2025-02-13 21:28:04Yanking the drawer open, she expected junk.
Instead, neatly stacked inside were envelopes.
Thick, high-quality ones, each sealed with embossed insignias.
She grabbed one.
It was a formal invitation. Gold lettering. The signature of one of the city's wealthiest elites stamped at the bottom.
A private event for top-tier businessmen.
The others were similar. More invitations. High-end galas. Exclusive fundraisers. Gatherings where the richest of the rich convened.
A sleek black envelope stood out from the rest. A single word embossed in gold foil: The Shadow.
Madeline rolled her eyes, her lips curled in disgust.
"Ridiculous. There's no way he could ever be invited to an event of this caliber," Madeline thought.
“How he made things up like this?!”
"And ’The Shadow?’ Seriously? Is he living in some kind of fairy tale?"
Without hesitated, Madeline shoved the invitations into a pile and tossed them straight into the trash.
As she brushed off the nonsense, a box at the bottom of the drawer caught her eye.
She opened it curiously, and there, resting inside, was a simple silver ring.
Her breath hitched.
That ring—she knew that ring.
When she was a kid, she and her childhood friend Katherine had bought a pair of cheap silver rings at a street stall, thinking they were fun.
She’d thrown hers away years ago, disgusted by how tacky it was.
So why was this one here?
How had Ethan ended up with it?
Almost immediately, she pulled out her cell phone and was ready to call Kathrine.
But Ethan never met Kathrine. She keeps her loser husband from being known to her friends.
She thought of another possibility, an even greater one.
Did he pick it up after I threw it away? Has he been holding onto it all these years?
"What a creep." Madeline spat.
She carelessly tossed the silver ring onto the floor.
Just then, her phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Robert’s name.
Her expression shifted immediately.
Her earlier disdain replaced with a practiced sweetness.
"Hey, Robert, don’t tell me you miss me already?" she purred.
Robert chuckled on the other end.
"Madeline, get ready. You’re coming with me to meet with Brightstar Corporation tonight."
The name alone sent a jolt through her chest.
Brightstar Corporation - the most powerful company in Atlantis City!
If Robert was handling this deal personally, then this was far from some casual business meeting.
Suppressing her excitement, she replied smoothly.
"Of course, Robert. Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you."
"Good." His voice carried a hint of satisfaction. "I'm picking you up now. Be ready."
The moment the call ended, Madeline let out a squeal of excitement, spinning in place like a giddy schoolgirl.
She pressed a hand to her lips, unable to contain the smile stretching across her face.
This was it. This was her chance to truly step into old money’s world. A world of wealth, power, and prestige!
***
A sleek, black Maybach rolled smoothly to a stop in front of Brightstar Corporation’s grand headquarters.
The luxurious sedan stood out like the sun among stars.
Ethan pushed the door open and stepped out.
He tilted his head up, glancing at the towering glass building before him.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Brightstar Corporation, it’s been a long time. "
The Maybach was swiftly driven to a private parking area by security.
With an easy stride, he moved toward the entrance.
But before Ethan took another step, a burst of laughter from nearby caught his attention.
He turned slightly—and his gaze landed on a familiar pair, walking side by side from the other entrance.
Madeline and Robert.
Even under the bright city lights, her heavy makeup couldn’t fully conceal the vanity gleaming in her eyes.
Beside her stood Robert, his arm draped casually around her as he whispered something in her ear, making her giggle.
Their intimate gestures were sickening to watch.
Ethan didn’t take the second glance as he moved to walk past them.
But Madeline caught sight of him instantly.
"Ethan?" Her voice rang out, loud enough for people nearby to hear. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Ethan paused, but didn’t even bother turning.
"Walking my own path. Is that a problem?"
Madeline blinked. She was momentarily stunned by his calm tone.
But she quickly recovered, her smirk turned into a sneer.
"Seriously, Ethan? THIS is Brightstar Corporation."
She sneered, her gaze sweeping over his outfit with disdain.
"You sure you’re in the right place? Are you here to apply for a cleaner position?"
Robert snickered beside her, playing along.
"Now, now, Madeline, don't be so blunt. Maybe he’s just here to enjoy the air conditioning."
Madeline covered her mouth, made a high, mocking sound.
"That makes more senses!”
“Look at him, showing up just as work hours end. Talk about perfect timing for a free ride!"
Ethan finally turned to face them.
His gaze was steady, unreadable.
“You two seem awfully concerned about me. Should I be flattered?”
Madeline rolled her eyes.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Ethan. No one cares about you!”
As if realizing something, she stepped closer, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Wait, don’t tell me you’re here to beg me for a second chance. Is that it?”
Ethan’s lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"You? A second chance? Madeline, don’t overestimate your worth."
“I’m just here to visit my company.”
“The thing you wanted it so badly, but you couldn’t never have.”
