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The Ultimate Hidden Tycoon Chapter 22
Lewis barely finished his command when the wind snatched his last syllable away. The Shadow members moved like trained hounds, swift and precise. They grabbed Madeline and her family, dragging them away without hesitation.Madeline didn’t resist. She stood there like a hollowed-out statue, her face drained of all color. Hope had been ripped from her so completely, it left nothing behind.Ethan tilted his head slightly, catching a glimpse of the crew lowering a lifeboat into the churning sea. The small vessel rocked against the waves. His lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.Lewis had understood his signal perfectly. The timing, the execution. Flawless. If Shade had been in charge, the outcome would have been far more brutal. Robert and Madeline wouldn’t have gotten a lifeboat. They’d have been tossed overboard, swallowed by the depths in an instant.The lifeboat drifted farther and farther. Soon, even the rhythmic splash of the oars faded into nothing. Madeline
The Ultimate Hidden Tycoon Chapter 23
The moment Lewis Parker and Ethan stepped into the cabin, something shifted. The air around Lewis changed. The stern but relaxed demeanor he had carried moments ago vanished, replaced by an almost reverent obedience.His back hunched slightly. His head dipped. He didn’t dare look up.“I’m sorry, Mr. Ethan.” Lewis’s voice trembled just enough to be noticeable.Ethan paused. “Sorry for what?”“For exposing your identity.”Lewis kept his gaze lowered. He knew better than anyone that Ethan despised public attention. If Ethan wanted to be seen, he would choose when and where. That was why he had canceled the grand welcoming party planned for him aboard this very ship.But Robert and Madeline? They had no idea who they were dealing with. They had insulted Ethan in front of everyone, thinking he was a nobody.Ethan, of course, couldn’t be bothered to stoop to their level. But Lewis could.Ethan let out a small sigh and shook his head. “So that’s what this is about.” A faint smile tug
The Ultimate Hidden Tycoon Chapter 24
On a typical cruise ship, weapons were unheard of.But this was the Carnival Cruise.If necessary, it could transform into a floating fortress in the blink of an eye.Of course, they weren’t at that point yet.The Shadow moved like ghosts. One second, the deck was empty. The next, they were there. No sound. No warning.It was as if they had materialized from thin air.At the bow, Shade stood motionless.A cold, deadly aura radiated from him, like a wraith from the underworld.His twin katanas were already unsheathed, their blades gleaming with a chilling glint in the dim light.What use were katanas against a fully armed pirate ship?These weren’t just any katanas. Ethan had personally modified them, making them sharp enough to slice through steel.And right now, Shade stood poised, his very presence exuding a silent promise. If he wanted to, he could cut the Black Jack in half with a single stroke.The two ships locked in a silent standoff.The Black Jack showed no signs of slowing.
The Ultimate Hidden Tycoon Chapter 25
“You and Mr. Parker… your relationship isn’t as simple as it seems, is it?”Katharine’s voice was firm, leaving no room for evasion. She wasn’t just asking. She was pressing for the truth.Ethan halted mid-step. He turned his head and met her gaze.Her eyes were sharp, unflinching. It was like she could see right through him.He sighed inwardly. ‘Guess I couldn’t fool her after all.’ He thought.He took a breath, then gave a slight nod. “You’re right.”Katharine felt her heart jolt. She’d suspected as much, but hearing him confirm it still hit like a freight train.She quickly schooled her expression, but she couldn’t stop the slight tension in her fingers as she clenched her fists.“So... you’re really ‘the guy’?” she asked, the speed of her words betrayed her internal storm, “That ‘Mysterious VIP?’”Ethan smirked. “And if I said I was?”Katharine locked eyes with him. She didn’t freak out, didn’t stumble over her words like some starstruck fan. But she gripped her hands a little
The Ultimate Hidden Tycoon Chapter 26
