Chapter Fifty-three
Author: Lamina
last update2025-04-02 23:42:13

Every director and executive widened their eyes in shock and confusion the moment Ethan walked in with Lara.

"Wait... isn’t that—?" One of the senior board members of Aurelius Imprint Conglomerate stopped mid-sentence, his expression shifting from curiosity to unease.

Damian stiffened.

However, no one dared to acknowledge the storm that had just walked in, with Magnus' warning from the other day still fresh in their minds.

Despite their efforts to stay composed, most of them couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to each other, wondering why Ethan was there.

"This has to be a mistake," another whispered, glancing nervously at Magnus.

However, with a confident stride, Ethan walked straight to the empty chair Magnus had reserved for him near Lara—which he had been instructing people not to sit in since the meeting began.

Then, he acknowledged Magnus with a slight nod before letting his gaze sweep the room.

When Damian’s eyes met Ethan’s, his face twisted with a mix of disbelief and disgu
Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Related Chapters

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fifty-four

    Damian blinked, clearly confused. “Focus on what?”Ethan laughed softly and shot a glance at Magnus. “Has he not been told?”“I’m here to make sure your presentation is on point,” Ethan replied.Mr. Richard, looking lost, turned to Magnus.“I… honestly don’t get it.” He shrugged slightly. “Is he a legal consultant or what? Our legal teams have already checked everything and given the green light, so…”“It’s just a bit confusing, and I think others feel the same way,” he said, glancing around the room.People nodded in agreement.Magnus didn’t even look at him as he said, “You all know I don’t sign anything unless I’m sure. Think of this as one last check.”Mr. Richard swallowed hard and nodded.Damian shot him a disbelieving look. As his father’s right-hand man, he expected Mr. Richard to fight tooth and nail to get the deal signed, not giving up like this.Then, Magnus shifted his gaze to Ethan, leaning back on his chair. "Go on. Let's get this over with real quick."Ethan shifted,

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fifty-five

    Ethan's voice dropped slightly. "You’ve requested a substantial upfront investment from Aurelius Group—more than necessary for operational expansion.”He leaned back slightly. “But that’s not the real issue. The real issue is where that money is going because it's not indicated in the proposal and if I'm not mistaken, you didn't mention it in your presentation."The room went deathly still.He looked directly at Magnus now. “Where do you think it would be going to, Mr. Aurelius?"He tilted his head slightly. "A shell company?"The words rang out, sinking into every person in the room. Even the most indifferent directors were now leaning forward, their intrigue replaced with concern.Magnus’s expression darkened slightly as anger surged within him, realizing that Damian and his father were trying to outsmart him.Damian took a slow breath, forcing a tight smile. “That… that’s probably just an oversight.”“A mistake? You actually call that a mistake?!” Magnus scoffed, his voice heavy wi

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fifty-six

    The tablet’s speakers crackled slightly before an audio played.“Mr. Copper,” a worker’s voice rang out."The chemical compound used in the production of Lurexorin—it’s dangerous. I’ve done my research, and it’s linked to pancreatic cancer.”“I believe the team responsible might not have known about the danger, which is why I told Mr. Gareth. If we continue this production, sir, we could be held responsible for endangering thousands of lives.”Damian exhaled."A multi-billion-dollar anti-inflammatory drug. And now, a potential PR disaster linked to pancreatic cancer... interesting," he chuckled.He tapped the side of his glass. “John, you said you did your research. What’s the compound?”John swallowed hard. “Perchloroacetate, sir.”A sharp silence followed.Are you sure?" Damian asked.“I triple-checked, sir. Studies from independent labs show a direct correlation between prolonged exposure and aggressive tumor growth.”Damian sighed. “And how many people know about this?”John hesit

