Zack White grappled with his thoughts, trying to find ways to gain access to his tribute system again, but his mind incessantly circled back to the idea of confronting Lucille. Abandoning the careful planning and cautious approach, he headed straight to Lucille's university, determined to find her.Seizing the opportunity, he attempted to strike, but luck wasn't on his side. Lucille effortlessly evaded him."Damn these heels!" Zack cursed as he stumbled, breaking the fragile heels of his shoes. "I hate this body! Blast it all!" His once-perfect disguise now proved terribly inconvenient."Leave me alone!" Lucille's terror-filled scream pierced the air."Come back here!" Zack roared, frustration boiling inside as he watched Lucille run away, her pace outstripping his ability to give chase.Zack trembled, the pain in his burned skin intensifying as anger surged through him. He gritted his teeth, frustrated by the lack of progress."You look really miserable," a voice suddenly remarked, p
The following day, Drake was taken aback as he entered the elevator and was greeted by none other than Felicia Mendez, who bowed respectfully. Although other employees also greeted him, Drake's attention was fixated solely on Felicia."What happened to your face?" Drake blurted out, feigning ignorance about her ruined face, as if he wasn't the one who had ordered it to happen."Someone threw acid on my face, sir," Felicia replied calmly, causing Drake to become extra cautious.“What’s with her?” he mused.Inside the confined space of the elevator, an unsettling feeling crept over him, as if Felicia could attack at any moment."Someone harbored such anger toward you that they resorted to throwing acid?" Drake questioned, striving to maintain a stoic demeanor."It was actually a colleague, sir," an employee chimed in."Really? Have they been arrested?" Drake inquired."They were charged but released on bail," the employee disclosed. "It's hard to believe there are such vicious individua
In the public eye, Jessica Choy is revered as the saint-like princess of Gerald and Sons Corporation, a conglomerate on par with BellRox Corporation in size. While everyone believes Jessica, the only daughter of Gerald, the owner of G&S Corp, has it all – wealth, beauty, intelligence, kind heart– her true self remains concealed behind a facade of charity and generosity."Did your friend finally get discharged from the hospital?" Gerald, her father, inquired."Yes, Dad," Jessica replied, a hint of fear lacing her voice. She stood in front of his table as he sat imposingly on his leather chair."I know you did it, don't you?" Gerald stated, glaring at his daughter."What do you mean, Dad?" she deflected, avoiding his gaze."I know you two well. Saintly? Kind? Ha!" He snorted. "I know that what happened was not an accident. You made her fall off the stage, didn't you?""It was really an accident, Dad," she insisted, clutching her dress anxiously. Despite her denial, her father was right;
Lucille, unaware of the chaos outside, focused on searching for something in the library."Are these all books about lucid dreams and altered memories? There's nothing that tells about what happened to me," she exclaimed, frustrated. She had already checked the internet and was slightly hopeful to find answers in the old books in the library, but to her disappointment, nothing addressed her questions about her weird encounters."Is this really just me being confused, or why is she going after me?" she mused aloud. Suddenly, she jolted when Drake leaned over her shoulder."Aahh!" she exclaimed, covering her mouth as the librarian shot her a deathly glare. She promptly dragged Drake out of the library and demanded, "Why are you here?""Why? Can't I see you?" he innocently replied."No, but aren't you supposed to be at work?" she asked."I am, but I came to pick you up," he said with a smile."Pick me up? I still have to wait for approval for the internship. You can't just pick me up and
Drake felt baffled by Zack's assumption, yet he saw it as a potential opportunity. "Why does he think Lucille has the system? Or perhaps he assumes I'm clueless?" he pondered silently. Choosing not to react and risk confirming Zack's mistaken belief, Drake shifted his attention, feigning interest in Lucille."What happened to you? Why didn't you tell me?" Drake asked, gently holding Lucille's face, his concern masking any hint of his own confusion.Lucille continued trembling, hesitant to reveal Felicia's threat looming over them. "It's nothing. Just a panic attack. I might be remembering things wrong," she mumbled, glancing uneasily at Felicia, who still gave her the creeps."What's the deal here? Are you protecting your boyfriend?" Felicia taunted."Why are you doing this to me? I didn't do anything to you!" Lucille's grip on Drake tightened in desperation."Really? Are you asking that?" Felicia's expression darkened as she shifted her gaze toward Drake. "Remember how you 'handled'
Drake felt a surge of anxiety as Zack, under his Felicia Mendez disguise, acquired a high-level item from the system despite being suspended. The realization that Zack might have someone backing him up, particularly if that someone was also a system user, unsettled him deeply."Where did he get those items? He even survived a fall," Drake muttered, his eyes fixed on Felicia as she crawled back up inside the office."Do you think you can kill me twice?" Zack(Felicia) growled, the memory of Drake's initial attempt to end him flashing through his mind."I think I can," Drake replied bluntly. He stood up and approached Zack, intending to push him off the window again. To his surprise, a bullet narrowly missed him, and his reflexes allowed him to safely roll away."Let's go, Lucille," he said, carrying her in his arms, leaving his office to escape the sudden rain of bullets from a gunman in the building across from them."Coward! Come back here!" Zack yelled. He was about to run after them
