
"Hey, idiot! Get out of there!"
The shout echoed through the empty basketball court, followed by the unmistakable sound of a ball hurtling toward Ethan’s head.
He barely had time to flinch before the basketball collided with his skull, sending him stumbling backward onto the cold concrete. His vision blurred, and his head throbbed in pain.
Laughter erupted from the group standing near the court’s edge—Mike and his friends, their mocking grins wide as they watched Ethan, sprawled out on the ground like a fool.
"Look at him!" one of Mike's friends called out, his voice laced with cruel amusement.
"Can’t even dodge a ball!"
"Stupid, pathetic loser," another chimed in, their laughter making Ethan’s ears ring.
The floor beneath Ethan’s hands was gritty and dirty, and he wiped his forehead with his sleeve, feeling the sting of embarrassment heat his cheeks.
He had been cleaning the court, doing his job as part of his work-study program.
But clearly, Mike and his crew had other plans.
Groaning, Ethan sat up and looked around the court.
The sweat on his face mingled with the dirt from the floor.
His body was aching, and his pride was bruised. But he pushed through the pain.
“I just finished cleaning,” he muttered, wiping his hands on his worn-out shirt.
“The court’s closed. You guys need to get out.”
Mike, who was grinning like he had all the power in the world, stepped closer.
His tall frame towered over Ethan, casting a shadow over him.
"You heard him, boys?" Mike said, turning to his friends.
"He thinks he’s the boss of this place!” he mocked Ethan.
One of Mike’s friends, a skinny guy with a crooked smile, scoffed and stepped forward.
"A beggar ordering us around? Who does he think he is?" he sneered, his eyes narrowing with contempt.
"I don’t care who you are." Ethan swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure.
His voice was shaking but determined.
"I just cleaned half of this court. If you mess it up, I’ll have to do it all over again."
The words seemed to enrage Mike and his gang.
They looked at each other with shared disdain before Mike’s expression shifted into one of dark amusement.
"Well, that’s a problem, isn’t it?" Mike’s voice was low, menacing.
He reached forward and slapped Ethan hard across the face.
The force of the blow sent Ethan sprawling onto the concrete once more, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
“Akh,” Ethan could only groan in pain.
"You poor thing... That’s your fate if you have to clean this entire field. I don’t care about you!" Mike’s voice was cruel, his words a reminder of the power he wielded over Ethan.
Before Ethan could react, Mike’s friends joined in.
They kicked his body, one after another, their laughter filling the air.
His stomach twisted with pain as their feet slammed into his side.
Every hit made his vision grow darker, but he held back tears, clenching his fists as he lay there.
"Get up," Mike spat, his face inches from Ethan’s.
"You really think I care about some poor kid’s job? I’ve got better things to do. Now, get out of here!"
Ethan struggled to push himself to his knees, his body aching, but he didn't want to leave.
He needed the money he earned from his work-study job.
“I’m not leaving,” Ethan said, trying to find the strength in his voice.
"I’m responsible for cleaning this court.If you make a mess, I won’t get paid. Do you want me to lose my job?"
Mike sneered, his eyes narrowing as he flicked his head toward Ethan’s battered form.
“You don’t get it, do you?” Mike said, his voice sharp with irritation.
"I’m the richest kid at this school! I do whatever I want. And today, I’ve got business to attend to."
Ethan’s heart skipped a beat.
He looked around, seeing the other boys nodding, as if confirming something.
Mike took a deep breath and grinned wickedly.
"I’m going to confess to a girl today, and I don’t need you messing things up. So, you better get out of here. Now!"
The words hit Ethan like a punch to the gut.
His stomach twisted with unease, but he knew he couldn’t argue. Mike wasn’t going to listen.
And if he pushed back, he might lose his job entirely.
The group erupted in laughter again, mocking Ethan, calling him names like "poor loser" and "worthless beggar."
Then, without another word, they shoved him roughly to the side, ordering him to stay in the corner and clean up after they were finished.
Ethan stumbled, clutching his stomach, and retreated to the storage shed nearby.
He was in pain, his face throbbing, but he couldn’t let them see how much he was hurting.
He was determined to get through it. After all, this was just one more day in his miserable life.
Inside the shed, Ethan sat on the edge of an overturned bucket, trying to catch his breath.
He wiped the blood from his lips, feeling the sting in his skin.
The commotion outside grew louder, and Ethan could hear the shouts of “Say yes!” and “Kiss her!” as if the whole school was anticipating a dramatic confession.
Ethan hesitated for a moment before pushing open the warehouse door, curiosity getting the better of him.
