"Are you crazy? How dare you set your sights on that car?" Aria interrupted.
"Exactly, is that car even something a person like you deserves to drive?" Natalie chimed in.
"If you have the ability to win, then it's yours," Greg said with a smile.
The limited edition Lamborghini was regarded as a family heirloom in the Holden family. However, Greg was so confident of his victory in this fight that he bet it without any hesitation.
“Big mistake, man.” Ethan sneered.
Greg stood in the center of the arena, a smug grin plastered across his face. He glanced over at Ethan and asked in a mocking tone.
“Is this your first time fighting?”
“Yes.” Ethan replied curtly.
Greg’s grin widened as he cracked his knuckles, stepping into the center of the ring. There was no way that Ethan, a complete rookie fighter, was going to emerge victorious over him.
“This is his first time fighting? He must have a death wish!” one of the people in audience muttered.
“A death wish is too mild! By the time Greg is done with him, he will fully regret his stupidity!” another one chimed in.
Ethan remained silent, his expression unreadable. He had no intention of explaining himself to Greg or the rowdy crowd egging him on from the stands.
“You’re going to crush this guy, Greg!” someone yelled.
“Send him packing!” another voice echoed.
Aria smirked at Ethan from her seat, arms crossed, fully expecting to see him humiliated.
Natalie, sitting beside her, leaned in and whispered, “This is going to be over in seconds. I almost feel bad for him.”
"He doesn't even know how to use the equipment." Aria added.
Suddenly, the crowd quieted as a stunning woman, dressed in sleek athletic gear, approached the arena. She had an air of authority, her toned frame and confident stride turning heads. Victoria, the club’s manager and the reigning record holder of the city’s fighting league, had arrived.
Hushed whispers instantly spread through the audience as she walked straight toward Ethan.
“Isn’t that Victoria, the record holder of this city’s fighting league? Why’s she heading to the new guy?” someone in the crowd muttered.
“It must be some mistake, there’s no way she’s interested in him.” another voice said.
Victoria stopped in front of Ethan, her gaze scrutinising him closely.
“I will be your personal trainer for this match,” she suddenly said, and her tone, which was usually curt and haughty when talking to others, was very polite and respectful to Ethan.
Greg’s smug grin faltered as a flicker of jealousy crossed his face, even though he would rather die than admit it.
“Why are you wasting your time with him?” He asked angrily.
Victoria didn’t even glance at Greg. She simply motioned for Ethan to follow her.
“Come with me,” she said, her voice polite and professional.
Ethan raised an eyebrow at her actions but didn’t argue with her. He followed her toward a room reserved for only the VIPs, leaving a stunned Greg and a bewildered crowd behind.
The moment they closed the door to the VIP room, Ethan immediately asked.
“Why are you doing this?”
Victoria was not surprised at Ethan’s reaction, and answered his question calmly.
“You’re a diamond member of this establishment now, which means you deserve the highest level of service.” Victoria replied immediately.
“I see.” Ethan said, and then remained silent.
Victoria, noticing his silence, handed Ethan a set of sleek combat gear. “This will help you in the arena,” she explained. “It’s designed to enhance your movements and increase your stamina.”
"I don't need this set of equipment, just give me a regular one."
“One more thing. Keep my identity secret. I don’t want unnecessary attention.” Ethan ordered.
Victoria nodded firmly.
“Understood.”
Ethan emerged from the locker room. The crowd’s murmurs grew louder as they saw him stride toward the centre.
“Are you ready to get this over with?” Greg regained his cocky demeanour, sneering at Ethan.
“Let’s get this started with.” Ethan said, his gaze steady as he faced Greg, completely unfazed by the taunts.
“I assume you remember the terms of the wager?” Greg sneered.
“Yes, and I want the terms to take effect immediately,” Ethan said calmly, his words sending a ripple of shock through the crowd.
“As you wish” Greg smirked.
The crowd erupted in gasps and whispers.
“He’s crazy!”
“Greg is going to destroy him!”
