Nathan is taken aback by the guard's response."What do you mean? Matilda invited me. Can you please check again?" He says, trying to keep his voice steady."I've chec
As Nathan went downstairs, he heard a female’s voice echoing through the hall. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to announce that we will have a charity auction here at my birthday party. In just a few minutes, we will auction some truly unique and exclusive items that support a worthy cause. Please all take the time to participate and bid generously. Thank you for your support, and let's make a difference together." He followed the sound and soon saw Matilda standing in the middle of the hall, holding a microphone. A group of well-dressed guests surrounded her. All focused on her words. Nathan made his way to the edge of the crowd and listened as Matilda announced the charity auction that would be taking place at her birthday party. He noticed a platform next to Matilda, on which there was an item covered with a luxurious transparent red cloth. He couldn't tell what was under the fabric, but he could see that something of value caught his attention. With Matilda's announcement of t
Declan was taken aback by Nathan's response. "Excuse me?" he asked. "What do you mean it's not enough?" Nathan looked at Declan sternly. "One more thing. An apology in front of everyone and a face-slap by yourself. Those are my terms." Declan's expression was a mixture of anger and disbelief. "You want me to apologize and slap my face publicly? That's ridiculous!" He couldn't accept losing, moreover, doing such a humiliating thing. "It's not ridiculous. It's necessary," Nathan replied. Declan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Fine." He added more to the deal. "And if you're found to be a scam, not only do you have to spend half of your life to spend one million dollars for me, but you also have to slap your face ten times in front of everyone as a symbol of your apology." Declan never thought that Nathan would have that much money. Therefore, what he just said was to scare Nathan. Moreover, if Nathan were still honorable and accepted his requirement, he would have a million
Nathan remained calm even though everyone was looking at him suspiciously. He calmly said, "I'm afraid I can't do what you asked." "What do you mean? Do you want to back out of your promise? Nathan, you know you can't do that. Everyone here heard you accept the deal. So don't act recklessly. I'm confident everyone here can make your life miserable if you don't keep your word." Declan sneered. Hayleigh added, "Nathan, I knew you were trouble before, but I never thought you would be this foolish." Many onlookers agreed with Declan's statement. "It's not my fault," Nathan replied. Declan laughed, "So now you're blaming it on someone else? You can't change anything here, Nathan. Admit your mistake!" Nathan looked at the butler and calmly said, "Can you please recheck your systems? I think there might be an error." He turned to Declan and continued, "You know, sometimes the system can have errors when many high-value transactions are happening simultaneously." The butler hesitated,
The atmosphere at the party shifts dramatically after Nathan's victory over Declan. Whispers fill the air as the attendees buzz with excitement and astonishment. Nathan stands in the center of it all, his demeanor composed and unyielding. Matilda, visibly impressed by Nathan's integrity and quick thinking, approaches him with a grateful smile. "Nathan, I must admit, you surprised me," Matilda says, her voice laced with admiration. "I don't expect you to handle the situation so skillfully. You prove yourself to be a person of honor." "Thank you, Matilda. I believe in fairness and trust, even in the face of adversity. It's essential to maintain integrity, especially in situations like these," Nathan nods appreciatively, still trying to figure out why she suddenly wants to talk to him. "Declan's behavior is disappointing, but it reveals his true character. It's unfortunate, as he was once considered a close friend. But your victory, Nathan, highlights the strength of your character," M
Nathan stands there, momentarily taken aback by Emily's formal greeting. He quickly recovers and offers her a warm smile, trying to ease the tension in the room. "Good morning, Emily," Nathan replies, his voice filled with genuine kindness. "It's a pleasure to meet you too. I'm glad to have you here as our company's scholar." Emily raises her head slightly, her eyes still filled with uncertainty. "Thank you, Mr. Jimenez. I appreciate the opportunity." He just stands there in front of her, not saying anything when the Dean suddenly speaks again. “If Mr. Jimenez would like to, can you tour Emily around if it's not a burden?” The Dean states with hesitation but smiles widely after Nathan nods in agreement. After the door opens, Emily is still in a state of hesitation before going out. Nathan tours her in every corner of the school, but he can notice the way Emily tries to distance herself. It’s almost as if he has some contagious disease. “Emily, what’s—” He is just about to ask Emil
Nathan was sitting patiently in their small living room as he waited for his dad to come home. He told him that he’ll come for him tonight. He was busy reading books for a school project when suddenly the doorbell rang. He threw his book on the floor and immediately stood up from the floor. “Dad—” His excitement was cut off when he saw a middle aged man standing on their front door looking so clean with his white polo that was tucked in his jeans. “Young Master Nathan, Mr. Jimenez told me to pick you up. Please pack only important things and come with me, you’re moving into the mansion.” He said without a break and Nathan could only nod in daze. He grabbed his duffle bag and placed some of his clothes, school books and picture albums. After placing his bag in the trunk of the luxurious-looking car that the guy was driving, he immediately went inside and sat there quietly. He didn't know where they are going, but it took them a couple of minutes until they reached a big gate that
The next Monday at school, Nathan tried to find Emily, seeking the comfort of a familiar face in the midst of the chaos his life had become. He knows, the moment he saw her crying, all he wanted to do was to protect her from everything and everyone. He scans the crowded hallway, his eyes darting from one corner to another, until he spots her sitting alone, trying to blend into the background. With a glimmer of hope, he makes his way towards her, determined to reconnect and find comfort in their friendship. As he approaches Emily, he notices her subtle attempts to avoid eye contact, her body language clearly indicating her desire to be left alone. She suddenly put her earbuds on and looked outside the window while listening to her music. Confusion and hurt wash over Nathan, as he wonders why the one he thought was his friend seems to want to do nothing to him while deliberately avoiding him. Doubt begins to seep into his thoughts, questioning if that night he thought they had a small