2024-08-26 19:32:39"Of course not," Oliver replied. "It’s my money. Take it. Pay me back whenever you can—no rush, and definitely no interest."
Nate’s hands trembled as he stared at the stack of bills, unsure whether to accept.
This wasn’t just a loan; it was a life-changing sum.
He hesitated, but thoughts of his son's medical bills tipped the scale.
With a deep breath, he pocketed the cash.
"Thank you, Oliver," Nate said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you."
"Everything will work out, Nate. I promise," Oliver said, sincerity in his eyes.
Nate smiled, a mix of relief and gratitude softening his expression. "I believe it will, buddy."
Somehow, he couldn’t help but replay the image of Anthony trembling in front of Oliver.
Who is this guy really? he wondered, but just as quickly dismissed the thought.
Nah, if he were someone important, he wouldn’t have tolerated Anthony for this long. He’s just another guy trying to get by.
When they reached Nate’s modest house, it showed signs of wear—faded walls, furniture past its prime. But everything was tidy and well-kept.
"Make yourself at home," Nate said, exhausted. "There are some cup noodles if you’re hungry."
While Nate got ready to pick up his son, Chris, from school, Oliver’s gaze wandered to a framed photo of Nate and Chris.
He picked it up, drawn to the boy’s bright smile.
"Can Chris’s illness be cured?" he asked.
“With a lot of money, yeah,” Nate sighed heavily. "A specialist could help, but that's way beyond what I can afford."
Oliver’s heart tightened. "What if money wasn’t an issue?"
Nate shot him a wary look. "What are you suggesting? Something illegal?"
"No, nothing like that," Oliver said softly. "I can help with Chris’s medical bills. Just let me handle it."
Nate shook his head, his tone serious. "We’re just regular guys scraping by. You’ve already done more than enough just by being a friend."
Oliver nodded, respecting Nate’s pride.
After eating some cup noodles, he headed to the shower.
As the hot water hit his skin, a sudden realization struck him.
"Shit. I left the necklace at the Henverton mansion," he muttered, running a hand through his wet hair.
That necklace, a keepsake from his past, had always been by his side.
In the chaos of his divorce, he’d left it behind on the nightstand.
"Looks like I’ll have to face Trisha again," Oliver whispered to himself, his shoulders slumping at the thought.
After dressing, he borrowed Nate’s truck and made his way toward the Henverton mansion.
While driving, his phone rang. It was Rebecca.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, Sir Oliver. I’m calling to inform you that Anthony has been fired from the market,"
Rebecca said on the other end.
"We’re also arranging proper compensation for the employees he mistreated, including your friend."
"That’s great news, Rebecca. Thank you," Oliver said, his voice warm with gratitude.
"Thanks again for all your help, Rebecca. If you ever need anything, let me know."
"You don’t owe me a thing, Sir Oliver. The assistance you received earlier is a privilege for red card holders,"
Rebecca explained, her voice polite yet measured. "But... if it’s not too much trouble, could I ask a personally favor?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of favor?"
"Would you go to a party with me... and pretend to be my boyfriend?"
Oliver blinked, caught off guard. "Pretend to be your boyfriend? What’s going on?"
Rebecca’s voice grew embrassment.
"It’s a complicated situation. I need someone to... help me keep certain people at bay. I know it’s an odd request, but I’m in a bit of a bind. It's okay if you not to, I'm asking too much..."
Oliver chuckled softly.
"I see. Well, it doesn’t sound too difficult. I’ll go, but I need to handle some personal business first."
"That’s perfectly fine," Rebecca replied, relief flooding her tone. "The party isn’t until later. I’ll send you the address. And... thank you."
"No problem," Oliver said before ending the call.
As he neared the Henverton mansion, something felt off.
He tried unlocking the gate with his key, but it wouldn’t turn.
After several attempts, it was clear.
Trisha must’ve changed the locks, he thought bitterly.
And clearly, the house seemed empty. No choice, then.
Relying on the skills he’d picked up from his time in the Legion, Oliver deftly unlocked the door and slipped inside.
He made his way to his room, where he found the necklace sitting on the nightstand.