In the hushed confines of a private hospital, Eleanor gingerly settled into a chair within the doctor's office. A stern-faced female physician stood across from her, diligently explaining something that seemed to elude Eleanor's grasp."There is no way, I am pregnant," she insisted."But you told me that your period had stopped, and you also honestly admitted that you had slept with someone," the female doctor patiently replied.“I did… but… but…”Over the past few days, an overwhelming lethargy and occasional waves of nausea have seized her, sparking worry that her illness has resurfaced. To spare Drake from undue worry, she had opted to face this alone."Your symptoms are indicative of a possible pregnancy. That's why I recommend getting an ultrasound. However, I understand the cost concerns here, so I'll write you a referral. You can avail yourself of a free ultrasound at the public hospital," the doctor gently suggested, her pen gliding over the referral note. Her eyes momentarily
Eleanor sat there, torn between the weight of her emotions and the gravity of the decision ahead. Drake's unexpected reaction had thrown her for a loop, and his words lingered in the air, "It's your body. You decide if you will keep it or let it go."The room fell into an uneasy silence as Eleanor grappled with the complexity of her situation. Lucille, sensing the need for support, gently placed a comforting hand on Eleanor's shoulder."Ely," Lucille began, her voice soft, "this is a decision only you can make. It's important to consider what's best for you, emotionally, physically, and mentally."Eleanor nodded, her mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. The trauma of that night with Zack, the fear of disappointing her brother, and the overwhelming prospect of motherhood weighed heavily on her shoulders.Drake, breaking the silence, spoke with a sincerity that cut through the tension in the room. "I want you to know, Eleanor, that whatever decision you make, I'm here for you. We'll
Ten years had passed, yet the dream of earning a sextillion coins remained elusive. Time slipped away unnoticed as Drake immersed himself in the relentless pursuit of money to settle his debts. Only too late did he realize the true cost of his singular focus.Seated in his office, absorbed in his tasks, Drake was jolted from his concentration by the ringing of his phone. Glancing at the caller's ID, he recognized his sister Eleanor's number. With a resigned sigh, he answered the call."Hey, Ely," Drake greeted, attempting to sound nonchalant despite his apprehension."Drake, where are you?!" Eleanor's voice crackled with frustration and disappointment."I'm at the office, why?" Drake responded, his heart sinking as he anticipated the conversation that was about to unfold."Seriously? You forgot, didn't you?" Eleanor's incredulous tone pierced through the line.Drake's stomach churned with guilt. "Forgot what?"Eleanor let out an exasperated sigh. "My wedding, Drake! The one I've been
Drake was shocked to learn the truth, his jaws dropping even further when Lucille revealed that he needed to repay the tribute system twofold."Earning sextillion coins is impossible!" he exclaimed."You have to offer it back, or else you'll spend your life paying for it," Lucille replied grimly, exaggerating the explanation to divert Drake's attention away from herself."Damn it. Is this why I can't kill Zack? He cannot die until he pays his debt," Drake said frustratingly, but then he smiled viciously. "But does that mean I can keep him in prison to suffer?""He doesn't change. Good luck," Lucille muttered under her breath, slowly becoming accustomed to Drake's viciousness."What is it?" Drake asked."Nothing. I was just wondering why you came here," she bluntly asked, inwardly worried about the chance of Drake hurting her."What else? To pick you up?" Drake said, grabbing Lucille's hand and looking into her eyes with sincerity. "Lucille, please believe me, what Marianne said was al
Lucille Bmak seized the opportunity to escape when Drake and Rebecca were engrossed in their own conversation.Thinking it was her chance, she began to make her way out. However, unbeknownst to her, she was trapped in a labyrinth from which only Zack, Rebecca, and Drake could find their way out."What the hell is this place?" she muttered to herself as she continued downwards in an attempt to escape, but the path seemed endless."Aah!" she screamed as someone suddenly yanked her back."You're new here? There's nothing above your head yet," the female said, her tone cautious and discreet. “I got the ability to see other users status and progress. You're still fresh. Save yourself!”"What? I don't belong here. Do you know the exit?" Lucille asked, sensing no hostility from the girl."Go up instead of down," the girl replied honestly."Really? But why aren't you leaving?" Lucille inquired."I'm weak, but I can't die. You should be careful. Let go of the system as soon as possible while i
