The sound of his footsteps echoing as he walked down the university corridor hit Josh's ears, along with the lively laughter and chatter of other university students.
Josh checked the time on his wristwatch, and a sigh escaped his lips as he saw that he was running very late for his part time job. He worked a part time job to support himself, and he had been doing this since he was eighteen, when he left the orphanage that he lived in.As Josh continued to walk down the hallway, he walked past two girls who were standing in the hallway, having a conversation. One of them was Sarah, a 20 year old confident and sharp-tongued brunette. She was wearing tight jeans and a casual shirt. Her friend, Emily, was a bit younger at 19 years old, with her striking blonde hair and a knack for fashion. She had on a red-striped skirt paired with a black top.When the two girls noticed Josh, they exchanged glances, whispering something to each other."Oh, look, it's the schools, number one loser, josh." Sara sneered, looking at Josh from head to toe.Emily just laughed, but did not comment.However Josh paid no mind to Sarah's comment and just continued walking. It was nothing new to him and he had been used to it by now. He had been bullied and ridiculed by his peers ever since he was a child, and his university life was no different. He was often called derogatory names and treated like an outsider.Despite the challenges he faced, Josh was determined to succeed. He was a hard worker and a good student, and he was determined to prove to his bullies that he was not a loser.As Josh continued walking down the hallway in a hurry, he heard someone calling out to him. "Hey, loser, wait!" The person demanded.Josh sighed, he was no stranger to this derogatory nickname, as it had become an unfortunate part of his daily life. He took a deep breath and tried to ignore the person calling out to him. 'Just ignore them, josh… you don't have time for this.' He thought to himself as he continued walking, without looking back at them."I'm talking to you, loser!" the person yelled again, clearly even more annoyed by Josh's silence.Josh finally stopped walking and turned around, his eyes meeting a group of students standing there. Among them was their leader, a fat 20 year old kid, Brian Newman. Brian was the school's bully, and his favorite victim just happened to be Josh.Raised in a wealthy family, Brian was the son of a successful businessman known for his affluence in the community. Growing up with privilege had given Brian a sense of entitlement, and he often wielded his family's wealth to exert influence and dominance over others."What do you want?" Josh asked his gaze meeting with Brian's for a second."We just wanted to remind you of your place, trashbag," one of the students said."You're nothing but a worthless piece of trash." Another one said, their voices to loud to not attract attention from the other students who were minding their business in the hallway.Josh didn't even understand what he did for them to approach him and start saying those words.Clenching his fists, Josh felt his anger rising, but he knew that he needed to stay calm. He didn't want to give the bullies the satisfaction of seeing him react. It was not like he was incapable of handling himself, Incase of a fight if he wanted to, it was the fact that the kids came from rich families, and if he were to react and assault any one of them, then he might get expelled from school.Josh slowly unclenched his fists, "I'm not going to let you get to me," he calmly said. "I'm better than you."The students laughed even harder."You're not better than us," one of the students said. "You're nothing.""Just look at the clothes you wear, a homeless man could dress better than you."Some of the other students who were just standing in the hallway and minding their own business, couldn't help but start laughing after hearing the university's most miserable and poor person say that he was better than Brian and his minions."Oh my god, apart from being poor, he is also delusional too.""Yeah, can you believe it? Just how did someone like him end up at such a university."Josh couldn't help feeling humiliated and feeling like he was nothing and alone as everyone laughed at him and called him names. He turned and walked away, leaving the bullies behind. He didn't want to give them any more of his time.Josh knew that he would always have to deal with bullies, but he was very earger to not let them define him. He was going to succeed in life, no matter what.As Josh walked away from the bullies, he thought about his girlfriend. She was the only person who treated him with respect and kindness. She was the only person who made him feel like he was worth something.Josh was grateful for his girlfriend, and he knew that he was lucky to have her. He also knew that he would never give up on his dreams, no matter what challenges he faced.As he exited the hallway and darted on the outside of the school building, he felt the sun beat down on him, as he made his way across the famous yard. A heavy backpack slung over one shoulder, his thoughts were consumed by the fact that he hadn't seen his girlfriend in almost a week, he couldn't help but feel like she had been avoiding him these past days. 