Jack sat in his tiny room, staring at the ceiling. His mind was racing. The events of the previous day replayed over and over like a cruel joke. Gregory's visit had left a bitter taste in his mouth, but something had stirred within him.
It wasn't just the humiliation; it was the realization that he needed to change. The fire that ignited last night now burned fiercely. He clenched his fists. No more being a pushover. No more being a joke. He had to start somewhere, anywhere, to make something of himself.
Skipping school was a risk, but Jack didn't care. What was the point of going? He'd just endure another day of ridicule. Instead, he wandered aimlessly through the streets, until his eyes caught a sign: "Zentan Jade Emporium."
Jack had heard about this place. It was where the rich flaunted their wealth in a peculiar game of luck—stone gambling. The idea was simple: purchase a stone, cut it open, and hope it revealed precious jade inside. It was a game of chance and intuition. Jack's heart thumped in his chest. He had a hundred dollars to his name, and gambling it all seemed reckless. But what other choice did he have? This money wouldn't solve his problems, so why not take a shot?
The decision was made. He pushed open the doors and stepped inside.
The air inside the emporium was thick with excitement and tension. Display cases glittered with high-quality jade, and rows of uncut stones sat like treasures waiting to be uncovered. Jack approached an attendant, a middle-aged man with a sharp suit and a practiced smile.
"How much are the stones?" Jack asked hesitantly.
The attendant glanced at him, taking in his shabby appearance, but maintained his professional demeanor. "Prices start at $500 for the smallest stones and go up from there, depending on quality and size."
Jack's stomach dropped. Five hundred? He didn't even have a fifth of that. He was about to turn and leave when a loud, mocking voice filled the room.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Jack the Pig himself!"
Jack froze. That voice was unmistakable. He turned slowly to see Neville Lockwood, flanked by his usual group of lackeys. Neville's smug grin widened when he saw Jack's expression.
"What are you doing here, fatty?" Neville sneered. "Looking for a job cleaning the floors? Or are you here to gamble? Don't you know this is a rich man's game?"
Jack's face burned, but he said nothing. He had learned long ago that standing up to Neville only made things worse.
Neville strutted to the counter, his presence commanding the room. "Watch and learn, loser. I'll show you how a real Lockwood handles business."
He slapped a wad of cash on the counter and picked out a large, impressive-looking stone. "This one. Cut it."
The attendant obliged, expertly slicing the stone in half. Everyone leaned in, only to see... nothing. The stone was worthless.
Neville scowled but waved it off. "Just bad luck. Give me another one."
Stone after stone was cut, and stone after stone revealed nothing of value. Neville's frustration grew, but his companions cheered him on regardless, their loyalty unwavering.
Meanwhile, Jack stood to the side, watching helplessly. He had nothing to even buy the cheapest stone. But then his gaze wandered to a corner of the room, where discarded stones—leftovers from previous cuts—were piled like trash. Something about the pile drew him in. His heart raced as his eyes locked onto a medium-sized stone, its surface dull and unremarkable.
"What's the deal with those stones?" Jack asked the attendant, pointing to the pile.
"They're waste material," the man replied. "No jade inside. We use them for construction or discard them entirely."
Jack approached the pile and picked up the stone that had caught his eye. He couldn't explain it, but something about it felt... different. He turned to the attendant. "How much for this one?"
The man hesitated, then shrugged. "Fifty dollars."
Jack's heart sank. That was half of all he had left. Still, the pull he felt toward the stone was undeniable. He paid the fifty and handed the stone over to the cutter.
Laughter erupted behind him.
"Are you serious?" Neville cackled. "You actually paid for trash? You're dumber than I thought!"
The other customers joined in, their ridicule stinging like needles. Jack ignored them, though his hands trembled as he handed over the last fifty dollars to the cutter.
The cutter placed the stone under the blade, and the room grew quiet as everyone watched, curious despite themselves. The blade sliced through the stone with a sharp crack, and for a moment, there was only silence.
Then, a gasp.
The cutter held up the two halves of the stone, revealing a glint of green. "This... this is jade!" he exclaimed.
The room erupted into chaos.
"What?!"
"That trash stone had jade in it?"
Neville's jaw dropped, and for once, he was speechless.
The cutter examined the jade closely. "It's not the purest quality, but this piece is worth at least $50,000."
Jack felt like the world had stopped spinning. Fifty thousand dollars. More money than he had ever imagined having in his entire life.
Neville's face turned red with rage. "That's impossible! It's just beginner's luck!" he spat before storming out, his lackeys trailing behind him.
As the other customers congratulated Jack, their attitudes shifting from derision to admiration, he couldn't help but feel a surge of triumph. For once, he wasn't the joke.
Later that evening, Jack returned to the mansion with Clara and his guard. He treated them to a lavish dinner, their disbelief evident as they marveled at his story. Jack couldn't stop smiling. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had achieved something.
But as the night wore on, a shadow loomed over his newfound happiness. Somewhere out there, Neville was plotting his next move.
"The bastard must suffer," Neville muttered to himself, his eyes burning with malice.
Jack's victory had been sweet, but he knew the battle was far from over.
End of Chapter 3