“So let me get this straight,” Ethan said, tilting his head, his voice laced with amusement."You expect me to just accept this?" His voice had transformed, becoming sharp and defiant."You want me to swallow this whole... destiny nonsense and march off to restore some broken legacy? Be the King of the World? Is that it?"He snorted, shaking his head. "What am I even saying? You said it earlier already."His father chuckled. "You think you can escape destiny? It's not about what you want. It's who you are."Ethan pushed off the table and rose to his feet, his voice sharper now. “Did it ever cross your mind that maybe—just maybe—I don’t want this life you’re shoving down my throat? That I don’t give a damn about your Order, your history, or whatever twisted legacy you think I should be honored to inherit?”His father let out a low, amused chuckle."You think you have a choice?” he mused, tapping the armrest."The ring chooses its bearer. You don't command it—it chooses and command you.

"Because..." Ethan's father hesitated."Because the ring chose you before you could even walk." He finally revealed.He continued, his voice growing steadier as he revealed more of the past. "He had dedicated his entire life to restoring The Order to its former glory—which, by the way, everything fell apart under his leadership because most members couldn't stand his methods."His father's eyes narrowed at the memory. "And then you came along... just days old, and the ring fit your finger perfectly."Ethan's brows furrowed in confusion. "That doesn't explain—""He snapped!" His father roared."Thirty years of preparation, only to be passed over for a toddler! His own nephew!" His father's face contorted with rage and grief."The ring never chose him, but he couldn’t accept that. He’d rather destroy the true heir than let the order have a real king.”"So he faked your death to make your mother and me believe you were gone forever," he father said, voice cracking slightly."Apparently,

Damian's father waited nervously in the living room of Magnus' mansion, his normally confident demeanor replaced by the anxious fidgeting of a man who knew he was barely tolerated in this sacred space. The opulent room, with its crystal chandeliers and ancient artifacts that whispered of power accumulated over generations, made him feel like the peasant he essentially was in comparison to its owner.He was there to talk with Magnus about the deal that fell apart. Since he didn't trust Damian to fix the problem, he followed what Mr. Richard had suggested instead.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The moment the door to the living room swung open, revealing Magnus, who was in his pajamas, Damian's father shot to his feet, nearly knocking over the untouched glass of scotch on the side table."Mr. Aurelius, sir, thank you for seeing me on such short notice," Damian's father started with a slight bow, his voice uncharacteristically pitched higher than usual.He knew better than to offer his hand to Magnus.

The low hum of the Mercedes’ engine blended with the quiet of the night as it glided down the dimly lit streets.Ethan sat in the backseat, his posture relaxed but his mind anything but, as he stared out the window, watching the blur of streetlights and towering buildings.Lara occupied the front passenger seat, her expression unreadable.Her chauffeur handled the wheel, his eyes fixed ahead, as if sensing the storm brewing behind him.The auction they were heading to had been marketed as a charity event—a noble attempt to rescue a financially struggling orphanage. A place that, on paper, existed to nurture abandoned children. But Ethan knew better.That institution was nothing more than a breeding ground for cruelty, run by soulless opportunists who fed off misfortune. It had been his prison, his battleground, the place where kindness was a currency never spent on children like him.He had lived in its suffocating walls, endured its brutality, and now, he was returning—not as a helpl

A grin spread across Ethan’s face the moment he spotted the house supervisor of the orphanage, now aged, along with a few staff members.“Perfect,” he murmured, his smile growing as he and Lara strode toward the front row, aware of the lingering gazes following them.However, the moment they settled into the first row, hushed voices fluttered around them:"Look at them... they're sitting so close.""Is that really her? I've never seen her show interest in anyone before.""Who is that man with her? He... they look like they could be a couple.""She’s never even smiled at a man in public before. This is history in the making.”"It's not possible. She's known for being married to her work. She's allergic to romance."“But look at how close they’re sitting… do you think…?”"Who is he, though? I’ve never seen him before."Ethan’s lips curled into a smirk as he leaned close to Lara and whispered, "Looks like you’ve got yourself a reputation.’”His smirk widened, but her expression remained