As the window of the Mercedes-Benz slid down, Charlie leaned in closer to get a better look at the man inside. It didn’t take long for him to recognize Jeff Mowry, the one responsible for organizing today’s meetup through their messenger group.


    Although they were merely acquaintances, Charlie had always found Jeff’s demeanor somewhat off-putting. Dressed in a suit that clung tightly to his plump frame and polished leather shoes, Jeff halted his vehicle upon spotting the crowd. He poked his head out of the window, a smirk on his face, and said, “Oh, hey, sorry for making you guys wait!”


    A hint of arrogance flickered in his eyes as he cleared his throat and added, “There was a traffic jam on my way here, which is why I’mte.”


    Someone in the crowd gasped in astonishment, “Wow, Jeff, is this your car? When did you buy it?”


    Jeff let out a self-importantugh. “I just got it two days ago.”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Charlie squinted, realizing the truth: Jeff was eager to organize this gathering simply to unt his new car to his childhood friends!


    Another person chimed in, “Hey, Jeff, what model is this? It must have cost you a fortune!”


    Jeff chuckled triumphantly, though his tone wasced with a false modesty. “Nah, it’s just a simple E300L. Overall, it set me back about half a million.”


    “Whoa!!”


    The crowd gasped collectively, their expressions a mix of disbelief and envy.


    “Wow, Jeff, you’re loaded! You’ve only been working a few years, and you can already afford such an extravagant car!”


    “Yeah! We’re still taking buses while you’re cruising in a Merc! We’re really struggling inparison!”


    “It’s ‘pale’ inparison.”<fn49e1> Chapters first released on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn49e1>


    “Ah, same difference.”


    The reality was that children raised in the orphanage had no one to turn to, a stark contrast to their peers. While others started from scratch, they began from a ce of disadvantage.


    Most of the kids who left the orphanage around the same time still fought to meet their basic needs. Securing good jobs with decent benefits was a distant dream for them, leaving many trapped in poverty.


    Only Charlie and Jeff could afford a car, so Jeff’s new Mercedes stirred up feelings of envy among the others.


    Jeff’s smug smile remained unbroken. He waved dismissively, saying, “Nah, it’s nothing special for me; just a minor expense.”


    But then he caught sight of Charlie in the crowd, and his expression changed. He hadn’t anticipated that Charlie, his long-time rival, would arrive before him.


    In their orphanage days, Jeff had looked down on Charlie and often bullied him. However, due to Charlie’s superior strength and skills, he frequently found himself on the losing side of their encounters.


    Over the years, Charlie had be a haunting presence in Jeff’s mind, one he couldn’t seem to escape. He had once believed that tough guys like Charlie wouldn’t thrive in society.


    As he nced at Charlie’s clothes, he smirked, thinking he was right—Charlie still wore the same low-end brands as before. However, when his gazended on the stunning ire, his eyes widened in surprise!


    He had never encountered such beauty in his life.