'Everything makes sense now,' Warren thought. 'The confidence in Gary's words and his relentless onslaught while saying that I stole the necklace. He was the one who planned it all.'
Although he realized the truth now, it was too late for him. The security guards brought him out to the parking lot on Gary's command. They kicked him violently until blood were flowing out through his nose and mouth. The pain he felt was something he will never forget. Not only was he wrongfully accused, even Cassidy believed that he was a thief. Warren didn't feel the need to defend himself anymore. He accepted the beating, although it hurt him excruciatingly.
At that moment Gary stood in front of him. He followed the guards when they brought Warren out. He made sure that no one else followed them since he wanted to make Warren suffer in peace.
"Not so smug now anymore, are we?" he joked as he also kicked Warren. "Did you really think that you could be with Cassidy? She will never defend someone like you, even though I framed you. Now look at her. She even reprimanded you!" Gary laughed. He kept kicking non-stop. He wanted Warren to suffer.
"Did you really think that we were on the same level? At the end of the day the better guy won. You should have never angered me. Look at yourself now."
"Stop!" At that moment a voice shouted. The voice belonged to Cassidy. "Can't you see that he's had enough. Do you want to kill him?"
Although she was angry at Warren for humiliating her like that, she couldn't watch Gary kill him. They were high school classmates once upon a time. It would haunt her forever if she just stood by and watch someone get killed.
Hearing her say that, Gary kicked Warren one last time and spit at him. After that he shouted "Get out of here! I never want to see your face here ever again!"
Warren struggled to his feet as blood was still dripping from the corners of his mouth. He looked at Cassidy one last time and turned around to leave. The security guards allowed him to leave and Warren turned around one final time and looked into Cassidy's eyes.
"I didn't steal the necklace, but that doesn't matter anymore. I just want to tell you to take care of yourself. You shouldn't lose yourself because you are blinded by rage. You are an excellent judge of character. Don't ever let it be clouded."
After that Warren left. Looking at his back, Cassidy felt uneasy. Why would Warren say something like that? What was the implications of his words? Before she could say anything, Warren disappeared from her sight.
Gary smiled as he took Cassidy's hand and lead her back to the main hall. The party resumed as if nothing happened. However, Cassidy was now lost in thought. Warren's words kept replaying in her mind. What was he trying to say?
Warren, on the other hand, struggled as he was waving for a cab. However, no one stopped for him. He was covered in blood after all, so why would anyone want to bother with him. He walked a block or two until he arrived at a bridge. Near the bridge, there was a beggar lying under a cardboard box, which served as his blanket. Seeing how pitiful he looked, Warren approached him and put his jacket over him. Although it was covered in blood, he still felt that the jacket would provide more protection against the cold, than the cardboard box.
The beggar looked at him and couldn't help smiling. He had a good impression of Warren, because although he was beaten up, he cared about the safety of other people more than his own.
He took the his own jacket and cut it into pieces. Warren was surprised at that, but before he could say anything, the beggar called him closer. Warren could only oblige. When he was close enough, the beggar signaled him to sit down. After Warren sat down the beggar used the little bit of alcohol he had left to disinfect Warren's wounds. Warren was too weak to resist and the burning sensation he felt, hurt him even more.
After he disinfected Warren's wounds, he used the torn pieces of his jacket as bandages to cover Warren's wounds. Warren was touched at the beggar's generosity. He put his hand into his pocket and found the 100 dollars he wanted to use to pay for the cab, and gave it to the beggar. The beggar, however, only shook his head. He didn't want Warren's money. Warren was shocked at the beggar's refusal. It was a 100 dollars and he didn't want it?
Warren bowed to the beggar three times and thanked him repeatedly for taking care of him. The impression that the beggar had of Warren improved more at that gesture. He smiled, showing his crooked teeth, and pulled out a piece of paper from his shoe. He offered it to Warren.
Seeing the location where the paper was, Warren declined immediately, but the beggar kept on insisting. At the end the beggar didn't take no for an answer and Warren accepted the piece of paper. He thanked the beggar and opened the piece of paper to start reading. When he read the words on the paper something happened.
After each word he read, the word disappeared immediately. Warren was left dumbfounded. It was in a language that he didn't understand, but somehow he felt that he understood the message it was conveying. He looked at the beggar. The beggar signaled to him to continue reading. Warren did just that.
When the paper was finally blank and no more words appeared on the paper, the beggar touched Warren's hand. He could feel energy flowing into his body. Warren was left dumbfounded. What was happening to him? And where did he get this energy? His internal wounds were starting to heal and he felt even better than he did before. He looked at the beggar in shock!
The beggar pointed towards his head, then his heart and after that he made a fist. He smiled again and signaled to Warren that he may leave now.
Warren bowed one final time and turned around to leave.
