“I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I want to go through the dangers to find anyone!” James admitted, and without a second thought, he climbed out of the car. He was just scared, and he hoped that Ethan would understand that.He wanted Ethan to look at his own aspect of life. How uncomfortable it was going to make him. Just as he was walking back into his house, Ethan stormed out of the car and rushed towards him.He just wasn't going to let James leave that way. He needed James. He needed him to do what was right.“What is it again, Ethan?” James grumbled as he found Ethan standing right before him.“Let's make a comeback, James… please! We must find out who did this to me, who did this to your father!” Ethan let out, knowing that it would provoke James at this moment.He was already angry that his father was weak, so it was definitely going to give him the anger he needed to accept the deal with Ethan.“And what if the plan doesn't work out? What if they come to me!” James sounded a bit wo
“But it is Mr. Han that is on the screen!” Ethan said, trying his best to get the perfect explanation from James.“Because he is on the screen doesn't mean that he is the one behind all of this… someone else is doing this!” he explained briefly before shutting the laptop.“That should be all for today, Ethan… I think it's time you head back home. I'm pretty sure my mom will be waiting for me!” James stated, and immediately, Ethan understood what he was trying to say to him.“Fine! I'll let you have your rest, but that doesn't mean we won't find them. I promise to help resolve the crisis in your family soon, James!” he tapped him on the shoulder with his lips pursed.With a final bow, James opened the door and left, heading right for his house. Seeing that he had gone, his driver didn't hesitate to climb into the car.“Let's go!” Ethan commanded, and with a swift nod, the engine of the car was ignited. Without a second thought, his driver stepped on the accelerator, propelling them for
“What do you mean we are all at huge risk? Last I checked, I asked you to tell me who had attacked me, not to give me reasons to be scared! I need you, RRS, and you are not helping matters right now!”Ethan snapped as he got nervous. If there was anything that he disliked at this moment, it was definitely the fact that he was beginning to lose his essence. He was trembling, and that wasn't what he wanted.[Host needs to be calm and listen to the system! Remember the promise? You must do as the system says.]The mechanical voice in his head echoed, trying to make him understand its first statement to him.“If you want me to be calm, why don't you tell me what you meant? I hate it so much when I am spoken to in words that I barely understand! I'm waiting, RRS!” Ethan stated. Just then, what was before his eyes changed, being swiped to an image of a man's back.“Another confusing image!” Ethan scoffed, rolling his eyes in exhaustion.“You know, if you don't want to tell me who it was, I
“Meet with Gideon? I see you have gone insane! He could crush you, and you wouldn't have a voice! You can't fight against him!” James argued, trying to make a point.All his words were focused on one thing: Ethan must remain in his lane and not meet with Gideon. He was scared of the outcome, especially since Ethan was seen or perceived to be weak.“I just have to, James... This could go a long way! If I meet with Gideon, I could...” Just as Ethan was trying to explain his part of the idea, James cut in swiftly.“You could talk him into not killing you?” His eyes rolled in frustration as he struck his forehead. “Yeah, where did that get you back then in school?” James asked with a scoff.“Can you quit the act already, James! I don't like being reminded of my past!” Ethan snapped. He wasn't happy about being reminded that he was bullied by someone like Gideon back in school.“If you don't think I can do it, then sit and watch!” Ethan added angrily, and because James could sense the ange
"Meeting someone like you is not something I ever want to do," he spat out, his voice dripping with venom. "You are a waste of my time, Ethan Wills! I will never spend my precious time on you!" As Gideon spoke, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Every muscle in his body seemed to be coiled with tension, ready to snap. His dislike for Ethan ran deep, and it was clear in every word he uttered. He couldn't stand the sight of him. Ethan felt the same way about Gideon. There was a mutual hatred between them that had been simmering for a long time. Just the thought of Gideon made Ethan's blood boil. He would go to great lengths just to be able to confront him, to look him in the eye and say what needed to be said. "What do you want from me, Gideon?" Ethan demanded, his voice a mix of frustration and determination. He had a plan, a plan that could only be put into action once he was face to face with Gideon. Gideon took a deep breath, trying to control the a
"Do what you must to save those around you, Ethan Wills... this is the best thing to do! Trust me!" James said. His voice shook with both determination and worry as he tried to convince Ethan to do what he believed was right.Ethan's mind raced. "But what if it's not him? What will happen to me then?" he asked, his voice filled with fear. He was terrified of making the wrong decision, one that could either make or break him.Ethan felt the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. He had so many people depending on him, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing any of them. The fear of failure gnawed at him, making his heart pound faster.James's eyes were intense as he spoke again. "At least you'll know you did everything you could, Ethan. You have to go now and find out what he's up to. Who knows, he might be planning something entirely different for you!" His words hung in the air, heavy with urgency.Ethan's jaw tightened, and his hands balled into fists. He could feel
"I'll make sure you regret ever sending your men against me, Nathan! I'll make sure you regret ever coming after me. That's a promise!" Ethan's fist clenched as he declared, his eyes and anger fixed mainly on Nathan, who was still shocked to see him in his house.If there was anyone he was expecting, it definitely wasn't Ethan. He had strongly believed that Ethan was dead. He still had to put on a show to make Ethan leave his house."It's best you leave now, Ethan... leave while I'm still nice to you!" he warned. With a glare, he took a step closer to where Ethan was standing."Is that so? You want me to still torture you a bit? I can do that, you know." He sneered, and just then, Ethan had to give in, he had to listen to him.With a resigned sigh leaving his lips and a frown etched across his face, he turned on his heels and walked over to the door. Getting to the door, he halted, his head turned halfway to where Nathan stood."Trust me, Nathan... I'll make you regret every second of
"Tell the executives that we will meet today once it is dusk! Is that clear?" Ethan ordered as he looked at the female employee standing before him."Yes, sir, but I have an objection, Sir Ethan..." she stated, making Ethan's brows crease immediately. She had no right to object to his command and order."And what may that be, miss?" he asked abruptly, awaiting her response."Most of the executives might not be available today because of another company gathering… Should I still go with your orders or let it be?" she questioned, a tinge of fear in her tone."I have given my orders, young lady... They are either carried out or left behind, and believe me, you won't like what happens next if they are tossed aside," Ethan declared before taking his eyes off the girl.She saw the anger etched on his face and immediately bowed her head and turned on her heels, leaving the office as she should."Not available? What nonsense!" Ethan grunted as he began the work for the day. He had left home e
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