'Maybe she has been busy, with studying or something.' Josh thought to himself, trying to not overthink it.He checked his watch again, a reminder that he was running late to his job. Unfortunately now he was even more late, thanks to Brian and his little minions, and Josh couldn't help feeling even more hatred for Brian, his entourage, and everyone who had made fun of him.Josh yearned for a world where he could compel the bullies to cease their torment, to earn the respect he rightfully deserved as a fellow human being. Yet, he recognized the harsh reality: such a transformation seemed impossible unless he could attain the wealth that they seemingly valued above all else.As he passed a row of trees, a sudden and forceful spray of water hit him, drenching him from head to toe. Stumbling backward, Josh barely managed to stay on his feet, his backpack now a wet burden on his shoulders. He wiped the water from his eyes, struggling to see who had put him to this unexpected drenching. The laughter of a group of students echoed around him, but their faces remained hidden as he wiped his face.Josh's initial shock quickly turned into a mixture of anger and embarrassment. He clenched his fists, considering whether to confront the culprits or simply continue on his way, letting it slide. Ultimately Josh chose to let it go. He realized that if he reacted then he would be giving them exactly what they wanted.A few of his classmates approached Josh, their laughter and degrading words echoing through his ears.As josh ignored them and continued to walk away, he could hear their laughter getting louder in his ears, making him feel even more annoyed with each passing second.Some of the students started saying words like, "I can't believe he would do nothing after that, what a sissy man."Josh just continued walking, he didn't have time to deal with them, he had to get to his part time work ASAP. As he got outside the campus ground's, Josh stood on the side of the road, waiting to get a taxi, but because his clothes were rags, and to add to rags they were drenching, every taxi driver ignored him. thinking he was a beggar or a crazy person.Josh let out a heavy sigh, his exasperation growing. He was getting extremely late for work, and no taxi driver stopped him because of his soaked shabby clothes. Josh thought about walking on foot, but quickly dismissed that thought, realizing that he might look like a fool, if he were to be walking around the city streets in wet shabby clothes.But he didn't have any choice. If he didn't get to work, he might lose his job. It was a Catch-22 situation: he couldn't afford to be late for work, but he couldn't walk on foot either, because the stares he would get from people would be unbearable.He thought about making a phone call to his boss and letting him know he would be late, but when he took out his cellphone, he noticed that it wasn't turning on. It must have been water damaged.Josh sighed, deciding that getting to work was more important than his soaking wet clothes. He didn't care if anyone was going to stare, or say things about him because of the wet clothes. With that thought in mind, he started walking.However, before he had gone far, the sound of a car horn caught his attention. As he turned around, his eyes caught sight of a black sedan pulled over to the side of the road. The driver peeked out his head through the windows and called out to him. "Hey, buddy, need a lift?"The driver was a man in his thirties, wearing a tailored suit that looked expensive. He had dark hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through Josh.As Josh connected his gaze with the man, he didn't seem surprised at all, in fact there was a look of recognition in his eyes. And that was because he recognised the man, this was not the first time they had met. A shiver ran down Josh's spine in fear."You again, what do you want?" Josh asked, attempting to muster a facade of toughness despite his fear. He quickly scanned his surroundings, searching for any witnesses. "What? Trying to kidnap me again?" he asked.The man leaned on his sedan and replied to Josh, "Well, that depends. You either come with me willingly or I'll just have to take you by force."A shiver ran down Josh's spine, after hearing the man's words. His mind flashed back to a previous encounter when this same man had come knocking on his door, inquiring about someone named 'Luis De la Cruz.'Despite clearly stating that he wasn't Luis, but rather Josh, the man had insisted that it was him. Things had taken a menacing turn when the man had asked Josh to come with him. Josh didn't know the man, and he didn't trust him so he had refused to follow, and asked the man to leave his house.However, the situation quickly escalated when the man coldly ordered his henchmen to seize Josh and forcefully escort him away.In a harrowing flashback, Josh remembered being blindfolded and shoved into a car by the menacing henchmen. During the journey to an unknown destination, he had somehow managed to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle to regain his freedom.As Josh came back to the present, he didn't know what to do. His last encounter with the man had shown him that the man was bad news, he knew he had to find a way out and get away