2025-02-26 15:02:29One guard stepped forward, placing a meaty hand on Ethan’s shoulder. "Let’s go.”
Before Ethan could shake the hand off, a sharp voice cut through the tense silence. "What in the name of all that’s holy is going on here?” All eyes turned toward a tall, older gentleman in a distinguished gray suit striding purposefully across the lobby. His posture radiated authority, and a faint badge on his lapel indicated a high-ranked position within Aurelius Group. The manager stiffened instantly, turning to face the newcomer. "S-Sir Chandler! I, uh, we have a situation with a trespasser.” Sir Chandler—clearly the manager’s superior—shot a quick glance at the group of guards, at Damian and Vanessa, then locked his gaze on Ethan. "A trespasser, you say?” Damian opened his mouth to speak, but Sir Chandler ignored him, directing his attention to the manager’s hands, which still clutched the clipboard. "Give me a proper explanation, or I’ll start demoting people on the spot.” The manager swallowed hard. "This man, uh, claims he has a black card from Aurelius Group. But it’s clearly not the standard design. We, um, concluded it must be a fake.” Sir Chandler’s gaze sharpened. “Not the standard design, hmm? Did you actually read what’s on the card, or did you just assume based on what you’re used to seeing?” A flicker of doubt crossed the manager’s face. He nodded stiffly. "I, well… you know, our top executives have black cards with the embossed logo, and his is engraved. It just didn’t match.” Sir Chandler’s lips thinned. “Let me see it.” Ethan pulled the card from his pocket, extending it without a word. Sir Chandler took it gently, flipping it over. The tension in the lobby was palpable. Even the guards seemed uncertain now, glancing back and forth between the older gentleman’s face and the manager’s trembling figure. For a moment, Sir Chandler’s expression was unreadable. Then, abruptly, his eyes widened. “You absolute fool,” he muttered under his breath, glaring at the manager. The manager took a step back, panic swirling in his eyes. “S-Sir, I—” SMACK! Sir Chandler’s palm connected with the manager’s cheek in a sudden, fierce slap. The sound reverberated across the lobby, turning every whisper into stunned silence. The manager clutched his face, looking like he’d just been struck by lightning. "Sir Chandler, please, I—” “You dare to lay hands on someone who holds the highest-level black card in Aurelius Group?” Sir Chandler roared. “You call security on him? Threaten him with force? Have you lost your mind?” Damian took an involuntary step backward, eyes darting to the side. Vanessa’s mouth hung open, no clever quips forthcoming. The newly arrived guards blinked in confusion, unable to process the sudden shift. "Highest-level…?” the manager repeated, voice trembling. “But, I—I—” “Yes!” Sir Chandler hissed, thrusting the card forward. "This is beyond the executive rank you’re familiar with. It’s only issued under very specific circumstances—and you were about to manhandle the cardholder?” The manager dropped his clipboard in shock, papers scattering across the marble floor. His mind whirled with the realization: The card he’d just dismissed as a counterfeit was actually a special black card that even top directors rarely saw. “I’m… so sorry…” he stammered, his face burning with shame. “I didn’t know…” Sir Chandler’s demeanor turned icy. “That’s exactly your problem, isn’t it? You. Didn’t. Know.” He swept a furious gaze over the trembling manager and then flicked it toward the security guards. "You’re all a disgrace to Aurelius Group’s professional standard.” Damian attempted to intervene, forcing a nervous chuckle. "Sir Chandler, maybe you’re misunderstanding. This guy—” Sir Chandler cut him off with a raised hand. “One more word, Mr. Hayes, and I’ll have you escorted out." Damian paled, stepping back to Vanessa’s side without protest. She stared daggers at Ethan, as if blaming him for this entire fiasco, though she no longer had the confidence to run her mouth. Turning to Ethan, Sir Chandler’s demeanor changed in an instant from anger to respect. He bowed his head slightly. "I’m terribly sorry for this ordeal, sir. I offer my sincerest apologies on behalf of Aurelius Group. If there’s anything we can do…”
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Vanessa’s and Damien’s mouths fell open in shock at the sight before them— Sir Chandler, apologizing to Ethan. Damien ignored Sir Chandler’s warnings and sneered. “Are you seriously apologizing to this worthless bastard?” He let out a scoff, his brows drawing together in disbelief. “Or wait… are you two in on this together?” His lips curled in disgust as he gestured at Ethan. “Did you set this up? Is this your doing?” Straightening his suit, he gave Sir Chandler a look of pure disdain. “Don’t worry, once the chairman signs that document, this will be your last day here. Scum like you, who will always be filth no matter where you go, don’t belong in a place like this. I’ll personally make sure you crawl back to the gutter where you came from—” The manager stepped closer to Damian and whispered something in his ear. "You clearly don't know who he is, Mr. Damiab. I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut—" "Or what?!" Damian snapped at the manager, his face twisted in fury. Van
