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Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 25: Rescue Mission
Within seconds, Anna was at her computer, the screen flooding with data as she tapped into the Jade Society’s global surveillance network.Victoria hovered behind her. "They won’t keep her at a standard location. This has to be one of their private sites."Anna’s fingers flew across the keyboard. “Give me a second. I may not be as good as Elena, but this much I can handle.”Minutes later, a red dot appeared on the screen."Got it," Anna confirmed, turning the monitor to reveal satellite footage of a shipping yard on the outskirts of the city. "The call was routed through multiple IP addresses and cell towers to throw us off, but Elena’s upgraded algorithms bypassed their tricks. It wasn’t easy, but I traced the original signal back here.”Ethan studied the location. Remote. Isolated. A perfect trap.Jade leaned in. "I count fifteen heat signatures inside."Ethan rolled his shoulders. "Not enough men if they’re expecting us to ambush them. We can't be certain Cassandra is even there."
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 26: The Standoff
Ethan turned the final corner and stopped cold.Cassandra was tied to a chair, her lip split, but her eyes were blazing with fire.A tall, muscular man stood beside her, twirling a knife between his fingers.The moment he saw Ethan, he grinned."Well, well," the man mused. "If it isn’t the mighty Wilder."Ethan didn’t blink. “Let her go.”The man chuckled, pressing the knife to Cassandra’s throat. “Make me.”Ethan’s eyes darkened, his grip tightening around his gun as he stared down the man holding Cassandra hostage.He was so going to enjoy this.The guy was built like a tank, his knuckles scarred from years of violence. The knife in his hand glinted under the warehouse lights, its sharp edge pressing just hard enough against Cassandra’s throat to draw a thin line of blood.Cassandra, to her credit, didn’t flinch. Her eyes locked onto Ethan’s, filled with the same fire he had come to admire.The enforcer smirked. “You really think you can walk in here and take what’s yours?”Ethan’s
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 27: Face to Face with the Enemy
Grayson was tall, refined, and dangerous. His presence alone shifted the energy in the room. Dressed in a dark suit, he looked more like a businessman than a criminal—but the cold calculation in his eyes told a different story.The room had stilled. Even Ethan’s team, moments ago locked in a firefight, now held position, as if the very air had thickened under Grayson’s command."You must be Ethan Wilder," Grayson mused, his voice smooth as silk.Ethan didn’t lower his gun. “And you must be the coward hiding behind hired help.”Grayson chuckled, unbothered. “You wound me, Wilder.” Hands clasped behind his back, he exuded an unsettling calm. “I only came to see if you were truly worth my attention.”Ethan’s gaze swept the warehouse. His team was holding formation, but they were outnumbered. Too many guns still aimed their way. If Grayson gave the order, this would turn into a bloodbath."You took someone from me," Ethan said coldly. "That was your first mistake."Grayson tilted his head
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 28: The Warning
“You think beefing up security is enough to stop them?” Victoria’s voice cut through the silence.Ethan leaned back in his chair, eyes cold. “No. But it’s the first step.”They were gathered in the penthouse suite of one of the Jade Society’s luxury hotels. The city stretched out beyond the massive windows, but no one was admiring the view.Jade sat with her feet propped on the edge of the glass table, twirling a knife between her fingers. “The Obsidian Order isn’t some street gang we can scare off with a few extra bodyguards.”Ethan met her gaze. “I know.”Victoria crossed her arms. “Then what’s the real plan?”Ethan glanced at Elena, who stood near the sleek touchscreen monitor displaying a live feed of digital surveillance. She tapped the screen, pulling up a web of financial transactions, coded messages, and known Obsidian Order operations.“I’ve been monitoring their communications and financial movements,” she said. “And from the look of things, they’re gearing up for something
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 29: Declaration of War
