Everyone turned their attention to the person who made that statement. It was Kendrick's twin sister, Linda, who had rushed to the scene. She stood in front of Kendrick, blocking his path.
"Kendrick, please stop this and tell your friends to leave Justin alone," Linda pleaded.
"Stay out of this, Linda," Kendrick said, irritation clear in his voice.
"Please, just stop this," Linda insisted, her eyes pleading. Kendrick cherished his twin sister deeply and would do anything for her.
Kendrick hesitated, then sighed. "Let go of him, guys," he ordered. His friends reluctantly obeyed, releasing Justin.
"This is the last time I want to see you near Stella. She is now my girlfriend, so stay away or else I'll crush you with my hands," Kendrick threatened before walking away with Stella and her friends.
Alex, who had been watching the scene unfold, rushed over and helped Justin to his feet again. "Come on, let's go," he said, guiding his friend away from the jeering crowd.
As they walked away, Justin felt a mix of humiliation, anger, and heartbreak. He glanced back at Stella, who was now clinging to Kendrick, looking at Justin with a mixture of pity and annoyance.
"Why, Alex?" Justin muttered as they walked. "Why did she do this to me?"
Alex sighed, unsure of what to say. "I don't know, man. People change. Sometimes they just show their true colors."
Justin nodded, though the pain didn't lessen.
"I need to be alone, Alex," Justin said, his voice choked with emotion.
Alex nodded, understanding. "Alright. I'll be waiting for you in the car," he replied before walking out of the empty room.
As Alex stepped out and shut the door, the weight of the day's events finally crashed down on Justin. He couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He fell to his knees, and his body shook with sobs. The room echoed with his cries.
"Why? Why me?" he muttered through his tears, his voice filled with anguish. The betrayal by Stella, the humiliation from Kendrick and his friends, and the relentless struggle of his everyday life all coalesced into a suffocating pain.
For what felt like an eternity, Justin remained on the floor, and the tears flowed freely. He had always tried to be strong, to face his challenges head-on, but at this moment, the weight was too much to bear. His mind raced through memories of happier times with Stella, the moments of laughter and love, which was now tainted by her cruel rejection.
As the minutes passed, Justin's sobs began to subside. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, taking deep, shaky breaths.
Slowly, Justin stood up, feeling a profound sense of emptiness but also a flicker of determination. He pulled himself together and walked out of the room, feeling a heavy emptiness inside.
He moved through the hallways of the campus, and his steps were slow and deliberate. The bustling energy of the students around him seemed distant, as if he were moving through a different world entirely.
He found himself drawn to the stairs leading to the top of the school building. He climbed until he reached the rooftop. The cool breeze hit his face as he stepped onto the ledge, looking out over the sprawling campus below.
From up here, everything seemed so small and insignificant. The pain, the betrayal, the humiliation; it all felt overwhelming, yet somehow distant. He walked to the edge of the roof and looked down. The ground below seemed both terrifying and inviting, promising an end to his suffering.
Justin stood there, his heart pounding in his chest. "Maybe this is the only way," he thought, his mind clouded with despair. He closed his eyes, preparing to take the final step and end his life.
Just as Justin was about to jump, his phone began ringing. The sudden sound startled him, pulling him back from the edge. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the phone, his hands shaking. The caller ID showed it was an unknown number.
He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Hello?"
"Am I speaking with Justin Hart?" A masculine voice asked on the other end.
"Yes," Justin replied. "Who is this?"
"Thank goodness. I've been trying to reach you for years, young Master," the voice said, and it was clear that the person speaking was happy that he was finally able to get through to Justin.
Justin was now confused, and he wondered why the mysterious caller called him "young Master."
"Please, who is this and why are you calling me 'young Master'?" Justin asked, feeling confused and curious.
"There are lots of things to talk about, but first, a sum of ten million dollars has been sent to your account," the voice replied, and Justin's eyes widened when he heard those words.
"Please, I don't have time for pranks or jokes," Justin said angrily, and he ended the call.
