Chapter 762
Chapter 762:
returning from studying abroad and, out of the blue, fell in love with me. Within six months, we were married, and I took over the drugstore. As for Hamlin, during one of his performances, a TV director noticed him. That opportunity turned into a Best Supporting Actor award, which launched his acting career. In just three short years, our paths to success were completely smooth. Strangely, our competitors seemed plagued with one misfortune after another, which cleared the way for us to rise to the top. That was when we began to realize—the gifts truly had the power to make our wishes come true.”
Hamlin continued, his tone steady yet somber, “To ensure we’d have the chance to use these three items again, we agreed that each of us would keep one. This was our way of restricting one another, a safeguard to prevent reckless use. But more than that, these items became the key to preserving the wealth and success we had gained. As Leonardo and I expanded our businesses, we felt invincible against local competition. Stephen, however, faced limitations in the restaurant industry and couldn’t grow beyond the local level. He remained a prominent figure in Staville but couldn’t break into the national scene. Because of the quill pen he held, we felt obligated to step in and eliminate the threats that stood in his way.”
Hamlin seemed ready to continue when Ashton interrupted, his expression unusually serious.
“You said the greater the wish, the greater the price,” Ashton asked sternly. “What price did you pay to become billionaires?”
Hamlin and Leonardo exchanged a glance, a flicker of unease passing between them.
Hamlin replied, his voice quieter now, “In truth, we didn’t pay any direct price. But in the three years that followed our wish, Staville, as well as the area around, was struck by a series of devastating natural disasters—spring floods, summer droughts, fall wildfires, and winter blizzards. It was three consecutive years of calamity. We can’t say for certain, but we suspect these disasters might have been the price for our wish.”
The three men who became billionaires paid no price. Instead, they disrupted Staville and its surrounding regions for three tumultuous years.
Abrial, seated next to Ashton, overheard Leonardo and Hamlin’s explanation. A mix of disbelief and confusion spread across her face.
R𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝒇𝓾𝓁𝓁 𝒄𝒉𝓪𝓹𝓉𝓮𝓇𝓈 𝓪𝓽 g𝓪𝗅𝗇ovє𝗅𝓈.ℂ𝗈𝗺
“Seriously? Are you guys for real? Isn’t it possible that all of this is just a series of coincidences? Maybe you’re just attributing your success to some supernatural nonsense instead of your hard work. And why are you blaming some natural disaster on yourselves?” Abrial asked, her voice filled with confusion.
Leonardo sighed deeply, his lips curling into a faint, bitter smile. “Let’s not kid ourselves. Stephen’s cooking is mediocre at best, and he chose a back alley restaurant just to save a buck. Hamlin’s theater gigs? Let’s be honest, he’s always been a fringe player in the scene. And me? I have zero qualifications in medicine. There’s no logical explanation for how all three of us suddenly rose to prominence in just three short years.”
Ashton, leaning forward, nodded knowingly. “I hear you. I’ve seen my share of strange artifacts that defy logic and science. Their powers are… well, unexplainable.”
Abrial’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t fathom Ashton’s claim of encountering such incredible phenomena.
.
.
.