2024-10-30 11:18:18CHAPTER 8
The guard stood there, still rubbing his reddened cheek, staring at the manager in shock and confusion.
“Sir… why did you slap me? He’s just some nobody on a cheap scooter bike!”
The manager’s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening with each word.
He glanced out the glass doors at the sleek, streamlined scooter parked outside.
Then, without warning, he delivered another stinging slap to the guard’s face.
“Are you blind, or just incredibly stupid?” the manager snapped, his voice dripping with disdain.
“That ‘cheap scooter’ you’re so eager to mock is made of carbon fiber! Do you have any idea what that means?”
The guard’s eyes went wide, struggling to grasp the manager’s words.
“Carbon fiber?” he echoed, his voice faint.
“Yes, carbon fiber!” The manager shook his head, his voice laced with contempt.
“That’s not some regular run-down scooter from a junkyard. That machine costs at least a hundred thousand dollars!”
The guard’s mouth fell open, and he stammered, “A hundred… thousand? For a… scooter?”
The manager scoffed, rolling his eyes.
“What did you think? That people with that kind of money walk around looking like they’re dripping in gold? How could you not recognize quality when it’s right in front of you?” He paused, looking the guard up and down with disgust.
“I should be slapping you for embarrassing this bank with your utter ignorance.”
The guard’s face paled, his earlier confidence evaporating into thin air.
“I… I didn’t realize…”
The manager sneered, unimpressed.
“Of course, you didn’t. You’re too busy judging people by appearances to actually do your job.”
Ethan, watching the scene, let out an exasperated sigh.
“Are we done here?” he asked, his voice calm but clipped.
“I’d like to withdraw my money, if that’s possible.”
The manager’s face instantly softened, his tone transforming from scornful to deferential in a heartbeat.
“Of course, sir! There’s no need for any waiting or application process. Please, you can withdraw any amount you’d like.” He chuckled, a nervous edge to his smile.
“After all, sir, this bank is… well, it’s part of your family’s assets.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in his gaze as he looked at the guard, who now stood frozen, the weight of his mistake finally sinking in.
The guard’s face went pale, his legs trembling as he tried to process what had just happened.
Finally, he couldn’t hold himself up any longer and dropped to his knees, reaching out in desperation.
“Sir… please, please forgive me,” the guard stammered, his voice choked with regret.
“I didn’t know who you were. I… I thought you were just… I didn’t mean to disrespect you. I’ll do anything. Just… please, don’t punish me.”
Ethan looked down at him, his expression cold and unmoved.
“Anything?” he echoed, the faintest hint of disappointment flickering in his eyes.
“It’s funny—you didn’t care about respect a moment ago. And now, here you are, begging for forgiveness. Perhaps next time, you’ll think twice before judging someone based on appearances.”
The guard’s head dropped in shame as he whispered, “I… I’m so sorry, sir…”
Ethan turned away, uninterested in further conversation. “I don’t want apologies. I just want my money.”
The guard looked up in disbelief, hoping for a chance to redeem himself, but Ethan was already walking toward the manager, dismissing him without a second glance.
The manager stepped in swiftly, his voice deferential.
“Mr. Ethan, please, allow me to escort you to our VIP room. We’ll have everything prepared immediately.” He threw the guard a withering look, making it clear that any further disruptions would not be tolerated.
Inside the VIP room, the manager worked quickly, his hands moving with practiced efficiency as he counted out stacks of cash.
“Here we are, sir,” he said, presenting the neatly bound bundles.
“One hundred thousand dollars, ready in just five minutes. As for the full million… it would simply be too heavy to carry out at once.”
Ethan nodded, glancing at the cash before reaching into his bag.
The manager’s eyes widened slightly as he saw the worn, shabby bag Ethan pulled out—clearly old and stained, probably from years of rough use.
But Ethan loaded the stacks inside with an air of complete calm, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Thank you for your service,” Ethan said, his tone polite yet firm.
“And a note of advice,” he added, looking the manager directly in the eye, “perhaps you should make sure your staff understand the value of respect.”
The manager swallowed, his nod hurried. “Absolutely, sir. I’ll be sure to address it immediately.”
With a final nod, Ethan turned and walked out, his bag slung over his shoulder, a faint smile playing on his lips.
As he passed through the lobby, he didn’t see the guard anymore—likely sent off to nurse his bruised pride elsewhere.
