Alex stepped into the underground fighting ring, feeling the oppressive heat and the weight of hundreds of hostile eyes upon him. It was his first time fighting, and the air was already thick with stench, sweat, blood, and cheap beer. It was the type of life Alex had left a long time ago. He had elevated himself to the point of a manager, karaoke, and drinking at the elite table. That was until he met Ethan, who decided it was over for him. The old man collided with Ethan to fire him.The crowd, a mix of grim faces and eager eyes, roared with anticipation to wake Alex from his thoughts. He scanned the ring, and his heart dropped when he saw his opponent. But what Ethan could see was Ethan. Ethan, the man who had ruined his life and stolen his family, was now standing in front of him, a menacing grin on his face.Ethan humiliated his girlfriend—she was forced to either kill herself or cut contact from the face of the earth. Memories of being fired from his job, forced to work for the m
Jason bit his lower lip seductively as the woman he had been pursuing for weeks serviced him. He didn’t realize her boundaries were so easy to cross. If he had known, he wouldn’t have wasted his time stalking her, trying to see if she was different from the others.But, of course, she wasn’t.She was just like the rest.Thinking about his sister made him lose interest, and he pushed the woman away. The room echoed with a loud popping sound. Looking down, he saw the woman's lips glistening and her appearance looking worse.Even worse, he couldn’t finish because of his anger. How could that brat, lucky enough to marry into their family, bring such disgrace? He pulled out a check from his wallet. Even if love didn’t exist, at least he could pay her for her services.“Here, take this as a token of appreciation for your beauty.”The woman looked confused. “I like you, too. That’s why I’ve been following you. I see the way you look at me…”Jason scratched his head, pretending to be shy. Thi
Jason’s apartment door clicked open, and he led the woman inside with a playful grin. They were both giggling like teenagers, the excitement clear in their voices.“Come on, let’s have some fun,” Jason said, his voice full of false sweetness. He tugged at the woman’s clothes with eager hands, pulling her dress over her head. She laughed, her cheeks flushed with anticipation.Jason’s hands roamed over her bare skin as he guided her through the dimly lit hallway. His touch was deliberate and exploratory, lingering on her curves and making her shiver. He kissed her neck, whispering in her ear, “You look even better without those clothes.”The woman moaned softly, her fingers tracing along his shoulders as they continued to move through the apartment. “I can’t wait to see what else you have planned,” she whispered back.Jason’s hands wandered lower, gently brushing her hips and thighs. “Oh, we’re just getting started,” he murmured, his breath hot against her skin. “I want to make sure you
The dinner left everyone from the four houses speechless. They realized they could never match Ethan's level of wealth and power. Ethan had set up this event to show just how far above them he was. To him, this was just a glimpse of his immense fortune, a way to prove that his riches were on a whole different level.House Anderson, with their old-school power, could buy out entire governments if they wanted to. But their deep sense of humility—something Ethan had inherited—kept them from using their power recklessly. Tonight, though, Ethan wasn’t holding back. He wanted to make it clear to those who had wronged him and set his company on fire that they were dealing with something way beyond their understanding.He was sending a clear message that their actions had serious consequences.The yacht was something to see: a floating palace of white and gold, gliding through the dark waters and leaving a soft ripple behind. The yacht master beamed with pride as he expertly docked the vessel
Ethan didn't go far.When he left the dining room, the air outside felt heavy and stifling. Thoughts of the symbol gave him problems. He leaned against the railing, gazing out over the dark waters. His mind raced through the evening’s events, his plan unraveling faster than he had anticipated. The reactions to the tree symbol had been more revealing than he could have hoped—each guest’s discomfort hinted at deeper secrets.This was his plan. Ethan patiently waited for each of them to come to him. A slow smile spread around his face. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was curvy. Realizing who that was, Ethan's smile slipped off. It was Sandra Walton. As her facial expression was revealed under the lights, her earlier confidence was replaced by an uneasy expression.She approached Ethan, her voice low. “Ethan, I need to talk to you. It’s important.”Ethan cleared his throat. He had been waiting for this moment. He just hoped it was related to the letter or something that co
Mark raised his hands. “I still have something to say.”Everyone groaned, and Sandra lost her temper. “Okay, that's it. Just shut up, Mark. Not everyone needs your opinion.”“I was going to say that I saw that symbol somewhere.”Ethan froze and slowly turned to Mark. “What did you just say?”Mark shrugged and picked up a bottle of wine from the floor. “I said, I did see...”Sandra rolled her eyes. “Ethan, have you forgotten that we have thirteen people upstairs waiting for your speech? They need to get this boat moving!”“It’s a yacht, Sandra,” Gerald mocked with delight.“Potato, potato,” she retorted, climbing the short stairs back. Halfway up, she stopped. “Everyone should be upstairs in five minutes! I am done with all of you acting like children instead of heirs.” With that, she huffed and puffed her way upstairs.Ethan nodded, waving for everyone to leave except Mark. “Mark, stay behind, and Paul, you too.” This was in case Mark wanted to try something terrible. Paul was there f
A spy? Ethan's eyes widened. “How do you know she works for me?”Mark scratched the back of his head. “Well, she's wearing the signal of the House of Anderson as a headband.”It was true. Ethan noticed the image of a fierce lion on her headband. “So you recognized her with that. Was she wearing it that day too?”Mark nodded. “Yes, she was.”“Why didn't you call for help or something?”“I thought she was sent by you, and when I tried to confront her, she set the room ablaze. You know what happened after that.”Ethan stood akimbo. He couldn't believe his ears. “You are an important person, Mr. Mark David. You have a seat on the board, and your words are usually acknowledged more than Rachel's. Why do you keep acting like you aren't one of us?” It baffled Ethan why the man kept acting like he was inferior. “You could have told me.”Mark gave him a nervous laugh. “Mr. Ethan! I do that out of respect. I know I can never measure up to the houses. Moreover, Rachel shuts me up.”“Nonsense!” E
Jason regarded him wearily. He didn't seem to be part of his men because they knew how to be quiet. He must be new, and Jason knew they weren't hiring. “Who the hell are you?”The man stepped forward from the crowd, his face grim. “I’m Alex,” he said. “I’m the one who found him. I was on patrol when I discovered him in an abandoned place a few miles from here.”Jason turned to his men. “Is that so? Was he really patrolling, or did he drop him there?”The three men nodded, and one of them spoke. “We didn't see him drop the body. Roland was already weak.”“Why was he there?”Alex shrugged, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know. By the time I got to him, he was barely alive. I tried to get him help, but it was too late.”“How come you are bruised?” Jason was still suspicious. He didn't dare to trust anyone.Alex chuckled nervously. “Ah, this?” He gestured to his body. “It's nothing.” When he saw that Jason wasn't buying his cuteness, he frowned. “I fell into a ditch.”“You fell into a