Chapter 1: A Mother's Promise.
The shrill sound of a worn-out alarm clock shattered the silence at exactly 5:00 a.m.
Before the sun could paint the sky with the first hint of dawn, Sophia Bennett was already awake.
Her tiny one-bedroom apartment was quiet except for the gentle hum of the old refrigerator and the distant sounds of traffic slowly coming to life outside.
The walls were cracked in places, the furniture was mismatched, and the kitchen shelves were nearly empty, but every corner of the apartment was spotless.
To anyone else, it looked like a place filled with hardship.
To Sophia, it was home.
She quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake the little boy sleeping peacefully in the next room.
Noah, her five-year-old son, hugged his favorite stuffed bear tightly, completely unaware of the worries that kept his mother awake most nights.
Sophia smiled.
No matter how difficult life became, that innocent smile was enough to give her the strength to face another day.
She walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and stared silently at its contents.
A half loaf of bread.
Two eggs.
A carton of milk that would probably last only another day.
She let out a slow breath before reaching for the bread.
We'll manage, she told herself.
We always do.
She quickly fixed up breakfast before going to wake up her lovely bundle of joy in his room.
"Morning baby." She said as she pressed a kiss on his forehead.
Noah stirred up from sleep immediately.
"Good morning mummy." Noah replied still a little sleepy.
"Okay let's go have breakfast quickly before we get you ready for school, okay."
"Yes mummy." Noah said as he jumps down from the bed and raced to grab a seat by the little kitchenette.
Sophia quickly served breakfast and they both ate in silence.
Meanwhile she was a hell of a storm inside.
She has recently lost her job at the little firm she was working with.
No.
It was rather like this, the firm closed down due to bankruptcy because if failed investments by the senior staff management.
Now she had to look for a new one as there were so many bills to be paid.
Noah's school fees was still pending.
The house rent was due and the landlord only gave her three weeks grace to settle it or leave peacefully, else he would be forced to kick her out forcefully.
Utility taxes for the month was still not addressed.
Sigh.
There was a whole lot on her table recently.
"Mummy."
Noah called out bringing her out of her reverie.
"Yes sweetheart."
"Is there anything wrong? You have been picking on your food for a long time now."
Sophia smiles, hiding all the troubles in her mind in back of her head.
"No baby. Everything is fine. Just suddenly lost my appetite for a moment."
"Okay. If you say so. Can we please hurry up I have to meet up with Jamie at kingagarten."
"No problem my love. Let's get you ready for the day."
..........................................
Meanwhile...
Across the city, in a penthouse that overlooked the glittering skyline of Manhattan, another alarm sounded.
Unlike Sophia Bennett's modest apartment, silence reigned in every corner of Adrian Kingston's luxurious home.
Everything was immaculate, perfectly organized, and expensive—but strangely lifeless.
There were no family photographs on the walls, no laughter echoing through the halls, and no one waiting to greet him.
Adrian was already awake before the alarm finished ringing.
With practiced precision, he began his morning routine.
Every movement reflected discipline, control, and years of self-imposed order.
By the time the first rays of sunlight reached the floor-to-ceiling windows, he was dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, fastening the cufflinks engraved with the Kingston family crest.
His schedule for the day had already been memorized.
Every minute had a purpose.
Every meeting had an objective.
Every decision would either strengthen his empire—or eliminate a weakness.
To the outside world, Adrian Kingston was the country's most respected billionaire CEO.
To those who worked under him...
He was simply the cold-hearted boss no one dared disappoint.
As he walked downstairs he came in contact with Robert Langley, his household butler.
"Good morning sir."
"Good morning Robert." Adrian replied back as he continued his walk towards the front door.
"Sir if you may, I suggest you have breakfast bef..."
"Now's not the time Robert. I have an important meeting this morning with some foreign investors. I can't miss it at all." Adrian cuts him short.
"Very well sir. Have a nice day."
"Thank you."
And with that, Adrian walks out of the house and into his garage.
The garage alone was a sight to behold.
It was lined up with exotic cars way beyond any human being's comprehension.
Royce Royces, Lamborghinis, Maybachs, Ferraris and so all lined up the place like a state of the arts exhibition.
Adrian settled for a black Lamborghini Reuvelto and skillfully drove off the residential premises into the early morning working traffic of New York city.
Ace Corporation.
A few minutes later....
Adrian came down from the car in the underground parking lot and took the private elevator dedicated to him only to his office.
Ryan his former personal assistant now General Manager of the group, well as he technically fired the last one a week ago for his negligence on duty which almost cost him billions, was already waiting for him at his door.
"Good morning CEO."
"Good morning Leo."
"Well your schedule for the day..." Ryan said as he shuffled through the files he had in his hands.
"No need for that, have already had it sorted out in my mind already. And come to think of it, where's the new PA? Isn't he or she meant to be here by now?"
"Yes sir, but about...."
"About what?" Adrian suddenly asked, his voice much more colder than usual.
"Nothing sir. Maybe he or she is caught up in traffic." Leo muttered fearfully.
Adrian was pissed off and it showed in his face.
Really?
Cut off in traffic!
He says nothing more, instead goes into his office to begin his day.
Leo sighed in relieve.
Adrian Kingston was really a difficult man to serve.