Still, Ethan didn’t flinch. He simply crossed his arms and waited.
Greg, clearly feeling the pressure of the audience’s eyes on him, laughed loudly, though the sound was more forced than before.
“Fine. You want to make this harder on yourself? Be my guest. But don’t cry when this ends in one punch.”
The holographic arena flickered to life around them, projecting a digital battlefield that would simulate the fight.
Greg cracked his knuckles and stepped into position, the crowd roaring with anticipation.
Ethan, now in his combat gear, took his place across from him.
The crowd was fully on Greg’s side, booing Ethan, as they were fairly certain that he wouldn’t last more than a few seconds.
“End it with one punch, Greg!” someone shouted from the stands.
Right then, the system began the countdown.
“Three... Two... One... FIGHT!”
Greg charged forward, confident in his victory. His first punch was aimed squarely at Ethan’s head, intended to knock him out cold, but something unexpected happened.
Ethan dodged Greg’s punch effortlessly, his movements quick and precise. Greg’s punch hit nothing but air, and before he could react, Ethan delivered three lightning-fast punches in return—each one connecting with surgical precision.
The crowd fell silent as the system beeped, announcing the result.
The holographic display flashed the same result three times in a row, confirming the outcome.
The entire arena was in shock. Greg stood frozen, disbelief etched on his face.
Ethan had won.
As Ethan stepped out of the combat room, the crowd that had gathered in the underground fight club was buzzing with shock and disbelief. "He's cheating!" someone shouted from the back, followed by murmurs of agreement."Of course he won, look at that suit! No wonder he managed to pull off those moves. He didn’t beat Greg fairly!" another voice joined in.Ethan ignored the accusations, his expression impassive, but Victoria, standing beside him, stepped forward and glared at the crowd.“Mr. Ethan did not choose the excellent equipment I provided. His skills are what decided the fight.”The crowd erupted in laughter at her words.“Yeah, right. Do you expect us to believe some random guy just walked in and beat the Gregory Holden?” One of the onlookers sneered.Aria, who had been watching from the front row suddenly stood and sauntered over with a smirk on her face.“Greg will have his revenge soon enough,” she said in a mocking tone.“This win means nothing. You cheated, Ethan. Everyon
“What a joke!” Aria sneered after hearing Ethan’s words. There was no way that his words would be true. She thought Ethan was bluffing. After all, why would someone like him be an important guest at a dinner hosted by the powerful Crestwood family?Just looking at his poor outfit alone, he didn’t even fit in among the city’s elite. How then would he be the important guest to the powerful Crestwood family?It was obvious that he was blatantly lying to their faces. He was a boastful fraud after all.It appeared that it wasn’t just Aria who thought the same way, as the crowd joined in and started to insult Ethan.“Do you really expect us to believe that?” one of the audience uttered, and the rest of the crowd murmured in agreement, with several of them glaring at him with disdainful sneers.“You have quite the imagination.” Greg, ever eager to humiliate him, remarked with a mocking smirk.“It’s not too late to back out of this lie you’ve told before you embarrass yourself even more.” Gre
Just as Ethan was about to respond to her unexpected offer, his phone rang loudly in his hand. He brought it out glanced at the screen briefly, furrowing his brows slightly. Several of the nearby guests craned their necks, catching a glimpse of the name, and within seconds, the ridiculing began.“Seriously?Is this guy serious?” Greg scoffed haughtily.“Is that supposed to be a joke? Edward Crestwood? In your wildest dreams!” Another person in the crowd sniggered.The crowd erupted instantly with mocking laughter. They clearly believed that Ethan, being the boastful fraud that he was, had resorted to cheap tricks like creating fake names on his phone to impress people. The idea that the head of the Crestwood family, one of the most powerful men in the city, would call someone as unremarkable as Ethan was too far-fetched for them to entertain.Aria and her friend, Natalie, crossed their arms and stared at Ethan with an amused expression on their faces. They were eagerly waiting for Eth
