Rising Strong Novels & Stories

“It isn’t.” This time felt different. More serious. More dangerous. Which also meant— He was truly climbing now. [Ding.] The familiar sound echoed lightly inside his head. [Influence Evaluation Updated.] [Current Tier: C-] [Influence Status: Emerging Recognition.] [Reward Issued.] [System Balance Bonus: $120,000] Adam’s eyes narrowed slightly. The System acknowledged legitimate influence growth too, not just arrogance alone. He already realized that after he met the tenants at Riverside Heights.

Daniel’s niece, Veronica, was the first to raise her phone and scream. Then cheers followed one after another. “Wow! Veronica is right! I got fifty thousand too!” “Same here! The company really delivered this year!” “Mr. Aster is so generous! Hard work pays off! Let’s make next year even greater!” … One shout of “fifty thousand” after another burst around me like firecrackers. I lowered my head and checked my banking app. It was empty. Just like previous years, there wasn’t a single deposit notification. A tight frustration slowly built in my chest.

The tiredness that had been noted in the reports gradually disappeared from the language used to describe him, replaced by something that read, in the careful factual prose of people who deal in observable data, like a person who has been given enough room to breathe and is using it well. For Ana, he arranged a significant donation to her NGO — directed, through several layers of legitimate intermediary, toward a program expansion that required additional staff and increased responsibilities for existing team members. Ana was promoted within three months. Her salary increased. The careful, contained life she had built became slightly less precarious, slightly more like something she had chos

I tried to ignore the piercing pain in my chest and said coldly. “I want to see the accurate analysis report and remediation plan tomorrow morning before the meeting.” My gaze swept across everyone in the meeting room, including those gossipmongers. “The meeting is adjourned.” I stood up and left the meeting room. Hushed whispers surged up again like a tide. This time, even more unbridled than it was before. “Why is he acting all high and mighty? He only got to the position of director because of Ms. Stewart.” “The old geezer just flew into a rage. Did his mid-life crisis come early?”

Something inside her buzzed with unfamiliar warmth, a deep, insistent thrum beneath her skin—alive, potent, and wholly new. Without thinking, her hand drifted down, fingers splaying over her stomach. Her heart leapt, pounding against her ribs, and her breath hitched in her throat. She gazed at her reflection, hardly daring to believe the subtle swell that hadn’t been there yesterday. It was so slight, so easily dismissed, but to her it was everything—a promise, a beginning.

I whisper, tears pricking. I don’t know if it was the tea or seeing the portrait of my mother, but that night I not only started opening up to Flora about the past, but I also managed to sleep for the first time without any ‘assistance’. I’ve also slowly, slowly begun training alongside Eli, but unlike him, I’ve been picking up certain things a lot faster, since Stephanie taught me when I was younger. It’s more about building up my stamina and core strength again.

"The sooner the better. No point giving them time to clean things up." Back at my apartment, I let out a long breath. At last, I could start a new life. Next week, I'd be joining Renaissance Capital. However, the moment I pushed open the door, I froze. The living room was full of people. Serena. Patricia. And my parents. Serena immediately burst into tears, launching into her performance. "Dad, look at him! He doesn't even care about family anymore. Not only did he quit his job out of sheer stubbornness, now he's threatening to sue me."

"If someone crosses your boundaries, don't be afraid to say no. If you stay silent when someone tries something small, they'll keep testing how far they can go until they reach their ultimate goal. In the end, it's always the girl who pays the price. Nobody cares about who the bad guy is. All eyes will be on the victim. Stand tall, and never let them win." One day, after picking up my daughter from school, I saw a new homeless man wandering the streets. It was David. After losing the lawsuit to me, many of his employees resigned, and the company soon went under. His wife, disgusted with him, kicked him out of their home. He had no choice but to join Lisa and Henry under the bridge. As for me

Even this little bit of height feels good. “Are you ready? You don’t have to worry. I promise I won’t drop you,” he says to me. “I trust you,” I say and I feel him rumble happily at my words. Then his body bunches and he leaps into the air, his wings making the first, hard push of air as he lifts himself off the ground. As we fly higher, I close my eyes, breathing in the fresh air and letting the sun shine on my face. Ajax bugles happily and I trumpet my own happiness, which is much quieter than his. He turns and looks at me, probably surprised by the sound I just made.

The engine came to life, and they sped away from the forest. She kept going at a very high speed that Rita had to hold on tightly despite using the seat belt, as the car kept tossing them while climbing over stones and through the woods. Camella continued speeding before she came to a crossroad, she faced Rita and asked for which one they took when they were coming but the later was confused. I’m sorry I did not really pay attention so I don’t know which it is. Damn, Camella shouted, showing hint of frustration, she swallowed two breaths before she turned to her again. Look at me she said as calmly as she can conjure, you need to remember because if you don’t we will be back in the house in