Morning sunlight streamed into the penthouse suite. The air was thick with tension.Ethan placed his phone on the table. With a tap, he played the video for everyone to see.The room was deathly silent.Then Victoria spoke, voice tight. “That bastard.”Jade’s grip on her knife tightened. “So, what’s the plan?”Ethan’s voice was cold. “We’re not just defending ourselves anymore.”Victoria raised a brow. “You’re declaring war?”Ethan met her gaze. “Yes.”Jade grinned. “About time.”Elena leaned against the table, arms crossed. “You realize what that means, right? There’s no backing out after this.”“I’m not backing out.” Ethan’s eyes were hard. “I want a message sent to every branch of the Society. Every member. Every ally. They need to know—this isn’t about survival anymore. We’re taking the fight to them.”Victoria whistled. “Damn. You’re serious.”Ethan nodded.Jade smirked. “Then let’s make sure they hear us loud and clear.”. . .That afternoon, as Ethan sat alone in his office, hi
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 30: Marry the Enemy
“I have met with the Elders of the Obsidian Order.”The entire room stiffened.Felix’s smirk vanished. Cassandra’s fingers tightened around her glass.The woman’s gaze didn’t leave Ethan’s.“They have agreed to a truce.” A pause. Then—“Under one condition.”Ethan’s fingers curled. “What condition?”She didn’t blink.“You will marry Isabella Grayson.”The name hit the room like an explosion.The younger sister of Alexander Grayson.Ethan’s fingers curled against the armrest of his chair. His jaw was locked, his eyes dark as they met the old woman’s unwavering gaze.“You can’t be serious,” he said, his voice dangerously low.The woman didn’t flinch. “I have never been more serious in my life.”His breath came slow and measured, fighting the urge to snap. “You expect me to marry the sister of the man who threatened my family?”“I expect you to do your duty,” she corrected.Felix let out a quiet laugh. “This just keeps getting better.”Ethan shot him a glare before turning back to her. “T
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 31: Heated Desires
“You’re awfully quiet.”Anna's voice pulled Ethan from his thoughts. He was standing by the massive floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse suite, staring at the city below, but seeing nothing.“I don’t have anything to say.” His voice was flat.Anna stepped closer. “You just got ordered to marry the sister of your biggest enemy, and you’re acting like it’s just another business deal.”Ethan exhaled through his nose, a humorless sound. “Isn’t it?”She stopped a few feet behind him, arms crossed. “That’s how you’re going to handle it? Like another one of your cold negotiations?”“How else should I handle it?” He turned to face her, eyes sharp, jaw tight. “Tell me, Anna. Should I be happy? Should I celebrate? Maybe send Isabella Grayson flowers and a love letter?”Her lips pressed together. She wasn’t in the mood for his sarcasm.“You don’t deserve this,” she said after a pause.Ethan huffed. “You think I don’t know that?”Silence stretched between them.Then, Anna sighed. “You’re stro
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 32: The Engagement Party
Ethan stood near the entrance of the ballroom, his posture composed as he scanned the room. The air was thick with power, old money, and the unspoken tension between the two warring factions.High-ranking members of the Jade Society were gathered in their finest suits and gowns, mingling with the elites of the Obsidian Order. It was a rare sight—two powerful, secretive organizations that had spent decades undermining each other now standing side by side, exchanging pleasantries over champagne.But beneath the surface, everyone knew what this night truly was. A test beyond the spectacle. A leash around Ethan’s neck.He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing on the woman standing a few feet away.Clandestine Wood.Ethan found it strange that he had only recently learned the name of the old woman who gave his life meaning. To the public, she was the second richest woman in the world, a ghost who rarely showed her face, a woman who held power in places no one could trace. But even Ethan knew that
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Chapter 43: The Voice of Klaus
