From Ashes to Empire
oticed tears. He began walking towar
he streets were filled with cars, and the sidewa
were leisurely strolling, the
ves holding their husbands' a
eaceful scene o
felt out of place, his
s chest made him want
r a while, Liam's steps grew
his stomach growl, reminding
his mother would make his favorite dumpl
ly he'd never t
e of sadness, but also a resurg
This won't break me," he
thday. Tomorrow, I'll start f
ss from nothing once
alive, nothing
ept murmuring to himself,
He felt a slight easing of the
or a moment, he ultimately turned away
key, two sausages, a bag of sunf
his birth
sat on the curb, ignoring th
above, he sang "Happy Birthday" to himself, toas
re the most important day of the year and sh
lebration when a stumbling figure join
the street... Wait a minute, you look fa
eautiful young woman with strikin
ou?" Liam as
am. She giggled, "You're the guy I hit with my car! You're tougher
ng why the girl's voice had seemed famil
opportunity to confront Eve at the hotel due to the accident. Yet, he wasn
t you to a few drinks to formally apologize? Drinking alone is no fun," Fiona sugg
replied, shaking his head. Despite Fiona's youthful charm, he was long past the age of
reet, feeling lonely?" A mocking voice interrupted
enties, reeking of alcohol
ead. "Sir, please give me a chance to mak
he hospital, Fiona had returned, hoping to compensate him. Unfort
felt like a fated opport
eted the situation, their minds ju
d man, don't you have any shame? Trying to hit
his brow but r
with a buzz cut reached out to grab Fiona's arm. "Come on,
o push him away, but in her drunken
from the curb. "I like feisty girls," h
she struggled in vain against his grip, her fear
her go! Harassing someone in public, do yo
n darkened, but he did release Fiona, stepping towards Liam instead. "Old m
closed in, sur
treet. Did your wife run off with someone else? Is your
a
punch to the man's face, sen
ther young men, who were momentari
iam's frustration had been building. Though he had tried to ke
m weak. His years of business and imprisonment