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Ethan stepped out of the bank, feeling the weight of his worn bag filled with cash. Just as he climbed onto his carbon-fiber scooter, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was his roommate.“Hey, Ethan, where are you?” his roommate asked. “Class started, and the professor’s already taken attendance. You know how he gets.”Ethan’s heart dropped as he checked the time. He’d completely forgotten his lecture in the commotion at the bank. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” he replied, kicking his scooter into gear and racing toward the college.He arrived at the classroom, slightly out of breath, his bag slung over his shoulder. As he stepped in, every head in the room turned to him. At the front of the room, Professor Whitmore, a man with a perpetual scowl and sharp eyes, paused his lecture, his lips curling into a condescending smile.“Well, well,” Professor Whitmore sneered, eyeing Ethan. “Look who decided to join us. The class’s star latecomer! We’re s
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Melissa’s mocking smirk widened as she crossed her arms, glancing at Ethan with a mixture of disdain and amusement. “You know, Ethan, you’re actually considering joining us? I mean, since when have you ever gone to a group event? Oh, right,” she sneered, “you’d rather save your pennies and skip out.”Ethan met her gaze with calm amusement. “Maybe I’ve decided it’s time to change things up.”Just then, Mike swaggered over, flashing Melissa a possessive grin before casting a condescending look in Ethan’s direction. Mike was the reason Melissa had dumped Ethan, and he was determined to remind Ethan of it every chance he got.“Oh, so this is the dinner everyone’s talking about?” Mike said, smirking. “Well, count me in.” His gaze flickered toward Claire with a glint of interest. “Can’t let the most beautiful girl in class be left with… undesirable company.”Claire raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his insinuation, but Mike wasn’t done. He turned to Ethan with a mocking chuckle
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“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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Ethan’s grip tightened around the silver ring as he strode down the hospital corridor. The cold metal burned against his palm, as if whispering secrets he wasn’t ready to hear. His father—the man who had spent years shaping Ethan into a leader—had kept this from him.The Serpent was never meant to die.Those words from the note echoed in his head like a curse.Lisa kept pace beside him, her face tense. “Are you sure about this? Your father’s barely stable. Pushing him could make things worse.”Ethan’s eyes darkened. “I don’t have time to wait. He’s been hiding something, Lisa. And I need to know what.”Lisa exhaled sharply but didn’t argue. She knew Ethan well enough to recognize when he was beyond reason.Harris met them at the hospital room’s entrance, arms crossed. “Guards are stationed outside. No one’s coming in or out without clearance.”Ethan nodded, shoving open the door.Inside, the room was dimly lit, the steady beep-beep of the heart monitor the only sound cutting through t
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Ethan’s team fanned out behind him, weapons at the ready. But Dominic merely laughed. “And here I thought you’d come alone. Guess even you need help sometimes.”Ethan didn’t bother with small talk. He charged, launching a lightning-fast strike at Dominic.Their bodies collided in a flurry of fists and fury. The throne toppled, Dominic’s wine spilling across the marble floor.The final battle was raw and savage—no more pretense, no more cunning ploys.Just two men locked in a brutal contest for dominance. Dominic, trained by The Serpent’s best assassins, moved with lethal grace, delivering kicks and jabs that rattled Ethan’s ribs.But Ethan had learned from every betrayal, every war.He’d honed his body and mind through a thousand battles. This is more than a fight for the empire, he thought, ducking a vicious swing.This is about saving Lisa—and ending Dominic’s tyranny once and for all.Their blows echoed in the chamber, each strike painting splatters of blood on the polished floor.
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Ethan’s boat sliced through the dark waters, the roar of the engine muted by the relentless night wind. His heart thundered with a singular purpose—rescue Lisa, end Dominic.Everything else—empire, reputation, vengeance—faded in the face of this final confrontation.Lisa was there, captive on a private island owned by one of The Serpent’s offshore shell companies. And Dominic had made the deadliest mistake of his life: he’d taken the one person Ethan would tear the world apart to save.Harris crouched at the bow, scanning the shoreline through night-vision goggles. “We’re close. Spotlights at ten o’clock. Probably the outer perimeter.”Ethan nodded, eyes fixed on the distant flickers. “The estate’s heavily guarded. We won’t get a second chance.”Mike, seated behind Ethan, gripped his rifle. “We land, go in silent, and eliminate resistance. Let’s not give them time to raise alarms.”Ethan felt a cold determination grip his core. No mercy tonight. His thoughts churned: I’ve let Dominic