from him.Luckily as Josh glanced around, he spotted a police car driving down the road, approaching their way. A look of relief appeared on his face as he waved his hand, trying to stop the car, and to his great delight the police car stopped.Two officers emerged from the car, one male and one female. The male officer cast a suspicious glance at the man standing next to a sedan before turning his attention to Josh. The anxiety etched on Josh's face indicated that the man was bothering him"Is everything alright here?" the male officer inquired."No, officer," Josh quickly replied, casting an accusatory glance in the man's way, "This man here is bothering me. He's trying to get me into his car, but I'm refusing, and he's threatening to kidnap me."The male police officer, maintaining a calm and professional demeanor, turned towards the man, "Sir, can you please step away from the vehicle?" He gestured for the man by the sedan to move aside.The man listened to the officers instructions and moved away from the car.As they stood by the side of the road, the officers began to gather information. The male officer questioned Josh further, "Can you tell us what happened, sir?"Josh recounted the encounter, "I was walking along the road when this man approached me and insisted I get into his car. When I refused, he became threatening."The officers turned their attention to the man by the sedan, who appeared very agitated by Josh, he clearly didn't like that Josh had gotten the police involved."Is there any truth to these allegations?" the female officer asked.The man shot Josh a look before, strongly denying any wrongdoing, "I was merely offering him a ride. There's been a misunderstanding."Without concrete evidence to support Josh's claims, the officers found themselves in a difficult position. They couldn't make an arrest or detain the man without enough proof of criminal intent. The male officer turned back to Josh and said, "We understand your concerns, sir, but without evidence, there's little we can do at this point. Please be cautious and contact us if you feel unsafe."The female officer turned towards the man, and instructed him. "Sir, you can leave now."The man walked to his sedan, got in and drove off.The police also did the same. As the police car drove away, Josh was left with a sense of frustration. Knowing that, that man was still out there, made him feel a shiver run down his spine.'And why the hell, does he want to kidnap me?' Josh wondered to himself.Josh let out a weary sigh, aware that he was now two hours late for work, thanks to the earlier incident. He continued on his way, relieved that at least his clothes had dried during his walk.About ten minutes later, as Josh was approaching his workplace, he braced himself for the consequences of his lateness, hoping he could still salvage his job and make amends for the lost time.Josh's workplace was a cozy, middle-class restaurant, in a quiet neighborhood. The exterior boasted a welcoming facade with large windows decorated by potted plants, offering a glimpse of the warm and inviting interior. The restaurant was known for its comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff.Josh had been working at this place ever since he turned 18 and that was two years ago. He had a lot of memories of the place, some of them were good ones, while some were not.Inside, soft lighting bathed the wooden tables and cushioned chairs, creating an ambiance that was both relaxed and inviting. The walls were adorned with rustic artwork, and a chalkboard near the entrance displayed the daily specials. Patrons would often find themselves enveloped in the comforting aroma of freshly cooked meals.The menu featured a variety of classic dishes, from hearty burgers and pasta to flavorful salads and sandwiches. It was the kind of place where regulars felt like family, and newcomers quickly bec
In that moment, as the henchmen closed in on him, Josh felt the familiar sensations of fear and desperation. These were two emotions he had sadly grown accustomed to, and now they swelled within him, leaving him with a sinking feeling of helplessness.He instinctively began to back away slowly, searching for an escape route, but the henchmen were quick to surround him, swiftly cutting off any chance of getting away.Carlos Rodriguez had a satisfied grin on his face as he observed the look of desperation and fear in Josh's eyes. Even though tried to hide the fear, it was becoming visible with each passing second, and Carlos couldn't resist mocking him. "What's the matter, boy, suddenly lost your voice?" He then turned his attention to the henchmen and gave them a cold command, "Teach him a lesson." Saying that he put his arm around Kathy.With no way out and facing the overwhelming presence of the henchmen, Josh knew he was in serious trouble. But even so, he still refused to back down