He stepped outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the momentous event.
His heart hammered in his chest, the pain from the earlier beating still throbbing through his body.
But when he looked toward the basketball court, he froze. His eyes widened, and the world around him seemed to tilt on its axis.
There, in the middle of the court, was Melissa—his girlfriend—locked in a passionate kiss with another man.
A rush of anger and confusion swirled in Ethan’s chest, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe.
His hands clenched into fists, and his mind screamed for him to stop them, to make them pay for the betrayal that was unfolding before his eyes.
Without thinking, Ethan rushed forward, his legs carrying him across the court.
"Melissa!" he shouted, his voice breaking through the noise of the crowd.
Related Chapters
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR Chapter 2.
“Oh, shit! What is this idiot trying to do here?”The shout cut through the air, sharp and mocking. Ethan’s heart hammered in his chest as he ran toward them—Mike and his cronies standing near the edge of the basketball court, their attention already drawn to him. A pit of dread formed in Ethan’s stomach, but he pushed through, his mind filled with nothing but the need to confront Melissa. She was there, among them, and something didn’t sit right. He had to know what was going on.Before Ethan could take another step, one of Mike’s friends, a stocky guy with a cruel smile, stepped forward. His arm swung in a wide arc, slapping Ethan hard across the face. The sound of skin meeting skin rang out, and Ethan staggered to the side, his cheek stinging from the impact."You really want to ruin this for Mike?" the guy spat, stepping closer, his breath hot and sour. "I told you how important this confession was, you idiot! What the hell are you even doing here? You’re just a cleaner! You
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR Chapter 3.
“You’re fucking bastard!!” Mike’s voice rang through the air like a thunderclap, his fury palpable. His face was red, and his eyes burned with rage. He pointed directly at Ethan, who was already reeling from the blows he had taken moments before.Mike’s cronies were circling Ethan like sharks, their fists flying mercilessly. Ethan stumbled, his vision blurry as pain radiated from his side. A cruel punch slammed into his stomach, forcing him to his knees. The thud of their fists hitting flesh, mixed with the mocking laughter of the gang, filled the basketball court."Get up, loser!" Mike spat, his words dripping with venom. "I told you not to mess with me!"Ethan groaned, blood dripping from his mouth, but he pushed himself up, his eyes glaring defiantly through the haze of pain.“I’m not going to back down, Mike,” Ethan muttered, though his voice wavered with exhaustion.Mike’s anger only increased. He turned to his friends, gesturing violently for them to continue. "Beat him dow
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR Chapter 4.
Ethan came out of the police station in confusion, his mind swirling with unanswered questions. As the cool evening air hit his bruised face, he blinked in surprise, noticing a middle-aged man standing near the entrance. The man was staring directly at him, his posture calm yet purposeful. It took Ethan a moment to recognize him."Uncle Steve?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. Steve Jackson, his neighbor's uncle. Ethan's brow furrowed in confusion. “Ethan. Glad to see you’re alright.” Steven smiled warmly."Uncle Steve, what are you doing here?" asked Ethan. “Did you… did you pay my bail?"Steven chuckled softly, shaking his head as he offered a slight bow."No, Ethan. It wasn’t me. But I’m here to take you to someone who did."Ethan’s confusion deepened.“Wait, what do you mean? Who—”“Come with me,” Steve interrupted, gesturing toward a sleek black car parked nearby.The car gleamed under the streetlights, its luxury unmistakable. Ethan's heart skipped a beat. Th
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR 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 be
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 6
Ethan stood in the lavish living room, the weight of the golden bank card pressing against his palm. His mind was a whirlwind of questions, the biggest being Who is Lisa Barrett? His future was now tied to a woman he knew nothing about, and though the thought of her stirred a flicker of curiosity—Was she beautiful? Kind? Spoiled?—his gaze shifted back to the bank card.Money, he thought. Money changes everything. The memory of endless humiliation, the constant weight of struggling just to get by, flashed through his mind. All those times he’d been belittled and beaten down, just because he wasn’t rich. Now, he held the power to change it.Just as Ethan was about to ask his father more, his father’s phone rang. Ethan’s father’s expression changed, a flash of urgency in his eyes.“I’m sorry, son. There’s an emergency I have to attend to,” his father said, his voice quick and businesslike. “For now, you’re free to do whatever you want.”Ethan watched his father disappear through th
