Chapter 1 

"You've got three days to come up with fifty grand, or your mom's going to jail!"

In the dingy apartment, James Williams collapsed onto the couch, his phone slipping from his hand and hitting the floor, adding more cracks to its already damaged screen.

Three years ago, James's adoptive father, Virgil Williams, left for work and never returned. His adoptive mother, Michelle Garcia, had single-handedly put James through college. But with limited income, she couldn't afford the high tuition fees and secretly borrowed money, promising to repay it within five years. Now, the lender was demanding early repayment.

To pay off the debt, James had not only used all his savings from part-time jobs during college but also taken out every loan he could get approved for online. By a stroke of luck, he became a live-in son-in-law to the Smiths, which got him a hundred thousand dollars.

It seemed easy, but only James knew the hardships he endured. He faced constant disdain from the Smiths, even the servants looked down on him. Despite sacrificing his dignity for the money, it still wasn't enough. With the high interest, he still owed fifty thousand dollars.

"Fifty thousand more dollars?"

James was in utter despair. For an average family, scraping together fifty thousand dollars might be possible, but for him, it was an astronomical figure. This debt was incurred for his education; how could he let Michelle face a lawsuit?

With no other options, James had to swallow his pride and ask relatives for help. His first thought was his sister, Mia Williams. Though she was married, she was still Michelle's biological daughter and surely wouldn't stand by and do nothing.

"Fifty thousand dollars? You think I'm worth that? Why don't you just sell me?" Mia's face was cold as she blocked the doorway, not letting James in before rejecting him.

"Mia, if we don't pay, Mom will be sued and might even go to jail."

Mia sneered, "That's your mom. She cut ties with me a long time ago!"

Mia had vehemently opposed spending money on James's education, leading to a fallout and severed ties with Michelle.

"Mia, she's still your mother. Consider it a loan from me. I'll pay you back every cent."

Despite James's desperate pleas, Mia pulled out two hundred-dollar bills and tossed them on the ground.

"Don't say I don't care about family. Take this two hundred dollars and get lost!"

With that, she slammed the door shut.

James gritted his teeth, bent down to pick up the money, and carefully put it in his pocket. It was far from enough, but it was better than nothing.

James then approached every relative he could think of, but no one was willing to help. At the mention of borrowing money, they looked at him like he was a plague, with many not even opening their doors, making it clear they wanted nothing to do with him.

In just one day, James experienced the coldness of the world. The harsh words he heard had long since numbed his ears.

Leaning against a utility pole, James felt more powerless than ever. His last option was to ask Mary for help.

Mary Smith, his nominal wife, was someone he had barely seen since their wedding. Mary was a privileged woman who wouldn't give him the time of day. She only married him because the Smith family patriarch was superstitious and forced her to marry someone who matched a fortune-teller's prediction.

"It's you. What do you want?" Mary snapped as soon as she answered the phone. "I'm in a meeting. Make it quick. Don't waste my time!"

James bit his lip and asked to borrow money. But before he could explain why, Mary hung up in disgust.

With his last hope gone, James was out of options.

Just then, a limited-edition Rolls-Royce pulled up beside him, instantly drawing the attention of passersby. The door opened, and a familiar figure stepped out, rekindling a glimmer of hope in James's eyes.

It was Jennifer Johnson, his college classmate. They had started a business together after graduation, but it failed due to inexperience.

James was about to approach her when the other car door opened and out stepped Brian Robinson, his former friend.

Brian, the heir to the Robinson Group—one of the top companies in Emerald City—was among the numerous suitors vying for Jennifer's attention during college. Hailed as the most beautiful girl on campus, Jennifer felt superior and stayed single throughout that time.

After graduation, Jennifer refused Brian's financial help and chose to start a business with James, which ultimately failed. Now, it seemed she had chosen to be with Brian after all, perhaps realizing that ideals couldn't compete with reality.

"Jennifer," James called out softly. Fifty thousand dollars was nothing to someone who could afford a Rolls-Royce. Maybe she would help him out of their good old days.

"James, what are you doing here?"

Jennifer's face showed disdain. She blamed James for their failed business venture.

"Jennifer, can you lend me fifty thousand dollars? I..."

Before James could finish, Jennifer cut him off coldly, "James, we may know each other, but we're not close enough for you to ask for money."

"I'll pay you back. If you don't trust me, I can leave my ID with you."

James quickly pulled out his ID and handed it to her.

"Pay me back? How? You're a loser. If it weren't for your ideas, I wouldn't have lost money," Jennifer snapped, slapping his ID out of his hand. "I must have been blind to have ever liked you."

Brian's eyes gleamed as he stepped forward, holding a bank card between his fingers. "This card has exactly a hundred thousand dollars. I can lend it to you."

James's eyes lit up, feeling like he had found a lifeline. "Really?"

Brian smirked and pointed to the ground. "Kneel."

James clenched his fists, veins bulging on his arms, but despite the blatant humiliation, he knelt straight down, willing to endure it if it meant saving Michelle.

"Good boy. I didn't expect the Smiths to train you so well." Brian laughed arrogantly, mocking him. "They say you're the Smiths' live-in son-in-law, but I think you're more like their dog."

James gritted his teeth, ignoring Brian's taunts. As long as he could get the money to pay off Michelle's debt, a few insults were nothing.

"James, you're giving up your dignity for fifty thousand dollars?"

Jennifer's eyes were full of contempt. She was glad she hadn't gotten more involved with James.

James remained silent. To Jennifer, he seemed to be selling his dignity for money, but he knew it was all for Michelle.

"James, the more I look at you, the more disgusted I feel. How could I have ever partnered with someone like you?" Jennifer grew angrier, taking off a delicate bracelet from her wrist. "James, this was a gift from you when we first started our business. I'm giving it back. From now on, we have no ties."

James said nothing, silently putting the bracelet on his wrist. It wasn't valuable, but it was a gift from an old man at a street stall who had given it to him for free, saying they were fated.

"Brian, I've done what you asked. Now, will you lend me the money?"

Brian sneered. He had no intention of lending James the money; he just wanted to humiliate him.

"You're the Smiths' dog. How can you speak like a human? Bark like a dog, and if I'm satisfied, I might give you more."

James had already knelt and endured the insults, but Brian wasn't satisfied. He wanted him to bark like a dog.

Even the most patient person would be furious, let alone a young man like James. No matter how good his temper, he couldn't endure this.

"Brian, don't push me too far!"

"So what if I do? You want money, don't you? Then wag your tail for me!"

Brian bent down, intending to slap James with the bank card.

James realized Brian had no intention of lending him the money. He blocked Brian's hand. "Brian, don't think you're so great just because you have money. Even if you offered, I wouldn't take it!"

Angry but rational, James knew Brian had many friends who would back him up. Fighting him would only lead to trouble.

"James, you're just the Smiths' dog, and you dare bark at me?" Brian took out his phone and made a call. "I'm on Maple Avenue. Bring some guys over. Hurry!"

Hearing Brian call for backup, James turned to run, but Brian grabbed him first.

As they struggled, a van sped up, and seven or eight men jumped out.

"That's him. Teach him a lesson!"

At Brian's command, the men surrounded James and started beating him.

James curled up on the ground, protecting his head as pain coursed through his body. His consciousness began to fade.

In a daze, he felt a heavy kick to his back, and he spat out blood, which splattered onto the bracelet on his wrist.

The blood-soaked bracelet glowed faintly, but before James could see clearly, he lost consciousness.

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