After leaving Han's mansion, Alex drove slowly toward his villa. The road was dark and quiet, except for the moonlight reflecting on the winding path. Thoughts swirled in his head as he tried in vain to arrange them. All he could focus on was the following day, which would mark the beginning of a long and uncertain journey. When he arrived at the villa, he gazed at the massive structure before him with a contemplative look. This place, which had once been his sanctuary, would soon be reduced to mere ruins.
Without hesitation, Alex entered the villa quickly.
"Donald, when will the construction workers arrive?" he asked, his voice dry as if wanting to end the conversation quickly.
"Tomorrow, young master," Donald replied calmly, used to such questions.
"Good," Alex muttered softly, his mind drifting far away.
Donald, observing his young master closely, tried to distract him with another question, "Would you like to have dinner, sir?"
"Yes, please," Alex answered coldly, as if dinner was just another task to complete.
After eating, Alex climbed the stairs to his room slowly, pondering each step. The day had been exhausting, both physically and mentally. He lay down on the bed and allowed himself to relax, trying to forget everything. He knew this would be the last night he spent in the house his mother had gifted him on his twelfth birthday. After receiving it, he had left the Shun family mansion immediately to live here, seeking independence and freedom. But now, everything was about to change.
Alex slept soundly, perhaps for the first time in a long while. The comfort came from the certainty that his decision was made, and tomorrow would bring a new beginning, no matter how painful.
---
In the morning, Alex woke up to the sound of birds chirping in the garden. He went straight to the bathroom, standing under the warm water for a long time, trying to clear his mind. After finishing his shower, he headed to the kitchen and prepared his breakfast. His movements were mechanical, as if performing a routine without any joy or meaning.
After a few minutes, Donald entered and informed him, "Young master, the workers have arrived."
Alex, who had been checking the time repeatedly, responded coolly, "Oh, they came early. Alright, I'm coming."
He descended to the ground floor and stepped outside into the front yard, where he met the foreman.
"Are you in charge?" Alex asked firmly, showing little interest.
"Yes, sir. Do you need anything?" the foreman replied cautiously.
Alex looked at him with steady eyes and said clearly, "Yes, I want you to demolish the entire house, except for the back garden."
The foreman was confused and asked for confirmation, "You want to demolish the house?"
"Yes," Alex replied with the same coolness.
"Are you sure, sir?" the foreman asked, still cautious, trying to grasp the situation.
Alex, avoiding explanations or details, simply said, "More work, less talk. Just finish the job and give me your account number. I'll transfer 200,000 yuan to your account."
The foreman, still shocked by the request, immediately perked up when he heard the amount.
"Sir, what about the furniture inside?"
Alex, who was looking away as if avoiding the man's eyes, said in a low voice, "Burn everything."
"At your command, sir," the foreman replied quickly as Donald watched silently.
Donald, who had remained quiet all this time, could no longer stay silent. He spoke softly, "Young master, are you sure about this?"
Alex didn't look at Donald when he answered, as if trying to maintain his inner strength, "Yes, Donald. Those who don't appreciate your presence don't deserve to be glorified in their absence."
That was the moment Donald realized that Alex had finally grown up. He was no longer the young boy seeking sympathy from those around him. Instead, he had become a man who knew what he wanted and was ready to pay the price.
---
After a short time, the demolition machinery arrived and began tearing down the house. The sound of the machines was deafening, but Alex remained still, watching the workers as they removed furniture, paintings, vases, and rare historical pieces, only to set them on fire. He observed all this as if he were watching a scene from a movie, unaffected, indifferent.
He overheard one of the workers saying to another, "Damn, the rich sure love wasting money."
The other worker responded with a sarcastic smile, "You're right. It seems like a new hobby to pass the time."
But the foreman shouted at them, "Get back to work quickly!"
After four hours, only a flat land and an attractive rose garden remained. Alex looked at the completed work and said, "Good job. I'll add a bonus."
The contractor received an additional 300,000 yuan in his account and immediately became excited, bowing to Alex and saying, "Thank you, sir."
Alex nodded and left the site, then turned to Donald and said, "Donald, you know I'm leaving, don't you?"
"I know, young master," Donald replied quietly, aware that this moment was inevitable.
Alex pulled out a villa key and a card, handing them to Donald. With a voice filled with emotion, he said, "Donald, consider this a farewell gift. I know there's nothing that can truly repay your service and dedication to me, but I hope you'll accept it and take some time to rest and retire."
Donald couldn't hold back his tears. He took the card and key, saying in a choked voice, "Young master, I will always be at your service if you need anything."
Alex looked at him with eyes full of gratitude and said, "I know that, Donald. Thank you for everything you've done for me. Thank you for always standing by me."
The two embraced, tears streaming from their eyes, knowing that this farewell was unavoidable.
---
Alex walked toward the garden, which was filled with colorful flowers. He knelt down and took out a ring, a ring that symbolized many memories. He looked at it for a moment, then quietly said, "This is life. No beginnings as we expect, no endings as we desire."
He then buried the ring under the rose garden, as if trying to bury a part of his past along with it.
He got on his motorcycle and left the place slowly, heading toward one of the clubs he knew well. He was aware that someone was spying on him, so he was extremely cautious. When he arrived at the club, he headed straight to one of the rooms on the second floor. The place was dark, with the scent of strong perfume lingering in the air.
When he entered the room, he went directly to the wall and pressed one of the hidden stones. A secret drawer opened, leading downward. Alex descended carefully, avoiding any noise. When he reached the end of the stairs, he pressed another stone, closing the door behind him. He knew this secret passage was his only way to escape the spies who constantly watched him.
After walking for five minutes in the narrow tunnel, Alex reached an old iron door. He opened it slowly and found himself in a small house behind the bar. There, he changed his clothes, disguised himself, and then exited the house as a completely different person.
He flagged down a taxi, and as he entered, he told the driver, "Take me to the airport."