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Madeline froze, her smirk faltering for a split second.Then she burst out laughing."Your company? Ethan, stop embarrassing yourself!"Robert smirked, arms crossed."Ethan, buddy, I get it. Life’s been tough for you. But you need some helps."He clicked his tongue."This is Brightstar Corporation. The top conglomerate in Atlantis.”“You think you can just waltz in here and claim it as yours? Do you need us to call the loony bin for you?""Listen, Ethan," Madeline said, her voice rising with every word."You may some introductions. This place is for the elite. For people with power, connections, and money."She gave him a once-over."You? You’re nothing. Just go home before security throws you out for loitering."Robert sighed, faking a sympathy smile."Ethan, as men, we should know when to quit. You’ve already lost. Don’t make it worse for yourself."Madeline playfully nudged Robert’s arm."See? Robert is a real man. Look at his presence. That’s the kind of successful person who belo
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Ethan nodded slightly.His eyes flicking toward the direction Madeline and Robert had gone.He glanced at the heavy suitcases stuffed with cash."Forget it. Take it back."William’s face turned pale.“Mr. Ethan, did we… did we mess up? I’ll assign more people next time—”Ethan cut him off with a wave.“It’s not your fault.”Willaim immediately fell silent. He followed behind Ethan like a sidekick.As they walked, Ethan paused.“Do you know Robert Davenport?”Williams frowned, then his eyes widened.“Robert? From Davenport Group?”Ethan nodded.Williams quickly explained.“He’s been trying to partner with us on a project. Offered a lot of generous terms…”He trailed off, watching Ethan’s expression.Ethan’s lips curled into a cold smile.“Cancel the partnership.”Willaim barely hid his shock. But he was quick."Understood. I’ll handle it."He gestured to an assistant, whispering an order.The man nodded and rushed off like a frightened mouse.William wiped his forehead, relieved he had
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Robert sat in the waiting room of Brightstar Corp, buzzing with excitement.Today was the day.Once he signed that contract, his money problems would be history. No more debts!Soon, his bank account would be overflowing again—like a broken ATM spitting out cash.Just as he was reveling in the thought, his phone rang.He snatched it up immediately.“Manager! I’m already here. When are we signing?”His voice was thick with flattery.But whatever was said on the other end wiped the grin right off his face.His expression stiffened.Then darkened.By the time he hung up, his hands were trembling with rage.Crash!The phone smashed against the marble floor, shattering on impact.“Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!”The deal was off.Robert's mind raced, heart pounding like a drum in his chest.What the hell went wrong?!***William stood off to the side, escorting Ethan toward the grand lobby of Brightstar Corporation.Just as Ethan reached the exit, the sharp click of hurried footsteps echoed through the
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Katherine shook the head to herself.She walked back toward the exit slowly, knowing that it was over.Her heart sinking like a stone in deep water. The weight of failure pressed heavily on her shoulders.Well, she had no idea that William was frozen stiff because of Ethan’s words.“Wait, Miss Katherine.”William’s voice rang out behind her, stopping her in her tracks.Katharine turned, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears.She blinked at William, looking confused.Actually, William was just as puzzled as her. Why had Ethan suddenly stepped in like that?But he didn’t dare to dwell on it.Instead, he put on a professional smile.“You can leave your proposal with me.”“You were right, we should reconsider it. Brightstar Corporation is open to partnering with the Blair family.”Katherine froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.Was this real, or was she just so desperate that she was imagining things?Her lips quivered as she barely managed to ask.“Mr. William… are you serious?”W
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Edith stood there in an expensive Chanel suit. Well, it was at least two sizes too small.It clung to her oversized frame like Barbie clothes stretched over a balloon.When she crossed her arms, the buttons seemed ready to pop at any second.She blocked the doorway like an immovable wall.It was clear that she wasn’t about to let him in.Ethan let out a tired sigh.“I’m not here to cause trouble. I left something behind, and I’m here to take it. That’s all.”Edith let out a sharp, mocking laugh. Sounded like a deflating balloon.“Something? You?” she sneered.“Everything in this house! Everything you ate! Everything you used! All belong to Maddy!”“What the hell do you think you own anything here?”“You worthless, freeloading loser! And now you’re crawling back?!”She stepped forward, jabbing her finger into Ethan’s shoulder.Her spit flying in the air.Ethan’s eye devoid of any emotion. An oppressive aura surrounded him.When Edith met his gaze, she couldn’t help but shiver.Ethan l
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Edith’s voice was so loud, someone peeked out from upstairs.A sleepy, annoyed voice cut in.“Mom, what’s going on?”It was Madeline.Still groggy from sleep, but the moment she saw Ethan, her eyes flew wide open.“Fuck, Ethan?! What are you doing here?”She stomped down the stairs, coming to stand beside her mother.Pointed at Ethan like she’d just caught him red-handed.“Maddy, thank God you’re here!”Edith clutched her chest, her voice trembling with fake innocence.“Ethan robbed me! He stole the beautiful necklace you gave me!”Madeline’s expression darkened. She let out a sharp breath through her nose.“Ethan, really? You just can’t let go, can you?”“We’re divorced, and yet here you are, still clinging to the past! You poor dog.”Ethan stuffed his hands in his pockets, tilting his head slightly.A cold smirk played at his lips as he silently watched their performance.“That necklace you stole from me, right? Madeline?”Madeline sneered.“Yeah, I took it. So what?”“That was the
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Katherine raised an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at her lips.“Eth?” she giggled. “That’s a strange name, but I kind of like it. It’s cute.”The conversation flowed naturally from there.They talked about everything: childhood memories, random hobbies, those small things that seem insignificant but speak volumes about who you are.Katherine was surprised by how much they had in common.The conversation felt so effortless, like a familiar melody.She wasn’t used to this kind of ease with someone.But just as she was getting comfortable, her phone rang, breaking the peaceful flow of their conversation.She glanced at the screen. It was her father.After a brief conversation, she turned back to Ethan, looking genuinely apologetic.“Eth, I’m really sorry, but my dad needs me for something urgent. I have to go.”Ethan nodded, though a twinge of disappointment flickered behind his eyes.He hated watching her leave, even if it was just for a little while.“No problem. It was nice talking
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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
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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
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“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
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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
