Adrian Vale, one of the most powerful tycoons in the city, had just finished another late-night meeting. His suit was flawless, his expression unreadable, his phone still buzzing with deals that never seemed to end.
For Adrian, life was simple: numbers, power, control.
Until he opened his car door.
“What the hell…?”
Curled up in the back seat was a boy.
Small. Thin. Shaking like he hadn’t felt safe in days.
His clothes were worn. His face smudged with dirt.
But his eyes—
Wide. Terrified. Desperate.
“Please… don’t make me get out,” the boy whispered, his voice breaking. “Just let me stay for a little while…”
Adrian froze.
He didn’t tolerate surprises.
“Who are you?” he asked coldly. “How did you get in here?”
The boy hesitated, glancing toward the street as if something—or someone—might be watching.
“They’re looking for me…”
That wasn’t fear you could fake.
Adrian’s hand moved toward his phone.
Security. Police. End of problem.
Then he saw it.
A pendant.
Small. Jade. Hanging from the boy’s neck.
And suddenly—
Everything stopped.
“Where did you get that?” Adrian asked, his voice no longer cold… but careful.
The boy grabbed it instinctively.