Katharine’s fingers tightened around the phone."That’s great news! I’ll be there right away!"After hanging up, she turned to Ethan, excitement shining in her eyes. “That was William! The contract is ready!”Ethan grinned. "Nice! Congrats."She exhaled, steadying herself."This is a huge deal for my family. I can’t mess it up."Ethan studied her for a second. “Want me to come with you?”Katharine blinked."You’d do that?""Of course. Let’s go."When Ethan smirked at her, Katherine’s heart skipped a beat.Then she smiled. "Alright. Let’s do this."She fell into step beside him, the wind ruffling her hair as they walked.Meanwhile.Robert and Madeline stumbled back into their house, looking like drowned rats.Madeline’s hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her voice was sharp, practically spitting venom."Ethan…Ethan, that useless bastard! How the hell did he get so powerful? Why the hell was Mr. Parker bowing to him?!"Edith, looking pale, whispered,"Sweetheart
The Ultimate Hidden Tycoon Chapter 27
Robert sat on the couch, leaning forward, his hands gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white.“Don’t worry, Maddy. That punk humiliated us in front of everyone. I’m not letting him off the hook.”After a short pause, his brow furrowed and he added, “But not now.”“Why not, darling?” Madeline asked, confused.Robert stood up and started pacing the room. He moved slowly, each word coming out measured and cautious.“Because Mr. Parker’s still in Atlantis City for another two days. If we act now, it’s too risky.”He laid out the situation for Madeline.“Two more days? Ugh, that bastard doesn’t deserve it,” she spat, her eyes full of hatred.She wished Ethan would just drop dead.“Hmph. Let him enjoy his little victory. In two days, he’ll see what I’m really capable of.”Robert’s eyes glinted with menace.Humiliate him like that, right in front of his friends and all those big names? No way Ethan was getting an easy death.“You’ll make him pay, won’t you, darling?” M
The Ultimate Hidden Tycoon Chapter 28
“Maddy, I…”Katherine looked at Madeline, lips trembling slightly, trying to explain.But Madeline’s eyes were already blazing. Fury danced in her gaze like wildfire, burning hot, merciless.Before Katherine could get a word out, Madeline snapped—Like a whip.“Ethan! What the hell are you two doing here?”“To sign the contract, of course,” Ethan said, voice like ice. His face was stone-cold, completely unmoved, like the chaos around him had nothing to do with him.“What contract?”Madeline stiffened. Her body went rigid, like something had just slammed into her. Confusion flickered across her face.“The joint project,” Ethan said casually, as if it were the most mundane thing in the world.“What?! That project? Mr. William actually gave it to you?”It hit her like a bolt of lightning. She froze, stunned. And next to her, even Robert’s calm cracked—his face twisted with disbelief.“Not to me,” Ethan corrected, his tone unhurried. “To the Blaire family.”“To the—”Madeline and Robert lock
The Ultimate Hidden Tycoon Chapter 29
“That son of a bitch.”Robert clenched his fist hard. A cold glint flickered in his eyes.“I can’t believe Katherine turned out to be that cheap. She actually hooked up with someone like Ethan!”Madeline’s jaw tightened. Every word came out like it was forced through her teeth. Her face twisted in disgust, like just saying Katherine’s name left a bad taste in her mouth.Robert’s brows pulled together. His voice dropped low. “You never really know people. But if I had to guess, I’d say your bestie is just using Ethan.”Madeline froze. Her eyes widened. “Katherine’s using Ethan?”The idea hit her like a slap. She just stood there, stunned.Robert nodded slowly, his tone sure and calm.“Think about it. The Blaire family’s nothing compared to you. And from what I’ve dug up, they’re drowning in debt. They’re barely keeping the lights on.”He shook his head like it genuinely pained him.“There’s no way Mr. William would ever work with a sinking ship like that. He’s smart. The only reason he
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Chapter 57
