Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir

Chapter Eight

Ethan stood in the gleaming lobby of Aurelius Group’s headquarters, every nerve in his body thrumming with energy.

The guard he’d slapped away was sprawled several feet back, groaning in pain.

Nearby, Damian and Vanessa looked on with a mixture of shock and smug triumph, as if believing that, any second now, Ethan would be dragged out in disgrace.

A small crowd of onlookers, many of them lower-level employees or visitors to Aurelius Group, began to gather around.

Their hushed murmurs and curious glances only amplified the tension in the air.

The fallen guard struggled to his feet, his voice hoarse with anger.

“He… he attacked me! This guy’s got a fake black card, and he’s causing trouble!"

Ethan merely rolled his shoulders, refusing to rise to the provocation.

He couldn’t help but notice Vanessa’s derisive smirk and the condescending tilt of Damian’s head as they both seemed to savor the spectacle.

“Fake card, huh?” Ethan said softly, holding the sleek, jet-black piece of plastic between two fingers.

The Aurelius Group logo gleamed under the lobby lights.

Damian let out a short, mocking laugh. "Obviously fake. Do you have any idea how many insects crawl in here trying to pass themselves off as VIPs? You’re not even the first today, I’ll bet.”

Vanessa looped her arm through Damian’s.

“He’s more pathetic than those random wannabes. At least some of them have the brains not to start a physical fight right at the entrance.”

Her eyes flicked to Ethan’s clothes, her lip curling in disdain. "I mean, look at him. Zero class, zero refinement. It’s embarrassing.”

Ethan only arched a brow, recalling how this same woman had once acted so demure and needy around him—back when she’d wanted something from him, like his bone marrow.

Now, the real Vanessa was on full display, dripping arrogance with every syllable.

A new figure entered the scene: the lobby manager, a tall man in a pressed suit and polished loafers.

He held a clipboard tightly, scanning the small crowd before setting his sights on the guard who’d been knocked down.

“What in the world is going on here?” the manager demanded, a slight tremor in his voice betraying his tension.

He cast a wary glance at Ethan, then at Damian and Vanessa, sensing the social hierarchy at play.

Damian seized the moment, stepping forward.

“Manager, this nobody is trying to sneak in with a counterfeit black card. He even assaulted your security staff.”

Vanessa tsked. "Truly, it’s a disgrace. Aurelius Group’s reputation could be at stake if you let insects like him roam around.”

The manager frowned, turning to look at Ethan’s card.

For a split second, confusion rippled across his face.

The design was undeniably reminiscent of Aurelius Group’s executive cards, and something about the finish and the emblem looked almost… authentic.

Yet it had an extra flourish, a certain difference he hadn’t seen before.

He glanced nervously at Damian and Vanessa, both clearly influential enough to be inside Aurelius Group’s headquarters without question.

Then he focused back on Ethan, who stood calmly, arms folded, as if none of this was particularly surprising.

“Sir,” the manager began, attempting a professional tone, “may I see that card up close?”

Ethan obliged, flipping it between his fingers before handing it over.

The manager studied it, brows pinched. "It… it looks very real, but I’ve never seen one with this particular design. Our top executives have black cards, but they have a slightly different finish. The emblem is usually embossed, not engraved like… well, like this.”

Damian’s smug grin widened, and Vanessa let out a short, nasty laugh. "So, he’s gone above and beyond in forging it, then.”

“Indeed,” the manager said, straightening as if he’d solved some grand puzzle.

“This must be a counterfeit. Cleverly made, but obviously not the standard design.” He handed the card back to Ethan, crossing his arms.

“I’m afraid we can’t allow you to remain here. If you resist, I’ll have to call for more security.”

Vanessa leaned in toward Damian, deliberately loud enough for Ethan to hear. "He’s about to end up face-down on the pavement, just like the pathetic stray he always was.”

Damian snorted. "I warned him. Some people just don’t know their place.”

Before Ethan could reply, the manager raised his phone, speaking into it with forced calm. "I need additional security at the main lobby. We have a trespasser with a forged Aurelius Group card. Potentially violent. Proceed with caution.”

The first guard, still nursing his bruised wrist, smirked triumphantly, eager for reinforcements.

Vanessa and Damian exchanged looks of anticipation.

Ethan stood unfazed, though internally he was wondering how best to handle this without causing a massive commotion.

At the end of the day, there were bigger things at play—like the upcoming celebration—and he didn’t want to overshadow the entire event with a lobby brawl.

Moments later, footsteps thundered down the hallway as a group of four additional guards, each clad in black uniforms, appeared in formation.

They quickly took position around Ethan, forming a loose semicircle to block any escape.

“Sir,” one of them announced, “please cooperate. We need you to come with us. We have procedures to follow for anyone using a fake card.”

Damian pointed a smug finger at Ethan. "You heard them. Do yourself a favor and leave while you still can. Unless you enjoy wearing handcuffs?”

Vanessa giggled.

“He might be used to that. After all, pigs are used to wearing collars.”

Ethan bit back a retort, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a heated outburst.

“Come on,” the manager barked.

“Don’t just stand there.” He looked at the group of guards.

“Escort him out or detain him for questioning. No matter how you do it, get him out of the lobby now.”