Meanwhile, the luxury car that picked up Ethan pulled up in front of the magnificent Crestwood Villa. The driver parked neatly and stepped out, opening the door for him. Ethan alighted calmly and started walking towards the imposing manor doors. He could see the anxious expression of the butler standing at the entrance, and it was very clear to him that he had been waiting for his arrival.“Master Ethan, thank you so much for your quick response.” The butler responded, bowing his head respectfully.“It’s nothing.” Ethan replied casually.“Mrs. Crestwood is waiting for you inside. She insisted you see her daughter immediately.” The butler said.“Lead the way.” Ethan ordered calmly.The butler nodded and entered inside the massive villa, with Ethan following him closely. They walked hastily through the elegant hallways, which were filled with expensive artwork and luxurious decor, his haste giving Ethan no time to admire them even if he wanted to.The butler led him to the second floor,
Jason Crestwood, Edward and Olivia’s son, swaggered into the room with an air of confidence, and behind him was a middle-aged man with a serious expression on his face. The middle-aged man was Professor Davies, a renowned person in the city. He was a brilliant and highly respected medical practitioner and had cured a lot of illnesses of sick people in the city. “Thank God you’re here, Professor Davies!” Olivia exclaimed, her voice filled with relief as she rushed to his side. “Please, you have to save my daughter!” Olivia pleaded, tears welling in her eyes. “Don’t worry. I have already assessed the situation with Jason on my way here. I know exactly what to do. She’ll be better in an hour.” Professor Davies said with a confident smile as he glanced briefly at Vivienne’s sickly figure. Olivia Crestwood let out an audible sigh of relief at Professor Davies’ appearance. She trusted that his skills would definitely be better than Ethan, who didn’t have any reputation whatsoever. Jaso
Ethan did not flinch at Jason’s attitude. Instead, he focused his attention on Professor Davies.“You’re making a mistake, I’m telling you.” Ethan said coldly.Professor Davies let out a frustrated sigh at Ethan’s stubborn attitude. He was a renowned individual, and wherever he went, people always revered and respected him. He could not stand Ethan’s constant barrage of disagreements with his method.“This is ridiculous.” Professor Davies said. He crossed his arms and sneered at Ethan. The fact that Ethan was still very young and far less experienced than him also made him extremely annoyed.Jason, sensing Professor Davies' frustration, turned to him and pleaded in a soft tone.“Professor Davies, please ignore him! He must be a fraud that had somehow managed to con my father!” Jason said, casting a venomous glance at Ethan.Ethan sneered at Jason’s words.“Me? A fraud?”“Yes. You’re nothing but a con artist!” Jason shot back.“You really think I’m a fraud?” Ethan asked coldly, his pos
Ethan was about to step out of the Crestwood manor when the butler hurried after him, calling out in a desperate voice.“Master Ethan! Please wait!” The butler's voice was urgent as he drew closer. Ethan, whose hand was already on the door, stopped and turned back to face the butler.“I’m very sorry for what happened earlier, Master Ethan.” The butler, whose name was Harris, apologised to Ethan with a sincere expression on his face.“It’s not your fault.” Ethan replied coolly.“They’ve already chosen who they want to help them, and I’m not the one.” Ethan continued calmly.Harris bowed his head in shame at Ethan’s words. He didn’t like the way Ethan was treated earlier, but there was nothing much he could do.Ethan didn’t say anything else and was about to leave the manor when two guards suddenly rushed up to him.“You! Wait! The Young Master demands your presence! You’ve put the young mistress in danger with your stupid concoctions!” one of the guards yelled at Ethan in a cold voice.
