To protect David, Ben erased all public records of his existence. It had required careful planning and meticulous execution, but it was a necessary precaution to safeguard David’s life. He had even relocated David miles away to the outskirts of Dalton, far from the Hall family empire and any enemies who sought to kill its heir. It bought David time, time to grow into his role, time to prepare for the enormous responsibilities that lay ahead. Although things had gone awry when Shiela Bringer adopted David, it had worked out in the end; David was safe.

But, deep down, Ben knew that playing with identities and records would only provide a temporary shield. The real danger was far from over. His office was a testament to his relentless pursuit of the truth. Stacks of documents, photos, and notes filled every available space, each piece a part of the puzzle he was determined to solve. Every day was a battle against time, a race to uncover the truth before the shadow of the past reached David.

Beneath that determination was a seed of fear: a fear that, despite his best efforts, he might not be able to protect David from the unseen enemy; a fear that he was not doing enough. Yet, he kept these fears to himself. He had to. Until the culprit was caught or killed, Ben would remain vigilant. 

This was no ordinary room. It was a suite; not just any regular suite, but the epitome of luxury. Tall, floor-to-ceiling windows provided a panoramic view of the city below, bathing the room in soft, natural light. One of the rooms was blocked off, presumably for the remodeling, but the rest of the suite looked completely finished. There weren’t any furnishings other than a king-sized bed, a coffee table, and a few armchairs, but the few pieces that were there were clearly high-end, their elegant designs speaking of refined taste and quality craftsmanship. Everything screamed extravagance and comfort.

David felt completely out of place. This was beyond magnificent compared to the small, cramped room he had been used to.

Seeing his astonishment, the receptionist chuckled nervously.

“I know it’s a bit bare,” she acknowledged, sounding strangely apologetic. “Like I said before, it’s currently being remodeled to include some additional amenities. But, until the remodeling work resumes, it’s all yours.”

As David approached the Rising Phoenix Hotel, he couldn’t help but stand in awe of its design. Giant walls of gleaming glass and polished steel shimmered in the light of the late afternoon sun. Towering columns of stone, each one the size of a tree, flanked the entryway. Accents of gold and redwood lined the walls and ceiling. Walking closer, he noticed a large brass phoenix embedded in the center of the giant glass doorway. He had never seen a building so beautiful and intimidating.

Before he could enter, one of the uniformed staff grabbed one of the phoenix’s wings and pulled the glass door open for him, revealing that the glass door was nearly a foot thick. This hotel seemed to be built like a fortress.

David stepped out into the early morning light, the cool breeze brushing against his face, a small, worn-out bag slung over his shoulder. He looked around, taking in the familiar sights one last time. It was the home he had grown up in, the place he had shared countless memories with Melanie. But now, it was time for him to leave it all behind.

She waited for a moment, expecting to hear the familiar shuffling of David’s feet, the soft murmur of his apology. But the house remained eerily quiet, except for the clock’s ticking that grew louder and more pronounced in David’s absence.

The silence irked her. She was not used to being ignored, especially not by David. Confused and irritated by his apparent disobedience, Shiela decided to take matters into her own hands. Marching down the hallway, her mind was already forming a string of reprimands for David’s lack of response.

“I wish that were true, Mel. But Shiela doesn’t see it that way. To her, I’m nothing more than a servant or slave.”

Melanie frowned at her mother’s words, the weight of her fatigue momentarily forgotten in the face of Shiela’s audacious remark.

“David isn’t a servant either, Mom,” she retorted. “He’s a part of this family, just like us.”

Shiela scoffed, her face contorting with disbelief.

“A part of the family? Please. He’s only good for earning a pittance and doing the household chores. That’s all he’s good for.”

“Did you at least make any money tonight?” Shiela demanded, her eyes narrowing as she held out her hand expectantly. Her tone suggested she already knew the answer, but was eager to hear the confirmation from David’s lips.

David reached into his pocket, pulling out the few bills he had earned from washing dishes at the pub. Given the late hours and arduous work, his earnings were meager, but it was still something. He stifled his frustration and placed the bills into Shiela’s outstretched hand.

“This is it?” Shiela scoffed, examining the cash disdainfully. “You’re practically stealing from me, David. You live under my roof, eat my food, and this is how you repay me?”