Lucille Bmak had prepared herself for this inevitable day.She knew all too well that her peaceful days would come to an end as long as Zack White and Drake Chwe existed.However, despite her thorough preparation, she couldn't shield her heart from the viciousness that Zack and Drake displayed towards her.The constant hostility from both men exhausted her heart and mind, leaving her unable to display any emotion upon seeing Drake, whose presence made her heart throb, or Zack, whose mere presence sent shivers down her spine."Damn you! Damn your luck!" Zack White growled in frustration, his anger palpable as he longed to inflict harm upon Lucille.He yelled and pounded on the barrier as if he desired nothing more than to tear Lucille apart, but what frustrated him even more was the nonchalant expression on Lucille's face."Do you think you'll escape me for imprisoning me for three years? I'll torture you every second of the day!" he threatened."So foolish," Lucille commented, further
Drake Chwe hurried to find Lucille. He strode past the long underground passage, paying little heed to the torture cell, laboratories, and whatever bizarre occurrences filled each room. As long as Lucille wasn't there, Drake's focus remained undeterred."Where the hell are you?" he muttered exasperatedly to himself, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he reached the final room at the end of the underground complex. Taking a deep breath, he swung open the door, only for his eyes to widen in shock at the sight of his lover bound by chains."Lucille!" he exclaimed, rushing forward to free her, but his efforts proved futile."Drake, long time no see," Lucille greeted casually, her gaze devoid of emotion as if she had just woken up from a nap."Hang on a little longer. I'll free you soon," he promised, frantically rummaging through his bag for any tool that might help, but none did the trick."Damn it!" he cursed in frustration, realizing he couldn't access his trusted system in a time of
Zack sported a victorious grin, his eyes locked onto Drake with the same intensity Drake once aimed at him from within the torture cell. His lips curled as he relished the sweet taste of turning the tables."It'll be better if we suffer together. You know, I didn't plan to torment you for just three years," Zack said, closing the distance between them. "Let's make it forever," he whispered, his voice dripping with menace.His grin widened as he observed Drake's expression darken. However, standing closer to Drake proved to be a mistake."Oh, damn it," Zack cursed, blood bubbling up as he collapsed to the ground."All talk, huh?" Drake snorted, a twisted smirk forming on his lips as he pressed his foot onto Zack's face. "Your only shot at survival was staying locked away. Why set yourself free?""What's happening?" Zack grunted in agony, attempting to extract the knife lodged in his side, but it remained stubbornly embedded in his flesh."Can't you recognize these?" Drake sneered, with
Thanks to Merlyn, Drake finally learned where Lucille had been taken. He instructed Merlyn to locate her using his device, unaware that she would succumb to a heart attack afterward, much like the way he deceived and threatened Natasha into her demise."Code blue! Code blue! Room 203!" a nurse frantically announced.Medical staff rushed to Merlyn Spenser's side, the monitor next to her bed blaring with the alarming sound of a code blue. Doctors and nurses swarmed into the room, their faces etched with urgency as they converged around Merlyn's bed. The room was filled with the sound of rapid footsteps and the clatter of medical equipment."Goodbye, Merlyn. Thank you for your help," Drake coldly muttered as he casually walked out of the ICU, a strange sense of satisfaction washing over him."Why Canman, though?" he wondered, glancing at the address Merlyn had provided. "This doesn't sound good."He immediately hopped into his car and drove to Canman, Zack White’s hometown. Arriving the
When faced with a choice between life and death, the decision might seem obvious to most. Yet, Lucille Bmak's response was anything but expected. Though she typically valued her own survival above all else, this time she made a different choice."F*ck you!" Lucille spat defiantly, refusing to entertain whatever offer Zack White had in store. Having fallen into Drake's traps before, she was adamant about not allowing herself to be ensnared by another chain, even if it meant facing death."This is the last time I'm asking you. Listen to me, or—" Zack seethed, tightening his grip around her neck."I don't care! Kill me!" Lucille exclaimed, though her body trembled with fear. Summoning a forced smile, she added, "You've repeated yourself three times now. You sound like the one who needs me.""Who needs who?" Zack White yelled, his fury palpable. Despite his rage, he found himself unable to carry out Lucille's demise.Rebecca, the veteran user of the system, who had once bestowed favors up
Inside Lucille's house, the dimly lit corridors exuded an eerie aura as Zack White prowled through them, his presence ominous and foreboding. His eyes gleamed with a dark resolve as he approached Lucille's study, his heart pulsing with venomous intent."Finally... the moment I've been waiting for," he whispered to himself. He tried to be as quiet as possible so that no one could detect him."I'll kill you once I'm done with my task," he murmured, his voice low and menacing. Despite the vigilant guards stationed at every corner of Lucille's house, Zack's movements remained undetected. He used a system device to camouflage himself through the guards.Peering into the study, he observed Lucille seated at her desk, completely absorbed in her work, unaware of his presence. Zack's lips curled into a sneer as he watched her, memories of past torment flooding his mind."You thought you could hide from me, Lucille. But I always find my prey," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "How dar