“What? Why do we have to leave the room?” Jason asked Ethan, his tone harsh.“I just told you now. I don’t want any distractions.” Ethan retorted coldly.Jason crossed his arms, his expression hard.“I don’t trust him! There’s no way I’m leaving this room!” he said stubbornly, narrowing his eyes at Ethan. However, before Jason could object further, the butler, Harris, stepped forward.“Master Jason, it's best we leave Ethan to do his work and wait outside.” Harris said, his tone calm yet firm.Jason took a glance at his sick sister and clenched his jaw tightly, and without another word, he reluctantly left the room. Professor Davies, Harris, and Olivia all stared at Ethan’s confident countenance before leaving the room as well.Outside the door, Jason paced angrily, glaring hard at Harris, the butler.“Who does he think he is, telling me to wait outside?” he spat, his voice low yet seething with frustration. Harris’ eyes remained calm as Jason threw a fit, watching as Jason’s anger co
“I can’t believe how self-centered you are! You’re so delusional!” Aria cursed at Ethan angrily.“What would it take for you to leave me alone? Can’t you just stay out of my way? Is that so hard for you to do?” Aria asked sharply, her eyes filled with frustration. She had gone tired of his constant boasting and fraudulent behaviour. She was fully convinced that he was delusional, and she wanted nothing to do with him.To her, Ethan was nothing more than a nuisance. He was a boastful liar, a fraud and a parasite who had wormed his way into her life without bringing any real value to her, and her current impression of him were the worst it could be.Ethan could tell what Aria was thinking, as it was as clear as day. However, he remained quiet, not telling her a single thing. He decided that there was no need for him to reveal his real identity to her. It was obvious that Aria would not even believe him anyways.Moreover, the most important thing was to him was finding out the truth behi
Ethan’s calm response hung in the air. His tone was cool and composed, and he didn’t offer any further explanations. Still, his response inflamed Mrs. Whitman.“Your own business?” Mrs. Whitman scoffed, her eyes narrowing in disbelief at his words.“And what exactly would that business be? I bet it’s something fitting for someone as worthless as you, which is scavenging for scraps?” Mrs. Whitman sneered, her voice laced with mockery and disgust as she leaned back and crossed her arms, impatiently waiting for his response. Mr. Whitman sat beside his wife, a condescending expression on his face as he glared at Ethan. He was clearly enjoying the insults that his wife fired at Ethan.Ethan maintained his composure and remained calm at their harsh jabs and insults. He was fully aware that nothing he said would be able to change their opinion of him, so there was no need for him to be bothered by their harsh comments and remarks.“The nature of my business is nothing you need to concern you
“Now, Aria, it’s very good that you managed to secure VIP invitations to Miss Crestwood's charity party, and I think it’s only fitting that Ethan is there to assist you at the event.” Henry said calmly. His tone was casual, as though what he just said was a simple suggestion.“It would be perfect for him to accompany you to the event since he’s your fiancé. After all, you two will eventually get married and have to work closely together in the future.” Henry concluded with a broad smile on his aged face.Aria, who was feeling quite proud for getting the VIP invitation tickets to Miss Vivienne’s party, felt her smile wipe away from her face, and her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t believe her grandfather’s words.Aria was horrified. Ethan was nothing but a worthless poor church rat, and a lot of the elite from Tussauds University would be in attendance as well. If they ever saw someone of her status walking hand in hand with Ethan, she would never be able to live
“Thank you very much for your consideration, Mr. Whitman.” Ethan said calmly, his tone extremely polite and respectful.“It’s nothing.” Henry dismissed his words with a kind smile.Meanwhile, Aria, who had been standing outside the room and eavesdropping on their conversation, could not believe her ears. Although her grandfather had suggested something many male students at Tussauds University would not hesitate to jump at, Ethan calmly refused his request, and she was extremely delighted at that.Ethan was nothing but a poor and worthless rat. There was no way that she would think of even getting married to him, so she was extremely relieved that he rejected her grandfather.The very thought of living with Ethan had been totally unbearable, but now that possibility seemed far away. At least for now, she could breathe easier and rest easy.Aria returned to the sitting room with the bank card in her hand. She was still very annoyed at Ethan, but it was somewhat bearable now that she ov
