Chapter Fourty
Author: Lamina
last update2025-03-29 12:05:24

“What… did I just hear him place a $10 million bid?” Blanche’s voice wavered in disbelief.

"Or am I dreaming?”

Vanessa’s brows knitted together as she turned to Ethan, who met her gaze with that same smug smirk—only now, it had stretched even wider.

“Whoa! Who is this guy?” someone blurted out.

“He must be filthy rich to throw out a bid like that, as if he’s just buying a toy,” another person chimed in.

“Never seen him before,” a man muttered under his breath.

"But he’s got to be someone big if he can drop that kind of money without flinching.”

Even the auctioneer, momentarily stunned, stared at Ethan with his mouth slightly open before regaining his composure. “Just to confirm—$10 million?”

Ethan met his gaze and gave a firm nod. “Yes.”

The hall erupted in another collective gasp, even louder than before.

One of Ethan's admirers exclaimed. "Wow! This is crazy!"

Lara, just as shocked as everyone else, leaned in toward Ethan. “I know what you’re trying to do, sir. But honestly, you hav
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  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fourty-one

    Ethan leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a smirk. “What’s the matter? Not even going to put up a fight for the bid? Or have you finally accepted that you simply can’t afford to?”Vanessa scoffed, her expression twisted with disdain. “You? My competitor?”She let out a scornful chuckle. “You’re not even worthy of being my opponent. You’re not even worthy to stand in my shadow.”He nodded and gave a slight shrug. "Yet, here we are."“Why do you insist on living a fantasy, huh?” she spat, eyes blazing."You walk in here, acting like you belong—throwing out ridiculous bids like you actually have the money!"Someone murmured, “What… she really mean it? That he's poor?""Interesting." He nodded, tapping his fingers against his knee."That’s what you think of me?”"Who do you think you are?” she scoffed loudly, flipping her hair as she let out a sharp laugh."Seriously, do you think sitting here makes you one of us? This isn’t some street market where you can bluff your way to t

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fourty-two

    Mrs. Adams shook her head in disbelief.“Unbelievable.” She turned to Vanessa with a glare."I didn’t want to believe you before, but now that I know who he is, I can confirm that you’re not wrong.”Vanessa scoffed, arms crossed. “Oh? Do you know him? Or has he been your gigolo before?”"So he chases after sugar mamas too? Pathetic. No standards whatsoever."Mrs. Adams burst into mock laughter. “Never! He—a gigolo? Please, if anything, you should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking that.”Vanessa's face twitched. “Then, how do you know him?”Mrs. Adams shifted his gaze back to Ethan, a smirk playing on her lips. "This boy… He was abandoned at our doorstep and raised in this orphanage. But instead of being grateful, he repaid us by stealing—over and over—until we had no choice but to throw him out.”The moment the lie left her lips, the room exploded into chaos.Vanessa let out a slow, cruel laugh. “Oh… now I see.”She tilted her head, eyes glinting with mockery. “A thief and a th

  • Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir   Chapter Fourty-three

    The room was deathly silent—so quiet that even the soft hum of the air conditioner roared like a storm as Ethan played the video on his phone.It wasn’t just any video. It was a recording of his conversation with Mrs. Adams after a child in the orphanage had committed suicide.Not everyone could see what was on the screen, but the audio alone was more than enough.***FLASHBACK***"One less burden to deal with," she had said with chilling indifference when he confronted her."Frankly, her pathetic death is a relief for all of us working here."The girl had left a note before taking her own life—exposing years of abuse, neglect, and cruelty.Somehow, he had gotten to know about the information that she tried to keep under the carpet."Do you even feel a shred of remorse for what happened?" His voice trembled with disbelief."You really haven’t changed after all these years."She let out a mocking chuckle. "Remorse? For what?"A scornful smirk curled her lips. "That girl took the best op

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

    Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some people stared in shock, while others remained indifferent, their expressions unreadable.Ethan wasn’t surprised. He had long since learned how most of the elites viewed people like him—like they were nothing.He casually slid his phone back into his pocket, watching the Mrs. Adams' arrogance crumble into something dangerously close to fear and disbelief.He let the corner of his lips curl into a slow, satisfied smirk as his eyes, cold and triumphant, locked onto her. He took a step closer, savoring the moment. "You have no idea how much I've been waiting for this day," he murmured, his voice almost a purr.Then, tilting his head slightly, he looked directly at her. “Tell me, Mrs Adams… What were you saying earlier?”Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She looked around, as if searching for someone to pull her out of the sinking pit she had just been thrown into.His voice dropped, filled with an eerie calmness. "You always thought I was bene