For a second, something shifted. Alateriel’s voice—usually like untouched snow—cracked with the barest hint of emotion. Bitterness. Like a glacier starting to split.Ethan didn’t respond. The only sound in the room was the faint graze of his thumb tracing the edge of the phone, over and over.“I’ve looked for you, Ethan… for seven years,” she whispered, her voice softening—melting like the first drip of spring snow.He let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that so?”“Ethan… I’ll be in Atlantis tomorrow. Can we meet? Just once?”Her voice was barely a whisper, a feather falling through silence.Ethan’s response cut like glass.“Miss Alateriel, you’re the crown jewel of the Dunphy dynasty now. Me? I’m just the washed-up heir of a forgotten family. I’d hate to taint your vision with my presence.”His words carried a cruel edge—sarcasm, self-loathing, and something darker buried underneath.He didn’t want to revisit the past. Not anymore.“Ethan, did you hear about—”“No need.”He cut her off, tone laced
Chapter 56
The dim room was still—until Katherine's text tone pierced through the silence.Ethan glanced down at the screen. The glow lit up his face, and as he swiped to unlock, his brows instinctively furrowed.“Ethan, did you hear? Alateriel is coming to Atlantis City!”Alateriel?Ethan’s thumb froze mid-air. A dull throb pulsed at his temples.What the hell is going on today? Why is everyone suddenly bringing up that name?He rubbed the bridge of his nose, then typed back:“I heard. You seem really excited about her?”The reply came almost instantly:“Of course! Alateriel Dunphy is basically the capital’s goddess! I’m heading to the airport to see her in person!”“So much has happened lately… I need something fun to look forward to.”Ethan stared at that exclamation mark—somehow, he could see Katherine smiling through the screen.He hesitated, then hit Call.“Ethan?”Her soft voice drifted through, along with the faint rustle of magazine pages in the background.“You’re really that eager to
Chapter 55
“Vulture was able to operate without fear,” Robert’s voice was low, every word dripping with weight, “because he had The Black Jack backing him.”“What? The Black Jack?!”Madeline’s eyes went wide in disbelief. She looked like she’d just seen a ghost.Everyone knew the truth—The Black Jack ruled this city.In this town, it wasn’t Vulture who was the true power player. He was just a pawn in a much bigger game. The Black Jack? That was the shadow ruler pulling the strings, the one who controlled the city’s heartbeat.The power The Black Jack wielded was untouchable.In business, politics, the military—The Black Jack had influence everywhere.If you crossed him? It was worse than death itself.“Robert, you can’t be telling me that The Black Jack is involved in this too, right?” Madeline swallowed hard, panic creeping into her voice.“It’s hard to say,” Robert muttered as he stood up and walked to the window, pulling the curtains shut with a snap. In the dim light, the veins on his forehea
Chapter 54
Elijah—the man who ran The Black Jack syndicate in Atlantis City—stirred his coffee slowly.The silver spoon tapping gently against the fine bone china cup with a crisp, delicate clink.Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, landing on his manicured hands. The gleam on his nails was cold, sharp—like polished steel under a surgeon’s scalpel.Across from him, the old man known only as The Night Owl sat as calm as a still lake. His thin, wrinkled fingers methodically dropped sugar cubes into his black tea, each movement steady, almost ritualistic.“Mr. Elijah, about the shipment from Colombia—”But The Night Owl was cut off mid-sentence.A massive bodyguard—easily pushing six-foot-six—strode up, leaned down, and whispered urgently into Elijah’s ear. His breath brushed warm against Elijah’s skin.“What?”Elijah’s voice cracked through the quiet like a whip. “Vulture’s dead?”The spoon slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the saucer with a metallic clang. Black coffee
Chapter 53
“What did you just say?”Noah’s smile froze. For a second, he thought he must’ve misheard.“I said, I have zero interest in a company that's about to go bankrupt,” Ethan repeated calmly.“Bankrupt?”The word hung in the air like a thunderclap. Everyone froze, struggling to process what they just heard.“You’re full of it!”Noah jolted upright, his voice rising in panic. “Hudson Pharmaceuticals is raking in money! We’re thriving! Why the hell would we go bankrupt? Quit fear-mongering!”Ethan leaned back, voice cool and steady. “Whether I’m fear-mongering or not, you know better than anyone. I just got word—Hudson Pharmaceuticals has been completely shut down for selling counterfeit meds. It’s only a matter of time before the bankruptcy paperwork hits.”“Fake meds? Shut down?”Everyone turned, stunned, their eyes locking onto Noah.“Bullshit! That’s complete bullshit!” Noah snapped. “Ethan, you better shut your damn mouth. Hudson runs a clean business! We play by the rules! One more word
