Chloe sat up with a jolt the next time she opened her eyes.Without looking around her, she felt her entire body for any pain but felt nothing. It wasn't until she paid attention to the free-fall gown she was wearing that she realized it wasn't what she left the house in this morning.Her eyes stung with tears, and she sniffled, quickly concluding Matt Peterson had succeeded in sleeping with her.She heard someone tug on the doorknob almost immediately and grabbed the lamp holder closest to her, ready to smash Matt Peterson's head in the moment he walked in.She was ready to hurl the lampstand when she realized it wasn't Matt Peterson but her..."Ethan?"Ethan, who had no idea what was about to befall him as he had his attention on the tray he was carrying, halted and looked up."Huh?"When he saw she had woken up, his dull eyes immediately lit up."You're awake. You were asleep for three hours. I was starting to get worried." The man beamed lightly, walking closer to her.He lowered
Chloe patiently listened to him talk about how his family had refused to lend him money for his mother's treatment, but shamelessly came to claim her body from the hospital where she died.He had grabbed a mop stick with a sharp edge and threatened to kill them with it if they came any closer to his mother. He hurled insults at them before chasing them away from the hospital.Right before they left, they cut all ties with him, officially leaving him to fend for his life as an orphan.Both his mother's family and his father's family cut all ties with him."So on the day I buried my mother, I vowed to make each and everyone of them pay for letting her die when it wouldn't have cost them anything to save her life," Ethan concluded his reminiscing, staring into the empty space.Chloe understood he was having a moment, so she refrained from saying anything for the meantime until they were about to leave.As she buckled her seatbelt, she turned to him and smiled lightly, "I understand it wh
"What? Why?" Claire blurted out, furrowing her brows in confusion."He asked me out, but I turned him down. Then he gave me the jewelry saying I can always find him around the school if I change my mind," Chloe explained, a sigh of exhaustion escaping her lips as she slumped down on the couch behind her."Why would Paul ask you out? He knows you're my sister. He would recognize you anywhere, so why would he do something like that?" Claire bit down on her lower lip, lowering her eyes to the floor."To get back at you and me for what happened to the Jespersen family." Ethan chimed in calmly, his eyes as hard as ever.A sudden silence engulfed the living room for a few minutes before Claire broke it with a snort."The Jespersen family? Paul doesn't give a damn about the Jespersen family.""Yes, they might have asked him to get back at us for what happened to them, but Paul isn't doing it for them. It's just so he can pin it on them when whatever he's planning backfires on him."Chloe's e
Paul found the man's suggestion about Ethan calling Kane to help him good. Now that he thought of it, that imbecile with Ethan had also intimidated him that day.Moreover, he didn't want to risk someone coming after the Michigan family in the future to avenge Ethan's death.So he exhaled loudly and leaned towards the table."Your suggestion doesn't sound too bad. The more, the merrier. Plus, it'll be fun watching the expression on this loser's face when I kill that sidekick of his."The man in front of Ethan slipped his hands into his pockets and snorted into his face."Mr. Michigan always knows the best way to make an example of people. So you better be grateful he's extending your lifespan by a few minutes.""Now take out your phone and call this friend of yours. Be fast about it because I can't afford to let you live any longer than Mr. Michigan wants you to."Ethan maintained the stoic look on his face as he stared back at the thug with drooping eyes. He appeared as though he hear
Paul Michigan and the thug with him froze for a moment when they turned to see the pathetic state the muscular men they had brought to beat up Ethan were in."What...how could this happen? These guys are the best on the streets," the thug stuttered, eyes still wide open in disbelief as he stared at the muscular men.A few of them were fortunate to hit their heads against something and pass out, putting a pause on the pain from the bones sticking out from their arms and legs.While the rest were unfortunate to remain conscious. The intense pain from their broken bones didn't let them black out and at the same time, the pain dulled their brain, forcefully keeping them awake.The thug braced himself and moved closer to where the muscular men were. He glanced at every one of them groaning in pain on the floor and clutching their broken parts before he kicked the person closest to him."H-hey! What do you think you're doing? You can't even take someone like him. Think about the huge amount
Ethan pressed the thug's face to the ground, leaving him no space to do anything besides look at the things in front of him."Let go of me! Let go of me! You must be tired of living!" The thug kept screaming, desperately wriggling his body to escape Ethan, all to no avail.Ethan's leg on him was way more painful than he thought it would be. He could even feel the man's weight crushing his skull.Seeing Ethan didn't seem like he would let go anytime soon, the thug could only turn to Paul Michigan helplessly."Mr. Michigan, please help me!" The thug's mouth was pressing against the floor, hence his words were barely audible.However, Paul Michigan was standing close enough to hear him, but he didn't bother despite hearing the man call for help. The thug was just a means to an end anyway.Now that he knew Daniel Voltia's right-hand man was on his way, Paul was now back to being arrogant.The accuracy and casual display of strength Ethan had used when he swatted back the muscular men and
