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
A week later, at exactly two o'clock in the afternoon, the streets of Los Angeles were alive with the usual energy. People moved quickly under the scorching sun, some with sunglasses shielding their eyes, others carrying umbrellas to fend off the intense heat. But for Tony, sitting in his BMW, none of it mattered. His mind was consumed by a simmering frustration.Tony sat behind the wheel, gripping it tightly, his fingers tight with anger. He glanced at the phone pressed against his ear, his other hand twitching with impatience. Maya was supposed to be meeting him, but right now."What? Silverstone Enterprises is closing its doors too? Are you kidding me? How is that even possible when things were going so well?" Tony’s voice was sharp. He ran a hand through his hair, a mix of confusion and fury playing across his face.Silverstone Enterprises had been one of the top performers out of the 80 companies he had invested in. It was a golden opportunity, consistently making a strong profi
Maya was genuinely taken aback, her expression reflecting surprise. "Miss Walport, I’m curious—why do you remember Ethan's birthday so clearly?"In her mind, Ethan was nothing more than Clara’s bodyguard, someone she didn’t expect Clara to take such a personal interest in. It seemed strange that she would remember such an insignificant detail about him.What Maya didn’t know, however, was that Clara had been keeping a close eye on Ethan for some time now. Given the way Clara felt about him, it was only natural that she would remember his birthday with such precision.Clara, sensing the confusion, calmly explained, "Well, it's actually a bit of a coincidence. Ethan’s birthday happens to fall on the same day as my father's. Also, I’ve seen Ethan’s ID at one point, so it just sort of stuck in my mind.""Mrs. West, Ethan is your ex-husband, and you were once in love, right? Don’t you think it’s a little thoughtless to plan your wedding on his birthday? Or perhaps you simply forgot that it
Tony should have been full of excitement, given that today marked one of the biggest days of his life. But the string of financial disasters had drained him, leaving him looking like a man burdened by decades of hardship rather than someone in his twenties.In addition to the failed investments, Tony had hemorrhaged money in other risky ventures throughout the week. Stock index futures, commodities, even high-stakes underground gambling—all had contributed to the rapid disappearance of his fortune.Beside him, a young man holding a best man’s corsage studied him with an expression of deep concern. “Tony, something isn’t adding up here. Did you cross someone powerful? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re being deliberately sabotaged. Even if you made a few bad choices, the odds of everything crashing down like this are practically zero.”Tony let out a hollow laugh and rubbed his dark-circled eyes. “You’re spot on. It’s no coincidence; someone’s playing me. This isn’t
A cab pulls up to the grand entrance of the Sunset Tower Hotel, its sleek exterior gleaming under the golden rays of the afternoon sun. The hotel's majestic billboard, adorned with the iconic Sunset Tower Hotel logo, proudly stands guard over the entrance.**"Sir, we've arrived at the Sunset Tower Hotel!" A soft, calming voice filled the air, courtesy of Ethan Sinclair, the taxi driver. His words gently broke the steadiness that enveloped the luxury establishment."Thank you," the stranger replied, a hint of relief in his voice. "Could you please help me with my luggage out of the trunk?""Of course," Ethan responded promptly, exiting his cab and assisting the stranger in retrieving his belongings. As he closed the trunk, the stranger inquired, "How much do I owe you?""Two hundred bucks!!" Ethan replied, referring to his standard fare."Here, I'll give you five hundred bucks for the extra effort I put in for you today!!" the stranger said, reaching for his wallet. However, upon exam