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. Vanessa, emboldened by Damian's audacity, laughed softly. “What did you expect? They're all cut from the same filthy cloth.” She folded her arms, smirking. “You all might as well start packing your things because today will be your last day here. A golden opportunity like this shouldn’t be wasted on low lives like you.” Her smile turned sly. “But don’t worry, we might be generous enough to forgive your little display of stupidity. But only after you’ve suffered enough.” Then, her gaze snapped to Ethan, eyes burning with contempt. She scanned him from head to toe, her expression twisted in a mix of disgust and fury. “I don’t know how you managed to escape death last night, but trust me, once we’re done here, you’ll be begging for it. And the best part?” She leaned in slightly. “It won’t come.” The manager, caught in the crossfire and intimidated by Vanessa’s snarl, hesitated, unsure of which side to take, before trying to defuse the tension. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Let’s all take a moment to calm down and settle this peacefully.” "Guards, take them out this instant!" Sir Chandler ordered, angered by their behaviors upon his warning. "The three of them!" Damian's fist clenched, his face twisting in rage as the guards obeyed Sir Chandler’s order without hesitation, forming a circle around him and Vanessa, closing in fast. Pointing furiously at each of them, Damian snarled, “If any of you filthy rats lay hands on me, I swear I’ll have them chopped off and make sure you never use them again!” The guards hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances, uncertain of their next move, until Sir Chandler’s firm voice reminded them who was in charge. Vanessa’s heart pounded as she realized what was about to happen—they were about to be thrown out like trash. Worse, it was happening in front of Ethan. Her voice wavered slightly as she turned to Damian. “Babe, what the hell is going on?” Damian snapped again, his voice sharp with fury. “I said, don't you dare touch me with your disgusting hands!” When he leaned in and whispered to Vanessa, “Let’s just leave… for now,” her eyes widened in disbelief. Then, turning his blazing gaze to Sir Chandler, he seethed, “You—mark my words, you’ll regret this. I swear, I’ll make sure you, your family, and every damn generation after you pay for this!” Ethan, watching the scene unfold with barely concealed amusement, let a smirk creep onto his face. Then he turned and strode inside, leaving Damian, Vanessa, and the manager to be forcefully escorted out—disrespectfully, just as they deserved. The grand ballroom of Aurelius Group’s headquarters was a dazzling display of wealth and prestige. Massive crystal chandeliers bathed the pristine marble floors in golden light, while silk-covered chairs stood in perfect rows. Every detail screamed extravagance—from the towering floral arrangements of rare orchids, imported from the world’s most exclusive gardens, to the gold-trimmed pillars lining the vast hall. The guests, dressed in tailored suits and designer gowns, gathered in small groups, whispering about Damian's upcoming partnership announcement. It was the highlight of the event, completely overshadowing the anniversary celebration. Ethan could already tell it would be the city’s hottest topic for days—maybe even weeks—if everything played out the way he had envisioned. As he stepped inside, his calm and composed demeanor stood in contrast to the predatory stares thrown his way. It's not surprising, considering his unremarkable appearance—a low-grade suit and the simple fact that, for now, he was a nobody. Whispers rippled through the crowd as he walked past. "Who the hell is that?" "How did he even get in here?" "A worthless nobody… in here?" He let out a quiet sigh, disappointed but not surprised. It looked like the entire upper class was infected with the same disease- judging books by their covers. "Isn't that Vanessa’s ex? What the hell is he doing here?" A man in a blue tux sneered. Shock was written on everyone's face after they asked the man if Ethan was truly the one, which the man confirmed. Then, they chuckled, their eyes filled with disdain as they assessed Ethan like a stray dog that had wandered into a royal feast. Ethan couldn’t help but wonder how they even knew about it. As far as he was concerned, whatever he had with Vanessa was never public. "Tsk. He’s probably here to serve drinks and wait on us like the lowlife he is," one of them scoffed. "Isn’t it obvious?" Someone else chimed in, voice laced with mockery. "He must be here to beg Vanessa to take him back. How pathetic." Laughter followed the taunts, but Ethan didn’t flinch. His sharp eyes swept over the room before he calmly walked over to an empty chair, choosing to sit away from the crowd. Their words were nothing but meaningless noise. Just then, the grand double doors swung