From Ashes to Eminence

Chapter 6. Who is he

Ethan and Manager Stevens walked out of Villa C, the warm sunlight casting a glow on the perfectly manicured lawns.

"Thank you, Manager Stevens," Ethan said, shaking hands. "This villa exceeds my expectations."

Manager Stevens smiled.

"Welcome to Wyrmstone Residence, Mr. Wright. Enjoy your new home."

Ethan nodded, his mind already racing with plans.

Time to tackle the second segment of the chain mission.

"Furnish and decorate your new apartment," Eminence's voice echoed in his mind.

Ethan headed to the city's upscale furniture district.

Ethan strolled through the upscale furniture district, envisioning his dream home. Villa C's empty rooms would soon fill with warmth and character.

As he browsed through a luxurious showroom, a familiar voice pierced the air.

"Ethan!. Is that you?."

Ethan's heart sank. Sarah, his ex-wife, stood before him, her piercing green eyes flashing with malice.

"What brings you here?" Ethan asked, feigning calmness. He still couldn't believe she had the resolve to abandon her three months old daughter, and it seems she doesn't even care.

Sarah's gaze swept the showroom. Her almost perfect figure was still a sight to behold, her beautiful flawless face and blond hair.. she's truly worthy of being the school belle back in Ethan's college days.

"Don't tell me you work here now?" Sarah asked with feigned shock.

"Does the management now let in any street bum as an employee. Humph! Well, since you are here, my man and I are here on a shopping spree." Sarah said in a condensing manner.

Ethan stared at her for a while, he was battling with his inner self on what to say to this heartless woman whom he had once loved.

"Sarah, do you not care for your three months old daughter whom you left crying at home?" Ethan said as his mind flashed back to the day he came home and found Emily alone, crying.

"Staying with you would've been a nightmare. You're a deadweight, holding me back from achieving my dreams. Our marriage was a huge mistake, a waste of time. You brought nothing to the table, little to no amount of money, no future, no ambition. You're a leech, sucking the life out of me. Your lack of direction would've destroyed me. I'm better off without you, and Emily deserves more than a loser like you. You're like a poison, infecting everyone around you with your negativity and mediocrity. Your lack of self-worth is staggering. You're already deep in the bottomless pit of poverty, always expecting others to fill the void. Newsflash: nobody wants to fix you. I'm glad I escaped your toxic grasp. You can't even take care of yourself, let alone a child. Emily would have been better off with me, but sadly he doesn't want her, so I had to make the decision of leaving her with you. I'm living my new life, whereas I'm sure you're still groveling and searching for your daily meal." She spewed out with so much hatred in her eyes.

"Now, leave here before you infect me with your poverty illness." Sarah said and gestured with her hand that he should leave. Just then, a middle-aged man with a lot of freckles and wrinkles on his face.

"Honey, is this young man bothering you?" He said to Sarah while eyeing Ethan.

"No darling, he's of no importance, but he seems he does not know that." Sarah said with a smirk.

"Young Man, I am Jason Omar, from the Omar family. Kneel and beg for forgiveness and I might just have a change of heart and leave you with a few broken fingers." The middle-aged man said with an evil grin. He was already jealous of Ethan's handsomeness and perfect physique.

Ethan was about to reply when one of the employees came over to Ethan with utmost respect in his eyes.

"Sir, everything you asked for is ready. Seven sofas from Hermès Home which cost $10,000 per piece. Ten yards of Jim Thompson Fabrics curtains which cost $5,000 per yard. Three Italian suits from Savile Row's Gieves & Hawkes which cost $50,000 per piece. And finally a full set of Oscar de la Renta Kids which cost $500 per piece, and as requested, we embroidered the name of your daughter 'Emily' on all of them."

The employee kept his eyes glued on the topnotch calculator as he spoke, then he turned towards Ethan.

"In total Sir, your bill is $275,000." He said with so much respect in his eyes. Meanwhile the expressions of both Jason Omar and Sarah had changed drastically. For Jason Omar, he knew very that someone who could splurge that amount of money without as much as blinking definitely wasn't ordinary. Perhaps someone from one of the other four big families.

For Sarah, she still could not believe what she was seeing and hearing. How can Ethan make purchase of close to $300,000.. did he rob a bank or something? There's no way he would be here buying things for one of his bosses, none of his bosses was that rich and none of them had a three months old daughter with the name 'Emily'. Could it be that the Noah family decided to take in Ethan again?

Ethan smiled at the employee, then turned Jason Omar and Sarah.

"As much as I'd love to entertain you, I really can't, as you can see, I am a busy man, so I don't have time to play childish games and blames." Ethan said and walked off with the employee behind him.

Jason immediately turned sharply to Sarah with a hint of displeasure in his eyes. "He's of no importance, right? Wasn't that what you said?" He questioned.

"Yes, I know him, he used to live at the slums, he's a good for nothing." Sarah hurriedly defended herself.

"Come, let's find out if what you say is true.. someone who lives at the slums can't splurge $275,000 without caring." Jason dragged Sarah over to the receptionist table.

"Hello Mr Omar, what can I do for you?" She asked with a respectful tone.

"The young man who just paid $275,000, who is he and where is the furniture being taken to." Jason questioned.

The receptionist was at loss for words, normally they don't divulge such information, but she could not afford to offend someone from one of the big families.

"His name is Ethan Wright, he's a new resident of Wrymstone Residence, Eldrado." The receptionist responded.

"Wright, huh? So he's not from the big families." Jason muttered to himself.

"He must have chanced upon sudden wealth." Sarah chipped in.

"An insignificant insect like him made me falter. It seems he doesn't know the difference between heaven and Earth." An evil grin played on his lips.