Since 1998

Daniel vs. Devin

"Seven years," Allison mumbled. "...and now I'm breathing the same air as him."

"So this is what an American airport smells like."

"Well, welcome to my hometown, Anna!"

While the girls navigated the noise of the airport baggage claim, Devin sat in total silence at home. He had been waiting for a letter for over two weeks. The empty mailbox was driving him crazy.

He collapsed onto the couch and stared at the ceiling. I hate this day. She hasn't written since I sent that photo. Did it scare her off?

Ben appeared from the hallway, noticing his nephew's mood. "What's the matter? You seem down."

"Uncle," Devin said suddenly, "why not tell me your whole story? About that girl you loved before?"

Ben chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, that's a long story. But, fine..." Ben sat beside him. "We didn't end up together. Her parents already had someone picked out for her. I was too young, too broke for their taste. No matter how hard we fought for it, one day she just... disappeared from my life."

Devin waited, sensing there was more.

"Years later, I found out she had a daughter," Ben continued, his eyes fixed on the window. "I found out she was happy, that she had moved on."

"That's..." Devin struggled for words. "That sounds tragic."

"What choice did I have?"

"Right," Devin said quietly.

Ben looked right through him. "I know you're reminded of Allison, Devin. But listen to me—even with a marriage contract, you can't guarantee a person truly belongs to you."

Devin went completely speechless. What?

🔅

The three-vehicle convoy sent by her parents pulled up to the Ainsley mansion as the afternoon sun began to drop. The mansion rose from the manicured lawns like something from a gothic novel, all white columns and sprawling verandas.

Allison stepped out last, her black suitcase in hand, feeling the weight of seven years settle onto her shoulders. She looked up at the house that had both sheltered and imprisoned her childhood.

Walking inside, the mansion felt completely haunted without Maria's presence. Allison sighed. The older woman had stayed behind to manage the estate in Spain, and now the giant house felt empty.

Anna stepped out beside her, taking in the grand entrance with a mix of awe and wariness. "Allison, did someone just die in here?"

"I just miss your mom, Anna."

The heavy front doors swung open, and Lauren stepped out onto the porch, opening her arms wide. "Come, girls! Let's get you settled. You must be exhausted from the flight."

Twenty minutes later, after Lauren fussed over unpacked bags and went downstairs to finalize dinner plans, Allison excused herself. She found Anna in the hallway.

"So," Anna whispered, eyes gleaming with mischief. "When do we go?"

Allison grabbed her wrist. "Come on. I want to show you something first."

The estate garage was cool and dimly lit. Three luxury cars occupied the main spaces—a sleek Mercedes, a practical Lexus, and, in the far corner, covered in a thin layer of dust, an old sky-blue Volkswagen Beetle with mismatched hubcaps.

"Oh my God," Anna breathed. "Is that—"

"My grandmother's..." Allison ran her hand along the dusty hood.

"This is perfect," Anna said immediately, catching on. "It's completely invisible."

"Exactly." Allison pulled down the spare keys from the wall peg, the metal cool in her palm. "Nobody pays attention to old cars."

🔅

Deep within the industrial underbelly of Charleston, the night air vibrated with the deafening roar of engines at an abandoned airstrip. Sam had dragged Devin here to snap him out of his mood.

"Want to try? It's good for building endurance," Sam nudged Devin as they crossed the concrete perimeter.

They stepped directly into a high-stakes, illegal sparring site run by the city's wealthiest young elites. Dozens of luxury sports cars formed a massive, blinding circle of high beams around a makeshift fighting ring on the stained asphalt.

A heavy convoy of blacked-out SUVs rolled onto the tarmac, flanked by hired security. Rafael stepped out first, smoothly surveying the crowd before Daniel descended from the backseat.

Near the front, a girl named Erica leaned over the hood of a sports car alongside her best friend, Marcus, eager to see the arrogant newcomers stealing the spotlight.

"Oh, f**k! Marcus, that's Daniel. I can feel it," Erica muttered, her eyes locking onto his tall silhouette. "He is unbelievable."

Marcus didn't even look at her, gulping down a bottle of wine to steady his nerves. "Can you even hear yourself? Be serious."

Across the ring, Sam's jaw dropped as he took in the crowd. "What the hell, bro... this place is insane. Are those guys mafia?"

Devin's eyes narrowed. "I don't know, Sam. This place seems dangerous. We should leave."

"Cool down, man. We're just watching.”

Rafael and Daniel advanced through the crowd. Dressed in tailored black suits and dark shades, they walked past the million-dollar fleet of revving cars without glancing at anyone.

Erica deliberately stepped forward, trying desperately to catch Daniel's eye as he passed. He didn't even look her way, his signature cold posture fully on display as he walked right past her as if she were a ghost.

Marcus snorted, swirling his wine. "He's clearly not into you, Erica."

"Who the hell does he think he is?"

"Come on," Marcus muttered, adjusting his stance. "If he's fighting tonight, I want a shot at him."

The announcer stepped into the center of the blinding headlights, cutting off the whispers of the crowd. Devin stepped forward, peeling off his jacket.

Sam slapped him on the back, grinning wildly. "Man, good luck. Smash him. Show them who you are!"

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer's voice boomed through the microphone, echoing across the empty tarmac. "For our first contender tonight... I give you the pride of the elites, the Austin heir!"

The crowd erupted. A group of wealthy college girls near the front began shouting out his name. "Devin!!! Whoa!"

On the opposite side of the ring, Daniel calmly shed his tailored black jacket, unbuttoning his dress shirt to reveal lean, hardened muscle. He stepped over the ropes and entered the arena.

"You will not believe this matchup tonight!" The announcer shouted, his voice cracking with excitement. "It's the Austin legacy versus the Hollingsworth heir—DANIEL!"

The roar of the crowd turned deafening, the chants vibrating through the asphalt: Daniel! Daniel! Daniel!

Rafael moved to the edge of the ring, lighting a cigarette as he watched the two men square up. Daniel's lips curled into a mocking smirk as his cold eyes locked onto Devin.

"Oh, boy... Hi, Doc," Daniel sneered. "Are you sure about this? Ready to crawl back to your medical books after I'm done?"

Devin didn't offer a single word. Not a single trace of fear crossed his face. He simply braced his weight, locking his boots onto the stained asphalt as he prepared to hold his ground.

From the edge of the ring, Rafael watched with a knowing grin. He knew no one here stood a chance against Daniel.