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“What’s so funny?” Damian snarled, his jaw tightening. Ethan ignored him, the smirk still playing on his lips as he swirled the wine in his glass that a waiter had handed to him begrudgingly. Vanessa turned to Damian, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. In a low whisper meant to calm him, she said, “Don’t waste your breath on someone like him, babe. Today is for winners, not losers.” She glanced at Ethan before adding, “Besides, it’s good he’s here. At least he’ll get to watch you seal the deal right in front of him.” Damian chuckled, nodding in agreement before leaning in to kiss her. When she pulled away, she turned her attention back to Ethan, closing the space between them as she locked eyes with him. “Trash like you should know your place,” she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. “Just because you managed to sneak in with some cheap trick doesn’t mean you’re on the same level as Damian." She tossed her hair over her shoulder and let out a fake laugh. "Dream all
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She looked powerful and important. Her eyes were angry as she stared at Mr. Lorenzo. "Who do you think you are to try to hurt him?" she said angrily. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Mr. Lorenzo's face turned pale as he recognized her. His hand stopped in mid-air, and the guards quickly stepped away from Ethan. "Ms. Lara," he said nervously, no longer acting proud. "I didn't know you would be here tonight." People in the crowd started whispering to each other, looking confused. Lara was the famous General Manager of Aurelius Imperium Conglomerate. Why was she protecting someone like Ethan? "Tell your guards to back off, Lorenzo," Laura ordered in a voice that no one would dare argue with. "Now." Mr. Lorenzo quickly nodded and waved for the guards to move away. "There's been a mistake," he said, trying to save face. Damian and Vanessa looked at each other with worry. They weren't smiling anymore. "A mistake?" Lara laughed in a cold way. "I think the only mistake is tha
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The question sent a ripple through the crowd. "Wrong?" Damian sneered. "I know exactly who holds power in this company. And in a few hours, I’ll be sitting among the top tiers. You’re nothing but a nuisance trying to play a game you can’t win." Ethan chuckled softly, tilting his head with an amused glint in his eyes. "Are you sure about that?" For a brief moment, Damian’s confidence wavered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Vanessa let out a mocking laugh. "I told you, babe—it’s pointless wasting words on this nothing." With that, she turned her attention to the two guards standing nearby, her tone icy and commanding as if she held some authority. "Throw this dirty pig out. Right now!" The audacity. The guards hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances before their eyes flicked to Lara, silently seeking her permission. When they saw her expression—still unreadable—they shifted their gaze to Mr. Lorenzo, who gave a nod, greenlighting the order. As the guards took their
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The hall was deathly silent after Ethan announced that he was a VIP guest as confusion spread like wildfire among the attendees before whispers filled the air."A VIP?! Him? No way!""That has to be a mistake!""Wait… If he’s really a VIP, does that mean he holds more power than us?"Ethan couldn't help but smirk as he overheard their whispers.They all seemed reluctant to accept that he was no longer the person he used to be.Mr. Richard chuckled, trying not to offend Lara, and asked her if Ethan's claims were true.When she confirmed, "It's exactly as he said," the whispers intensified.Enjoying the moment, Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek black pen that his father had given him, its Aurelius Group insignia shining under the chandelier lights.The gasps of realization that followed were almost overwhelming."Wait… that insignia," a female director from another subsidiary of Aurelius Group exclaimed, pointing at the pen, her shock evident in her voice."Doesn't th
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"Mr. Ethan," Mr. Chen said, extending a hand with a confident smile.Ethan’s sharp eyes met his, and he took the offered handshake, his grip firm."I don't think you mentioned your name earlier," Ethan replied, smiling.Mr. Chen chuckled. "Chen... Chen Wei. A name you might start hearing more often. I believe we’ll be seeing each other very soon."Ethan studied him, noting the confidence in his tone. There was no arrogance, just certainty—like he already knew their paths were bound to cross."Hmm. Why are you so certain we will?" Ethan kept his brows furrowed, feigning confusion."Let's just say I recognize potential when I see it," Mr. Chen replied, taking a sip of his champagne."Besides, I think you and I could have some mutually beneficial conversations about the future."Ethan chuckled, tilting his head with a smirk. “I think you’ve got me confused with someone else, or maybe you just have a really skewed view of who I am.”“Have you forgotten that I’m just a broke nobody? I have