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fifty-seven

    Ethan knew Damian wouldn’t admit to anything. He was sure Damian was already crafting a way to deny it.What Damian didn’t know was that John, as an activist, had anticipated the outcome of the meeting when he realized that the regulatory inspectors had deliberately overlooked the chemical compound during their factory visit.That’s what triggered his research.And when he confronted Damian, he came prepared—hiding a recorder on his body to capture every word.Among the files Lara had submitted to Ethan was a list of employee records across the company and its subsidiaries.Ethan found it suspicious that John had been terminated just three months into his employment for a trivial reason.John was forced to disappear with his family from Damian after he handed the evidence over to the police and found out that Damian had the cops on his payroll.But Ethan had tracked John down yesterday. He found John in a hidden location, living in secrecy with his family—his instincts guided him stra

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fifty-eight

    The moment the words left Mr. Gareth's lips, the boardroom fell into stunned silence.Damian's face drained of color, his breath hitched, and his jaw slackened. His fingers twitched slightly as if trying to grasp onto something—anything—that would make this nightmare unreal.“Government agencies… stormed the factory?” His voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper, yet the weight of those words crushed his entire being.His body stiffened as if caged by an invisible force.“Sir, you need to get here fast because they’ve found the Perchloroacetate since they showed up unexpectedly.” Mr. Gareth’s voice was rushed.But Damian barely registered his words. His mind was elsewhere, fixated on how Ethan had pulled it off.He knew it was Ethan’s doing—the smug look on his face said it all.Fury burned in Damian’s eyes as Ethan stared him down.Meeting Damian's gaze, Ethan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as a flicker of amusement played in his eyes.He sipped his water as if th

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fifty-nine

    With the directors and executives gone after Damian reluctantly took Ethan’s advice to leave, only three people were left in the boardroom—Ethan, Magnus, and Lara.The air still carried the weight of the chaos that had unfolded.Ethan leaned back in his chair.Lara, still shocked as to how everything had happened, just like Magnus, turned to Ethan."But how did you know about it?" Her voicewas laced with confusion."The flaws in the deal, the hazardous chemical compound used in the drug’s production, and not to mention the recording."She gave a slight shrug. "I mean, no one caught it. Not even the legal team after reviewing it for weeks. But you—"Magnus scoffed. “Obviously, it’s the superior intellect that comes with being the ring bearer and King of the World."“Because if someone like me—who has spent weeks dissecting that damn proposal—missed those flaws, yet he spotted them in just a few days…"He gave a slight shrug. "Well, that’s the only explanation that makes sense."Ethan

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Sixty

    Damian’s throat tightened the moment he heard his father’s voice.He didn’t need anyone to tell him—he already knew his father was talking about the scandal caused by the leaked audio recording.“Am I talking to a ghost, you fool?!” his father barked, his voice sharp enough to cut through bone.Damian swallowed hard, shutting his eyes for a moment to steady his breath before opening them again and forcing himself to speak. "I... I don't know how it happened, Father. It's—""You don't know how it happened?" his father scoffed, cutting him off."You really said that just now?" he scoffed again."You know… the biggest mistake of my life was leaving the company in your hands. You’ve always been a disappointment, and now you’ve proven it beyond a doubt.” His father's voice was laced with regret, disgust, and anger.“With your level of incompetence, I doubt you’re even capable of running one of the subsidiaries. I should have tested you with that first before trusting you with the entire gr

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Sixty-one

    Still inside the car, sweat beaded on Damian's forehead, rolling down the side of his face like the slow drip of impending doom, even as the AC blasted at full speed.He didn’t even wipe it away because his mind was too clouded with thoughts of what awaited him.His fingers were now gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white as his father’s words, "Consider yourself disowned. You are no longer my son," echoed in his mind.The weight of humiliation settled deep in his chest because he knew that his father's decision was absolute.He had never known a life without wealth, without privilege. He had always been his father’s son—untouchable, respected, feared. Now? Now he was nothing—it was being stripped away like a filthy rag. The thought alone sent a wave of panic crashing over him.The sleek interior of his Maserati felt suffocating now, like a luxurious coffin."Fuck!" he shouted, voice cracking."This can’t be happening. This can’t be real," he muttered, lo

