CHAPTER 5

Ethan stood there, frozen in place, trying to figure out what he was seeing. 

When his dad wore a perfectly cut suit, he gave off an air of power and authority that Ethan had never thought of him having. 

The man in front of him was nothing like his father, who had always seemed modest and normal. 

This was a different man, one who felt at ease in the mansion's luxurious surroundings.

“Dad?” Ethan’s voice trembled with disbelief. “What... what are you doing here?”

His father’s face softened with a smile, though his eyes held a gravity that Ethan had never seen before. 

“And why are you dressed up like this?” Ethan asked him, as his dad dress looked expensive.

“Ethan, there’s so much you don’t know. So much I’ve kept from you, and for that, I owe you an explanation.”

Ethan stared, bewildered, as his father gestured for him to take a seat. 

Ethan looked at his father with wide eyes as he motioned for him to sit down. He did what he was told. 

The warm floor of his cell had been hours before, so the weight of the soft couch felt very different.

“For years,” his father began, his tone steady but serious, “I’ve hidden the truth from you.”

With a pause he said again.

“The life we’ve lived, the hardships you’ve faced—they were all part of a test, a trial meant to teach you about the world and the life of ordinary people.”

Ethan’s mind reeled. “A... trial?” he echoed, barely able to believe what he was hearing.

“Yes,” his father replied. “You see, the Elliot family isn’t just wealthy, Ethan. We are the wealthiest family in the world. Our influence stretches across continents, with stakes in some of the most powerful companies globally. We control industries, make decisions that shape the world’s economy. And everything—every last bit of it—is our legacy. Your legacy.”

Ethan felt his breath catch as the enormity of his father’s words sank in. 

“Is this some kind of joke?” Ethan asked, because he hasnt heard anything in so many years and now his dad is talking about legacy.

“No, my son,” Ethan’s father replied him calmly. 

“Everything you’ve experienced,” his father continued, “was to prepare you for this moment. To give you perspective, empathy for those who don’t have what you have.”

When Ethan heard what his dad had said, he felt his breath catch.

 He looked around the room at the sparkling chandeliers and the quiet staff members who were waiting for any order. 

That's when he understood that his life as he knew it was just a dream, a front to hide this shocking truth.

Still in shock, Ethan looked up at his father, his voice barely a whisper. 

“So… everything I went through, the struggles, the humiliation... it was all so I could understand?”

“Yes,” his father said simply. 

“And now, that part of your life is over.You’ve passed the test, Ethan. You’re ready to take on the responsibilities of the Elliot family.”

With a calm yet firm gesture, his father reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a gleaming gold card.

 He held it out to Ethan, the gold surface catching the light, its weight in his father’s hand hinting at the immense power it represented.

“This,” his father said, his voice steady, “is the highest-level bank card from the largest bank in the world. With it, you’ll be treated as a VIP wherever you go. You’ll have access to everything the Elliot family has built.”

Ethan took the card, feeling its cool surface against his skin, the golden gleam almost blinding. 

His fingers trembled as he gripped it, fully aware that this was no ordinary card. This was his gateway to a life he’d never even dared to dream of.

Ethan stared at the card, his grip tightening on the gold card when his father spoke.

But his father’s expression grew serious. 

“Ethan, understand that this wealth and privilege come with responsibility. Accepting this card means accepting your duty to the family, to protect and expand our legacy.”

Ethan looked up, his mind swirling with questions. 

“What... what kind of responsibilities?”

His father’s face softened for a moment, but then he grinned—a confident, almost mischievous smile. 

“Our family has a longstanding marriage contract with the Barrett family,” he explained, his tone carrying a finality that left no room for doubt.

 “You are expected to marry their daughter, Lisa Barrett.”

 He was no longer just Ethan Elliot, the struggling student from a poor family. 

He was the heir to the world’s wealthiest family—and bound by duty to a future he hadn’t chosen.