open again, and in waltzed Damian and Vanessa, escorted by two guards. Damian, now emboldened by his connections, strode in with a smug grin, his arm loosely wrapped around Vanessa’s waist. A wave of fawning attention crashed over. "Here comes the man of the hour!" one of the businessmen announced, rushing forward with a grin. "I knew you were destined for greatness the moment your father named you his heir. Congratulations on this achievement. Not everyone gets the chance to pull something like this off." Leaning in slightly, the man lowered his voice. "But don’t forget me and my company, big man." Apparently, after being thrown out, Damian had wasted no time calling Mr. Lorenzo, the COO of Aurelius Group, who had yet to arrive at the event. After hearing Damian's side of the story, Mr. Lorenzo had sent someone to escort Damian and Vanessa back inside. "Vanessa, you look stunning as always! You two are a powerful couple," someone chimed in. Vanessa smiled, basking in the compliment. "Though, it seems like a certain someone who clearly doesn’t belong here is desperately hanging around for you." She added. At that moment, both Vanessa’s and Damian's eyes landed on Ethan. "It’s almost pathetic how some people just don’t know when to walk away after being tossed aside," Damian scoffed. Vanessa chuckled, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I'm not surprised actually. Guys like him thrive on humiliating themselves." The crowd burst into laughter. Ethan, however, looked surprised when he saw Damian and Vanessa walk back into the room. He hadn't expected them to return so quickly. But he didn't worry too much. A small smile formed on his face as he watched the fake people gather around them. Soon, everyone praising Damian and Vanessa would turn against them. That moment was coming very soon. His smile grew as he checked his watch. It would happen any minute now.
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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
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Twelve
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
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Thirteen
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
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Fourteen
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
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Fifteen
"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
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Sixteen
Outside the hall, Vanessa and Damian’s faces burned in fury, glaring at the closed doors. Damian’s fist was clenched. Mr. Lorenzo stood beside them, looking even more miserable because he knew he had created this nightmare for himself through his own shortsightedness. “That fucking bitch!” Damian spat, seething. "She dares to humiliate me? I swear, she’ll pay for this even worse than that pig! She has no idea who she just messed with.” Mr. Lorenzo, pacing back and forth while mumbling, "This is a disaster... a complete disaster," stopped abruptly, frustrated that neither Damian nor Vanessa seemed to grasp the gravity of what had just happened. “Both of you still don’t get it?!” His fingers fidgeted with his tie as if it was suddenly suffocating him. “That’s not just some nobody we pissed off. Do you have any idea what happens to people who cross someone like him?” “Damn it… I should have never agreed to this. I'm screwed.” He placed his hands on his temples in perplexit
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Seventeen
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
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Eighteen
Thinking Damian had turned the situation in his favor, Mr. Lorenzo hurried over with a desperate, almost servile smile. "Your name... it will echo across every corner of the world," he said, grinning eagerly."It's just a matter of time." He added.“Shut up.” Vanessa's voice was razor-sharp with disdain, her expression curled into a sneer."You are nothing but a useless leech, groveling wherever the wind blows.”Slowly lowering his arms, Damian shot Mr. Lorenzo a withering glare. "Look at you—now groveling for my help like a starving dog."Damian scoffed. "Have you already forgotten what you called me just minutes ago? A dead brain."Mr. Lorenzo's forced smile wavered as reality sank in. He had just blown his only chance of getting his job back—that was what being thrown out of the hall meant. His own shortsightedness had cost him again.Still, unlike Damian, who was being tested, he knew Magnus would only forgive him with Damian’s help.Forcing his smile back in place, he let out a
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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
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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
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
