2024-10-30 18:22:16“So, everyone, I think Moonlight is perfect for tonight, don’t you?” He cast a challenging look at Ethan, a glint of mockery in his eyes.
As the group stood outside the campus, Mike folded his arms with a sly grin.
The name drew a gasp from the group.
Claire frowned, voicing what everyone was thinking.
“Moonlight? Isn’t that… a bit much, Mike? That place is ridiculously expensive.”
Mike chuckled, feigning kindness.
“Oh, come on, Claire. It’s not a big deal. If Ethan finds it a bit too pricey, I don’t mind splitting the bill with him.” He turned to Ethan, smirking. “What do you say, Ethan? You up for it?”
Ethan’s eyes sparkled with a calm confidence that took Mike by surprise.
“Sure, Mike. That’s the deal.”
Mike’s grin faded for a second before he forced it back.
He had been counting on Ethan backing out, not agreeing.
“Well… alright then! But remember, this isn’t just some fast-food joint. Dinner there can easily cost a thousand bucks.”
Ethan shrugged nonchalantly.
“I’m aware. I’m looking forward to it.”
Claire watched the exchange, clearly uncomfortable.
She leaned over to Ethan and whispered, “Are you sure about this? Moonlight isn’t cheap… and Mike’s only trying to provoke you.”
Ethan smiled at her reassuringly.
“I appreciate your concern, Claire. But I think it’s time I finally join a class event. I’ll cover my part.”
Mike clapped his hands together, breaking the moment.
“Great! Well then, what are we waiting for?” He gave Ethan a smug look. “Let’s see how deep those pockets go, Ethan.”
As they arrived at Moonlight Restaurant, the sleek, polished marble entrance and glittering chandeliers overhead caught everyone’s attention.
Mike turned to Ethan with a mocking smile.
“You know, Ethan, if you’re having second thoughts, we could always go somewhere more… affordable.”
Ethan shook his head, his voice steady. “No need. I’m decided.”
Claire raised an eyebrow at the banter, clearly uneasy. “This is really unnecessary, Mike. Moonlight’s too much.”
Mike laughed, shrugging it off.
“Oh, come on, Claire. If Ethan feels it’s too much, we can always go somewhere more affordable.” He paused, turning to Ethan with a taunting look. “Unless… you’re having second thoughts?”
Ethan met Mike’s gaze steadily. “No second thoughts. I’m looking forward to it.”
Mike’s grin slipped for a moment.
He’d expected Ethan to back down, and now he was in too deep to admit he’d been bluffing. “Alright, then!” He let out a forced laugh.
“But, you know, the place is pricey—easily a thousand bucks for a decent dinner.”
They stepped into the restaurant, and the lush decor and ambient lighting enveloped them in sophistication.
The restaurant manager greeted them warmly, bowing slightly.
“Good evening. Will you be dining in the hall, or would you like a private room?”
Mike saw his chance and jumped in before Ethan could respond. “We’ll need a private room, of course,” he said, with a mocking glance in Ethan’s direction. “After all, Ethan here seems ready to go all out.”
Ethan smiled, unfazed. “A private room? No....”
Mike mocked, "Hey Ethan, you want us to have dinner at the lobby? Please, we have beautiful girls like Melissa and Claire here, can't you be generous?"
Ethan smiled, "Generous? Of course I will be...I mean, we can't just settle for a private room..."
Mike raised an eyebrow, his expression one of barely concealed irritation. “Oh? What are you thinking, then?”
Ethan kept his voice calm. “I think the supreme VIP room will be perfect.”
A hush fell over the group, and even the host seemed momentarily taken aback.
The supreme VIP room at Moonlight was legendary, reserved for only the wealthiest clients and coming with an extravagant price tag—at least $10,000 for the evening.
The words landed like a bombshell. Mike’s jaw dropped slightly, and he struggled to recover his composure. “The… supreme VIP room? Ethan, that room is at least ten thousand dollars!”
