Novel & Cerita Go Big Or Go Home

The moon reflected off every piece of fabric, every face—but the only thing he could see clearly was Mia's hesitant smile a few feet ahead of him. She looked at him with eyes shining with anxiety, trying to encourage him. It was the kind of smile someone gave when they were afraid, but still chose to stay. That smile was Nolan's home. And it was there that he steadied himself as his father finally spoke. “Our race believes in the survival of the fittest,” he began, his voice booming, reverberating in every chest present. “And the time has come for the weakest to give way to the strongest to take the lead, thus making the pack stronger and more prosperous.”

I can't do it! She saved the last bundle for last. Inside lay a neatly folded piece of paper—the deed to our old house. She said with a hint of guilt, "Your little brother is just five years old, and your parents already bought him a house in the city. I can't afford a big city home, but this old place will shelter you from the wind and rain. "If you ever feel wronged or hurt, you can come back here. And if you miss me, go to the grave at the east end of the village and talk to me—I'll hear you."

Everybody move out. All Mob: YES!!!

Even in his poorest, he still had a little pride to battle with. “Remember when you said presentation is key? Yeah, you look pretty convincing and no one would say no to you. Look at you—homeless and tired. Me… well skinny and hungry. Boy, we can do this.” “We’re cheating people. That can’t be good. When did we get to that?” “Leaving in the orphan home has taught me that.” “I thought you had a mother.”

“Mommy? Can’t we go home?” Massimo murmured, trying to warm his cold little hands on the scarf full of holes that was around his neck. “You’re home now, honey.” His mother spoke with a smile on her pale and tired face “And, soon, your father will take you to see America, too. Isn’t that exciting?” “But, you’re going with me, aren’t you?” he practically begged, something bad squeezing his chest as they approached on foot that huge house, the biggest he had ever seen, just ahead.

… A year later, Brimble Network’s AI chips dominated the market, and the company’s shares tripled in price. Letting herself go at the celebration party, Arabella hogged the microphone. She shouted at the hundreds of employees, “The best decision I’ve ever made was poaching Skye from the God-awful place!” Applause filled the air. Sitting in a corner, I clutched my wine glass and giggled. My phone lit up with a message from an unrecognized number. “Congrats.” I quietly glanced at the text with no intention of responding. A distance away, Arabella called out to me. “Skye, come and cut the cake! It’s a strawberry cake!”

"Mark!" Mom cut Dad off before he could finish. But she did not have to let him say the rest. I understood anyway. The kids at the group home had been right. Children like us, children who were adopted, were only loved until the family had a real baby of its own. Once a younger brother or sister arrived, we were sent back. I had been stupid enough to think I might be the exception. I bit my lip and said nothing. I watched Mom and Dad fuss over my little brother, soothing him as they took him out the door.

He led Lucas and Emma into the house as the guards began disposing of the body in the drive-way. Oliver’s large house felt very small upon entering it. It was filled with countless statues and paintings lining the walls. Everywhere else was occupied by half naked people dancing together to music that apparently only they could hear, as no music was playing. Oliver led Lucas and Emma up stairs to a room filled only with a long table and surrounding chairs.

Bigger than our feelings. The silence that followed was heavy and final. Liliana looked at the man she had loved so blindly, the man she had thought was her other half. She no longer saw her husband. She saw a CEO. A guardian of a legacy. “You’re right,” she said, her voice now eerily calm, a terrifying quiet. “It is bigger than my feelings. And I can no longer live in the shadow of something so large.” She turned and walked steadily to her closet. She didn’t reach for a designer handbag or a jewelry box. She pulled an old canvas backpack from the top shelf, the one she had carried when she first came to this city.

He shouted up into the bigger man's face. "We are taking you home. Just sit tight while we load the car," Big Goon explained. But could I believe him? What if he was just saying that to keep me calm? But then wouldn't they just kill me and leave me here in this house that nobody ever comes to anymore? I didn't know what to think, but the guys took turns taking items to the car, then came back for me. I dared to hope he had told the truth.