Pocketing it, he began gathering a few of his belongings when he heard footsteps from downstairs.
"Who could that be?" His senses sharpened.
Moving quietly, Oliver descended the stairs, only to come face to face with Carolina, his former mother-in-law.
"What are you doing here?" Carolina’s eyes widened in shock.
"Mother," Oliver greeted, offering a polite smile.
She was always nice to Oliver back to the days.
He had always thought of Carolina as a second mother.
But Carolina’s expression now quickly turned to disdain.
"Trisha already changed the locks, and you still managed to break in? Is this how desperate you are to reconcile with my daughter?"
She sneered, her voice dripping with venom.
"No, that’s not my intention," Oliver replied, keeping his voice steady despite the tension.
Carolina scoffed, folding her arms with an air of superiority.
"Who do you think you’re fooling? A broke, pathetic loser like you will say anything to leech off my daughter. You think I’d let you drag her down again? Not a chance!"
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Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 10: The Party
Oliver’s heart sank at Carolina’s words. Once upon a time, he’d cleaned her house, taken her to doctor appointments, cooked meals, and spent hours keeping her company. She’d been warm, kind—even motherly. But now, her eyes held only cold disdain, as if they were strangers.Maybe her kindness only be a mask, just a reflection of Cole’s wealth?“Get out of here now!” she spat, her voice sharp as a knife. “Or do you want to get arrested?”A swirl of anguish rose inside him, but Oliver didn’t respond. He turned to leave, but Carolina stepped in front of him, blocking the way.“Leave everything behind!” she snapped, eyes narrowing.“These are my belongings,” Oliver replied. It was just some old clothes in his bag.Carolina took a step closer, contempt twisting her expression.“Are you out of your mind? You don’t deserve a single thing from this house!”Oliver’s frustration flared. Not worth a thing? I paid for this house. Most of the household bills, too.But he didn’t say it. Instead,
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 11: Facade
Gasps rippled through the crowd, astonished by the exchange between them.Rebecca, known for her beauty and constant refusals, showing up with a “nobody”?“Trash? He’s far better than you,” Rebecca shot back, folding her arms and staring Jay down. “And where are your manners?”Jay sneered. “Manners? I only show those to people who deserve them. Clearly not this poor loser.”He retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “But I’m curious — Why are you even with this guy? Did you find him online and hire him for the night”Laughter echoed from the other guests, nodding in agreement.It made sense; Rebecca would go to such lengths to avoid a real relationship.Jay continued, his tone mocking.“Really, Rebecca if you’re going to hire someone, couldn’t you set your standards a little higher? Even the janitors here are dressed better than him!”“You should have hired me instead of him, Rebecca. I’m the one who truly matches your vibe. This old man couldn't event satisfy you.”But Rebecca didn
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 12: Sudden Fear
As soon as Trisha spotted Oliver, she stormed toward him, Jay and Denver trailing close behind.“I told you to stop following me!” she snapped, her voice loud and hostile. “You pathetic lowlife! How dare you come here and lurk around like some creep?”Oliver blinked by her outburst.“Wait, you know him?” Jay asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.“That’s Trisha’s useless ex-husband,” Denver answered, his teeth clenched with anger. “What’s that nobody doing at a party like this?”“It’s because he’s Rebecca’s boyfriend,” Jay interjected, a smug grin spreading across his face.Trisha paused for a moment when she heard this.She finally noticing the transformation in Oliver’s appearance.He stood there in a sharp, expensive suit, clean-shaven and composed, radiating a powerful presence, made him look like a completely different man.“What? Are you kidding me? There’s no way that bumpkin could snag someone like Rebecca.”Trisha raised an eyebrow, her face twisting in disgust mixed with a s
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 13: Ryan Williams
