Mr. Hades how arriend\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr. Hades has arrived\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades\u00a0<\/p>\n
I never liked easy things.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They bored me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The chase, the grind, the risk, that\u2019s where the thrill was. The higher the stakes, the sharper my focus. If something was handed to me, I didn\u2019t want it. I wanted to take it. And taking it wasn\u2019t enough. I needed to earn it, break it, and claim it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s probably why I\u2019ve always been a monumental headache to my father.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He used to call me impulsive, reckless, and unstable. And he wasn\u2019 wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I was fourteen, I got bored and decided to spice up one of his quarterly board meetings. So I snuck into the kitchen and had the house staff swap the sparkling water with a little experimental digestive I was mixing for fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The entire boardroom emptied out in ten minutes. Suits flew as old men clutched their stomachs and bolted for the bathrooms like their lives depended on it\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat on the counter, laughing so hard I could barely breathe, the camera clutched in my hands. To this day, it\u2019s still the funniest thing I\u2019ve ever seen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My father didn\u2019t share the sentiment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I got grounded for a month, but I\u2019d do it again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At nineteen, I finally pushed him too far. We were at one of those boring family dinners. I said something that set him off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He slammed his glass down so hard the rim cracked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you think you\u2019re so perfect,\u201d he growled, \u201cthen go build a company as big as mine in four years. Then maybe I\u2019ll take you seriously.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He probably expected me to laugh, or sulk. Maybe to start a petty argument and storm out. But I didn\u2019t. I looked him dead in the eye and smiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, I was gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I left a note on the dining room table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018See you in four years, old man.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
In just four years, I returned with a company worth over ten billion I\u2019ll never forget the look on his face, it was deeply satisfying to see the shock written all over it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The mansion loomed above me. I shoved my hands into my pockets and walked toward the door, Alec trailing behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment we reached the entrance, the front doors opened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood evening, Mr. Hades. Mr. Alec.\u201d The old butler bowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSamuel,\u201d I said, a smile tugging at my lips. \u201cHow are you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The butler was one of the few people I\u2019d never once considered disposable. He\u2019d looked after me as a child, even with my troublesome personality,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been doing well, Mr. Hades,\u201d he said, straightening. \u201cPardon me for asking, but how are you? Have you been eating properly?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I jerked my head toward Alec. \u201cI\u2019m good. This guy makes sure I liv like a human. He\u2019s like a nagging wife.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alec rolled his eyes. \u201cAs his secretary,\u201d he said with emphasis, \u201cI sure Mr. Hades is adequately fed, dressed, and occasionally reminded to sleep like a functioning human.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Hades has arrived\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Samuel laughed. \u201cGood, good. Thank you, Mr. Alec, for taking care of him. Mr. Hades hates being told what to do. I guess he has a soft spot for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smirked and ruffled Alec\u2019s hair. He was a bit leaner and shorter than me. \u201cYou should feel honored.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alec swatted my hand away, shooting me a dry look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for the attention. I\u2019m so lucky.\u201d His sarcasm practically dripped off each word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re already inside, waiting for you, sir,\u201d Samuel said, knowing full well I\u2019d make them wait if I wanted to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course they are,\u201d I murmured, stepping into the house. The moment I crossed the doorway, I was nearly blinded by the\u00a0<\/p>\n
shine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The walls, the chandelier, even the trim on the furniture looked like it belonged in a palace built by someone with more money\u00a0<\/p>\n
than taste.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to say,\u201d I drawled, \u201cthe old man\u2019s taste has gotten worse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, Alec muttered, \u201cIt\u2019s probably his new wife.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped mid-step.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh?\u201d I turned slightly. \u201cAnother one?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alec sighed, like I was giving him a headache. \u201cI told you a month ago.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cYou know I only remember things that matter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alec rolled his eyes. \u201cFunny how \u2018things that matter\u2019 includes knowing how to operate every vibrator ever made.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I grinned. \u201cBecause that does matter. I take pride in keeping my women satisfied.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The closer I got to the dining hall, the louder the noise became. Voices overlapped, each one desperate to be heard over the other.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFather, did you see the deal I closed with the Harrington Group?\u201d one voice bragged. \u201cThey\u2019ve already asked to schedule another negotiation with me next month.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBig deal,\u201d a woman snapped back. \u201cI had dinner with the First Lady yesterday. We discussed international collaborations. I\u2019m closing on three contracts this week alone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ah. The usual circus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped just before the doors. The maids bowed and opened it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped inside. There they were, every parasite in the ecosystem, circling the throne like hyenas hungry for scraps. My half- brother with his desperate corporate chest-thumping. My half-sister, still clawing for Daddy\u2019s approval. And at the head of the table, as always, the old man was silent, chewing, and unfazed by everything else. He let them bark and beg for nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Next to him was a blonde woman, too young for him. She was beautiful, of course, The type he always picked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked familiar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze flicked briefly to the man at the end of the table, scrolling rough his phone like he wanted to be anywhere else.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Matthew, my adopted son.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Hades has arrived,\u201d Samuel announced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked in slowly, hands in my pockets, gaze sweeping across the room with disinterest. When I reached the far end, I pulled out a chair directly opposite the old man and sat down. Alec stood behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bo\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood evening, old man,\u201d I said, leaning back in the chair. \u201cStill breathing, I see. Guess you haven\u2019t kicked the bucket yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
D\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nights Burn With Regret \u2014 by Nathan Perez 25 Mr. Hades how arriend\u00a0 +25 Bonus\u00a0 Mr. Hades has arrived\u00a0 Hades\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-craving-the-guardian-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27941"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27941\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}