THE SCAR OF WEALTH

r park, a sleek silver Rolls-Royce gleamed in the sunlight, its driver leaning against the side, waiting for his passenger. As Mr. Linton emerged from the jet, his assistant, Eric, greeted him wit

use of me." He paused, his eyes narrowing as he gazed out the window. "There are millions of writers out there who are more influential, and persuasive than him. But do they get the recognition they deserve? No." Mr. Linton's voice was laced with bitterness, his words dripping with venom. "It's my identity that's covering him, Eric. My name, my wealth, my influence. Without me, Brian would be just another struggling writer, trying to make a name for himself." Eric listened, his expression a mixture of fascination and horror. He had never seen Mr. Linton like this before, so consumed by anger and resentment. "But, sir," Eric ventured, trying to reason with his boss. "Brian's writing speaks for itself. He's a talented writer, and he deserves the recognition he's getting." Mr. Linton's laughter was cold, mirthless. "You are naive, Eric," he said, shaking his head. "This world isn't about talent or hard work. It's abo

nnounced, his voice filled with pride. The screen behind him displayed a 3D animation of the EcoPulse, a sleek and compact device that looked like a cross between a solar panel and a battery. Mr. Linton's eyes widened as he took in the details of the device. "It's a game-changer, folks," Mr. Jenkins continued. "With the EcoPulse, we can generate clean, sustainable energy anywhere, anytime. No more fossil fuels, no more pollution, no more climate change." The room erupted into a flurry of questions and comments, with investors and analysts eager to learn more about the EcoPulse. Mr. Linton listened intently; his eyes narrowed in concentration. "How does it work?" he asked, his voice rising above the din. "Ah, great question, Linton," Mr. Jenkins replied. "The EcoPulse uses a proprietary membrane that mimics the process of photosynthesis. It absorbs sunlight and converts it into electrical energy, which can then be stored in a battery or fed directly into the grid." Mr. Linton nodded, his mind racing with calculations. He could see the potential for the EcoPulse to disrupt the entire energy industry, and he wanted in. As the presentation continued, Mr. Linton's excitement grew. He asked questions, made comments, and engaged in a lively discussion with the other investors and anal