2025-01-19 14:29:34
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The Slumdog Billionaire 214. Smart But Poor
Ethan woke to the sound of soft rain tapping against the roof. The cool morning air seeped through the cracks in the walls, but the chill was nothing compared to the soreness that gripped his body. His ribs ached, and every movement sent sharp twinges of pain through his muscles. The fight with Eric had taken more out of him than he’d realized.Martha was already bustling around the kitchen when Ethan shuffled into the main room. She looked up from a pot simmering on the stove, her sharp eyes immediately scanning him.“You’re walking like an old man,” she said, smirking. “Did you bite off more than you could chew?”Ethan winced as he sat down at the table. “I won, didn’t I?”Martha snorted. “Winning doesn’t mean much if you can’t get out of bed the next day.”Ethan ignored her jab, his focus shifting to the plate of bread and boiled eggs she slid across the table. He ate quickly, the food giving him a small burst of energy. As he chewed, Martha leaned against the counter, watching him
The Slumdog Billionaire 215. The Bullies
The morning sun painted the sky in shades of gold and pink as Ethan pedaled his newly restored bike through the dirt paths of the settlement. The cool wind brushed against his face, momentarily numbing the aches still lingering from his fight with Eric.People were starting to acknowledge him now. A few nodded as he passed, some even offering a small smile. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Ethan had proven himself through sweat and determination, and slowly, the settlement was beginning to accept that he wasn’t just some rich kid playing survival.But Ethan knew better than to get too comfortable. Trouble always found a way back, and today, it came in the form of Eric.Ethan spotted him by the scrapyard, standing with two of his usual cronies. They watched him with smug expressions, their whispered conversation dying the moment Ethan rode by.He felt it in his gut—something was coming.By the time Ethan reached Gus’s workshop, his instincts were on high alert. He found Gus working
The Slumdog Billionaire 216. Rise To Glory
The next morning, Ethan’s hand throbbed with a dull ache as he flexed his fingers. The cut Eric had made wasn’t deep, but it was enough to remind him of the constant tension he was living under. He wrapped it carefully with a piece of cloth Martha had given him and headed outside.The settlement was already buzzing with activity. People moved through the dirt paths, carrying supplies, fixing broken fences, and exchanging small talk. But when Ethan walked past, the usual glances were different now—there was a new kind of recognition. Respect, even.Jake met him by the scrapyard, leaning against a stack of rusted barrels. “You’re making a name for yourself,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Eric’s not happy about it.”Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, I didn’t come here to make friends.”Jake chuckled. “No, but you’re making enemies, and that’s just as good around here.”Ethan looked around warily. “What’s Eric planning now?”Jake’s smirk faded into a more s
The Slumdog Billionaire 217. Stop! He Is A Billionaire’s Son
Ethan stood outside the mill, staring at the cracked wooden door. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat hammering a question into his mind. Was this the right choice? He knew the risks, but the desperate need to escape this place gnawed at him like a wild animal. If Eric’s offer could bring him one step closer to his old life, was it worth it?He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.Inside, the air was thick with the scent of oil and damp wood. A single flickering bulb cast shadows across the room, where Eric and his usual crew lounged against rusted machinery. Their eyes locked onto Ethan the moment he stepped inside.“Look who finally showed up,” Eric drawled, a smug grin spreading across his face.Ethan crossed his arms, keeping his expression neutral. “I’m here. What’s the job?”Eric chuckled and leaned against an old crate. “Straight to business. I like that.” He gestured to a smaller guy standing by his side, someone Ethan hadn’t seen before. The guy opened a duffel
The Slumdog Billionaire 218. I Need 1,000,000,000
Morning came too soon. Ethan lay awake on the stiff cot in Martha’s house, staring at the ceiling as the weight of his decision pressed against his chest. The settlement was already stirring, the distant hum of activity seeping through the thin walls. But his thoughts were louder.He had until sundown to give Eric an answer. And no matter how much he tried to convince himself there was another way, he kept circling back to the same conclusion: *He needed the money.*Pushing himself up with a groan, Ethan swung his legs over the side of the cot and rubbed his sore eyes. The fight with Eric, the grueling work, and the sleepless nights were taking their toll. But he couldn’t afford to stop.Martha was in the kitchen, stirring a pot of thin porridge when he walked in. She glanced at him, her eyes searching his face. “You look like a man with too many thoughts in his head,” she said without turning away from the stove.Ethan shrugged, taking a seat at the small wooden table. “I’m fine.”Ma
The Slumdog Billionaire 219. The Bully Fooled Me
Ethan barely slept that night. Every time he closed his eyes, the blaring siren echoed in his ears, the pounding of his heart matching the frantic rhythm of their escape. The stolen duffel bag sat in the corner of the room, a constant reminder of what he had done. He wanted to convince himself it was worth it—that the money inside would help him escape this place. But deep down, he knew that line had been crossed.At dawn, he sat up, rubbing his aching legs. Martha’s voice floated in from the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared breakfast. The calmness of the house was a stark contrast to the chaos raging inside him.Ethan sighed, standing up and forcing himself to walk to the kitchen. Martha glanced at him, her sharp eyes immediately noticing the dark circles under his eyes.“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said, setting a bowl of porridge on the table.Ethan sat down but didn’t touch the food. “I didn’t sleep much.”Martha didn’t say anything for a moment, stirring her te
