**Two Days Before the Party** At the gallery... “You can't help me, Ethan… why don't you take care of your own life first before being nosy and looking into that of others?” Albert questioned as he glared at Ethan. “We both know that the company is about to go into ruin, Albert, and if that should happen, I'm sorry, but you won't be the mighty Albert that everyone knows about!” Ethan said, trying to persuade Albert into joining hands with him. It was best they pulled this together because, as it stood, Albert was the good kid and he wouldn't want his own father to be mad at him. He wouldn't want to be a total disgrace to himself and his family. But joining hands with Ethan, the one kid in school who was bullied back then and not just by anyone but by Gideon, the most powerful man, and others. Albert wasn't sure if he wanted to go through all the trouble and struggles just to get the diamond ring back to his company. “It won't go into ruin, Ethan!” Albert tried convincing himself
“You shouldn't have lied the second you saw me, Mr. Han... this shows how unprofessional you are with your dirty tricks!” Albert smirked as he explained it all to Mr. Han.Mr. Han couldn't believe this; he couldn't believe that Ethan and Albert had actually joined hands to humiliate him. He knew that Ethan was smart, but he didn't know he was smart enough to humiliate him this way before everyone in the house.The executives all turned to him, shaking their heads, and they all left one after another. They were disappointed and ashamed to even stand before or beside Mr. Han. To think that they were beginning to believe Mr. Han was innocent!“You've chased them all away because of your selfish desires, Han...” Albert mocked as he glared at Mr. Han. “I'm glad that finally, I get to claim what is rightfully mine!” Albert uttered as he turned to look at Ethan, who had a fulfilling smile on his lips.“Here you go, Albert!” Ethan handed the diamond over to Albert at this moment. He was certa
Getting out of Mr. Han's home, Ethan and Albert, who had bright, fulfilling smiles on their faces, headed straight for Albert's car. It was parked outside the compound and ready to zoom off. Ethan's car was somewhere around too, but as it stood, it was obvious that his driver would take his car back home.“Come on, Ethan, I'll take you with me!” Albert urged as he wrapped his arm around Ethan's shoulders. It felt weird because Albert had never wanted this. He never wanted to be with Ethan, but now that he had gotten his diamond back, which could save his company, he wanted to hang out with Ethan.He was just like the others, and for a split second, Ethan wondered why the RRS system had urged him to help Albert.As they got closer to the car, the door was opened, and Ethan wasted no time climbing in. The second he got in, he tried to calm himself, to stay calm and not show the inner feelings he had against Albert.“Drive!” Albert commanded with a deep voice, and without hesitation, th
Ethan looked around the club building as he stood before it and just couldn't place what seemed strange. It felt as though he would die the second he entered the clubhouse.It felt like his system was trying to warn him about something.“RRS system? Are you there?” He spoke inwardly, trying to connect with his system, his hands sliding into his pockets.“Hello? Why don't you just show up when I need you?” He mumbled this time, letting out a heavy sigh of worry.At least, if RRS had spoken up, it would tell him what the future held. It would tell him if he was to die, flee, or go in.“Why won't this feeling stop?” Ethan muttered under his breath as he kept staring at the place. Just then, he recalled that only one person made him feel comfortable, and that was James.He swiftly pulled his phone from his pocket and, staring at the screen, didn't hesitate to unlock it and dial James’s contact.“Please pick up!” He begged, the cold outside the club enveloping him immediately. There was no
“I helped him get to the top in the company and I also helped him learn about your father's company, which is about to go into ruin!”Turning toward the door, Ethan and Albert were both stunned to find James standing there, a smile curling up on his lips.Although Ethan had asked him to come to the club, he just didn't believe that he'd show up this fast.“Hello, Albert… you look surprised to see me, why is that?” James uttered as he walked over to their table, sitting beside Ethan.“I see you haven't touched your drink either…” James mumbled to Ethan.“Why are you both quiet? You’re acting as though you've seen a ghost. Come on, let's drink!” James urged, seeing how tense the room had become. He didn't like it one bit.He immediately grabbed Ethan's drink, and just as he was about to take it, Albert stopped him.“You can't walk in here and take someone else’s drink… I'll order yours!” Albert notified James, but he just wouldn't stop.Although James tried his best to look tough and ha
“I am just a useless and worthless son! I can't even help my mother! I can't keep her alive!” James cried as he kept sipping from the bottle that was right before him. The way he drank himself to stupor right before Ethan's eyes made Ethan recall how hard he had tried to save his own mother back then, how he had begged almost everyone to help or save his mother. He had begged that she stay alive just for him, but then, she died after it all. Now, Ethan wouldn't want James, his friend, to go through all of this. He wouldn't be happy to know that James would lose his own mother. It was as though his own life had been switched, and it had affected James. He felt so sad seeing James cry this way and beg to be a good son. Ethan, feeling so sad, reached for James' hand and rubbed it slightly, making him turn his gaze to him. “What is happening, James? Aren't her bills being paid? Are they not working on her?” Ethan asked, a show of concern etched across his face at this moment. “