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THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 12
The manager nodded, smiling politely. “Indeed, sir. The supreme VIP room offers a truly exclusive experience.”Mike forced a laugh, trying to mask his shock. “Ethan, are you sure? I mean, that’s… a bit excessive, don’t you think?”Ethan gave him a cool look. “You suggested the best, didn’t you, Mike? I’m just making sure we get the full experience.”Mike, left with no way out, forced a smile. “Alright, then. Let’s do it.”Other students also cheered as they were getting a free treat in the most expensive place.As they followed the manager toward the supreme VIP room, Mike’s mind raced.He’d wanted to embarrass Ethan, but it was quickly becoming clear that he’d underestimated him.As they entered the Supreme VIP room, eyes shifted toward Ethan in surprise.It was rare for anyone to casually suggest going to such a high-class area, especially for someone like Ethan, who kept a low profile.But here he was, looking completely unbothered.Mike scoffed, watching Ethan with suspicion.He m
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR Chapter 13
The restaurant buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses.For the first time in years, Ethan felt like he was part of something special.He glanced around the table, enjoying the moment. His friends wore wide smiles, and even the air felt lighter, but he couldn’t ignore Mike's silence.It seemed out of place among the laughter and cheers, and his pale face contrasted sharply with everyone else’s rosy cheeks.“Hey, Mike, you doing okay?” Ethan asked, trying to keep his voice light.Mike glanced at Ethan, attempting a smile that fell flat.“Yeah… just… a little tired.” His voice was low, his eyes darting back to his phone. He’d been busy tapping away, hardly looking at his meal.One of the guys nudged him, laughing.“Mike, you’re missing out, man! This steak is the best I’ve had in years.”Mike forced a chuckle. “I’m fine. Just, uh… sorting out some stuff.”In truth, Mike was on his phone, sending out desperate messages to some friends.Hey, buddy, can you lend me a bit? Just fifty or s
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 14
The restaurant fell silent as the stacks of crisp bills spilled out from Ethan's shabby, worn-out bag.The money was piled high, neatly arranged in rubber-banded bundles, each bundle worth a small fortune.Gasps filled the room as his classmates stared, mouths agape, at the unexpected display of wealth.Mike was the first to break the silence, his face twisted in disbelief and anger.“That… that must be stolen!” he sneered, pointing a trembling finger at Ethan. “There’s no way you’d have that kind of money. Who’d you rob, huh?”Ethan tilted his head, his expression calm and amused.“Stolen? Really, Mike? Why don’t you call the police, then? They can come here and verify it. I’d be happy to cooperate.”Mike’s sneer faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, putting on a brave face.“Oh, don’t get cocky. Just because you managed to get your hands on a pile of cash doesn’t mean you’re anyone important.”“Funny,” Ethan replied with a smirk. “I could say the same about you.How’s it
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 15
Ethan after paying the bills, trying to ignore the curious stares and whispers. He’d expected a reaction, of course, but not the level of attention he was now getting.The moment they walked out of the restraunt, his classmates swarmed him.“Ethan, where’d you get all that cash?” one of them asked, leaning forward eagerly.“Yeah, man,” another chimed in, “You’ve been splurging like crazy. Did your family hit the jackpot or something?”Ethan chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.“Not exactly the family… Just me. I, uh, I won the lottery.”Gasps and murmurs spread through the room like wildfire.Everyone was either shocked or impressed, and a few classmates even looked a little jealous.Ethan kept a casual smile on his face, but he could feel their eyes on him, probing, questioning.He wasn’t sure how long they’d buy the story, but for now, it seemed to be working.Claire approached him cautiously, her face lighting up with a gentle smile.“Wow, Ethan, that’s… amazing. I’m happy fo
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 16
After dinner, Ethan returned home with a satisfaction.He was always humilated, looked down but today it was different, as he laid down on his bed. "Money with right use can really change life. That was proved today," he smiled, with a relief sigh.The next morning, he arrived at the local driving school, a modest building with a small sign that read "City Driver’s Academy." Ethan walked in, scanning the room for someone who looked like an instructor.As he walked in, Ethan noticed his assigned instructor leaning a bit too close to a young woman who looked uncomfortableAt first, he thought it might just be an awkward angle, but then he noticed the man’s hand resting on her leg.The girl subtly tried to move away, her face tense and her body language screaming discomfort.“Just stay quiet and follow along if you want that license,” the instructor whispered, his hand pressing down on her leg.“You wouldn’t want to make things harder for yourself, would you?”Ethan’s chest tightened wi
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 17