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

    “For what?” Mrs. Adams barked, confusion laced in her voice.The second officer—younger—stepped forward."For child abuse, endangerment, and embezzlement,” he stated coldly."We also have reason to believe your crimes go beyond what was captured in the footage you already admitted to.”Ethan had been prepped by the police after filing his report, instructed to find additional evidence to strengthen the case—even with the card in his possession. They didn’t consider him worthy of keeping it but pursued the case as a precaution.When Ethan learned about the auction, he saw it as the perfect chance to act—until he found out his father had been invited and decided to come with Lara.He watched her closely, relishing the flicker of panic in her eyes.Still, she refused to go down without a fight.She chuckled, shaking her head. “Under arrest? On what grounds? Do you think a pathetic video is enough to take me down? You really are as foolish as ever.”“Do you even have a warrant? Because if

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

    The first thing that registered in Ethan's mind as he stirred awake was the satisfaction from the night before. A slow, almost lazy smile stretched across his lips.He had done more than just pass judgment on Matron Grace—he had given Vanessa a taste of her own medicine.She was never in his plans, but calling him a gigolo—in front of everyone? That was a mistake he made sure she regret.***FLASHBACK***"Isn’t false accusation a crime?” he said when the officers turned to him, their brows furrowed in confusion.Their brows deepened.“She just accused me of being a gigolo in front of an audience which I assure you is a blatant lie.” He clarified."And last I checked, defamation is still an offense. So tell me, gentlemen, why is Mrs. Adams the only one being taken in?"Vanessa’s breath hitched."What... what the hell are you saying?” Her voice trembled as shock and confusion bled through.The officers exchanged uncertain glances.“I know it doesn’t make sense,” the stocky officer mutte

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

    ***BACK TO PRESENT***Yawning, he stood and stretched before making his way to his private gym, ready to train for his morning routine.But the moment he started, something felt off.The raw power that had been coursing through him since the ring activated was weaker today. His limbs felt heavy, and his muscles burned too fast, as if he hadn't trained in weeks. Sweat poured down his face with every movement, and by the third set of push-ups, he was already panting."This is new," he muttered, his brows furrowed in confusion.He clenched his fists, expecting to feel the usual power coursing through him—but instead, he felt nothing.The ring had given him strength beyond human limits, yet now it felt like something was siphoning it away."What could be happening?" he thought.Trying to figure out what was wrong, he attempted to lift the same barbell he always did.But the moment he did, his arms shook uncontrollably, his grip slipping as it crashed to the floor, barely missing his foot.

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

    Ethan gripped the steering wheel tighter as he chased the black sedan that had always been following him, speeding through traffic in one of the cars his father brought, dodging between lanes with a recklessness that made his heart race.He slammed the accelerator, weaving between startled drivers, eyes locked on his target.His heart pounded as he swerved into the next lane, barely avoiding a delivery truck that honked furiously.The side mirror scraped against the truck’s metal frame, but he didn’t care—his focus remained locked on the car ahead.He was getting too close.They knew he was following them as they took a sharp turn at the intersection just as the light turned red, nearly clipping a passing truck, but he didn't back down—veering after them.He had them—he almost had them—until a mother and child suddenly stepped onto the road.The woman screamed and pulled her child close, shielding him as if that alone could stop the impact."Shit!" Ethan slammed the brakes, tires scre

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  • Chapter Eighty-five

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    Damian blinked in confusion.“Ethan Aurelius?” he muttered, his brows furrowing as silence filled the air.Then he tilted his head slightly. “Wait… don’t tell me you’re really talking about that filthy dog, Ethan.”He chuckled. "You think he's related to Chairman Aurelius because he's been affiliated with him of late? That's—"A harsh laugh cut him off."You always try so hard to be stupid, don't you?" The mysterious man sighed, shaking his head, almost as if pitying Damian.Damian stiffened at the insult."If you weren't so determined to be an idiot, you wouldn't be in this mess," the mysterious man added coldly.Although Damian could not see his face, he felt the mysterious man's eyes piercing at him."What are you talking about?" Damian shifted uncomfortably in his chair."If you’re talking about the Ethan I know… that pathetic trash—he’s Ethan Cross. Ethan fucking Cross!""The guy has never even sniffed what a real life feels like. He’s the kind of lowlife who survives in the shad

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    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

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