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Damian’s rage-filled eyes locked onto Vanessa’s, suddenly attentive. "This might be a test by the chairman," she clarified with a smile. "Think about it—this humiliation, this public spectacle. It's exactly how the old guard weeds out the weak. They push to see who breaks and who pushes back harder." "And maybe..." She tilted her head. "He wants to see how you'll manage the situation before deciding whether to sign the deal or not. From what I heard, the chairman has unconventional ways of approaching things." She traced a finger down his tie. "And we both know you’ve never been one to back down from a challenge, have you?" Her words penetrated the fog of his anger, and a slow smirk crept onto his lips. "That’s the only explanation for this. Because why else would Mr. Chandler, the manager from earlier, and that woman humiliate us all because of Ethan?" She added.He scoffed coldly, disgust creeping into his expression. "Ethan being the reason I was humiliated? How pathe
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Chapter Fifty-two
At the head of the table in the Aurelius Group boardroom sat Magnus. To his right was Lara, while to his left sat the Vice President of Aurelius Group, Mr. Lorenzo.On the right flank, the directors of Aurelius Imprint Conglomerate sat in crisp suits, while on the left, Aurelius Company’s top executives sat.At the far end, opposite Magnus, a group of individuals sat in composed silence—Damian and his team, awaiting their moment to shape the future of their company.Magnus let out a slow breath, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.After a brief pause, he gave Damian a small nod. "You may begin.”Damian, exuding the same confidence as the tailored suit he wore, rose to his feet with effortless ease.He straightened his tie and cast a glance around the room.His voice then cut through the air. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is both an honor and a privilege to stand before you today as we unveil a partnership proposal that is not just lucrative but
Chapter Fifty-one
The moment Vanessa cracked the door open just enough to see Damian's face, he flashed a grin, holding out a flower. "Hey, babe."Relief washed over her instantly—he wasn’t here for what she had feared.Still, she forced a frown, narrowing her eyes as she asked coldly, "What do you want?”Despite the anger still simmering inside her, his presence somehow made it less sharp—but she refused to let it show, not after what happened last time.He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "I expected this reaction from you, Vanessa. And honestly, I deserve it.""But can you at least let me in first? Let me explain," he said gently.She hesitated for a long moment, locking eyes with him, before stepping aside."Make it quick,” she muttered, crossing her arms as he entered.He stood in the middle of the room, meeting her feigned burning gaze.“I owe you an apology, Vanessa," he began, his voice low."For how I treated you the last time… I was out of line.”She scoffed. “Out of line? That’s putting it lig
Chapter Fifty
Vanessa slammed the door behind her, her breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts. The humiliation burned hotter than the anger, wrapping around her like a noose.She pressed her back against the door, sliding to the floor as tears stung her eyes."Me? Held up in a holding cell for almost twelve hours… all because of Ethan?!" The thought alone sent another wave of anger crashing through her, making the tears spill faster.She clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. It didn’t matter that it was late when they detained her—she could have been released last night, but no, they kept her there until the morning. Like a criminal. Like she had done something wrong.And when she finally got home that morning? Her family had tried to calm her, speaking in measured tones, trying to act like this wasn’t a big deal.“All I need to do right now is get back at Ethan for the disgrace he’s done to me.” The words had left her mouth before she even thought about them, raw and full of fury.He
Chapter Fourty-nine
A man in a coat crossed the nearly empty street with careful, measured steps, his eyes darting around with every step.His sharp jawline, neatly combed dark hair, and calculating gaze were partly concealed behind his sunglasses.When he reached a sleek black luxury car parked under a lone streetlight, he quickly glanced left and right before pulling the door open and sliding into the front passenger seat.Inside, the air was thick with the rich scent of cologne, carried by the car’s air conditioning.A solid partition separated the backseat from the front, ensuring that whoever sat behind remained unseen.This was how the man had always met with the person waiting in the back—no driver, no face-to-face contact, just a voice speaking from the shadows."You’re supposed to be a professional," the familiar voice said."So tell me—how the hell did he figure out he was being followed?”The man in sunglasses—who had just entered the car—was the one who had been secretly tailing Ethan.The ma
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
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.
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
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
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
