Stronger Every Time I Die
Raelynn gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "That’s impossible!" John frowned. "Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?" Julie’s voice was firm. "I saw it clearly. He was smiling. It was a smug smile—there was even something… evil in it." Yes, evil was the perfect word to describe that expression. The living room fell into a suffocating silence. Then, breaking the stillness, Susie suddenly burst into tears. "Have you all forgotten? Zac saved our lives! Does that mean nothing to you?" The room fell silent once more. That’s right. The reason they had always doted on Zac wasn’t just because he was gentle and obedient—it was because, as a child, he had risked his own life to save them. Zac had saved them. No matter what he did, that fact could never be erased. They owed Zac their lives. And because of that incident, Zac’s health had never been the same. The next day, Arthur booted up his computer. As expected, the stock he had invested in had skyrocketed. His funds had multiplied dozens of times. Arthur glanced at the calendar. Two more days. In two days, this stock would crash. If he sold it off before then, he estimated he could make at least seventy thousand dollars. Just as he shut his laptop, a knock sounded at his door. Right on time. Zac had arrived with the suit. Arthur opened the door and looked at the neatly folded outfit in Zac’s hands.The design, the fabric—it was the exact same suit from his past life. Zac, for once, had discarded his usual arrogance. There was even a friendly smile on his face. Holding the suit carefully, he said, "Arthur, I know I’ve made mistakes before. This suit might not be this year’s latest design, but it’s from Mr. Yoder. Consider it a gift, my way of apologizing." "Mr. Yoder?" Arthur feigned ignorance. A flash of condescension flickered in Zac’s eyes before he quickly concealed it. "Yes, Mr. Yoder is the most famous designer in the country. His clothes are nearly impossible to get. This was last year’s birthday gift from Dad—it cost tens of thousands. Look here, it even has his signature embroidery number. I only wore it once and never had the heart to wear it again." Pride dripped from Zac’s words. A single outfit of his was worth tens of thousands, while Arthur— Arthur wore a school uniform every day. His closet was nothing but a few faded, worn-out shirts. What did he have to compare? Arthur smirked slightly and reached out to take the suit, running his fingers over the embroidered number. Mr. Yoder’s designs were well known. He stitched unique identification numbers onto every piece he made to prevent forgeries. Each item was one of a kind. Arthur pretended to be awed. "So this is the legendary Mr. Yoder’s work." Seeing his reaction, Zac’s grin widened. "I’m glad you like it," Zac said, placing the suit in Arthur’s hands. "You’ll look great in it. Be sure to wear it to my birthday party tonight. You’re sixteen now—it’s time you start mingling with high society." Zac’s tone carried the weight of an elder giving advice to a clueless younger brother. Arthur nodded. "Alright." Zac, satisfied, handed Arthur an invitation card. "Can’t have you being turned away at the door," he said with a chuckle.Then, he left. The moment Zac turned away, Arthur’s gaze turned ice-cold. As night fell, Arthur finished his studies and put on the suit Zac had given him. Then, he headed to Glenford Hotel. The hotel wasn’t too far from his school. His money was still tied up in stocks, meaning he was still broke for the moment. So, Arthur spent the last bit of change he had on a bus ticket. When he stepped onto the bus, every passenger’s eyes turned to him. His expensive, custom-made suit was completely out of place in the crowded vehicle. Arthur ignored the stares, found a seat, and closed his eyes. He needed to conserve his energy. A great show was about to begin. The bus reached his stop, which was just a short walk from Glenford Hotel. Arthur stepped off and had barely taken a few steps when a familiar voice called out from behind him. "Arthur?" It was Julie.
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