As David disappeared around the corner, Ben made a swift decision. He instructed two of his most trusted bodyguards to tail David discreetly. They were skilled professionals, perfectly capable of protecting David without arousing his suspicion.

With David’s safety temporarily ensured, Ben took a moment to contemplate his next move. He needed more information and more resources, and he needed them fast. His gaze fell on the phone in his hand, his mind going to a contact he hadn’t dialed in years.

Ben had hoped to keep his investigation private, only involving those within the Hall family empire, but this was no time to be stubborn or to keep secrets from old allies. There’s no sense in pride if it might come at the cost of David’s life. He steeled his resolve and made the call.

“Ben? Is that you?”

Before David could respond, Mr. Atlas reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek phone. 

“And this,” he said, handing the phone to David, “is for you to use at your own discretion. It’s a new, unlocked smartphone with a prepaid unlimited plan.”

David was speechless. The smartphone was an unexpected gift, a luxury he had never thought he would have. Compared to the old and battered phone Shiela had given to him, this smartphone was nearly half the size and had a beautiful, polished glass screen instead of the worn out rubber buttons he was accustomed to.

He held the sleek device in his palm, the glass reflecting the hallway’s light in mesmerizing patterns. As his thumb grazed the surface, the display illuminated with vibrant colors which seemed to dance with life.

“Sir-Mr. Atlas, I can’t accept such a gift. This suite, the food, the phone…I don’t even know when I would be able to repay you-”

Mr. Atlas interrupted David with a raised hand.

But then, something happened. Melanie didn’t know it at the time, but apparently David had come from a really rich family, and her mother had thought that by adopting David, she would receive the wealth that he was supposed to inherit. Melanie wouldn’t find out until much later that the day Shiela received the bankruptcy notice was the day that everything changed.

That day, her mother’s lack of restraint wasn’t just with her words. Melanie had never been so scared in her life. All she could do was cry and scream as her mother beat David relentlessly until he lost consciousness, his body bloody and broken. If someone hadn’t overheard the screaming and called the police, David might not even be alive today.

His parents, William and Bethany Hall, had been wealthy business tycoons, their names synonymous with power and influence. From what David could put together, his parents were practically royalty. The people loved them. They controlled the top companies in nearly every industry and even found favor with the local government. They brought the city of Dalton into a new age of prosperity, ushering in its reputation as one of the best cities in all of Asia.

However, they were tragically killed in a car accident when David was just a child, leaving him an orphan. The life he had known before became a blur, and he could only recall scattered memories of his family.