The instructor laughed, his voice ringing out with smug satisfaction. He leaned back against his desk, crossing his arms as he looked down at Ethan.“You really don’t get it, do you?” he sneered.“Do you know why I’m so untouchable? My uncle runs things at the police station. No one dares cross me. Anyone who even tries ends up in jail for life—lost, forgotten, rotting away. And you’re just a common college boy,” he added with a mocking chuckle.“So I’d think twice before playing hero.”Ethan clenched his fists, his face set with determination. He glanced at the girl beside him, who was trembling, her hands gripping his arm in fear."I…I can’t do this," she whispered, her voice laced with dread. "I want out."Ethan gave her a reassuring nod, his voice calm but filled with conviction."Don’t worry. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I won’t let him get away with this."The instructor burst into laughter, his face twisted with derision.“Oh, that’s cute,” he jeered, straightening and
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 18
The instructor laughed arrogantly as his police officer uncle entered the room, his confidence boosted tenfold. Turning to Ethan, he smirked, his voice mocking.“So, this was your big plan?” he jeered, his eyes glinting with malice.“Call the cops? Well, here he is. Now what are you going to do, hero?”Before Ethan could respond, the instructor lunged forward and punched him hard, sending him sprawling to the ground.“That’s for earlier,” the instructor sneered, looking down at Ethan with smug satisfaction. “You’re nothing but a little punk who doesn’t know his place.”Ethan winced, steadying his breath as he pushed himself up, meeting the instructor’s eye with steady resolve.“He’s been harassing her,” he said firmly, nodding toward the girl. “Someone has to stop him.”The officer crossed his arms, his face twisted into a smirk as he shook his head.“And who exactly is going to do that, huh?” he chuckled.“You?” He looked at Ethan as if he were nothing more than an inconvenience.“Ki
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 19
The officer’s face went pale as the police chief’s words sank in.His arrogance quickly melted into fear, and in a desperate attempt to save himself, he dropped to his knees, hands clasped together.“Chief, please!” he begged, his voice shaking.“I didn’t do anything—I swear! It was him,” he said, pointing a trembling finger at his nephew, the instructor. “He’s the one who’s been causing all this trouble! I hardly even know him!”The instructor’s face contorted with fury as he looked down at his uncle, who was now groveling before the chief.“Oh, really?” he sneered, crossing his arms.“You don’t know me? That’s rich, considering you’ve been benefiting from my ‘business’ for years! Money, women…every time I gave you a cut, you were more than happy to take it.”The officer glanced up at him, his face desperate.“That’s a lie! You’re trying to drag me down with you!”The instructor laughed bitterly, shaking his head.“Save it, Uncle. You’ve always been in on this. Don’t act like you’re
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CHAPTER 167
The SUV sped through the city streets, Ethan and Harris in the front seats while a small team of guards followed close behind.The protective custody safe house was located on the outskirts of town, a modest building surrounded by unmarked police vehicles.Harris checked his weapon.“If Lawrence’s people know about this guy, they’ll hit hard. We need to be ready.”Ethan nodded, his thoughts racing.This witness could be the key to unraveling Lawrence’s entire operation. I can’t let him slip through my fingers.As they approached the safe house, the first signs of trouble appeared.One of the police vehicles was parked at an odd angle, its driver-side door open.Harris’s voice was tense. “Something’s wrong.”Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Stay sharp.”The team entered the safe house cautiously, weapons drawn.The interior was eerily quiet, the faint hum of a television the only sound.“Clear the rooms,” Harris ordered.Ethan moved toward the back of the house, his instincts on high alert.He
CHAPTER 166
The soft glow of the mansion’s command room monitors reflected in Ethan’s eyes as he sifted through the mountain of information Harper had compiled.The more he learned about Lawrence’s activities, the tighter the knot in his stomach grew.“Shell companies,” Harper explained, pointing to a series of interconnected entities on the screen.“Dozens of them, all siphoning resources from Elliot Enterprises’ subsidiaries over the past decade.”Ethan’s jaw tightened.“How did this go unnoticed for so long?”“They were careful,” Harper replied.“Each transaction was small, spread out over multiple accounts. But when you piece it all together…”Harris leaned over the table, his expression grim.“It’s a fortune. Enough to bankroll The Black Hawk’s resurgence—and then some.”Ethan’s mind raced.Lawrence wasn’t just feeding The Black Hawk information—he was using the company to fund their operations. He’s been bleeding us dry from the inside.Lisa, seated beside him, shook her head in disbelief.
CHAPTER 165
Harper tapped on her tablet, bringing up historical records.“I did some digging on Lawrence. He disappeared from public view about twenty years ago. Before that, he worked in the financial sector, hopping between companies. Nothing criminal on record, but a lot of shady deals.”“Fits the profile,” Harris said.“He’s been operating in the shadows, feeding The Black Hawk intel to weaken us.”Lisa crossed her arms, her tone sharp.“And we didn’t see it until now because he’s been a ghost. A phantom moving just out of sight.”Ethan stared at the photograph of Lawrence included in the will—a younger man with sharp features and piercing eyes.You’ve been watching us this entire time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But now, it’s my turn.“What else do we know about him?” Ethan asked.Harper swiped through her tablet.“Not much. He has no fixed address, no known associates. But if he’s working with The Black Hawk remnants, they might be hiding him.”Harris frowned.“We need to flu
CHAPTER 164