It was well into the afternoon when Ethan stepped back into the mansion. The sun cast lazy rays across the marbled hallway, warm and golden, but he barely noticed it. His mind was still spinning from the night before, the morning after, and the eerie silence that followed.Anna was the first to spot him.She didn’t hesitate. Her heels clacked sharply against the polished floor as she ran toward him, arms wide, eyes wide with a mix of relief and pent-up panic. She threw herself into his arms like she’d been holding her breath the entire time he was gone."You're back!" she said breathlessly. "Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea what kind of mess you left behind?"Ethan gave a tired smile, his hands resting lightly on her waist. "Handled something personal."Anna pulled back just slightly, enough to study his face. Her hands slid up to his shoulders. "You okay? You look . . . off.""I'm fine," he muttered. "Just need a minute to myself."Her brows pulled together. "Alone,
Chapter 42: Her Upgrade
“Are you sure you want me to come with you?” Ethan asked as he slipped into the driver’s seat of the Lamborghini, glancing over at Joy.She was already buckling up. “Yes. You practically changed my entire life overnight. The least you can do is back me up when your people freeze my account.”Ethan frowned. “My people?”Joy held up her phone, flashing the bank’s message. “Bank of Dominion. They froze my account over ‘suspicious activity.’ Said I had to come in for verification.”Ethan cursed under his breath and pulled out of the hotel lot. “Didn’t even cross my mind they might do that. I should’ve warned you.”“Guess they weren’t used to seeing seven zeros pop up out of nowhere,” she said, smirking.The ride was smooth, quiet except for the occasional buzz of the city outside. But Ethan’s mind wasn’t. He was thinking about Clandestine, Marcus, the Society, the Jade necklace that had a voice now, and somehow, even Joy.Joy kept stealing glances at him, still trying to wrap her head aro
Chapter 41: Act the Fool
"You're dreaming, you fool. Wake up, Ethan . . . wake up, you fool. Wake up!"Ethan’s eyes flew open.For a moment, everything was hazy. The ceiling above him slowly came into focus. The warmth under the sheets, the soft weight beside him—it all felt too familiar. He turned his head and saw Joy sleeping soundly. And just like in his dream, she was very much naked beneath the covers.But something was off.The room wasn't quiet.No, it was filled.Elite Jade Soldiers lined the perimeter of the room, their weapons lowered but at the ready. Marcus leaned on his cane by the far wall. And in the chair directly in front of Ethan’s bed sat Clandestine Wood, her posture relaxed, but her stare sharp.“What the . . .” Ethan blinked, sitting up slowly.And then he heard it.A voice, male, clear, but coming from nowhere."It's me, you fool."Ethan’s eyes scanned the room again. No one had spoken. At least, no one visibly.Clandestine’s voice cut in, amused. “Had fun last night?”But Ethan ignored
Chapter 40: A Million For Your Time
“Say what now?” Ethan blinked, staring at her.Chloe’s older sister smirked, calm and unbothered, her eyes showing she was nothing like her sister. She reached under the counter, pulled out a near-empty bottle of whiskey. “Yeah. Serves her right. She was a brat. Always thought the world owed her a fairy tale.”Ethan raised a brow. “Oh, really?”She caught his expression and laughed. “Don’t look at me like that. I know my family are terrible people, trust me.”Ethan tilted his head, amused. “Is that why you ran overseas?”“You bet.”Ethan chuckled. “You’re not exactly what I expected,” he said, still trying to wrap his head around it.“I get that a lot.” She poured him another shot. “Name’s Joy, by the way.”He raised his glass. “Joy. That fits. So . . . what’s your story?”She leaned on the bar, arms crossed, eyes steady. “Hmm, my story?” she said, then smiled. “Nothing interesting, to be honest.”“I get the feeling I might find it interesting.”She laughed. “Doubt it,” she said, then
Chapter 39: Her Obsession
When Ethan left the office, he found Isabella sitting quietly on a bench outside. As soon as she saw him, her expression turned expectant—like she wanted him to talk to her or thank her for sending the Unknown.He walked over and sat beside her."You didn’t have to do it. So why?"She gave a nervous smile. "When I was told I’d be marrying the leader of the Jade Society, I cried all night. Refused to eat—right up to the engagement party. But then I saw you. You were warm to me, despite the hatred you had for my brother and the Order. You spoke kindly. You made me laugh. You tried to make it bearable, even though I was marrying a man I didn’t know."She fell silent. Ethan wasn’t sure how to follow up, and the space between them grew awkward."I like you, Ethan," she said at last. "And I know what this engagement means. I know what you were to the Society—a life-force to extend the lives of its real leaders. But when we left the engagement hall, something in me shifted. The feeling was b
