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
**At Old Ms. Reynold’s Villa** A procession of luxurious wedding cars rolled into the driveway, their sleek designs shimmering under the morning sun. Tony, momentarily distracted from the frustration of his failed investments, felt a surge of joy. Smiling, he eagerly headed out to welcome Maya. However, as he reached the first floor of the villa, he encountered Sophie before he could make his way to the bridal car. Though not a bridesmaid, Sophie had dressed to impress, wearing a stunning white gown that accentuated her elegance. Her flawless makeup and radiant smile made her almost as captivating as the bride herself. "Wow, Sophie," Tony said with a playful grin as his eyes swept over her. "You look so gorgeous today—I almost mistook you for my bride." His tone was lighthearted, but the compliment lingered in the air.Sophie casually twirled a strand of her hair with her fingers and smirked. "Please, my groom-to-be is none other than the esteemed president of Walt Disney Co
"Hello, I’m Ethan Sinclair," he said with a composed yet commanding tone. Stepping out of the $1.8 million white Maybach, Ethan, dressed in a pristine white suit, exuded an aura of elegance and confidence. All eyes were on him, filled with admiration and awe. To the crowd, Ethan appeared every bit the noble and refined figure—a real-life fairytale prince. Giovanni, who had never met Ethan before, was quick to approach him, his excitement evident. Grasping Ethan’s hand firmly, he said, "Welcome, Mr. Sinclair. It’s an incredible honor for my son and me to have you grace this occasion!" Marissa, equally stunned, chimed in, "Mr. Sinclair, I must say, I didn’t expect you to be so young and strikingly handsome!" Ethan’s gaze shifted to Marissa, and with a polite smile, he replied, "You must be Mrs. West. The pleasure is mine. Your radiance truly lives up to your reputation." Giovanni smiled warmly and replied, "Thank you for the kind words. Yes, she’s my wife." Marissa, a woma
For the past three years, Klein had made it a habit to ridicule Ethan whenever their paths crossed. He had insulted him countless times and even gone as far as sending henchmen to rough him up over a dispute involving Alexander. Ethan's decision to attend Maya's wedding and reveal his true identity was clearly calculated—it was his moment for revenge. Knowing this, Klein, who was never particularly close to Maya, had no intention of staying behind to face Ethan's wrath. He seized the opportunity to leave immediately. After carefully placing Old Ms. Mimi in the backseat of the Audi Q7, Klein barked at the chauffeur, "Drive to the hospital! And hurry!" Before the vehicle could even start, Old Ms. Mimi let out a loud, startling wail. "Ah!" Her sudden outburst shocked Klein, sending a shiver down his spine. "Mom, are you alright?" he asked anxiously. "You scared me half to death! I thought you fainted because of that punk Ethan." Relief washed over him as he realized she w
Tony had always been someone who valued his pride above all else. Within his social circle of wealthy heirs, he was known for his ostentatious displays of affluence and his tendency to flaunt his status at every opportunity.Today was supposed to be his crowning moment—a grand wedding to the so-called "most beautiful woman in Los Angeles," Maya. The only imperfection in his otherwise perfect narrative was the fact that Maya was a divorcee. Still, Tony had planned to overshadow that blemish by turning Ethan, her ex-husband, into a public spectacle of humiliation during the ceremony. But fate had other plans. Instead of Ethan being humiliated, Tony now found himself in the very position he had reserved for Ethan—embarrassed and stripped of his dignity. Bowing down, kneeling, and pouring a drink to Ethan as a sign of deference? The mere thought churned Tony's stomach. He simply couldn’t lower himself that way. "Is this some kind of elaborate ruse?" Tony wondered bitterly. In his mind
Giovanni’s smile faltered instantly. "Not for my son? Mr. Garrett, aren’t you here for my son’s wedding?" Giovanni asked, his voice tinged with embarrassment. Ryan offered a polite smile. "Of course, I’m here for the wedding. I’ve prepared a monetary gift for your son and handed it over to the reception staff. If you’d like, you can verify it with them, Mr. West." Giovanni quickly waved his hands. "Oh no, Mr. Garrett, please don’t misunderstand. I would never focus on such a thing. It’s already a tremendous honor to have you here celebrating with us. The fact that you’ve brought a gift is far too generous." Giovanni, knowing Ryan’s considerable wealth, assumed the monetary gift was substantial—likely no less than $15,000. Eager to seize the moment, Giovanni called over Tony and Maya. "Tony, Maya, come here and greet Mr. Garrett!" Tony approached with a wide grin, extending both hands for a handshake. "It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Garrett. I’ve heard so much about you—you’
