Chapter 25
I woke up around 7 AM, thoughts of Eric's "sitting on a gold mine" talk still in my head. Eric wasn't a stranger - he lived right here in the estate. So how did I end up meeting this cunning, bold, and remarkably intelligent soon-to-be lawyer?
Well my uncle got caught in a legal battle. He'd tried to outsmart customs by manipulating shipment records, thinking he could dodge the duties. What should have been a foolproof plan - millions worth of cargo, a few strategic document omissions, and some creative paperwork - had spiraled into a legal catastrophe. The customs officials had flagged his shipment, and before he could blink, he was facing charges that threatened to destroy everything he'd built.
My uncle had heard people talking about Eric's father's legal prowess and decided to seek his help. I tagged along that day, and that's how Eric and I first crossed paths. Our friendship began instantly when he discovered my gaming skills. His father worked his legal magic, saving my uncle's business from ruin, and Eric and I had been close ever since.
Now, sitting on the edge of my bed, I found myself lost in an empty meditation. Twenty minutes passed as I stared at the blank wall, my mind unusually quiet, as if suspended in time. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room.
Finally, I pulled myself up and walked slowly to the bathroom. The cold water shocked my face, chasing away the last traces of sleep. As I finished brushing my teeth, I caught my reflection in the wall mirror. My own eyes stared back, and then the familiar morning demons crept in.
"You should be doing a whole lot better than this."
"You're weak and pathetic."
"When are you going to stop letting people look down on you?"
I blinked hard, forcing the toxic thoughts away. These morning battles with my inner critic were becoming routine - they always seemed strongest at dawn, as if waiting for that vulnerable moment between sleep and full consciousness..
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I walked down the stairs to the sitting room, my footsteps quiet against the cool floor. The scene that greeted me was familiar - Joyce, Esther, and Abigail sprawled across the couches, absorbed in a romantic Netflix drama. Their night clothes barely covering their bodies, but they were too engrossed in their show to notice my presence or their state of dress.