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter Eighty-two

    The bag was ripped from Damian's head, and he blinked rapidly as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. His heart hammered against his ribs like it wanted to escape."What the hell is happening? Where am I?" He shouted, struggling against the ropes that bound him to the chair.The room was dark, with only a single lamp casting long shadows across what looked like an abandoned warehouse. Concrete walls. High ceilings. The smell of dust and forgotten things.“Can someone just answer me?” His voice wavered, panic creeping in as he glanced over his shoulders—seeing two figures standing there.A deep voice cut through the darkness. "That's enough."Damian squinted, trying to make out the figure sitting across from him. It was the mysterious man.He was leaning back in a leather chair, his face hidden in shadow. All Damian could see was the outline of broad shoulders and the occasional glint of light reflecting off a watch."What's going on? Where am I?" He whispered.The mysterious man tap

  • Chapter Eighty-one

    Damian felt a brief flicker of hope, realizing someone was about to stand up for him.“I hope you all know that’s an offense,” the man said coldly, the words like an icy slap.Damian’s eyes flickered around the room, trying to gauge the reaction.The crowd was still, frozen in uncertainty, before murmurs began to spread again. Some seemed to hesitate, the weight of the legal consequences sinking in, but others were not so easily deterred.Then, he stood up and approached the bartender. "How much does he owe?"The bartender looked surprised. "Thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents."The man pulled out his wallet and slapped sixty dollars on the counter."That covers his tab—and mine too,” he said calmly.The whole bar went silent. Everyone just stared, completely caught off guard.Relief washed over Damian's face. "Thanks, man. I really appreciate it."He hesitated, then added in a whisper, "Could you spare a little more? Just to get me through the night?"With his car now impounded by

  • Chapter Eighty

    Damian's head swam as he leaned against the sticky bar counter.Three empty glasses sat in front of him, and he was working on a fourth.The cheap whiskey burned his throat, but he didn't care. It numbed everything else."Another," he slurred, pushing his empty glass forward.The bartender, a burly man with a thick beard and tired eyes, shook his head. "You've had enough.""I said, another." Damian's voice rose, drawing a few glances from nearby patrons.With a sigh, the bartender poured one last drink. "This is it, then we're settling up."Time blurred as Damian drained the glass.When the bartender returned with the bill, Damian fumbled for his wallet, pulling out what little cash he had left. He counted it twice, his fingers trembling.“What’s up?” the bartender asked, raising a brow when he noticed Damian’s face turn red after counting it a second time."I'm... I'm short," he slurred."That's funny because I didn't even realize it.""How short?" The bartender's voice hardened.“A

  • Chapter Seventy-nine

    In a dining room on the other side of the city, the mysterious man sat by himself at a long table, eating his dinner. His phone vibrated against the table. He wiped his mouth with a napkin before answering. "Speak," he commanded. "Sir," came a nervous voice from the other end. "We've been trying to contact the assassins, but there's no response. None of them are replying to their emails." The man's hand tightened around his fork. "And?" His voice was dangerously calm. "And... we think... well, it appears Ethan's power has already been activated. It seems we were wrong about it." "So, the assassination failed," the man said under his breath. There was a momentary silence, then a crash as the man slammed his fist against the table, sending wine glasses toppling and plates clattering. "You're telling me," he said, his voice shaking with rage, "that not only did they fail to kill him, but his power is already active?" "Y-yes, sir. It seems so." "Find out exactly what happened,

  • Chapter Seventy-eight

    Ethan stood in the center of the chamber, feeling the power surge through his veins.The ring pulsed with golden light, sending waves of energy up his arm and throughout his body. It felt different now—stronger, more intense—since he had accepted his destiny.Magnus watched him from a few feet away, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and something else Ethan couldn't quite identify."So," Ethan said, breaking the silence, "what's the next step? Now that I've decided to embrace all this."Magnus walked over to a stone pedestal in the corner of the chamber and ran his fingers along the ancient carvings."First, we need to formally announce your return as the King of the World to the Order," he said."There will be a ceremony—a ritual as old as the organization itself. But some members will have to be present to witness your official acceptance. That's the problem at the moment."He turned to face Ethan, his expression serious. "Then, your training begins. You need to learn how to c