A man of 5'9", with a commanding demeanor and a complacent look on his face, unhurriedly walked into the pub with his hands clasped behind him and his nose held high up in the air.Behind him was a group consisting of four boys. They were the same height as him and had the same commanding demeanor.The man was yet completely into the room when the thug limped towards him and dropped to his knees in front of him, stopping him from walking forward.The thug gripped the man by his pants' leg and sniffled exaggeratedly, looking up to reveal the white lines on his cheeks as a result of his dried tears."Brother, thank God you're here! If you had come even a second later than this, your younger brother would've been trampled to death by a total loser!"The man looked down at him, the corners of his lips curling up in utter disgust as he shook the thug's hands away."Loser? What? You couldn't even take care of someone like that? Your brother is the right-hand man of Daniel Voltia, and you ca
The thug failed to notice the underlying fear in Jonathan's tone, the thug limped forward and nodded his head repeatedly in agreement."That's right. It's Ethan Black, Chloe William's loser husband who disappeared a few days after getting married to her and still returned as a loser six years later!""This scumbag doesn't know his limit. He thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he spent a few years in the army.""Today, we'll make him understand that this is Springdale. And Springdale is a town where only the rich and powerful live!"The manager of the pub, whom Ethan had just released his grip on her wrist, snorted loudly, wiping away the tears falling down her eyes as she rushed to Jonathan and hid behind him."He stayed in the army for six years? No wonder he has such a strong grip! Mr. Warrick, please teach this bastard a lesson!"Paul hissed from where he sat, lowering his eyes to his nails to remove the nonexistent dirt from them."Even the head of the William family h
Wexford That evening, Declan Wellington felt cooped up at home, so he left the house to spend the day golfing with a close friend of the Wellingtons who owned a golf course. They golfed together for three hours before they got tired and drove to his house to rest. Marvin Phelps poured him a drink before asking politely, “This may be out of place for me to ask, Mr. Wellington, but you seemed out of it throughout today. Is anything the matter?” “What?” An absent-minded Declan didn’t know when he blurted out, glancing at him. Marvin Phelps sat up, now fully convinced there was something on Declan’s mind. With a serious look on his face, he cautiously continued, “What is the problem? Is anyone troubling you? Say the word and I’ll have that person’s legs crushed to bits and forcefully drag them here!” Declan raised his eyes to look at him. Even if he said nothing, his eyes lit up a little when he recalled who Marvin was. The Phelps family was headed by this man despit
Scott William was instantly taken aback. Then he gritted his teeth in rage and resisted the urge to grab her by the collar as he yelled at her angrily. “What do you think you’re doing? He’s your son-in-law, how could you think of doing something so despicable to him!”“I know you’ve been looking for ways to get rid of him, but he’s having a psychotic breakdown? Matilda Brown, are you out of your mind?!” However, the woman ignored him and reached into her bag for a file. She placed it on the counter and continued speaking to the officer with a straight face. “Here. This is the result of the psych evaluation. You can check with the hospital he took it at just to be sure.” Scott closed the distance between them and grabbed her arm firmly, “If you have nothing better to do, then turn around and go back home.” “I know you’re scared of this affecting our family, but you don’t have anything to worry about because I’ll take care of this!” “Ethan didn’t do what they’re accusing him of
The sergeant and the other officers were slightly taken aback by his sudden compliance. Given that Charles and Kane were questioning their every word, they assumed they would have to use force to get him out of here. However, not only was he complying, but he was even flashing them a faint, non-aggressive smile. It was as though he had the situation under control which caused them to wonder why. They were yet to be reached by anyone from the higherups, so what was this guy doing. Since Ethan was coming with them willingly, there was no need to cuff him at all. So the sergeant nodded and led him to the station. The reception was decvoid of people, but those who were in their rooms before a few minutes ago, were all standing beside their windows watching who was getting arrested. Ethan walked to the passenger side of the car and glanced around him with an unbothered smile before proceeding to get in. In Wexford County, in the Wellington family residence, Declan Wellington was w