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 7
Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he refused the bill. “I’m not here for your charity. I came to make a withdrawal.”The guard snorted, pulling back the ten dollars and pocketing it with exaggerated slowness. “Right. Then maybe try the ATM outside, buddy.”Ethan’s lips curled into a tight smile as he met the guard’s gaze head-on. “And what if I told you I’m here to withdraw one million dollars?”For a moment, the guard looked taken aback, then burst into laughter that drew the attention of a few onlookers. “One million?” he repeated, struggling to contain his amusement. “You’re joking, right?”Ethan’s expression remained calm, but there was fire in his eyes. “Is there a reason why that’s so hard for you to believe?”The guard snorted, his laughter bordering on scorn. “Because I saw you pull up on that rusty scooter outside,” he replied, his voice dripping with condescension. “One million dollars? That’s a good one. Do you think we’re all idiots here?”Ethan’s face reddened, and he coul
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 8The 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
THE BEGGER BOY IS RICH HEIR CHAPTER 9
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
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 277
Ethan stood on the edge of a glass-and-steel monolith, looking down at the city that had both made him and tried to break him.Dubai stretched out in all directions—a kingdom of glass towers, neon reflections, and wealth built on power and silence.Once, he had owned this world.Once, he had believed he could shape it.But now, as he stood above it all, the question that had haunted him since the beginning refused to be ignored.Did I win? Or did I just survive?He exhaled, the wind pulling at his coat, sending strands of his hair whipping against his forehead.The streets below were alive—cars honking, people moving, deals being made in hushed conversations, just another night in the empire of the rich.None of them knew what had happened.None of them knew how close this city had come to burning with The Dominion.They only knew the headlines:“Ethan Elliot Destroys Global Crime Syndicate.”“The Fall of The Dominion—A Power Shift in the Underworld.”“The Most Dangerous Man in the Wo
CHAPTER 276
Ethan stood at the edge of the smoldering ruin, his body aching, his mind drowning in the weight of what had been done.Dubai’s skyline had changed overnight—one less tower standing.One less monster breathing.He should have felt something.Relief. Satisfaction. A sense of victory.But there was nothing.Only smoke, ash, and silence.The Dominion was gone.Their networks dismantled, their leaders dead, scattered, or in hiding.The underworld had changed in a single night, shifting like tectonic plates beneath his feet.And the world had noticed.The media had already begun spinning their stories.“Elliot Enterprises CEO Linked to Mysterious Power Shift.”“The Fall of The Dominion—A New Global Order?”“Ethan Elliot: The Man Who Killed the Shadows.”Some feared him.Some worshipped him.Some wanted him dead.None of it mattered.Because Ethan was done.Lisa was gone.Malik was gone.His empire was still standing, but it wasn’t his anymore.He had spent years clawing his way to the top,
CHAPTER 275
3:00… 2:59… 2:58…The countdown blazed across the massive penthouse screen.Ethan’s fingers tightened around Emery’s collar."Where is it?" His voice was a low growl, lethal.Emery coughed, blood staining his teeth. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"2:30… 2:29…Ethan yanked him forward, shaking him violently. "Tell me where the bomb is, or I swear I will—""Kill me?" Emery smirked, weak but smug. "That’s what I want, Ethan."Ethan’s breath came sharp. Every fiber of his body screamed to end him.But the clock was running out.Lisa’s voice echoed in his head."Don’t become them…"2:00… 1:59…Ethan dropped Emery.He turned on his heel, ignoring the bastard’s laughter as he scanned the penthouse for any sign of the bomb.Then—he saw it.A black case embedded inside the structural framework of the tower, wires running across the walls like a web of death.The fail-safe was wired into the building itself.Emery had planned this well.There was no stopping the countdown.1:30… 1:29…He had to ge
CHAPTER 274
Ethan moved first.No hesitation. No mercy.His fist slammed into Emery’s face, sending him crashing into a marble pillar.The impact cracked the surface, shards of stone crumbling to the floor.But Emery didn’t collapse.He grinned through the blood."That’s it, Ethan," he rasped, wiping his split lip. "No more business deals. No more negotiations. Just war."Ethan didn’t answer.Words were pointless now.Lisa was gone.The Dominion had burned his empire.Now, he would burn them.Emery launched himself forward, faster than Ethan expected.A knife flashed in his hand.Ethan twisted—**barely dodging—**but the blade still grazed his ribs.Pain flared, hot and sharp, but he didn’t slow.Instead, he caught Emery’s wrist and twisted.CRACK.The knife clattered to the floor.Emery hissed, his arm hanging limp, dislocated.But he still laughed."Come on," he taunted. "You’re holding back."Ethan’s rage snapped.He drove his knee into Emery’s gut, knocking the air from his lungs.As Emery dou