Chapter 38: The Three Orders
Through a phone call with Elena, Ethan got to learn that the prestigious Blackwell University served as the front for the Obsidian Order headquarters. It was a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, its name etched in gold across the main hall.Ethan drove through the iron gates, his presence turning a few heads as he stepped out of a limited-edition Lamborghini. The campus buzzed with activity, students in tailored uniforms walking across the pristine courtyard, completely unaware of the dark power that lurked beneath their feet.He was a stranger in enemy territory, yet he carried himself with the same effortless authority that had defined his rule over the Jade Society. But he wasn’t here to make a statement—he was here for answers.Waiting at the entrance was Isabella, his fiancée. Dressed immaculately, she exuded an air of elegance, yet her eyes were gentle and welcoming despite Ethan's unexpected visit."To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked, her smooth voice laced with some hi
Chapter 37: The Conspiracy
Ethan stared at the screen, his fingers curling into fists. Each image Elena pulled up sent a fresh wave of unease through him. The past twenty leaders of the Jade Society, each with their own era, their own rule—and beside every single one of them was Marcus, unchanged, still looking as he was now, in his mid forties.But it was the oldest photo that sent a chill down Ethan’s spine.Clandestine Wood standing next to a leader from 120 years back.She was exactly as she looked now, in her seventies. She had the same calculating eyes, the same severe expression. A woman who should have been dust by now, frozen in time, spanning over a century.Elena turned to him, her voice unsteady. "Ethan, what the hell is this?"He didn't answer. He couldn't.They had discovered something they were never meant to know.Ethan forced himself to breathe. "Delete everything. Wipe it all. Now.""Are you serious?""Elena, listen to me." His voice was sharp, urgent. "Delete it all. Forget what you saw. Forg
Chapter 36: Beyond the Glory
Ethan barely slept. The weight of the message he had received the night before pressed against his mind like an unshakable force. By morning, he wasn’t interested in breakfast or morning greetings. He needed answers. That was why he found himself knocking on Elena’s door before anyone else was even awake.She opened it, her hair still slightly disheveled, but her sharp eyes locked onto him immediately. "You look like hell.""I need you to do something for me. And it has to stay between us."She raised a brow but stepped aside, letting him in. "What is it?"Ethan hesitated for a second, then said, "Look into the past leaders of the Jade Society. See what you can find."Elena frowned. "Why?"He sighed. "On the night I saved you, I'd been returning from a gala. And at the gala, this asshole Felix challenged me and said something that’s been bothering me ever since. He claimed he'd seen leaders rise and fall over decades in the Society. But here’s the thing—Clandestine has been the only l
Chapter 35: The Unknown Messenger
Ethan woke to the sharp blare of the alarm.His eyes snapped open. A second later, he was out of bed, feet hitting the cold floor. He barely registered that he was still in his pajama pants as he grabbed the pistol from his nightstand and bolted out of his room.The chill night air hit him as he stepped outside. Shouts rang through the estate. Guards were in pursuit of a masked man dressed in all black, their voices sharp with urgency.“Stop right there!”Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. The masked intruder moved with eerie precision, evading the guards like a shadow slipping through cracks.From the opposite corridor, Marcus and Jade emerged, drawn by the commotion. Their expressions were grim, eyes locking on Ethan before shifting to the masked man.The intruder wasn’t running away. Not anymore. The moment he sighted Ethan, he ran straight toward him."Get away from the Sire!"Ethan’s grip tightened around his gun. His stance shifted instinctively, shoulders squared,