Ethan’s eyes scanned the pages, each word deepening the knot in his stomach.“I, Robert Elliot,” the will began, “leave this record to reveal truths I could not in life. To my family, I hope you find it in your hearts to forgive me.”The document went on to detail Robert’s secret dealings with The Black Hawk, admitting that he had maintained ties with the organization long after their supposed betrayal.Lisa’s voice was soft but urgent.“He never severed ties? Why?”Ethan’s jaw tightened.“He claimed it was for the good of the family. He thought he could control them, keep them in check.”But as Ethan read further, his hands trembled. The will revealed something even more shocking—a mention of an undisclosed heir.“To my heirs,” the document read, “there is one among you who may not bear the Elliot name but is nonetheless tied to our bloodline. I leave it to you to protect them, for their connection to The Black Hawk is not of their choosing.”Lisa gasped.“An undisclosed heir? Someon
CHAPTER 163
The black SUV rolled to a halt outside an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.The structure was weathered, its metal siding rusted and its windows shattered, but the faint signal from the bug traced back to this very spot.Ethan stepped out, flanked by Harris and Lisa.The cold night air carried a heavy sense of foreboding as Ethan adjusted his earpiece.“Harper,” Ethan said quietly, scanning the darkened surroundings, “we’re at the location. Anything I should know?”“Signal’s strong,” Harper replied.“It’s definitely coming from inside. Be careful—this place hasn’t been on the grid for years, but someone’s been using it recently.”Ethan nodded and turned to Harris.“Take point. Lisa, stay close to me.”Lisa gave him a determined look.“I’m not going anywhere.”The interior of the warehouse was a stark contrast to its dilapidated exterior. Dust-covered crates and machinery were scattered throughout, but a makeshift desk at the center of the space caught Ethan’s attention
CHAPTER 162
Harris entered the room, his posture stiff. His usual air of quiet professionalism was tinged with something sharper—discontent.“Sir,” Harris began, “we need to talk.”Ethan gestured for him to speak, though his expression made it clear he wasn’t in the mood for debate.“Your recent decisions,” Harris said carefully, “have put the family’s safety at risk. Prioritizing Lisa’s protection during critical operations has diverted resources we couldn’t afford to lose.”Lisa’s eyes widened in disbelief.“You’re saying this is my fault?”Harris shook his head.“I’m not assigning blame, ma’am. I’m pointing out the facts. The Black Hawk exploited those gaps to get closer than they ever should have.”Ethan stood, his voice icy.“Harris, you’ve been with this family for years. I trust you with our security. But don’t mistake that trust for a license to question my priorities.”“With all due respect, sir,” Harris said, his tone measured but firm, “your priorities could cost us everything.”Ethan’
CHAPTER 161
The maintenance tunnel was cramped and dark, but it bypassed the barricade.The team emerged into the control center, where the backup system hummed ominously.Rows of monitors displayed lines of code, indicating the system was minutes away from full activation.Ethan moved swiftly, plugging in Harper’s decryption device.“Harper, I’m in. Start the shutdown sequence.”“On it,” Harper replied.“But it’ll take a few minutes. You’ll need to hold them off.”As if on cue, the lieutenant and a group of operatives burst into the room.“Ethan Elliot,” the lieutenant sneered.“Even now, you think you can win?”Ethan stepped between the system and the operatives, his weapon raised.“You’ve already lost. This is your last chance to walk away.”The lieutenant smirked. “You’re a fool.”The room erupted into chaos as the operatives charged.Ethan and his team fought fiercely, each second feeling like an eternity.Lisa covered Ethan, taking down an operative who got too close.“Keep working! We’ve g
CHAPTER 160
The sun dipped below the horizon as Ethan’s convoy approached the subsidiary’s hidden headquarters, a nondescript facility nestled within a dense forest.The building was unassuming, but Ethan knew it housed the backup system Holt had smugly warned about.Lisa sat beside him, her face set with determination.“If we don’t shut this down, everything we’ve fought for will be meaningless.”Ethan glanced at her, his voice calm despite the tension.“We will. This ends tonight.”In the back of the convoy, Harris and a team of elite guards checked their weapons and gear.Harper’s voice came through the comms.“Satellite imagery shows increased activity around the building. The Black Hawk remnants are dug in. Expect heavy resistance.”Ethan’s jaw tightened.“They’re desperate. That makes them dangerous.”Lisa placed a hand on his arm.“You’re ready for this. We all are.”He nodded, his resolve hardening.This is our last chance to stop them. Failure isn’t an option.The convoy came to a halt a
CHAPTER 159
Holt’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but he recovered quickly.“You’ll see soon enough. Even if you manage to disrupt it, the damage will already be done. Your empire will be a shadow of itself, ripe for the taking.”Ethan stepped closer, his gaze unflinching.“If you were as confident as you pretend to be, you wouldn’t still be here. You know I’m going to stop you.”Harper’s voice came through the earpiece again.“Ethan, we’ve found a vulnerability. The AI’s primary control is routed through a central node in this building. If we can sever the connection, it’ll stop the attack.”“Where is it?” Ethan asked.“Two floors below you,” Harper replied.“But it’s heavily secured. You’ll need to disable the firewalls on-site.”Ethan glanced at Holt.“You’ve made one critical mistake.”“Oh?” Holt said, raising an eyebrow.“You built this fortress to keep people out,” Ethan said, stepping toward the door.“But now, I’m already inside.”Before Holt could respond, Ethan dashed out of