Chapter 52
And Lewis Parker, of all people, in that photo?Yeah right. Had to be fake.Sarah let out a cold laugh. “You? Know Lewis freaking Parker? Come on. A guy like you probably can’t even spell sommelier.”She crossed her arms, chin raised in disdain. “Let’s be real—you probably stole that wine.”“Exactly!” Luke jumped in, eyes lighting up like he just cracked the case. “No way you could afford something like that. You swiped it, didn’t you?”Noah’s face lit up with smug satisfaction, like a cat who’d cornered a mouse.“That makes perfect sense,” he sneered. “Of all the things to steal, you went and grabbed a $3.4 million bottle? You realize if the owner presses charges, you’re looking at ten years minimum behind bars?”In Noah’s mind, this was checkmate. No way someone like Ethan could ever own something that valuable.Ethan didn’t flinch. He just set his napkin down, the soft rustle of fabric against wood loud in the sudden tension.First, they said his wine was cheap.Then they claimed it
Chapter 51
“Bullshit!”Luke slammed his hand on the table, rattling the silverware. “What the hell does a broke loser like you know about fine wine? Noah could’ve brought any bottle and—”“It’s a 1985 Romanée-Conti,” Ethan interrupted coolly, tapping the bottle with a knuckle. “Market price? Around eighty grand. But…”His lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.“It’s nowhere near the value of what I brought.”The room went dead silent for a beat—then erupted in disbelief.“Ha! Hahahaha!” Sarah doubled over with a shrill, mocking laugh. “You’re saying Noah’s wine is worth less than whatever crap you brought in that discount crate? You must’ve lost your damn mind!”Luke joined in, pounding the table in hysterics. “Kid, if you’re gonna lie, at least try to make it believable! Do you even know what a Romanée-Conti is? You brought two label-less bottles like some back-alley bargain bin junk and want to compare that to Noah’s?”Noah leaned back in his chair, swirling his glass with a smirk. “Kat, your
Chapter 50
Katherine froze, caught off guard by Ethan speaking up first.She instinctively glanced at Noah—who was already watching Ethan like a bored king eyeing a peasant, his lips curled in mocking amusement.“Introduce me?” Noah set his teacup down with exaggerated grace, voice soaked in sarcasm. “Kat, your boyfriend doesn’t even know who I am?”Katherine bit her lip, about to respond—But Sarah couldn’t hold it in any longer.“Noah is the heir to the Hudson Group! His family’s worth billions! A guy like you—unemployed and broke—you probably haven’t even heard of Hudson, have you?”Ethan smiled faintly, but his eyes cooled.Hudson Group?The same Hudson known for shady pharma deals and lawsuits? The one circling the drain financially?Of course.He gave Noah a neutral glance. The guy was fussing with his cufflinks, flashing that overpriced Patek under the chandelier like it meant something.“Oh,” Ethan said, voice flat as a blade. “Hudson Group, huh? Heard of it.”Like he was just checking a bo
Chapter 49
Ethan pulled two bottles of vintage wine from the trunk, the dark glass gleaming blood-red under the sunlight.A gift, of sorts.Lewis Parker had all but shoved them into his hands a few days ago—1982 Lafite, six figures a bottle. Might as well make good use of them.He gave the bottles a quick toss in his hand, then followed Katherine up the path to the front door of the Blair family estate.In front of the villa, Katherine’s fingers were clamped tight around the strap of her handbag. She glanced sideways at him, eyes full of quiet tension.“Ethan… just a heads-up. My family might not be exactly... welcoming.”Ethan gave a half-smile, completely unbothered. He reached out and gently patted her shoulder.The simple touch eased some of the tension from her posture.She took a breath and punched in the door code.Beep.The gate clicked open.“Kat! Finally, you show up!”A sharp, high-pitched voice exploded before they’d even stepped inside.A middle-aged woman stormed toward them, floral