Rebecca offered a slight smile before quickly hiding it.“The dirty mutt who only knows how to smear someone’s name without any proof…” Oliver remarked, his gaze shifting to them.“…And all the followers who blindly believe her.” His eyes swept over the other guests.As his words settled, the room fell silent.The guests’ faces morphed into expressions of disgust and disbelief.Jay’s face darkened in anger.“You worthless son of a bitch,” he hissed through clenched teeth, “I’m gonna kick your ass out of your mouth.”“This damn bastard!”Denver growled, losing his patience. He lunged forward, grabbing Oliver by the collar.***An elderly man walked along the plush, carpeted hallway outside, furrowing his brow as he approached the door.“What’s going on inside? Why is it so noisy?”One of his subordinates picked up a walkie-talkie to explain,“It seems there’s been a disagreement in the banquet hall, but it hasn’t escalated to the point of needing security yet.”This elderly man was the
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 14: Savior
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Mr. Hunt…” Ryan Williams, one of the wealthiest men in the country, said, his voice trembling. “I owe you my life, and after all these years without being able to repay you… suddenly, you appear at my own banquet. I’d heard that three years ago—”“Enough,” Oliver cut him off.The guests exchanged uneasy glances, confused and on edge. Ryan Williams, a man of untouchable power, was kneeling before Oliver. It was a sight none of them had expected.“What the… Why is Mr. Williams kneeling to someone like him?”“Is this guy some big shot we didn’t know about? Could this be why Rebecca was with him?”“If he’s really a VVIP at Umbrella Bank… we might’ve messed up big time judging him…”Their murmurs filled the room, ranging from annoyance to nervousness. They realized that if Oliver was truly connected to Ryan, they might be in for trouble.Oliver, however, ignored the whispers around him, simply raising an eyebrow as he looked closely at Ryan. There was some
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 15: Stealth
Jay swallowed hard, realizing there was no way out.With no choice but to accept it, he turned and slunk away.He didn’t dare defy Ryan. Sticking around after this would only make things worse, a slap in his own face.As Jay disappeared, Ryan’s usual calm smile returned.“Remember,” he said, “Everyone here is a guest, no matter their status. If something like this happens again, I won’t hesitate to step in.”A murmur rippled through the guests.They exchanged tense glances, the kind of silent, nervous conversation that followed any reminder of Ryan’s influence.He was a force few dared to cross—a single word from him could move mountains, shake governments, and, some said, even trigger strikes at his command.But here he was, exercising his power over… a petty insult?“Please, just enjoy the party.” Ryan continued, a glimmer of lightness in his voice. “Tonight marks the thirtieth gathering I’ve hosted here, and I’d like it to be a night we all remember fondly.”Hearing this, the crowd
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 16: Favor
With the shadowy figure from earlier gone, Oliver gave a slight nod. “Alright.”“Thank you. Please, follow me,” Ryan said, his tone polite but firm.Oliver followed Ryan into a private meeting room.The space was elegant, with marble floors and walls adorned with expensive paintings.It wasn’t overly flashy, but the simplicity only added to its sophistication.Ryan glanced around the room before speaking. “I know this might seem suspicious, but I mean no harm,” he reassured Oliver, locking eyes with him. “I brought you here because what I’m about to say is confidential.”Oliver’s brow furrowed slightly. “What is it?”Without another word, Ryan picked up a brown envelope from the table and handed it to him. “Here.”Oliver opened the envelope and began sifting through the documents inside.His frown deepened as he realized the papers were related to a weapons manufacturing company.“These are the findings from the investigation you asked me to carry out,” Ryan explained, pointing at the
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 17: After Time
Oliver felt his chest tightening. His steps were slow, deliberate, trying to make sense of the tension bubbling inside him. From a distance, he overheard bits of the conversation.“Yes, she’s working hard in the capital,” Zayne was saying, his smile wide and confident. “She’s just as determined and competent as you.”Rebecca smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you, Zayne.”“You’re welcome,” Zayne replied, his eyes drifting toward Oliver as he approached. “I should be going, Rebecca. See you around.”By the time Oliver reached them, Zayne was already walking away. His eyes lingered on the empty space Zayne had occupied, but quickly shifted to Rebecca.“Why were you talking to Zayne?” He asked, his tone sharper than he intended.Rebecca blinked, surprised by the question. “He’s a guest—and an important one at that. He wanted to ask me some questions about the umbrella bank,” She replied, her tone polite but slightly guarded. “Is something wrong?”