As Warren was walked away from the beggar, he couldn't help thinking about what just happened. 'Why do I feel so energetic all of a sudden? Did the beggar do something to me? Was it a good thing or a bad thing? Oh well, there is no use dwelling on it now. All that matters is that my wounds are healed and I feel amazing,' Warren thought to himself. Although he was still covered in blood, Warren felt as if he could do anything. He felt rejuvenated from head to toe. He sprinted and to his surprise, he didn't feel any pain at all. His speed also increased substantially. 'This is an unexpected and welcome surprise,'Warren said as he rushed to find a cab since his house was a long way away. No cab stopped for him since he was still covered in blood. He didn't give up and stood in the middle of the road so that the next cab couldn't pass him by. He forcefully entered and instructed the driver to go to the designated address. Reluctantly, the driver follo
"Flight 187 departing for Flemond is ready for boarding!" a voice rang throughout the airport. Warren knew it was his flight and as he was about to go through customs the voice on the other end said "I will wait for you at the airport, Young Master. You have a safe flight." Warren was still speechless. He couldn't say a word, nor could he register that if what happened just now, was a dream or reality. It didn't make sense that he was now the owner of the most lucrative business and shopping district in all of Flemond. He boarded the plane and still stared at his phone. "500 000 000 dollars has been paid into your savings account!" Even when he saw the proof, he was still doubtful. 'I will visit the bank after landing in Flemond. That's the only way I would know if this was the real thing,' he thought to himself. After that the 4-hour trip back to Flemond felt like an eternity. Warren couldn't wait to get back. Wh
Oblivious of the schemes that Johnathan Parker had, Warren returned to his dorm room in a cab. He thought it would be best to leave the entourage so that they may stay at the Flemond Stargaze Hotel, one of the buildings located in the Flemond Galaxy District. Although he was also the owner of that hotel, Warren didn't see the need to suddenly move to such a grand amd luxurious place, since he wanted to be low-key. He didn't want to touch a cent of the money that Johnathan Parker gave to him, nor did he want to use his facilities. Warren felt that he would become dependent on the support that Johnathan lend him and then he might as well become his puppet.When he arrived at the entrance of the dorm, he was greeted by his good friend, Samuel. Warren was ecstatic when he saw the familiar face. It's a good thing that he didn't run into either Jennifer or Lloyd first, since it would add to his dismay."So you ran away so suddenly, did you manage to sort out everything back
"Just think about this: since we're holding a raffle we could make a huge profit and buy all the food and blankets that we want without standing here like beggars," Lauren explained.It finally made sense to Warren and Samuel. Lauren was only caring about her own image and not the purpose of the fundraising. She didn't want to participate in an activity that made her reliant on people's generosity, she wanted to be the one in control."With the raffle we can sell tickets at a price of 5000 dollars. If we have a hundred participants, we could raise 500 000 dollars. The prices that those who participate in the raffle could win include a new BMW 3 series, a necklace worth 25 000 dollars and a one-day all expenses paid luxury day at the Heavenly Sky Resort, with dinner included at the Heavenly Sky Diner."Warren and Samuel looked at each other and shook their heads. Lauren was so far off topic. Her suggestion defeated the whole purpose of the fundraising
The girl was at a loss for words. She just received a phone call from the hospital telling her that her mother's hospital bill has been settled and that the payment also covered the cost for her mother's operation. She has been struggling to raise money to pay her mother's bill which amounted to 12 000 dollars. An additional 55 000 dollars was needed for the operation to remove the tumor that her mother had in her breast. She was too embarrassed to mention this to anyone, but now someone just paid covered all her costs.She looked at Warren's back as he disappeared into the horizon. She left everything at the stall and ran as quickly as her legs could carry her, after him. However, the moment he disappeared from her sight, she never saw him again. It was as if he vanished into thin air. Dejected, she returned to her stall to pack up. She reached her goal, so she didn't want to hang around any longer. Her demeanor changed after she received the phone call. She seemed as if she
After the bottom three was announced, everyone was looking forward to the top 3. The emcee cleared his throat and started his announcement."Now, for the moment you have all been waiting for. We are going to mention the top 3 groups who have raised the highest amount during this fundraiser. Get ready for it!"All the students were becoming restless. They couldn't wait to see who was top this year. All of them immediately looked towards the Literature Department's side and could see Jennifer, Lisa and Lauren standing there next to Charles Chamberlain. Everyone felt that the results were already assured. The Literature Department would take top spot."In third place, from the Engineering department, we have Emma Stewart and Jenna Jefferson. They raised a combined amount of 20 000 dollars."There were gasps all around campus. Everyone was shocked. Who would have donated such a huge amount of money? 'It's crazy to think what people do with their money,'
After she went down from the platform, Christina approached Warren. She was planning on thanking him, but after she saw so many eyes on them, she thought it would be best to leave it for later. When she stood in front of him, tears welled up in her eyes and she could only look at him with gratitude. As she was about to cry, Warren touched her hand and smiled. She was taken aback by Warren's actions and quickly retrieved her hand, however a few students already saw it."Look, Warren is trying his luck with that girl.""He doesn't have a conscience or any shame. After hearing she has 30 000 dollars, he is trying his luck with her," another student said."He is really pitiful. It's one thing to be poor, but he is so shameless that he would do something like this in public.""You could see the tears in Christina's eyes. She is obviously distressed because of what Warren just did."Every student had an opinion on what Warren just did. His intention was
"Good evening, Ma'am. A reservation for two I assume?" the receptionist asked when she saw Warren and Christina. She could see by the way Warren dressed, that he was not the one capable enough to book a table at the Heavenly Sky Diner."Yes Miss. We would like a table for two, however we didn't book in advance," Christina said with a smile. She thought that it wouldn't be a problem if she didn't book a table since she could afford the costs anyways."I'm sorry Ma'am, but if you didn't book a table in advance I cannot help you. I am working according to this list and if your name isn't on it, then I cannot help you," the receptionist said as she pointed to her tablet.Christina felt embarrassed. She really wanted to treat Warren to a meal at the fanciest restaurant in town, but now she couldn't even book a table.She look at Warren shyly and said "I'm so sorry, Mr Cole. I really wanted to treat you to dinner here, but it seems like