The Slumdog Billionaire 220. The Billion Dollars Deal
Ethan sat at the worn kitchen table, staring at the stack of cash in front of him. It wasn’t much—not nearly enough to get him out of this place—but it felt like a ticking time bomb. Every crinkled bill reminded him of the sirens, the shouts, and the pounding footsteps from the night before. Martha stood by the stove, her back to him, stirring a pot of something that smelled faintly of boiled potatoes. She hadn’t said much since he returned, but her silence spoke louder than words.Finally, she turned, wiping her hands on a rag. “You gonna sit there all day staring at it?” she asked, her voice laced with quiet disappointment.Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to do with it.”Martha pulled out a chair and sat across from him. “That money’s got weight to it, Ethan. And it ain’t the kind that fills your pockets—it’s the kind that drags you down.”Ethan swallowed hard. “I thought it would feel different.”“It never does,” she said softly. “Easy money alway
The Slumdog Billionaire 221. Fighting Back My Bullies
Ethan’s heart pounded in his chest as he walked away from the scrapyard, every step feeling heavier than the last. He could still hear Eric’s mocking laughter echoing behind him, but he forced himself to keep going. The cold night air bit at his skin, and for the first time in a long while, he felt the sting of fear creeping into his bones. Turning a corner, he finally reached Martha’s house. The old wooden door creaked slightly as he pushed it open. Martha was sitting at the table, a dim oil lamp casting soft shadows across her face. She didn’t look surprised to see him come back empty-handed.“So,” she said quietly, stirring a cup of tea. “You gave it back.”Ethan nodded, sinking into the chair across from her. “I had to. I couldn’t do it anymore.”Martha studied him for a long moment before nodding. “Good. But you know he won’t let it slide, right?”Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his exhaustion evident. “Yeah. I know.”Martha sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Eric’s the kind
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236. The Grand Finale
The night was a violent symphony of fire and chaos as flames roared through the mansion, their hungry tendrils consuming every inch of the legacy that had stolen Ethan’s life. Sparks exploded into the night sky, illuminating his face as he stood at the edge of destruction. The heat from the inferno scorched his skin, but he didn’t move. Not yet. He had waited for this moment his entire life. The people who had erased his existence, destroyed his family, and hunted him in the shadows thought they were untouchable.They were wrong.Behind him, his men stood at attention, the tension in the air thick as smoke. Jake limped over, his face streaked with blood and soot, shotgun still in hand. His eyes scanned the burning wreckage.“Is it over?” he asked, his voice hoarse.Ethan didn’t answer right away. His mind was still racing. He knew William Knights, the man who had orchestrated so much of his suffering, had escaped through that secret elevator. As long as that man was out there, this wa
235. The War Of Vengeance
The night was dark, the city skyline glowing in the distance as Ethan sat in the back of his armored SUV, staring out at the mansion ahead. This was it. The place where the people who had stolen his past, erased his existence, and murdered his father sat comfortably, thinking they were untouchable. Not anymore. He adjusted his gloves, his suit crisp but reinforced with light armor beneath. His men sat around him, checking their weapons. Jake, his most trusted right-hand man, loaded a fresh magazine into his pistol and glanced at Ethan. “You sure about this?” Jake asked, his voice low. Ethan didn’t hesitate. “I’ve waited too long. They built their empire on my suffering. Tonight, we take it all.” Jake smirked. “Good. Because I’ve been itching to put some bullets in these bastards.” The convoy of black SUVs moved toward the mansion’s gates, headlights cutting through the darkness. The moment they reached the entrance, two guards stepped forward, rifles in hand. They barely h
234.The Grand Plan
Ethan stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection. Just weeks ago, he had been a nobody—an orphan struggling to survive, beaten down, bleeding in the streets, laughed at, discarded. Now, he was standing in a penthouse, draped in the finest clothes money could buy, staring at the skyline of a city he was about to conquer. But he wasn’t satisfied. Not yet. The world had taken everything from him. His identity. His family. His dignity. Now, it was his turn to take everything back. Ethan didn’t just want money. He wanted power. And power came with knowledge. With Henry Knights backing him, Ethan was thrust into a world he had never imagined. Private meetings with billionaires, closed-door deals with CEOs, whispers of the elite who controlled the world from the shadows. At first, they laughed at him—just like everyone else always had. They saw him as an outsider, a street rat pretending to wear a crown. That was their first mistake. Because Ethan wasn’t just preten
233. The Orphaned Billionaire