Just as he ended the call, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was a notification from his bank. He opened it and stared in disbelief. His account had indeed been credited with ten million dollars, just like the mysterious caller had said. His mind raced as he tried to process the situation. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He quickly dialed Alex's number. "Alex, you need to come to the roof. Now."
Within minutes, Alex burst through the door to the rooftop, his face etched with worry. "Justin, what's going on? Are you alright?"
Justin held up his phone, showing Alex the bank notification. "Look at this," he said, his voice a mix of shock and excitement.
Alex squinted at the screen, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Ten million dollars? Where did this come from?"
Justin recounted the strange phone call, his voice trembling with both fear and excitement. "He called me 'young Master,' Alex. He said he's been trying to reach me for years."
Alex shook his head, struggling to grasp the situation. "This is insane. Who would send you that kind of money?"
Justin took a deep breath, the initial shock giving way to a sense of determination. "I don't know, but I need to find out. Whoever this is, they might have answers; answers about my past, my family. Maybe even why my life has been the way it is."
Alex nodded, his concern shifting to support. "Alright, let's figure this out. But first, let's get off this rooftop. We need to stay calm and think this through."
As they made their way back down, Justin's mind raced with possibilities.
Back on solid ground, they decided to head to a quiet coffee shop to talk and plan their next steps. The shock of the bank alert was still fresh, but beneath it was a flicker of hope. For the first time in a long while, Justin felt that his life might be taking a turn for the better.
They arrived at the coffee shop and took their seats in a quiet corner, away from the bustling crowd. The warm, inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.
A waitress, who was dressed in a crisp white apron, approached their table with a friendly smile. "Good afternoon. What kind of coffee would you like today?" she asked, her pen poised over a small notepad.
Justin glanced at Alex, still trying to gather his thoughts. "I'll have a black coffee, please," he said, his voice steady but distant.
"And for you?" the waitress turned to Alex.
Alex looked up, offering a reassuring smile to Justin before answering. "I'll have a cappuccino, please. And could we also get two glasses of water?"
"Of course," the waitress replied with a nod. "I'll be right back with your drinks."
As she walked away, Justin leaned back in his chair, exhaling a long, slow breath. "This is surreal, Alex. I don't even know where to start."
Alex reached across the table, giving his friend a reassuring pat on the arm. "We'll figure it out. Let's just take it one step at a time. First, we need to understand who this mysterious caller is and why they've sent you this money."
Justin nodded, his mind still racing. "He said he's been trying to reach me for years. Called me 'young Master.' It doesn't make any sense."
The waitress returned with their drinks, placing the black coffee and cappuccino in front of them along with two glasses of water. "Here you go. Enjoy," she said with a smile before leaving them alone.
Justin took a sip of his coffee, the bitter taste grounding him slightly. "We need to trace that call," he said, looking at Alex. "Maybe there's something in my past that I've forgotten or didn't know about."
Alex nodded thoughtfully. "We can start by checking your family history. Maybe there's a connection there that we've overlooked."
Justin took another sip of his coffee, feeling a mix of anxiety and hope. "I've always wondered about my parents. They died when I was so young, and I barely remember them."
As Justin and Alex continued talking, the door of the coffee shop swung open, and in walked Linda, Kendrick's twin sister, accompanied by her best friend, Cindy. The two girls were deep in conversation, their laughter mingling with the soft chatter of the coffee shop.
Linda's eyes scanned the room casually, but when they landed on Justin and Alex, her expression shifted. She nudged Cindy, and they made their way toward the corner where the two friends were seated.
"Hey, look who's here," Cindy said, her tone playful as they approached the table.
Linda gave Cindy a knowing look before turning her attention back to Justin and Alex. "Hi, guys," she greeted them with a warm smile.
Justin and Alex looked up, surprised by the unexpected encounter. "Oh, hi, Linda," Alex replied, his tone friendly but cautious.
Linda smiled at Justin, her eyes showing genuine concern. "Mind if I join you for a moment? I'd like to speak with Justin."