  • Chapter Seventy-seven

    The apartment door burst open with a bang.Magnus rushed in, his face pale with worry. Lara was right behind him, accompanied by several of his soldiers who had their hands on their weapons."Ethan!" Magnus shouted, freezing at the sight of the bodies scattered across the floor.Blood was everywhere. On the walls. The furniture. Pooling on the floor.Magnus rushed to Ethan, grabbing his shoulders and looking him over frantically.“Are you okay? What happened?” His eyes quickly landed on the blood staining Ethan’s clothes, then shifted around, checking him for any injuries.Ethan smiled calmly, lifting his hand to show the ring on his finger."I'm fine, Dad. Thanks to this ring." He wiggled his finger.Magnus’s jaw tightened. He wasn't comforted.Lara pushed past the soldiers, her face ghostly white as she took in the scene.Her hand flew to her mouth."Oh my god," she whispered, her voice shaking.Then, she crossed the room, stepping carefully around a body.She reached out, touching

  • Chapter Seventy-six

    Then, like a dam breaking, power surged through Ethan.The ring on his finger grew warm, then hot—pulsing with golden light that traveled up his arm in glowing veins. The pain in his side faded as strength filled every muscle in his body."What the—" one of the men started to say.Ethan moved so fast he surprised himself. His fist connected with the leader's jaw with a sickening crack. The man flew backward, smashing into the wall with enough force to dent the plaster, then slumped to the floor in a daze.The other three attacked at once.Ethan ducked under a knife swing and caught the man's wrist, twisting until bones snapped with a wet crunch. The attacker screamed, his weapon clattering to the floor. But Ethan didn't stop there. In one fluid motion, he pivoted behind the man, placed one hand on his chin and the other on the back of his skull, and wrenched with supernatural strength. The crack echoed through the apartment as the man's cervical vertebrae shattered. The attacke

  • Chapter Seventy-five

    Ethan drove through the quiet city streets, the buildings blurring past like ghosts. His fingers drummed the steering wheel as he replayed the evening in his mind. “She’s either brilliant,” he muttered, “or trained to be." "And him..." He believed Mr. Chen was too grateful. "He is not just some grateful old man throwing a thank-you dinner. No." Ethan shook his head. He was convinced there was a hidden agenda behind it. "It would be smart to keep them all at arm's length," he muttered. "Especially her." Yet he couldn't deny she intrigued him and that he wanted to see her again. The thought followed him all the way home, along with the memory of her smile when she talked about her research. Real or fake? He couldn't tell for sure, and that bothered him more than he wanted to admit. When he finally reached his apartment building, he was tired, and his head was beginning to pound again—that same dull ache that had been plaguing him for weeks. As he unlocked his door and steppe

  • Chapter Seventy-four

    The garden was beautiful under the soft lights that lined the stone paths.Flowers bloomed everywhere, their scents mixing in the cool night air."I'm actually glad for the chance to talk with you properly," Sophia said as they walked."My father said you spotted financial irregularities that no one else caught. That requires an incredible eye for detail."Ethan glanced at Mr. Chen. "You give me too much credit, Mr. Chen.""I doubt that," she replied before her father could."Speaking from experience?" Ethan asked."My research involves finding patterns in protein folding that might lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases," she explained."It's about seeing what others miss."Then, she gave a slight shrug. "So, yeah.“I might be speaking from experience.” Her smile turned soft—just enough to make his heart skip a beat.“That’s… actually kind of fascinating,” he said, genuinely intrigued.He got what she was saying, even though he was pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to—jus

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App