Tony had always been someone who valued his pride above all else. Within his social circle of wealthy heirs, he was known for his ostentatious displays of affluence and his tendency to flaunt his status at every opportunity.Today was supposed to be his crowning moment—a grand wedding to the so-called "most beautiful woman in Los Angeles," Maya. The only imperfection in his otherwise perfect narrative was the fact that Maya was a divorcee. Still, Tony had planned to overshadow that blemish by turning Ethan, her ex-husband, into a public spectacle of humiliation during the ceremony. But fate had other plans. Instead of Ethan being humiliated, Tony now found himself in the very position he had reserved for Ethan—embarrassed and stripped of his dignity. Bowing down, kneeling, and pouring a drink to Ethan as a sign of deference? The mere thought churned Tony's stomach. He simply couldn’t lower himself that way. "Is this some kind of elaborate ruse?" Tony wondered bitterly. In his mind
For the past three years, Klein had made it a habit to ridicule Ethan whenever their paths crossed. He had insulted him countless times and even gone as far as sending henchmen to rough him up over a dispute involving Alexander. Ethan's decision to attend Maya's wedding and reveal his true identity was clearly calculated—it was his moment for revenge. Knowing this, Klein, who was never particularly close to Maya, had no intention of staying behind to face Ethan's wrath. He seized the opportunity to leave immediately. After carefully placing Old Ms. Mimi in the backseat of the Audi Q7, Klein barked at the chauffeur, "Drive to the hospital! And hurry!" Before the vehicle could even start, Old Ms. Mimi let out a loud, startling wail. "Ah!" Her sudden outburst shocked Klein, sending a shiver down his spine. "Mom, are you alright?" he asked anxiously. "You scared me half to death! I thought you fainted because of that punk Ethan." Relief washed over him as he realized she w
"Hello, I’m Ethan Sinclair," he said with a composed yet commanding tone. Stepping out of the $1.8 million white Maybach, Ethan, dressed in a pristine white suit, exuded an aura of elegance and confidence. All eyes were on him, filled with admiration and awe. To the crowd, Ethan appeared every bit the noble and refined figure—a real-life fairytale prince. Giovanni, who had never met Ethan before, was quick to approach him, his excitement evident. Grasping Ethan’s hand firmly, he said, "Welcome, Mr. Sinclair. It’s an incredible honor for my son and me to have you grace this occasion!" Marissa, equally stunned, chimed in, "Mr. Sinclair, I must say, I didn’t expect you to be so young and strikingly handsome!" Ethan’s gaze shifted to Marissa, and with a polite smile, he replied, "You must be Mrs. West. The pleasure is mine. Your radiance truly lives up to your reputation." Giovanni smiled warmly and replied, "Thank you for the kind words. Yes, she’s my wife." Marissa, a woma
**At Old Ms. Reynold’s Villa** A procession of luxurious wedding cars rolled into the driveway, their sleek designs shimmering under the morning sun. Tony, momentarily distracted from the frustration of his failed investments, felt a surge of joy. Smiling, he eagerly headed out to welcome Maya. However, as he reached the first floor of the villa, he encountered Sophie before he could make his way to the bridal car. Though not a bridesmaid, Sophie had dressed to impress, wearing a stunning white gown that accentuated her elegance. Her flawless makeup and radiant smile made her almost as captivating as the bride herself. "Wow, Sophie," Tony said with a playful grin as his eyes swept over her. "You look so gorgeous today—I almost mistook you for my bride." His tone was lighthearted, but the compliment lingered in the air.Sophie casually twirled a strand of her hair with her fingers and smirked. "Please, my groom-to-be is none other than the esteemed president of Walt Disney Co
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
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
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
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