Ethan’s eyes darkened instantly. Almost immediately, he felt a call come into his phone and checked the caller to see it was Declan calling. He was silent for a few seconds before assured her calmly, “I’ll bring them back. Chloe and Honey, I’ll make sure they come back without a scratch.” “For now, focus on getting better. Neither of them would like it if return to see you in such a terrible state.” Then he ended the call without waiting for her response and answered Declan’s. As soon as the call connected, Declan’s bubbly voice sounded in his ears, “Your little bastard is a little too pretty. Truly her mother’s daughter.” “Your genes almost lost the fight, but her eyes saved you. Hopefully, if your other bastard lives, it would put up a fight to look exactly like you.” Ethan tightened his grip around his phone, but said nothing. He remained expressionless, but his eyes beamed furious. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything in really. Declan had truly blinded him from
Ethan didn’t react immediately. He was silent for several seconds before he responded. “You’re the highly esteemed head of the Welllington family. Why resort to threatening your enemy with somsone close to them when you can face them head on yourself?”Declan yawned boredly from the other end. “What nonsense are you talking about? My enemy? You? You really think I think of you as my enemy?” “In what world did you think a bastard like you is worthy of becoming an enemy of Declan Wellington?” “We may share the same father, but to me, you’re nothing more than a confused rat. Sure, you’ve spent a few years in the army and earned yourself a few lackeys, but vagrant like you should know their place.”“Simply talking to me is a privilege you should never have. Whatever I’ll make you go through is a privilege you don’t deserve. Even if I kill you, you should be grateful I let you die by my hands!”Ethan chuckled calmly and went on to reply. “I was told you sent one of the best men your
Meanwhile, Charles Wilkins was looking into the people who crashed into Claire’s car and took Chloe. He tracked them down to their base in a nightclub. The club had lax security. Hence, he wasn’t stopped by the hefty men standing the door as he walked into the club. It was a few minutes past 7 in the evening and the club was getting filled by people. He stood in the middle of the room and glanced around before he spotted the VIP section and strutted straight to it. It didn’t take him long to find the room of the club’s own given that there were six hefty bodyguards in front of the door. Inside the room, a short and fat man was sitting on the couch with two of his colleagues while watching three unclad ladies dancing on a strip poles. Because the music in the room was so loud, he didn’t hear the tussle outside and only realized something was wrong when an unfamiliar man walked into the room wiping his hands seemingly clean hands clean. Charles didn’t look at anyone as he
As soon as Lewis William ended the call, he stood over an unconscious Chloe with a lewd look in his eyes. Ever since he knew right from wrong, he was always told of her lucky he was to have such beautiful cousins. Had Chloe not fallen out of grace with the William family and most people in Springdale, he had no doubt his life would still be filled with words of how lucky he was to have Chloe and Claire as his cousins. He never saw the beauty everyone saw, but now that he was alone with her and could see her up close, he finally saw it. Was she not his cousin, he would’ve slept with her first before handing her over to this gallery director. As he walked out of the house, he received a call from somsone. “What do you think you’re doing? I clearly told you the person I am after is Claire William!” Vivian Martell yelled from the other end as soon as the call connected. Lewis sucked in a deep breath to keep himself from screaming back at her and retorted calmly, “There’s no need to
A minute later, Charles turned to Ethan and reported solemnly, “Mrs. Black wasn’t taken by Declan Wellington. She was taken by the William family.” In the William family residence. Adam William paced to and fro in the living room, his hands clasped behind his back and brows knitted together in worry. “Grandfather, after today, I will make sure our William family will no longer be looked down on by other families!” Those were the words Lewis said to him this morning before he left the house. Ever since Astoria Corporation pulled away their investment, other companies followed suit. They were not only knee-deep in debt, but every valuable thing in their house had been taken by the bank and everyone they were owing. They took everything ranging from jewelries, electronics and furnitures. Even the expensive looking lights were not left out. Adam had run to those whom he had helped when the William family were at its peak a few months ago, but they all hung up on him the moment th
He called her three times and each time, the phone wasn’t answered. There was no denying it now. Soenthing had really happened. His brows knitted into a tight frown as he switched to calling Claire. But just like Chloe, Claire didn’t answer her phone either. As soon as the third call ended, the screen of his phone lit up with a call from Claire and he eagerly answered it. “Where are you? I’ve been calling Chloe. Did something…” He was suddenly cut off by a voice that didn’t belong to Claire. “Hello, this phone belongs to a woman involved in a car accident. Seeing that your contact is saved with ‘Brother-in-law’ I thought it was wise to return your call.” His pupils instantly dilated and he strutted quickly to the window, away from Honey’s earshot.. He pressed the phone against his ear rig heed and repeated in disbelief, “Accident? She was involved in an accident? What about the other woman in the car with her? Is she badly injured? In fact, tell me which hospital you are!” In