The man's words left Josh surprised. He couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, he was confused, doubtful, and a bit hopeful all at once. It was hard to believe that this stranger claimed to work for Josh's grandfather, someone Josh didn't even know existed until now.At first, Josh didn't want to trust the man's story, thinking that the man had the wrong person. But when he showed Josh some scientific proof with DNA results, Josh began to wonder if it might be true.The man looked at Josh, seeing the skepticism in his eyes and he felt like he had to convince him even more. Going back to his master without Josh was not an option, so he had to do anything to convince him."Your mother's name was Lyra, right?" He asked, then continued by saying her last name, "And her last name was Smith." Josh was surprised that the man knew his mom's name, it only showed that the man might be telling him the truth. "Yes, how do you know that?" He asked curiously."As I said, I work for your grandfa
Josh's curiosity was piqued by his grandfather's words. He leaned in, his eyes fixed on Giovanni de la Cruz, as he couldn't help but wonder about the enigmatic world of danger the old man was alluding to.Giovanni De La Cruz leaned back in his chair, studying Josh carefully. "Have you ever heard the name Giovanni de la Cruz?" he inquired, his voice carrying a weight of expectation. Everyone in the city knew the name, so he was expecting his grandson to know it too.Josh took a moment to think about it. He had indeed heard the name before, it was a name that was always on the news, so it was hard for Josh to miss it.Giovanni De La Cruz,was not just any name. It represented one of the most powerful and influential Mafia bosses in the country. Giovanni controlled vast territories and businesses, from legitimate enterprises to more shadowy operations. He was known for his ruthless tactics and the web of connections that allowed him to maintain his grip on power.The city where he held sig
Josh slept soundly in the king-sized bed, feeling incredibly comfortable and pampered. This was his first time experiencing such luxury in both the room and the bed, and it had undoubtedly been one of the best nights of sleep he had ever had.When he finally rose from the bed, he couldn't resist the urge to take in his opulent surroundings, his eyes sweeping across the lavish room. He still couldn't believe the event happening in his life. Only a day ago, he believed that he was all alone in this world, with no family, but he was proven wrong as he had discovered that he had a family, his grandfather. As he lost himself in thought, reminiscing about the whirlwind of recent events, the sound of someone knocking at the door abruptly snapped him out of his thoughts. Josh walked towards the door, opening it to see a man dressed in a black suit standing outside the door. "Hello." Josh greeted hesitantly, he couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by the man's aura. The man's muscular
As the man's hushed words reached Giovanni's ears, his expression suddenly shifted, and a dark, intense expression crossed his face. He slowly, calmly stood up from the table, causing the conversation and laughter at the table to come to an abrupt stop."Looks like we have a rat in our family… someone among you, is working with the feds," Giovanni said in an icy tone, walking behind the guests. And then he took out a pistol, covered in gold.Seeing the pistol in Giovanni's hand,the shock and fear on everyone's faces couldn't be hidden no matter how hard they tried, and they exchanged puzzled, concerned glances. Giovanni's sudden change in attitude made them feel extremely suspenseful and anxious "Don Giovanni, what are you saying?" one of the guests questioned, voicing the collective confusion.Josh, unable to understand the developing situation, watched his grandfather intently, his heart racing anxiously. The presence of the pistol made him uneasy, and he scanned the faces around the
Wait! He had been unceremoniously booted out of his own home? Josh was absolutely flabbergasted by the news.The news hit him like a ton of bricks. Not only was he dealing with the difficult decision his grandfather had just presented, but he was now faced with the sudden reality of being homeless. It was a very unfortunate event, and Josh could hardly believe his situation.When he had met his grandfather he was so happy, he had even thought that things would start getting better from now on, for him, but that was looking very unlikely now.Giovanni studied Josh's expression and he could see that something was bothering him. "Is everything alright Josh?" He asked.Josh looked at his grandfather, a sigh escaping his lips as he said, "Guess, I don't have a choice…" He said hesitantly, he then raised his head to look his grandfather in the eye as he said, "Count me in." He agreed to be part of the family business.Honestly he didn't want to agree with his grandfather and be part of the
"They did what?! Are they trying to die?!" Giovanni exclaimed angrily, his voice laced with a hint of menace. He then briefly shifted his gaze towards Josh and stated, "Josh, we'll talk later." Without waiting for Josh's reply, he briskly walked away, heading for the waiting limousine.With Giovanni's abrupt departure, Josh felt slightly uneasy and curious about the situation. He wondered what it was that the henchman had said to his grandfather that had made him mad all of a sudden. As he stood there wondering, Rafael returned and addressed him respectfully, "Your car is ready, Josh."Josh nodded in acknowledgment, his thoughts drifting to the car. He couldn't wait for his car. He couldn't wait to get in the car and drive it around. He had never owned the car before, so one could imagine the excitement in his heart.Rafael led Josh to the garage where the car was kept. As they entered the spacious garage, he gestured toward a sleek, fiery red Ferrari 488 Pista.The moment Josh laid ey
