Instantly, the room fell into a hushed stillness, every eye focused on the man who held the key to so many unanswered questions. William cleared his throat and offered a warm smile as he addressed the assembled crowd, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, who are here to support this significant event. I believe most of you know me, and for those who didn't, you do now. My name is William Blackwood. Well, Blackwood isn't my real surname; it's a name I adopted in the business world for certain reasons. I'll reveal my true surname at a later time."He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in. "Many say William Blackwood is a millionaire, some say he's a billionaire, and others even venture to call him a trillionaire. But, in the end, what truly matters is that the man you see before you is a businessman."Ethan, watching his father with pride, turned to Sophia, who wore a slight air of concern. He gently wrapped his arms around her and pressed her hand softly, reassuring her.
Ethan, upon hearing his name pronounced, wasted no time. He rose to his feet, his stride purposeful as he made his way towards the stage.A collective gasp hung in the air, followed by a profound stillness that settled like a heavy shroud. The shock was visible, rendering the audience momentarily speechless.Sophia, her world suddenly a whirlwind of confusion, found herself unable to utter a word. Her gaze was fixed solely on Ethan, questions swirling in her mind, struggling to find answers.Elora and her parents, however, were visibly elated, their faces lit up with pride and joy as they watched Ethan ascend the stage.Lily and Charlotte exchanged incredulous glances. The question that echoed in their minds was one shared by many in the room: What was happening?Maxwell Carson, Olivia Lawrence, and Charles Fitzgerald, too, were left dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the turn of events before them.Giselle, her eyes locked on the stage, was equally bewildered, desperately trying to pie
"What the hell is going on Charlotte? How can Ethan be the CEO? Is this some kind of joke?" Lily's voice trembled with disbelief and confusion.Charlotte's brows furrowed, mirroring Lily's perplexity. "I'm wondering the same too, Lily. I'm utterly confused. Is he really the CEO of Aureus?"Lily vehemently shook her head. "No, this can't be. This poor guy was just a part-time cleaner and delivery guy. How could he possibly be the CEO? Besides, Ethan always told me his dad left home after his mom's death and never returned."Charlotte offered a speculative thought. "What if William Blackwood is his dad and he's now returned?"Lily's expression hardened. "No, this can't be. It's impossible. Why would they have different surnames then?"Charlotte attempted to rationalize, recalling William Blackwood's words. "Well, he did say the name Blackwood was just a business alias. What if Nightingale is their real surname?"Lily shook her head vigorously. "It's too much, Charlotte. I can't wrap my h
But dad, I'm still wondering how; this seems to be a joke; it's not possible," Charles said in disbelief.Meanwhile, Lily anxiously waited for a reply from her anonymous contact, but there was no response. She looked at Charlotte and expressed her concern, saying,"The anonymous guy isn't replying either. I don't know what to do."Charlotte sighed and tried to comfort Lily, saying, "Let's just be patient and watch what happens. We can't change anything now."At the same time, Olivia's dad returned to Olivia in shock and revealed, "I just confirmed that a young man named Ethan Nightingale purchased Blue Moon Villa 3.""Wow!" Hearing this revelation, Olivia covered her mouth in shock. She exclaimed, "That means he didn't lie. Moreover, when he told us the project belonged to him too, he wasn't lying. But how could he act poor?"Robert gulped and suggested, "Just like how in movies rich men go underground and act poor, I think that's what he did."Olivia, feeling a sense of regret, asked
There was applause, and Dera, seated there, was visibly pleased.Ethan then spoke about many aspects of the project and more. Looking at the crowd, he said, "There are a lot of enemies of mine even here. They all looked down on me, but to say it another way, you can never go on a strike with me, Ethan Nightingale, and gain the upper hand. Hearing this, the likes of Charlotte, Lily, Maxwell, Olivia, and Charles had ugly expressions.That aside, I'd like to thank all my team members for their good work, starting with Victoria Campbell, who is the manager of Aureus Group of Conglomerates. Please join me on stage."Victoria smiled happily, got up, and walked to the stage, accompanied by applause. Ethan continued, "Manager Campbell has done a lot of work on this project. I know how many nights she has stayed to make sure everything is right, and surely I, as her boss, won't fail her." He looked at Victoria and said, "Manager, I appreciate it."Victoria nodded with a smile and replied, "T
Gasp! Everyone was shocked. The Nightingale Night Enchanted Hotel was now one of the most famous hotels in Ashville, and they were shocked to learn that it belonged to Ethan."Wow, this CEO is really a business tycoon.""He's smart, building businesses all over," someone said.One person who was shocked too was Sophia. She and Ethan had gone there before, but she never expected it to belong to him. This made her proud.Elora looked at Sophia and said, "Sister, your husband is just a king."Sophia smiled and took a look at Ethan, saying, "He's smart—a smarter businessman than me even." She chuckled.Charles Fitzgerald was also stunned. He gritted his teeth, recalling how Ethan hit him that night at that hotel."Damn, so he owns that place. No wonder he was defended, and I was suspended from stepping there."Ethan congratulated Giselle in front of everyone. He then cleared his throat and said, "And finally, the most important person in my life now is the next person to talk about. I know
Wow. There was a loud, thunderous clap from the crowd as Ethan held Sophia and walked to the stage."Wow, CEO Ethan, your woman is splendid," someone exclaimed."She's a goddess," another person said."OMG, such a curvy, thick lady; I'm so jealous," one lady expressed.Elora joined the applause, clapping enthusiastically. "Bravo, big sis! You're stunning, and Ethan, you've got a queen by your side!" Elora's words added to the cheers and praise echoing through the crowd in honor of Sophia.Lily, Maxwell, and the others were staring at Sophia in jealousy.Olivia looked at her dad a bit disappointed and said, "But she has a girlfriend; take a look at her; she's even more beautiful and curvier than I am. She just has the body I dream of."Robert smiled and said, "Don't say that; you're very beautiful. You'll still have the chance; don't worry."Meanwhile, Ethan locked eyes with Sophia, a smile playing across his lips. He slowly pulled her forward, wrapped a hand around her waist, and then
"Wow!" The whole erupted in shock and excitement as Ethan orchestrated a stunning proposal to Sophia. Even Elora, her parents, and the entire audience were caught off guard, especially when Ethan mentioned the $5 million ring."Oh my God, even the proposal ring alone is $5 million. I wonder how much the wedding ring will cost then," someone remarked. Lily, sitting with Charlotte, couldn't hide her jealousy, lamenting her own choices. "If I had been patient and not cheated, I would have been the one being proposed to with a $5 million ring. Damn, why Lily," she murmured to herself.Elora, on the other hand, was overjoyed, covering her mouth in astonishment. "Sis is being proposed to! She should say yes."Mrs. Madison's emotional tears were wiped away with a smile, and her husband also stared at their daughter Sophia as Ethan knelt before her.The crowd joined in a collective whisper, expressing their amazement. "Oh my God, the CEO is proposing to his girlfriend, this is cool."The crow