A Name from the ShadowsEthan’s heart pounded in his chest, the weight of William Knights’ words pressing down on him like an invisible force.Someone erased you. Someone wants you dead.The words echoed in his mind like a curse.He had spent years thinking he was nothing—just another poor kid scraping by, unwanted, unloved. But now? Now he wasn’t just a nobody. He was a target.Ethan clenched his fists. “If someone tried to erase me… that means they had a reason. Who the hell am I?”William chuckled, a slow, knowing sound that sent chills down Ethan’s spine. The old man turned to face them fully, his sharp blue eyes gleaming with something unreadable. “That, my dear boy, is the question that will change everything.”Henry stepped forward, his expression dark. “Enough games, William. If you know something, tell us.”William sighed, swirling his drink in his glass before taking a slow sip. He set it down carefully before speaking.“The Knights family is powerful. Wealth, influence, con
232. The Hidden Heir
Chapter Thirty Two: Buried Secrets and Unraveled Truths Of The Hidden HeirEthan stared at Henry, his pulse hammering in his ears. The weight of what he had just heard pressed down on him like a suffocating blanket. Blood compatibility? The Knights name? This wasn’t just a coincidence—there was something deeper, something hidden in the shadows of his past.“You’re saying…” Ethan’s voice was hoarse. “I might be… related to you?”Henry exhaled sharply, standing up and pacing near the hospital window. “I don’t know for sure. But blood matches like this? They don’t just happen randomly. Not in the way the doctor described it.”Ethan swallowed hard. His mind raced back to the fragments of memories he barely clung to. His parents—who were they really? His childhood had been a blur of hardship, of barely scraping by, of always feeling like an outsider. No real records, no family history. Was it because his past had been deliberately erased?Henry suddenly stopped pacing, his jaw clenched. “I
231. The Rich Man Hit Me With His Limousine
Ethan’s footsteps echoed faintly along the quiet street as he walked home from school, his bag slung over his shoulder and his face still bruised from the day’s bullying. His head hung low, exhaustion weighing him down, but his mind was racing with determination. He refused to let their words define him, even as the pain gnawed at his body and heart.The air was cool, the street dimly lit by flickering lampposts. In the distance, the soft rumble of an approaching car broke the stillness. Ethan didn’t pay it much attention—until the roar of the engine grew louder, the sound of tires screeching jolting him to attention.Before he could react, the blinding headlights of a sleek black car came into view, barreling down the street. Time seemed to slow as the car swerved, skidding out of control and heading straight for him.Ethan tried to jump out of the way, but it was too late.The impact was brutal, sending him sprawling onto the pavement. Pain exploded through his body as he hit the gr
230. The Bully
The classroom echoed with laughter, the cruel, mocking kind that made the walls seem to close in around Ethan. His clothes were dirty and torn from the shove he’d just received, his knees scraped raw against the hard tile floor. A group of boys stood over him, sneering down, their faces twisted with malice.“Look at you,” one of them sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “The poor little charity case. Do you even have a decent pair of shoes, or are those borrowed too?”The others laughed, the sound echoing in Ethan’s ears like nails on a chalkboard. He clenched his fists, refusing to meet their eyes. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing the anger—and shame—burning inside him.One of them, a taller boy named Lucas, leaned down, grabbing the front of Ethan’s shirt. “You think you belong here? Huh? With people like us? You’re a joke, Knights. A nobody.”Ethan gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening as he tried to stay silent. But the sting of the words cut deeper than any p
229. From Begger To Boss
Ethan sat at his workbench, meticulously tightening a bolt on a worn-out carburetor. The rhythmic clinking of metal against metal was the only sound in the shop, a comforting melody that grounded him. Around him, the settlement was alive with the hum of industry—people working, laughing, and building something bigger than themselves.Jake walked in, wiping sweat from his brow. “The new shipment just came in from the border town. Got some good stuff this time—real parts, not the junk we usually get.”Ethan smiled, setting his tools down. “That’s great. We’ll start sorting through it later.”Jake plopped down onto a nearby crate. “You know, things are finally looking up. Feels... weird.”Ethan chuckled. “Weird?”“Yeah,” Jake said, shaking his head. “For so long, it felt like we were barely surviving, and now... we’ve got something real here.”Ethan nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He could feel it—the calm before the storm. Everything was running smoothly, but he knew Eric wouldn’t s
228. New Heir
Chapter Twenty-ThreeA New BeginningEthan stood outside the workshop, watching the dust settle from Eric’s retreating vehicles. His chest heaved with relief, but his mind was already racing ahead. He knew this victory was temporary. Eric would regroup, and next time, he’d come back with something worse.Jake stepped up beside him, still clutching a metal pipe. “Think he’s gone for good?”Ethan shook his head. “No. He’s just licking his wounds. He’ll be back.”Gus, who had been watching from the shadows, grunted. “Then we need to make sure next time, he doesn’t get the chance to walk away.”Martha approached, her expression wary but proud. “You handled that well, Ethan. But this can’t be how you live—always waiting for the next fight.”Ethan exhaled slowly. “I know. That’s why I need to make this place strong. Strong enough to stand on its own.”Jake smirked, nudging him. “You got a plan for that too, boss?”Ethan’s eyes darkened with determination. “Yeah. I do.”---The next morning,
