The drizzle fell like countless silver threads from the overcast sky...
Luxury cars lined the road outside the cemetery, their occupants solemn-faced, expressions heavy with grief.
This was the renowned Trinity Church, located at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street in Manhattan. Here, the funeral of Norman Osborn (once a towering figure in life) was being held.
The man who had built a vast business empire now lay quietly in a cold coffin.
A stern-faced priest stood before the gravestone, recounting Norman Osborn's glorious past and achievements to the gathered mourners.
Harry Osborn, the new heir to Oscorp, stood with a pained expression. Despite his distant relationship with his father, the loss of his only family left him heartbroken.
"Harry... You need to stay strong. Uncle Norman wouldn't want to see you like this..." Mary Jane, her red hair damp from the rain, comforted her boyfriend softly.
Nearby, Peter watched the scene unfold before lowering his head with a sigh.
The young Spider-Man still didn't know what had truly happened that night. After being knocked unconscious by the Green Goblin, he had awakened to find only a charred corpse.
Never had he imagined that beneath the Goblin's mask was Harry's father, the man he had once respected.
In the end, Peter chose to keep the cruel truth hidden. Harry was already suffering enough from the loss of his father. Learning that Norman had been the murderous Green Goblin would only devastate him further.
As for him and Mary Jane...
Peter glanced one last time at the red-haired girl standing beside Harry before turning and walking away into the rain. His battles with the Green Goblin had forced him to grow up...
He understood now that as long as he wore the Spider-Man suit, he could never truly be with Mary Jane. And right now, Harry needed her more than he did.
"Peter, where are you going?" Sean's voice called out from behind.
He held a black umbrella as he stood beside Gwen who was dressed in a somber black dress, her usual lively demeanor replaced by quiet elegance.
Peter forced a smile, "I... have something to take care of. I need to go."
Watching his lonely figure disappear into the rain, Gwen looked up at Sean, "What's really going on with Peter, Mary Jane, and Harry?"
Sean shrugged under the umbrella, feigning ignorance.
Watching Spider-Man tangled in this messy love triangle was surreal... It was like witnessing a real-life soap opera.
Gwen didn't press further, staying close to Sean as they entered the cemetery..
...
By the time the funeral rites and post-service gathering concluded, evening had fallen...
Exhausted, Harry finally retreated to the living room of the Osborn mansion, his handsome face lined with fatigue.
"Sorry, Sean. I didn't expect things to drag on this long. You've been waiting all afternoon." Harry apologized immediately.
The day had been a whirlwind... He had to deal with shareholders, manage his father's connections, and handle endless formalities. He hadn't even had a moment to breathe.
"I'm sorry about your father..." Sean leaned back on the sofa, sipping strong black coffee, "Also, no need to apologize, Harry. You have a lot to deal with... the company, and your own life... I know how it feels. Losing the person you rely on and suddenly facing the world alone... It's not easy."
Harry's eyes reddened slightly. He knew Sean's tragic past, how he had lost both parents, then his uncle, leaving him to navigate life alone.
"Thanks for saying that. It... helps. Makes it a little less painful." Harry, shedding his former carefree persona, patted his friend's shoulder.
He was trying hard to become the leader Oscorp needed... He was no longer a reckless playboy.
Sean set down his cup, his piercing gaze locking onto Harry, "The first step is always the hardest. I've heard about Oscorp's situation. The shareholders don't believe in you. They're just vultures looking to profit before jumping ship."
This was his first major move... using Oscorp as the stage for his ambitions.
"I didn't know you followed Oscorp's business..." Harry seemed taken aback by his friend's sudden intensity.
For a moment, Sean's demeanor reminded him of his father... that same commanding presence. It was unsettling.
"The news is full of it. Everyone's betting Oscorp will collapse without your father." Sean carefully stoked Harry's emotions.
Unlike his cunning and ruthless father, Harry was softer; a privileged heir with a kind heart, fond of parties and pretty girls, lacking his father's drive.
But that made him the perfect partner.
"I'll convince the shareholders. Oscorp won't fall! I'll get us through this!" Harry declared passionately, though uncertainty gnawed at him.
He knew how dire things were. Losing the Department of Defense contract had sunk their investments. The Green Goblin scandal had shattered their reputation. The company was on the brink...
Faced with Sean's knowing gaze, Harry's confidence wavered. He was just a young heir, one who was unprepared to steer a multinational empire. He had no one to trust inside Oscorp.
Sean played his hand, "To survive this, you need to offset the losses in military contracts. The shareholders need to see hope... a groundbreaking product that guarantees massive profits."
Harry might doubt his motives, but if he wanted to save Oscorp, he had no choice but to cooperate.
Besides, Sean wasn't lying. He needed a platform, and Harry needed a lifeline. A win-win scenario.
"What are you suggesting?" Harry asked warily. Could his friend really help Oscorp?
"Harry, Dr. Connors and I have made a breakthrough, a treatment for Alzheimer's. Preliminary trials show remarkable results." Sean revealed his bait, "If you're interested, visit the lab. We injected ALZ-112 into a chimp named Caesar. It solved the Lucas Tower puzzle in twenty moves. The perfect solution takes fifteen..."
"...Harry, it's time for Oscorp to leave weapons behind. You're not Tony Stark. You won't charm the DoD into endless contracts. But medicine? The profits are limitless. Once the FDA approves this drug (and Oscorp can fast-track that) money will pour in."
Harry was tempted. With Oscorp crumbling, he had no other options. His father's legacy couldn't die on his watch.
"I need the research data. Proof it works." Harry exhaled heavily, slumping into the sofa.
"You'll have it tomorrow." Sean stood, smiling down at his conflicted friend, "You won't regret this, Harry. The future belongs to us..."
...
{T/N: ALZ-112?? And it makes apes smart?? I think we all know what Sean bought with his points...}
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