Justin hesitated, glancing at Alex for reassurance before nodding. "Sure, have a seat."
Linda pulled out a chair and sat down, while Cindy wandered off to order their drinks. "Justin, I'm really sorry about what happened earlier," Linda began, her voice sincere. "Kendrick can be such a jerk sometimes, and I hate that you had to go through that."
Justin nodded, appreciating her concern but still feeling the sting of the recent events. "Thanks, Linda. It's been a rough day," he said with a forced smile.
Linda was strikingly beautiful, with long, flowing chestnut hair that framed her face perfectly. Her eyes were a bright, piercing blue, full of empathy and warmth. She had a graceful elegance about her, and it was evident in her every movement. She wore a stylish yet modest outfit that hinted at her family's wealth.
As she spoke, her sincerity was palpable. "I know this might be a lot to ask, but I want to invite you both to a party we're having at our mansion tonight. It's my birthday, and I'd really like it if you could come."
Justin looked at the invitation card she handed him, surprised. "A party?" He asked, sounding surprised that he was being invited to a party by the most beautiful and respected girl on campus.
"Yes," Linda said with a smile that could light up the darkest room. "It'll be a chance to relax and maybe have some fun. Plus, I think it's time you see a different side of things. I promise Kendrick won't bother you, and I'll make sure you both have a good time."
Alex glanced at Justin, then back at Linda. "Thanks for the invitation, Linda. We'll think about it," he said, knowing Justin might reject the invitation because of how Linda's twin brother humiliated him.
Linda smiled warmly, her eyes meeting Justin's. "I really hope you both can make it. I'll be expecting you," she said as she stood up, giving them both a friendly nod. "Take care, guys. See you tonight, hopefully."
As she and Cindy walked away, Justin couldn't take his eyes off her. He was still stunned by what just happened. He couldn't believe that he had a conversation with Linda, and he was also invited to her party. It felt like a dream because the wealth of Linda's family was well-known, and she was really popular. He was just a pauper who didn't worth an invitation from someone like her.
Justin looked at the invitation card still in his hand and then at Alex. "What do you think, Alex?"
Alex shrugged with a thoughtful look on his face, then he replied, "I'm speechless, Justin. I wasn't expecting Kendrick's twin sister to be so friendly and calm. She even invited you to her birthday party. This is unbelievable, bro."
Justin chuckled lightly as he gazed at the invitation card. "Should we attend the party?" He asked Alex.
"The decision is up to you, man," Alex replied as he grabbed his cup of coffee and took a sip from it.
Justin nodded slowly. "Alright. Let's do it. We'll go to the party."
Alex's phone began ringing, and he checked the caller ID to see his dad's name on it.
"I'm sorry, Justin, but I have to go," Alex said as he rose to his feet. "Dad is probably waiting for me at the company, and he wants me to attend a meeting with him."
"No problem, bro," Justin replied with a slight smile.
"I'll come pick you up by eight pm so we can head to Linda's party," Alex added.
"Alright," Justin said, then he gave Alex a handshake.
Alex went to settle the bill for their coffee before walking out of the coffee shop. Justin watched through the window as his best friend entered his car and drove off.
Justin picked up his phone and opened his bank app to check his account balance. Ten million dollars was shown on the account balance, but he still couldn't believe his own eyes. It still felt like a dream to him.
"If this is a dream, I don't wanna wake up again," Justin said as he closed his bank app and continued drinking his coffee.
For the first time in years, his mind felt at peace. As he continued drinking his coffee, his phone began ringing. He checked the caller ID and saw the number of the mysterious person who had credited his account with the huge sum of money.
Justin quickly picked up the call and placed the phone against his ear.
"Hello, young Master Justin," the man greeted, and Justin exhaled softly before speaking.
"Hello. Please, can you say your name and why you're addressing me as young master?" Justin asked.
"I know you have a lot of questions you want to ask, so let's meet up at Evergreen Restaurant this evening," the mysterious man said.
"Alright. I'll give you a call when I arrive," Justin said, then the call ended.