The students' eyes locked onto Josh, his posture straightening as he tried to intimidate him. "You really think you can tell me what to do, huh?" He sneered. "Move the fuck away or you're going to get it!"Josh didn’t move, "You’re the one who should," he said, his tone calm but commanding. "You’re bothering her, and I’m not going to ignore it."Andrea shifted uneasily beside him, glancing at the guy before looking back at Josh. She wanted to tell him to just leave it, to avoid any more confrontations with Ace, but she stayed quiet, hoping Josh could finally scare him and his friend Ron into leaving her alone. Ever since she started at this college, Ace and Ron had been relentlessly bothering her, asking her out over and over. She had turned them down countless times, but they never stopped, it had turned into harassment at this point.Ace took a step closer, chest puffed out as he tried to make himself more intimidating, hoping Josh would back off,"Why the couch are you still on my f
The next day, at around 7 in the morning, Josh arrived at college, he walked down the campus grounds, passing by a group of guys standing near the main hallway, their excited chatter filtering through as he moved by. He didn’t know what they were talking about but neither did he care at first, however when they mentioned a familiar name he was slightly curious."Did you see Isabella’s stream last night? Man, she looked incredible!"Some guy dressed in red jeans and a jacket said in enthusiasm.Isabella. Was one of the hottest girls on campus and an online streamer, who played video games, with quite a good following. Josh had heard the name plenty of times, seen her once or twice in passing, but he didn’t pay it much mind. He even donated to her stream a few days ago, but he had done that for fun, and nothing else, not because he wanted to be noticed by her or something, unlike the other people.But he had to say that the way people seemed to talk about her like she was some goddess
Josh moved quickly down the stairs, his heartbeat thundering in his chest as he pursued the mysterious figure. Hoping to catch up to him and ask him questions.The shadowy intruder was swift, sprinting through the mansion’s dimly lit corridors with ease, his footsteps barely making a sound. Despite Josh's best efforts, he struggled to keep up, his shoes hitting the polished floor heavily as he turned corner after corner, desperate to close the distance."Hey! Stop!" Josh called out, but the figure showed no sign of slowing down. Josh picked up pace, and he could feel frustration building up inside him, with each second, the man’s elusive speed almost mocking him. Although Josh was trying his best to run fast and catch up,his attempts were futile, he couldn't catch up with the man.They reached the grand staircase leading to the main entrance, and just as Josh rounded the last bend, he caught a little glimpse of the figure slipping out of a side door into the night. By the time Josh ma
Josh knew some people had expected him to act differently, more ruthlessly, more like a true ‘De La Cruz.’ Giovanni hadn’t said much, but the silence bothered him. It was a silence that spoke volumes, making Josh wonder if his grandfather shared the same doubts as the others.Not wanting to dwell on it any longer, Josh pulled out his phone, deciding to put the night behind him. He quickly dialed his bodyguard and driver to come and pick him up, hoping to escape the weight of the evening as soon as possible.Not long after he made the phone call, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of him. His bodyguard stepped out of the vehicle and silently opened the door, waiting for Josh to get in. As Josh took a step forward, ready to leave the night behind, he heard the soft but distinct sound of footsteps approaching him from behind.Josh paused on his tracks, his hand resting on the car door, and glanced back over his shoulder, catching sight of a familiar figure moving toward him. H
Lilith had no comment on Josh’s actions. She could see Mrs. Washington’s disappointment, the frustration appearing on her face as she watched the man who was supposed to be the future son-in-law of their family display complete weakness in front of more than a hundred people. Mrs. Washington shook her head in disdain, her voice dripping with scorn as she continued to speak on Josh. “What a disgrace,” she murmured, loud enough for those around her to hear. Her displeasure with Josh was justifiable according to herself. How could a soon to be son-in-law of hers act like that? He let someone who had put hands on him earlier walk away without a consequence? To her, it wasn’t just a show of weakness from Josh, it also revealed a lack of self-respect. If Josh had any, he would show no mercy and would have taught the man who dared to disrespect him a lesson. “Giovanni must be very disappointed. Total weakness from Josh. A real De La Cruz would’ve made Walton pay. No hesitation, no mercy.”