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Later that evening, Ethan received a call from the prison warden. Victoria wanted to speak with him. He almost ignored it, but something in his gut said otherwise. Within the hour, he stood in the sterile hallway outside Victoria’s high-security cell, tension coiling in his chest.Victoria sat on the single metal bench inside, her regal demeanor undiminished by the jumpsuit and concrete walls. Her eyes, cold and calculating, locked onto Ethan’s.She smirked. “You look tired. The weight of the empire wearing on you, dear brother?”Ethan’s voice was icy. “Cut the act. Why’d you call?”She inclined her head, as if she were still in control. “I can help you bring Dominic down. I know he’s winning. I know The Serpent is backing him. And I know how to break him.”Ethan snorted. “You expect me to trust you? After everything you did?”She shrugged, unfazed. “I don’t need your trust. I just need your desperation. And you are desperate, aren’t you?” Her voice turned mocking. “You’re losing, Eth
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Dominic’s sudden rise had shaken the Elliot empire to its core.For weeks now, Ethan watched helplessly as the world embraced Dominic’s claim, painting him as the “true heir” and mocking Ethan as a usurper.Elliot Enterprises was on the verge of collapse, and the board members—those Ethan had spent years proving himself to—began to waver under Dominic’s promises.Yet Ethan wasn’t about to surrender everything he’d built. Not when he knew that Dominic’s ascendancy wasn’t mere coincidence.It was a calculated assault orchestrated by The Serpent, the shadowy cabal that had once silently shaped the family’s fortune. He’d been cornered, ridiculed, and discredited, but he wasn’t down.He was planning his counterstrike.Ethan paced the length of the conference room, his footsteps echoing against the polished marble floor. His jaw was tight, and his eyes flickered with the cold fire of determination.Around the long table sat his most trusted circle: Lisa, Mike, his legal team, and the few ex
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Ethan sat in silence, the weight of his mother’s revelation pressing down on him like a vice.Illegitimate.That one word had the power to strip him of everything he had built. Every deal, every empire, every ounce of control—gone, just like that.For the first time in years, uncertainty gnawed at the edges of his confidence.Lisa stood across from him, arms crossed, her sharp gaze never leaving his face. “Say something.”Ethan clenched his jaw, fingers tapping against the polished wood of his desk. His mind churned through every possible outcome, every move that could counteract this.Harris leaned against the wall, shaking his head. “Damn. If this gets out, the courts won’t even need to rule against you. The board will turn on you first.”Lisa scoffed. “Let them. If they’re stupid enough to believe a piece of paper is what makes a leader, they don’t deserve to be part of this empire.”Ethan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “The law doesn’t care about strength, Lisa. It cares about
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Ethan had fought wars in the shadows, crushed rivals without breaking a sweat, and survived attacks that would have buried weaker men.But this?This was an attack on his very existence.And right now, Dominic was winning.Lisa stormed into Ethan’s office, her face flushed with anger. She slammed a thick folder onto his desk, her voice sharp. “They’re fast-tracking Dominic’s case.”Ethan barely glanced at the documents. He already knew what was inside. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk. Calm. Calculated. Dangerous.Harris, standing near the window, scoffed. “What a damn surprise. When you’ve got The Serpent pulling strings, the law bends however they want it to.”Lisa’s nails dug into her palm. “They’re not just after your company, Ethan. Dominic is trying to rewrite history.”Ethan arched a brow. “Let me guess—he’s playing the poor, long-lost heir?”Lisa’s jaw tightened. “Worse. The media is framing him as the wronged son while you’re
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Ethan had always known wars weren’t won overnight. But this? This was the kind of attack meant to break him, to strip him down until he had no choice but to surrender.Too bad Dominic didn’t know who he was up against.Lisa stormed into Ethan’s office, her phone clutched tightly in her fist. “You need to see this.”She shoved the screen in front of him. The headline hit Ethan like a punch to the gut."FIRE CONSUMES ELLIOT TOWER—ARSON SUSPECTED."Ethan’s eyes flickered to the live footage below the text. The once-imposing skyscraper now stood in flames, firefighters battling against the roaring inferno. Smoke billowed into the night sky, and panicked voices filled the broadcast.Harris leaned against the desk, arms crossed. “That’s not just property damage. That’s a power move.”Lisa’s voice was tight with rage. “Dominic ordered this. I know it.”Ethan let out a slow, measured breath, keeping his fury in check. “He’s destabilizing me. Burning my empire down—literally.”Lisa’s glare sha
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The moment Ethan rejected Dominic’s offer, the war began.Not with bullets or blades—not yet—but with power, deception, and destruction.The Serpent moved fast. Within twenty-four hours, Ethan’s empire started bleeding.Lisa stormed into Ethan’s office, her phone clutched so tightly her knuckles were white. “You need to see this.”Ethan barely had time to react before she threw a tablet onto his desk. A live news broadcast filled the screen, smoke and flames engulfing one of the Elliot Group’s high-profile office buildings downtown. Firefighters battled the inferno, but the damage was done.“This is Elliot Tower,” Lisa said, voice tight with fury. “The damn flagship of your real estate sector. Gone.”Harris, leaning against the wall, let out a sharp breath. “That’s not just an attack. That’s a message.”Ethan exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. “Casualties?”Lisa checked her phone. “Minimal. Most of the employees had already left for the night. But the financial hit? It’s go