CHAPTER 273
The Burj Dominion towered over Dubai, a fortress of wealth, power, and secrecy. A structure built on the backs of the world’s most corrupt elites, designed to withstand anything.Anything but him.Ethan was coming.Inside the penthouse, Emery Calloway stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the city sprawling beneath him in a tapestry of golden lights. He swirled the whiskey in his glass, watching the skyline with an air of amusement.Behind him, a war was brewing.Guards flooded the lower floors, rifles loaded, body armor strapped on, comms crackling with rapid orders. The entire tower was on lockdown.But Emery wasn’t afraid.He had been waiting for this."Sir, we should evacuate," one of his lieutenants suggested, nervous.Emery smirked, tilting his glass to his lips. "No."The man hesitated. "With all due respect, sir, Elliot is—""Exactly where I want him." Emery placed the glass down with a deliberate clink. "Let him in."The lieutenant paled. "Sir?"Emery turned, his
CHAPTER 272
Ethan didn’t remember getting into the car.Didn’t remember the high-speed chase through the city, weaving through traffic, running red lights, ignoring the screaming sirens behind him.All he saw was her face on that screen.Lisa.Still alive.Barely breathing, but still there.And if he was even a second too late?He wouldn’t let himself think about it.Mike’s voice crackled over the comm. “Ethan, you need to slow down. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”Ethan’s grip tightened on the wheel. “I don’t care.”Because this wasn’t about strategy anymore.This was personal.The warehouse loomed ahead, an abandoned Dominion facility on the city outskirts.Ethan didn’t wait. Didn’t plan.He crashed the car straight through the front gate, metal screeching as he tore past the defenses.Gunfire erupted. Bullets slammed into the car, glass shattering.Ethan was already out, already moving.His gun spat fire as he carved a path through The Dominion soldiers.Each shot was precise. Lethal.
CHAPTER 271
Ethan had sensed the setup the moment the lights cut out.Too quiet. Too clean.Then—the explosion.The front door blasted inward, a shockwave ripping through the safe house. Glass shattered, furniture splintered, smoke curled through the air like a phantom’s breath.Ethan was already moving before the dust settled.They were here.The Dominion’s kill squad—The Reapers.Silent. Precise. Deadly.Dark figures poured in through the smoke, rifles raised, laser sights flickering like red stars in the haze.Ethan ducked, rolled, and fired.A single headshot took out the first.A knife to the throat silenced the second.Malik was beside him, a shadow of destruction. A brutal strike to the gut, a bullet between the ribs—two Reapers fell instantly.But they kept coming.Ethan’s mind worked ten steps ahead.They didn’t just want him dead.They wanted him contained.Cut off. Cornered. Executed.Too bad.They had underestimated the wrong man.Ethan moved like a ghost through the gunfire, slipping
CHAPTER 270
The world had changed.Aldrich Vaughn was dead. Executed in his own home. His dirty secrets broadcasted to the world, his name dragged through the mud.It wasn’t a quiet, clean hit. Ethan had made sure of that.Now?Everyone was watching.For the first time, The Dominion was exposed.They weren’t untouchable anymore.And that terrified them.Inside an underground Dominion control center, Emery Calloway stood motionless.Multiple screens flickered, each one showing the same headline."Former U.S. Senator Aldrich Vaughn found executed—Massive corruption scandal unraveling.""Who is behind the murder of one of America’s most powerful political figures?""The world’s elite in chaos—How deep does this conspiracy go?"Emery’s fingers tightened into a fist.Vaughn was supposed to be protected. Untouchable. A symbol of The Dominion’s absolute power.Yet Ethan had wiped him from existence in a single night.“We underestimated him.”The voice came from one of his lieutenants, a man in a pristin
CHAPTER 269
Ethan sat in the dimly lit warehouse, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the cold steel of his gun. The room smelled of dust and rusted metal, but the air was thick with something else—vengeance.Tonight, the war truly began.Across the room, Malik slid a tablet across the table. “He’s at his estate. Surrounded by security. Cameras, guards, high-tech defenses. A fortress.”Ethan barely glanced at the screen. “It won’t be enough.”Mike leaned forward. “You sure about this? If we start picking them off, The Dominion will come at us harder than ever.”Ethan’s gaze was sharp, unwavering. “Good. Let them.”Aldrich Vaughn was a snake in a suit—a corrupt politician who had sold out his own people for power.More importantly?He was one of the architects of Lisa’s abduction.And tonight? He would pay.Ethan’s plan wasn’t just about killing him.That would be too easy.No, Ethan would destroy his empire first. Strip him of his power, his money, his influence.Then, and only then, would h