Aria sneered disdainfully as Ethan made his way inside the manor. She seemed to believe that he was just being boastful, like the fraud he was. There was no way ten thousand dollars was not a huge amount of money for him. In fact, she was sure that he was just pretending that it wasn’t a significant sum of money to him.Inside the manor, Aria sat across from Ethan, her arms crossed with a cold expression on her face. She looked like she couldn’t stand Ethan at all. She didn’t even want to be in the same room with him. She just wanted to dismiss him quickly and let him leave her life immediately. His audacity and cunning attitude were extremely unbearable, and the sooner she could get rid of him, the better for her.“Just take the ten thousand dollars and leave my life for good. How hard is that for you?” Aria asked angrily with a frown on her face.“Ten thousand dollars? That’s a miserable amount of money to offer someone of my caliber.” Ethan replied in an amused tone.“Someone of y
After Ethan left the Whitman Estate, he immediately boarded a taxi and went to the Eastville Manor, which was the villa that Edward Crestwood gave him the keys to as a token of gratitude for him saving his daughter.The drive to his new residence was uneventful, and in less than twenty minutes, he arrived at his destination, the Eastville Manor.The Eastville Manor was located in one of the city’s most prestigious neighborhoods. It was a symbol of wealth and influence, and not just anyone could own or purchase a building here. It was a well-known fact that only the wealthiest and most influential people could manage to live in Eastville.It was the kind of place that not anyone could just buy, even if they had the money to do so. One still needed a certain amount of influence and connections before they could live there, and yet, Edward Crestwood had effortlessly gifted him the keys to such a manor.The manor itself was extremely beautiful, with ancient architecture that had a lot of
“Like I said earlier, only Greg can do such a thing for Aria! You’re just an insignificant ant. There’s no way someone like you could make such gestures for Aria!” Natalie spat in a mocking tone.Ethan remained calm, his hands resting casually in his pockets as he stared at Natalie. Despite how harsh Natalie's words were, he didn’t seem fazed at all. His calm demeanour only served to irritate Natalie more, especially since she was already convinced of his insignificance.Meanwhile, Aria was confused at Ethan’s words. She didn’t know whether to believe him or not. After all, he had always acted like a con man and a fraud.“Alright, Ethan. If you claim to know so much, why don't you tell us what was inside the package?" Greg said with a raised eyebrow, looking amused at Ethan’s attempt to steal his efforts.Natalie smirked at Greg’s question. Since the packages had been repacked before Ethan came, there was no way he would know what the contents of the packages were. She was looking for
“What do you think is in the package, Aria?” Natalie asked, her voice full of curiosity and excitement. Her eyes were sparkling as she admired the luxurious packaging.“I don’t know, but I guess there’s only one way to find out.” Aria replied, her voice filled with excitement.She took the package from Greg and began untying the intricate bow. The silk ribbons fell apart easily, and she gently lifted the lid, revealing a dark velvet box inside. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened the velvet box, only to be greeted by the sight of a stunning set of jewellery.It was an exquisite diamond necklace paired with matching earrings. The gemstones gleamed brilliantly in the light, each one expertly cut and displaying their extravagance.Aria’s eyes widened, and she held her breath as she gently lifted the necklace from the box. The delicate diamond jewellery sparkled with every movement she made, glittering beautifully under the gleaming chandeliers.Natalie, who was right beside her, could
The moment Carl and his mistress Cassandra exited the store, Edward immediately turned to face Ethan.“Master Ethan, I’m genuinely sorry for the behaviour of my staff. Please pardon them.” Edward apologised and bowed sincerely to Ethan.The sight of someone as powerful as Edward Crestwood bowing to someone unknown and seemingly ordinary like Ethan was completely stunning to Jennifer, the saleswoman. After all, Edward had just sent her powerful manager packing by firing him on the spot! It didn’t take a genius to know that Ethan’s identity and background must be insanely powerful!“Once again, I am truly sorry, Master Ethan.” Edward apologised to Ethan and then turned to Jennifer.“Package the jewellery that he picked out, and make sure to use the best packaging available.” Edward ordered.“Yes, sir.” Jennifer nodded meekly and quickly obeyed his instructions. A few minutes later, she came back with the jewellery neatly packaged in a luxurious box, just like Edward requested. The packa