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Chapter 152: A Diamond Turned Into A Rock
Both of them became silent for a moment, knowing that Oliver had a dark past with her.A few seconds later, Seraphine smiled, leaning her head onto Oliver’s shoulder.“Don’t worry about it. I forgive you,” she said, her tone genuine.“I even feel sorry for what you endured by her side. I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant.”“It’s not.” Oliver shook his head, remembering how horrible it was.“But all of it was in the past now. I’m not thinking about it that much,” he added.After that, he opened the car door in the passenger seat for Seraphine.But before Seraphine could enter, hurried footsteps followed them.“Oliver, wait!” rang out someone’s breathless and urgent voice behind them.It was Trisha.Upon seeing her, Oliver exhaled through his nose, already tired of whatever game Trisha was trying to play.He turned slightly, his expression hardening as Trisha caught up to them.“Relax! I just want to talk,” Trisha exclaimed, raising both hands in surrender. “I think there is just a misunderstan
Chapter 151: Persistence
Seeing that scenario, Trisha almost stumbled to the ground, feeling like the floor beneath her had crumbled.Oliver turned to her, his gaze playful but sharp. “Still think I can’t afford that bag?” he asked, his voice low yet subtly including mockery.Trisha wasn’t able to answer, and all she could do was stand there with her face pale and body trembling.The reality shattered every lie she had told herself. And the worst part?Oliver knew it.And he was enjoying every second of her downfall.As Trisha remained in her place, Oliver turned to Seraphine, his voice casual.“We’ve wasted enough time here. Let’s go,” he told Seraphine, and the latter nodded in agreement.Oliver talked to the cashier, wanting her to deliver a message.“Tell Michelle that I won’t change my clothes anymore.” His gaze moved toward Trisha. “I don’t like the idea of staying here longer.”Afterward, Oliver held Seraphine’s hand, and they were now ready to leave.But before it could happen, Trisha’s voice suddenl
Chapter 150: Deference
The entire store fell into an eerie silence. The gasps of onlookers, the murmurs of disbelief, and even Trisha’s heartbeat seemed to freeze as they processed what they had just witnessed.Lady Michelle isn’t just an ordinary person; she is recognized internationally. Not just as a fashion designer but also as a business owner.Trisha had dreamed of being associated with someone like her—yet she was now standing in front of Oliver.And not just standing. Bowing.‘What the hell?’ Trisha raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she stared at Michelle intently. ‘Is she bewitched or something?’That is what Trisha wanted to believe, but she knew it wasn’t the case.Michelle’s movement isn’t just an act of respect—but deference.“Mr. Hunt,” Michelle greeted, her voice laced with admiration. “It is an honor to see you here.”Trisha and the other onlookers’ jaws fell, hearing how Michelle treated Oliver. It was as if Oliver was a VIP client himself, although Michelle was more popular than h
Chapter 149: Lady Michelle
Everyone was confused when Oliver suddenly laughed—as if he had just heard a ridiculous thing.Trisha had seen him being humiliated because he was being treated like trash.And in rage because of some circumstances he had experienced.But this was the first time she saw Oliver laughing like crazy, and for some reason, it gave her a different feeling—more anger, frustration, and rage.“What’s so funny?” Trisha asked, her brows furrowing.“You,” Oliver answered, shaking his head as he wiped a fake tear from his eye. “You’re so desperate to tear her down, but you don’t even know the full story.”Trisha narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”Oliver paused for a moment, his gaze scanned the entire area before it returned to Trisha.With a mischievous smirk, he placed a hand on Seraphine’s waist, pulling her closer.“I am Seraphine’s sugar daddy.”Everyone gasped in shock upon hearing those words. They gave Oliver a look of disbelief, while Trisha blinked in surprise.However, aft
Chapter 148: Affair
