Heavens fortune system

Sophia approached her father in his room, her face a mixture of frustration and sadness. "Dad, why? Why can't you let me marry Ethan? David and Lila could marry whoever they wanted, and it's not like Lila's fiancé is in our league either," Sophia said, her voice trembling as she stared at Mr. Caldwell.

Her father sighed deeply, his expression stern yet weary. "At least Lila's fiancé has a reasonable background," he replied softly, yet with finality.

Sophia clenched her fists, her voice rising with emotion. "What's this obsession with background? Weren't you the one who told us about your struggles? About how you suffered before you became the man who could make others rich in a single day? You've built this empire, and you have the power to help Ethan too! He's responsible and capable—"

Mr. Caldwell cut her off sharply, his tone colder now. "Like James was, right?"

"No! Ethan is different," Sophia pleaded, stepping closer. "Trust me, Dad. He's not like James."

Her father shook his head, clearly unmoved. "You know today is still my birthday. Please, let me celebrate in peace. I have more visitors coming for the evening party. Go now, Sophia." His dismissal was firm, leaving no room for further argument.

The Night Party

As the night wore on, the mansion filled with laughter, music, and the chatter of influential guests. Mr. Caldwell's friends, many of whom had traveled from afar, arrived bearing extravagant gifts. Among them was Mr. David Grayson, a business mogul whose wealth surpassed many others in their league.

Grayson presented Mr. Caldwell with a diamond worth $3 billion as a token of their partnership and friendship. The sheer magnitude of the gift left Mr. Caldwell smiling broadly, his gratitude evident.

Later, Grayson pulled Mr. Caldwell aside, away from the lively party. The two men sat on a balcony, the cool night air heavy with unspoken tension.

"I want my son, Alex, to marry your daughter," Grayson began, his tone steady but expectant. "Sophia is grown now, and she's as brilliant as she is beautiful—"

"I can't force my daughter to marry anyone," Mr. Caldwell interjected, his voice resolute. "If your son is interested, let him approach her himself. If she agrees, I will fully support it."

Grayson's face darkened, his tone turning sharp. "After everything I've done for you, you can't even ask your daughter to consider Alex? Is this how greedy you've become? Every time you've called on me for help, I've responded without hesitation. I've built this relationship so that when I needed a favor, you wouldn't turn me down!"

Mr. Caldwell's calm demeanor remained unshaken, though his voice grew icy. "We both know your son is disabled. If my daughter agrees, it won't be because I forced her into it. Sophia won't marry someone she doesn't love, and I won't make her. That's the truth."

Before Grayson could respond, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway drew Mr. Caldwell's attention. His mother had arrived, and he immediately left Grayson behind to greet her. Grayson, simmering with anger, stormed out of the mansion shortly after, muttering to himself.

The Robbery

By 1:44 a.m., the party was still in full swing. Laughter and music echoed through the grand halls until a masked man slipped into the room unnoticed. Mr. Caldwell, standing by the bar, was the first to sense the intruder. He approached cautiously, only to hear the sharp crack of a gunshot.

Panic erupted as seven masked men appeared, swiftly neutralizing the security team. The leader's voice boomed across the room, silencing the frightened guests. "Everybody, lie down! We're not here to play games. Disobey, and it'll be the last mistake you ever make."

One of Mr. Caldwell's friends attempted to intervene, drawing a concealed weapon, but he was immediately shot down by the intruders. His lifeless body crumpled to the floor, and the room fell deathly silent.

Sophia and Lila, unaware of the chaos below, were in their upstairs rooms. Sophia was still anxiously texting Ethan, her concern growing with every unanswered call.

Lila, hearing the abrupt silence downstairs, opened her door slightly to peek. She froze as she saw two masked men ascending the staircase with guns in hand. Heart pounding, she rushed back into the room and whispered urgently, "Sophia, the house is under attack!"

Before they could react further, the men burst into the room, dragging both sisters downstairs.

Confrontation

The leader stepped forward, his gun raised as he addressed Mr. Caldwell directly. "We're not here for your guests. We're here for you." His voice was calm yet menacing. "Don't waste my time, or people will start dying."

"What do you want from me?" Mr. Caldwell asked, his voice cold but laced with tension.

"You always thought you could bury the past," the man sneered. "But don't worry about what I want. Worry about the bloodshed that'll happen if you don't cooperate."

The intruders demanded access to Mr. Caldwell's business laptop, which was promptly retrieved from his office. Mr. Caldwell initially refused to unlock it, but when a gun was pressed against a guest's head, he relented, his hands trembling.

As the robbers worked on the laptop, making transactions, Mr. Caldwell sat drenched in sweat, his mind racing. "Could this be Sophia's boyfriend? Could it be Ethan who set all this up?" he whispered to himself.

"No!" Sophia hissed, her voice filled with conviction. "It's not him. Ethan would never do this!"

"Then who?" David asked bitterly.

"It has to be someone close to Dad," Sophia reasoned, her voice shaking. "Someone who knows the layout of the house and his business."

"Grayson," Mr. Caldwell muttered coldly. "It must be him. He left here angry after I refused his proposal for Sophia."

Before they could speculate further, the leader pointed at Sophia. "You. Come with me."

"No!" Lila cried, but the man silenced her with a threatening glare.

Sophia was dragged upstairs as the others were held at gunpoint. Moments later, a chilling scream echoed through the house.

Sophia's voice, raw with terror, broke through the tense silence.