Reborn From Oblivion

Benjamin was scratching his head, trying to figure things out. "A guy like him?

He'd be a catch for any family. It's like having a walking money tree. I just can't see why everyone's so on edge about him. Sure, he's got that icy vibe and isn't the easiest to get along with, but he's never really been a problem for us, has he?"

Paige was beyond annoyed, practically fuming. She gave Benjamin a light rap on the head. "Oh, please. If it wasn't for me playing this long chess game with him, you'd have been his snack ages ago. That man is as crafty as they come, and his methods are downright brutal. Once he's out, things won't be smooth sailing for us."

Benjamin, as usual, wasn't too worried. "So, what are we gonna do about it?"

"He's coughed up a ton of cash, so they're probably gonna go easy on him. Getting out is almost a done deal."

Paige's eyes burned with determination. "He wants out, but that's not happening without a fight."

The Prison.

Officer Baldwin came to No. 13 with a bit of news. "Hey, congrats, you've settled all your debts. They're gonna take another look at your sentence in court."

No. 13 kept his gaze on the ground, his face giving nothing away.

He knew that once he was out, the Rowland and McCoy families would stop at nothing to block his path. It'd be another round of chaos. And with him stuck in here, would Nathalie be out there fighting for him?

The thought of her fragile frame filled him with dread.

He'd rather stay locked up than see her worn out for his sake.

Officer Baldwin was a bit animated. "That Ashley, every time she visits, she looks like she's about to walk a runway, even her nails are all fancy with diamonds. I'll be honest, used to think she was just anothe rich girl more into money than people-not exactly trustworthy."

Officer Baldwin waved his hand dismissively. "But the way she's been looking out for you, I didn't expect that. She cleared all your debts in no time. No. 13, gals like her don't come around often. You better hold onto her."

No. 13 suddenly looked up, a frown creasing his forehead. "She's dressing up all fancy for a reason."

"Huh?" Officer Baldwin was puzzled.

"She's just putting on a show, trying to convince me she's doing fine," he replied, his voice heavy with sadness.

Officer Baldwin's jaw dropped in surprise. "Wow, she's really something."

He found himself feeling a bit envious of No. 13. "I used to feel bad for you. Here you are, the heir of two big families, and the minute you messed with their money, they tossed you in here, family ties be damned. They even brought in the big guns to make sure you got a life sentence. With family like that, it's a wonder you didn't hit rock bottom."

"But now, looking at it, even though your family left you hanging, Ashley's stuck by you. Maybe fate didn't give you family love, but it sure gave you Ashley. You gotta see the silver lining. Life's mostly a mixed bag, but when something good comes along, hold on tight. That's how it is."

Maybe bringing up Nathalie hit a nerve with No. 13, and he started to open up. "Officer Baldwin, you gotta tell me, how's she really doing out there?"noveldrama

Officer Baldwin quickly said, "Oh, she's doing great."

No. 13 shot him a sharp look, clearly not in the mood for any sugarcoating.

Officer Baldwin paused, then admitted, "Okay, truth is, I don't know how she's really doing. But I did hear something-she had a rough patch with depression and tried to harm herself... The internet's full of nasty gossip about her. People can be so cruel..."