“Walking around with your expensive bags, acting all high and mighty. But after all, you’re just a gold digger!” Trisha shouted.A few customers nearby gasped, and the sales associates froze, unsure how to react.Seraphine also felt the same thing. She was shocked as she thumped rapidly, and she was momentarily frozen in place.She tried removing Trisha’s hands that were holding tightly onto her hair, but instead of loosening, the latter’s grip even tightened, her lips curving into a smirk.“No, I won’t let go,” Trisha muttered, pulling Seraphine toward her more. “Do you think you’re superior to me now just because of the sugar daddy you have? No freaking way!”“All the money I spent came from me. The Henverton family is the richest in our town,” she added to brag. “And you? Is the Carter family even rich? No. You’re leeching off to someone else—”Before Trisha could finish her sentence, Seraphine wasn’t able to control herself anymore.She shoved Trisha away with both hands, making h
Chapter 147: Rise To Ranks
Seraphine, who was busy looking at the other bags, had her brows furrowed as she looked at the woman in front.“Uh… Hi?” Seraphine greeted, the confusion evident in her tone. “Do you know me?”“Well, who won’t?” Trisha answered, her voice laced with annoyance as she crossed her arms.“You’re famous, Seraphine Carter. Your rank in the Capital increased in such a short time. You got promoted in your job, and…”She looked Seraphine from head to toe, not even hiding the fact that she was judging her.“You look like a decent woman now. Money can really do a lot of things, huh?”Hearing those words, Seraphine couldn’t help but chuckle.‘I was only here to buy a bag for myself, yet someone I don’t even know would disrespect me like this?’ Seraphine thought, her expression laced with disbelief.“Wow. I admire your courage in coming at me although we don’t personally know each other,” Seraphine said, the sarcasm evident in her tone.She added, “Who even are you?”Smirking, Trisha leaned on the
Chapter 146: Sugar Daddy
After that conversation, all of them became silent, looking forward to the next execution of their plan.Oliver, on the other hand, had his fingers brush against the necklace in his pocket.The memory of its strange glow lingered in his mind.He didn’t know why it reacted the way it did at the minefield, but one thing was sure.Something was coming, which could be beyond imagination.And this time, Oliver would be ready.***A few weeks later, the Colossia’s capital went back to normal after the situation when Zayne was arrested.The people aren’t talking too much about it as the news was already fading.Although they were still thinking about what happened to Zayne in prison, they aren’t as curious as when the news spread like wildfire.The government, on the other hand, also became stricter with their employees.“Breaking news! Six employees at the capital hall, including the deceased Francis Blake, turned out to be the former military officer Zayne Greensmith’s alliance…”“Because
Chapter 145: A Possible Connection
The silence filled their conversation for a while before Nick spoke, realizing something.“Hmm… That’s odd,” Nick muttered, caressing his chin. “When I watch him on the television, it looks like he has a strong aura. Or was that a facade?”“It could be,” Samuel replied, acknowledging the possibility. “After all, we’re now sure that someone higher than Argus Industries was pulling the strings.”Everyone nodded in agreement, except Ray, who gave James a suspicious look.“You’re not lying to distract us from finding the real information, are you?” Ray asked, looking James in the eye.James snorted, almost chuckling in disbelief.“I’m even here, helping all of you to find more information using my skills.” He looked at the monitor.He added, “With these pieces of evidence I’m digging right now, which is already putting my life in danger, do you still think I have reason to lie?”The silence filled the conversation as no one answered James.However, all of them understood Ray’s sentiment.
Chapter 144: Puppet
Oliver froze.His heart thumped rapidly as he pulled the necklace out, its previously dull pendant now glowing, giving an extraordinary radiance.Not only that, but the heat coming from the necklace was also overwhelming, intensifying the longer he held it in his palm.“What the hell?” he muttered, his brows furrowed in confusion.Oliver had had this necklace for a long time, but it had never done something like this before.Although it was only an ordinary necklace, Oliver had kept it, feeling that it had a sentimental value he couldn’t remember.So why was it reacting like this now, at this very place?“Fuck,” Oliver muttered a curse, seeing a color yellow dust coming out of the necklace.A few seconds later, the yellow dust converted into light, making the minefield brighten—as if Heaven’s gate opened up to take him.Then, it was followed by a faint whisper behind Oliver.The voice was barely audible and was spoken in a language he couldn’t understand.“Shit. Who was that?!” Oliver