The room was filled with the murmur of the crowd, their astonished whispers growing louder as they wondered what Giovanni's grandson was going to do to the person who had wronged him earlier. It was no longer a secret that Chris Walton had dared to attack Josh De La Cruz at this event earlier. No doubt a foolish and dangerous move from Mr Walton. Everyone knew he was about to face serious consequences for that. So, would Giovanni's grandson exact his revenge on Mr. Walton? The anticipation filled the air, with everyone eager to see how Josh would handle the situation and what retribution Walton would face.It wasn't about if he was going to get his revenge or not? The answer was already obvious. He was A De La Cruz, so of course he was going to get his revenge from the person who had wronged him! The real question was; how was Josh going to take his revenge? What was he going to do to Mr Walton?The event attendees watched intently as their gaze shifted between Josh and Giovanni, eag
Chris Walton struggled to accept the revelation. How on earth could Josh be related to Giovanni De La Cruz, let alone be his grandson? It all sounded like a made-up lie to him. However Giovanni had no reason to deceive him, so Chris had no choice but to believe it. It had to be the truth.It wouldn't even matter whether he chose to believe it or not anyways, because either way, Giovanni was involved and he was on Josh's side.The truth was undeniable, Josh was indeed Giovanni's grandson. A wave of regret washed over Chris as he began to realize how bad this was. He had made a big mistake. Only if someone had told him that the young man who had approached him and introduced himself earlier was actually a De La Cruz, then Chris wouldn't have been so rude to him. Chris had taken the fact that Josh had been nice and humble towards him earlier as weakness. He thought Josh was just a nobody who wasn't on his level and was unworthy of his respect or attention. Plus the fact that Amelia was
Giovanni’s face darkened, his expression turning icy upon hearing Mr. Walton's disrespectful reference to Josh. He couldn't believe that someone would be bold enough to insult his grandson in front of him. Even if Giovanni hadn’t been there earlier, Giovanni wondered why anyone would disrespect his grandson in the first place. Hadn’t they realized who Josh was already? Giovanni had made a point of introducing Josh to many people that night to ensure his identity was known, so he assumed Mr. Walton was aware of who Josh was. The fact that Mr. Walton had still gone on to insult him seemed baffling to Giovanni. It was as if they were daring fate itself, how could anyone be so reckless as to insult his grandson in front of him? Were they tired of living?The insult aimed at his grandson was unacceptable, and Giovanni couldn’t stand by silently. Fixing his gaze on Mr. Walton, Giovanni’s voice was low but filled with menace. “You’ll refrain from insulting my family in my presence,” he said
After speaking with Vincenzo for a while, Antonio left him upstairs and returned to the venue. As he approached Giovanni, he appeared deep in thought.Giovanni, noticing Antonio’s preoccupied expression, asked, “Is everything alright?”Startled from his thoughts, Antonio quickly forced a smile and replied, “Yeah, everything’s fine.” He chose to lie, not wanting to reveal his encounter with Vincenzo. Antonio knew that if Giovanni discovered that Vincenzo, the traitor, was at the event, it would only lead to trouble.Meanwhile.As the night progressed, Josh and Bianca finally parted ways. However they exchanged numbers, something Josh didn't expect to happen, but he was atill very happy. He was still surprised that she had taken a liking to him. Because he wasn't used to people taking a liking to him. That was one of the reasons he never had many girlfriends in his 20 years of life, and the only girlfriend he had turned out to be the worst human being, only dating him because of a bet.