After what felt like an eternity of driving, Ethan finally arrived at Mr. Harry's mansion with James still in the back seat, mumbling to himself.It was obvious that he kept speaking about his mother. He wasn't happy to have her in such a situation. He was weak.“Sir, what do we do next?” Ethan's driver asked, snapping him from a trance as he kept staring at James. Slowly, Ethan lifted his gaze and turned to his driver, who had his attention on him.“We have to get him back into the house; I'm pretty sure that his mother and father would be worried sick to know his whereabouts!” Ethan explained, and with a nod, his driver opened the door and climbed out of the car.He walked over to the back door, and opening it, he pulled James out of the car. He was going to help James get into the house, but Ethan couldn't let that happen.‘I called him out, I should be responsible for bringing him back home’ he thought inwardly as he walked over to his driver, who had already begun taking James to
The moment Ethan stood to his feet, he grabbed their hands, twisted them, and placed them right behind each of their backs. They were bigger than him, but that didn't stop Ethan.Seeing that they couldn't hold in the pain anymore, they went on their knees, their brows creased with pain as they begged to be set loose.“What is happening?” Mr. Harry's eyes broadened as he stood still in shock.“I am the CEO of the Newhope company, and as it stands, I am to be respected and not to be held captive by any of these men.“I decide what happens, so if you don't mind, Mr. Harry, I'd like you to control your dogs!” Ethan declared as if he were the boss of the house at this point.Mr. Harry didn't want to lose his men, so he had to let Ethan have his way.“Fine, let them go!” He let them out, and because Ethan had no evil intentions against them, he let go of their hands.The second he did, they wasted no time standing to their feet and rushing out of the house. Mr. Harry was scared of him a bit
The sudden knock at Ethan's door pulled him out of his trance, making him turn around to find out who it was. As he turned, he saw Daniel, the new chief of staff whom he was uncomfortable with, standing at his door.“Why is he here?” he panicked for a split second before calming his nerves.“Come in,” he demanded, and Daniel didn't hesitate to push the door open and walk into the office.“Hello, Mr. Ethan, I heard you are the…” Daniel began, but Ethan cut him off sharply, not wanting to allow any familiarity or genuine greetings.“Why are you at Newhope Company?” Ethan asked, his eyes searching Daniel’s for any trace of evil intentions.Daniel paused for a second. He definitely wasn't expecting Ethan to ask him such questions—not now, not ever. He thought Ethan would at least welcome him into the company, but the opposite was the case.“I… I am here to work,” he tilted his head slightly to the right, giving Ethan a confused look.“Work? Are you joking? I know you have some evil plans
“You are our number one suspect, Mr. Ethan, so why don't you let it out? Tell us why you killed Nick? Was it for his money? To get revenge?” the detective questioned with a grin on his lips.Ethan was more confused than ever. How was he enjoying his morning, and all of a sudden, he was now a suspect in Nick’s murder?“We are waiting, Mr. Ethan!” they urged, wanting to get the truth out of him before anyone else did.Ethan, on the other hand, wouldn’t say a single word without his lawyer, but he knew he had to find a way to clear his name.“You are right; Nick bullied me back in school, and if there’s anything I wanted back then—and still do now—it’s revenge! To get revenge on every one of them that bullied me in school, and…” Ethan was about to continue, but the man cut him off before he could say another word.“And killing him now was your only option, right? Just like you said, you wanted justice, and the only way to get it was to kill them all. Who is your next target?”Ethan’s bro
Three weeks later:Ethan felt a smile slowly spread across his lips as he got up from his bed and walked into the bathroom. His steps were light, and he couldn’t help but hum softly, his mind swirling with feelings of pure joy and relief. It had been three long weeks since he had managed to rescue his mother from the clutches of Gideon, Samuel, and Nick. The memory of that night still lingered, but the sense of triumph overpowered the fear. So far, there had been no signs that any of them would come after him. It seemed, at least for now, that he and his mother were safe, and that thought filled him with a comfort he hadn't felt in a long time.To Ethan, they were too scared to make another silly and daunting move towards him, but Ethan didn't care. As long as he had his mother, everything was fine; everything was okay to him.“Ethan? Breakfast is ready!” His mother's voice echoed through the expanse of the house as she prepared the table for their meal.“Coming, Mom!” Ethan respon
