Tony Tony had just proposed to Ethan's ex-wife, Maya Reynolds, right in front of him. Clara, witnessing Tony's blatant disrespect towards Ethan, felt a strong impulse to step forward and slap Tony, just as she had done previously. However, she restrained herself.Clara thought, "If Maya Reynolds marries Tony West soon, it might create an opportunity for me to be with Ethan."As a business elite, Clara prioritized her personal interests. The potential marriage between Tony and Maya could actually benefit her.Ethan, observing the situation, chose not to intervene.Ethan intervened in Tony's proposal by turning off the microphone and dismantling the balloon decorations, citing the disruption to the environment and the guests as his reason. With the decorations removed, the proposal no longer breached any regulations, as it was now simply one customer proposing to another.Ethan was particularly interested in seeing whether Maya would accept Tony's proposal. Having been married to Maya
Clara took a bold guess, leaning forward slightly. "Mr. Sinclair, are you hoping Maya Reynolds will marry Tony West so you can later tell them you're the president of Walt Disney Corporation and make Maya regret it when it's too late?"Ethan stopped mid-sip, his glass hovering in the air, and looked at Clara in surprise, his eyes widening.Clara had guessed Ethan's plan, and she could see the recognition in his eyes.Ethan nodded with satisfaction, a small smile playing on his lips. "Very smart of you! You truly deserve to be my vice president."Clara's face lit up with excitement. "Did I guess right?"Ethan shook his head, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Not exactly. I'm going to do it on their wedding day, not after.""I plan to reveal to Maya on her wedding day that the man she believes to be the wealthiest she could ever marry is not the true tycoon—I am.""On that day, I won't just let Maya Reynolds discover the truth. I will also announce to the entire business community in Los
Ethan scrutinized him and inquired, "You're sent by Jan Niklas, aren't you?"The young man instantly became flustered, and his gaze shifted nervously. His sudden discomfort was palpable, betraying his attempt to maintain composure.Nevertheless, he denied, "Who's Jan Niklas? I don't know him!" His voice wavered slightly, adding to Ethan's suspicion.Despite the denial, Ethan was already certain that he was sent by Jan. The young man's reaction had confirmed his suspicions.Ethan had studied psychology under a renowned professor, gaining deep insights into human behavior. Additionally, Rowland Miller and his grandfather had taught him some human anatomy during his childhood, providing him with a solid foundation in understanding physical cues.Therefore, Ethan was adept at reading people and assessing them based on their words and actions. Naturally, he didn't succeed every time, and Maya was a testament to his failure.Nevertheless, he was very certain about the individual standing b
If the food served at a restaurant resulted in fatal food poisoning, the restaurant's business would undoubtedly face severe repercussions. News of the incident spread rapidly, particularly as over a hundred people were hospitalized simultaneously. The reputation of Sunny Restaurant was irrevocably damaged. In a short span, the restaurant lost its entire customer base, and Jan's efforts to use public relations to promote the restaurant proved futile.Sunny Restaurant was Jan's most renowned establishment in Los Angeles. With its downfall, addressing the remaining restaurants would become significantly easier. Initially, Ethan had no intention of resorting to such unethical tactics and preferred to confront Jan through legitimate methods.For instance, he could hire renowned singers to perform at the restaurant daily and replace the head chefs at Juice Cafeteria with world-class culinary experts. He had the financial capacity to make such significant investments and could outmaneuve
Ever since Ethan and Alexander's relationship had improved, Alexander had been persistently urging Ethan to marry his sister, Sophie.Alexander had long suspected that Ethan had been downplaying his true strength over the past three years. Although he hadn't yet uncovered Ethan's real family background, the way Ferragamo treated Ethan suggested that his family was far from ordinary. Alexander figured Ethan was likely a significant figure in some powerful circles.If Sophie married Ethan, Alexander saw an opportunity to gain influence and dominate Los Angeles in the future.Alexander frequently sent Ethan photos of Sophie, which he had secretly taken from her phone while she slept. These were private photos Sophie had never shared online, keeping them solely for her own enjoyment.Despite being Sophie's biological brother, Alexander often thought that if she weren't his sister, he would pursue her romantically.When Ethan saw the photos Alexander had sent, he felt a flicker of interest
Both Maya and Tony were taken aback. "Sing and play music by himself? Does Ethan even know how to play an instrument?" Tony wondered aloud, his brow furrowed in confusion.Turning to Maya, Tony asked, "Maya, can Ethan Sinclair play the piano or guitar, or any other instrument?"Maya shook her head, her eyes wide with surprise. "I have a piano at home, but I've never seen Ethan play it in the past three years. I always thought he came from a poor family in the countryside and never had the chance to learn music."The superstar, though surprised, was pleased by Ethan's request. "Of course, you may do so. Our pianist could use a break anyway. Please, come on stage," he said, gesturing invitingly.The superstar extended his hand to Ethan, helping him onto the stage with a warm smile.“Everyone, let’s give him a round of applause, shall we?” he encouraged, prompting the audience to cheer for Ethan, hoping to ease any potential nerves.But Ethan wasn’t nervous. His heart was already heavy
Ethan’s face contorted with fury as her words cut through him."So, it’s my fault because I come from a less privileged background? Do people like me have to carry the burden of our circumstances just to justify the actions of people like you—wealthy, protected, immune to consequence? Do you honestly believe your money and status give you the right to betray those who trust you, to hurt people, and feel joy in their misery?"Though he hadn’t experienced poverty firsthand, Ethan felt a fire within him to defend those who had endured it."Everyone, no matter their background, deserves respect and dignity!"Maya sighed, shaking her head with a dismissive expression. "Ethan, you’re so naive. Even your own grandfather said that people from poor backgrounds can never raise truly exceptional children. That’s just reality."Maya looked at Ethan, her tone gentle yet firm. "You’ve been so good to me, and I know you have so much to offer, but... I just don’t see us having a future right now."A
Ethan immediately picked up the phone and called Flint Michigan.“Uncle Flint, it’s been far too long since we last spoke! This is Ethan Sinclair. How have you been holding up? And how’s your health these days?” Ethan’s voice was warm and respectful as he greeted the legendary hotelier.Flint Michigan’s face lit up with joy on the other end of the line. “Ethan! What a pleasant surprise! It’s been ages since I last heard from you. Just yesterday, I had a video call with your grandfather, and he proudly showed me his newly planted jasmine flowers in the garden! He hasn’t lost his touch with horticulture, that’s for sure.”“I’m doing quite well, actually. I’m taking some much-needed time off in Hawaii, soaking up the sun and relaxing. But enough about me—how about you? Your grandfather told me you’ve wrapped up your duties as a live-in son-in-law for your Ancestral system tasks and that you’re gearing up for a grand entrance into the business world. Sounds like big plans are on the horiz