“Kneel and beg for everything you’ve done, and maybe; just maybe; I’ll consider saving her life.” His tone was taunting, the smirk on his face daring Ethan to comply.Ethan’s eyes flared with defiance. He clenched his fists, every muscle in his body tense with fury. “We both know that if anyone should kneel and beg, it’ll be you! Not me, Gideon!” Ethan shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. “Come on, tell me where the fuck she is!” His voice was raw, filled with the pain of a son desperate to save his mother.Gideon merely snorted, dismissing Ethan’s stubbornness with a wave of his hand. “Let’s go, guys… he isn’t ready!” he said, turning his back on Ethan, his arrogance on full display. He began to walk away, Samuel and Nick following behind him as if this was just another game they were playing.But Ethan wasn’t about to let them leave. Not like this. Not without answers. Fueled by sheer rage, Ethan lunged forward and grabbed Gideon by the collar, yanking him back into the room
“What do you want from me?” Ethan demanded, his voice tight with frustration as his fists clenched at his sides. He knew Nick all too well—there was no way Nick would release his mother without getting exactly what he wanted in return. “Now you’re talking…” Nick said with a smirk, clearly pleased that Ethan was finally ready to listen. He spun on his heels, not wasting a second. “Come with me.” He motioned for Ethan to follow and started walking down the dimly lit hallway.Ethan hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting around the room as he checked his surroundings. He couldn’t afford to trust Nick, but he also couldn’t leave his mother in danger. Taking a deep breath, Ethan fell in step behind Nick, his senses on high alert, ready for anything.They walked in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the narrow corridor. After a few tense moments, they stopped in front of a heavy, wooden door that looked old and worn. Nick paused, resting his hand on the doorknob. Witho
After returning from Nick's mansion, Ethan didn't take a break, not even for a moment. His heart was racing, filled with worry. He desperately needed to know if his mother was still alive, but there was no way to find out until he met with Nick as they had arranged.The moment he got back, he started pacing around his room, unable to sit still. He kept glancing at the clock, watching the minutes crawl by. When the clock finally struck 10:00 p.m., a small smile appeared on his face. The time was almost here.Ethan pulled out a pair of black pants and a matching hoodie from his closet, his mind focused on the task ahead. He dressed quickly, mentally preparing himself for what lay ahead in Sin City. The mansion was quiet, and he moved with purpose, ready to slip out unnoticed.Just as he was finishing getting dressed, the door to his room swung open with a loud thud. James stormed in, his face a mix of anger and shock. His eyes widened when he saw Ethan dressed entirely in black, a c
Ethan shuffled closer to the nightstand, his footsteps growing heavier with each step. The dim light from the lamp cast long shadows, making the room feel eerie and suffocating. As he neared the nightstand, his heart pounded, and an icy dread began to coil around his chest.His hand trembled, and he clenched his fist tightly, fighting against the rising anxiety that twisted in his gut. His fingers finally reached the paper, which felt unnervingly cold and damp. He pulled it towards him, the edges crumpling under his grip. With a deep breath, he flipped it open, every movement feeling like it took an eternity.The message was blunt and ruthless. It simply stated that his mother was gone. The words hit him like a punch to the gut, leaving him gasping for breath as the world seemed to tilt around him.Ethan's eyes filled with tears as he stared at the letter, the sight bringing back painful memories. "They left a letter after all, just like when Ryan was taken," he mumbled, his voice
“I’m the bartender at Monique’s Bar… Your boss is completely out of it and needs help. Please come get him out of here,” the bartender explained, his concern growing as he glanced at Ethan’s dishevelled state.With a curt acknowledgment, James ended the call. His frustration was palpable as he stormed out of the mansion, urgency driving his every step. The drive to the bar was swift, fueled by worry and impatience.When James arrived at the bar, the sight before him was grim. Ethan was slumped in a chair, the remnants of his drinking binge evident in the empty bottles and glasses scattered around him. The dim lighting and the messy scene struck James with a mix of shock and disappointment. “Shit!” he muttered under his breath, rushing to Ethan’s side.He gently but firmly helped Ethan sit up, noting the disorientation and tears streaking down his friend’s face. Ethan’s eyes were glassy, his expression a mix of pain and self-loathing. As James prepared to carry him out, Ethan’s voic
As Ethan stormed out of Samuel’s mansion, a wave of shame and regret washed over him. The gravity of his situation struck him hard: his mother was missing, and he had no idea where to find her. The meeting with Samuel had yielded no answers, only deepened his anguish.His eyes stung with the threat of tears, but he fought them back with a grim determination. The workers at Samuel’s mansion watched him with a mix of curiosity and pity, their whispers barely audible over the distant hum of the night. Ethan felt their gazes like piercing needles, their silent judgement branding him as nothing more than a madman driven to the edge of sanity.Without a second glance at the mansion or its workers, Ethan climbed into his car. The engine roared to life, its growl a stark contrast to his inner troubles. He slammed the gear into drive and sped away, the tires screeching as they struggled to grip the road.His mind was a storm of rage and confusion as he raced back home. Every heartbeat see