Chapter 5

Ethan hesitated at the entrance of the Lauren residence, his hand hovering over the doorbell. His heart pounded with a mix of dread and anger. Rebecca stood beside him, her presence calm and reassuring.

“Are you ready?” she asked softly, her voice steady.

Ethan swallowed hard, nodding. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready, but I have to do this.”

Rebecca gave him a small, encouraging smile. “Just remember, you’re not alone. Face them with your head held high.”

Taking a deep breath, Ethan pressed the doorbell. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Gloria’s disapproving face. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the sight of Ethan and then shifted to Rebecca, surprise flashing briefly before it was replaced with a sneer.

“Well, well, Ethan,” Gloria drawled, her voice dripping with contempt. “I didn’t expect you to bring company. And such… refined company at that.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened, but he forced himself to remain calm. “I’m here to finalize the divorce, Gloria. That’s all.”

Gloria’s gaze flicked to Rebecca again, her expression growing more hostile. “And who is this? Your lawyer? Or just someone to hold your hand?”

Rebecca stepped forward, her eyes cool and composed. “I’m Rebecca. And I’m here to support Ethan.”

Gloria scoffed, stepping aside to let them in. “Support? That’s a first. Well, come in then. The others are waiting.”

Ethan led Rebecca into the living room, where the rest of the Lauren family sat. Lauren lounged on the sofa, her legs crossed elegantly, a glass of wine in her hand. Brandon sat beside her, a smug smile plastered on his face as he chatted with Gloria, who handed him a cup of tea.

The scene was so casual, so comfortable, that Ethan felt a surge of rage boiling within him. But before he could speak, Rebecca’s hand gently touched his arm, a silent reminder to stay calm.

Lauren’s eyes narrowed as she noticed Rebecca. “Ethan, who’s this? Did you bring your little girlfriend to make me jealous?”

Ethan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. “This is Rebecca. And no, she’s not my girlfriend. She’s here because she wanted to see the kind of people I’ve been dealing with.”

Lauren’s eyes flicked up and down Rebecca’s form, jealousy flaring briefly in her gaze. “Really, Ethan? You had to bring a chick with you for moral support? Pathetic.”

Rebecca’s eyes remained steady, unbothered by Lauren’s hostility. “It’s interesting, Miss Lauren, how you feel threatened by me being here. I thought a confident woman wouldn’t be so insecure.”

Lauren’s face flushed with anger. “Insecure? Me? Don’t make me laugh. I just find it amusing that Ethan had to drag someone else into this mess.”

Brandon, who had been eyeing Rebecca appreciatively, leaned forward with a grin. “Ignore her. So, Rebecca, what do you do? You’re obviously not from around here.”

Rebecca glanced at him with a detached smile. “I work in various fields. Business, mainly.”

Brandon’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Business, huh? I have some contacts in D.C. Maybe we could collaborate. You know, the Williams family? We’ve got a pretty good relationship with them.”

Ethan almost laughed at the irony, but Rebecca’s expression didn’t change. She looked at Brandon with mild amusement. “Oh, the Williams family? Interesting.”

“Yeah, I’m actually negotiating a big deal with them right now,” Brandon boasted, puffing out his chest. “They’re really impressed with my work.”

Rebecca nodded thoughtfully. “You must be very talented then. I’d love to hear more about it sometime.”

Brandon grinned, clearly pleased with himself. “Anytime, Rebecca. Here’s my card.” He reached into his pocket and handed it to her with a flourish.

Rebecca took the card, glancing at it briefly before slipping it into her bag. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Lauren, irritated by the attention Brandon was giving Rebecca, stood abruptly. “Enough of this. Ethan, sign the papers and get out. We don’t have all day.”

She thrust the divorce papers at him, her eyes flashing with impatience. Ethan took the papers, his hands trembling slightly. He glanced at Rebecca, who gave him a nod of encouragement.

“You’re really in a hurry to get rid of me, aren’t you?” Ethan murmured, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

Lauren rolled her eyes. “Just sign them, Ethan. You’re holding us up.”

Ethan stared at the papers for a moment longer, then picked up a pen and signed his name with a flourish. He looked up, his eyes burning with a quiet intensity. “One day, you’ll regret this, Lauren. You and Brandon both.”

Brandon chuckled, leaning back on the sofa. “Regret? Us? You’re delusional, Ethan. We’re about to be part of something big. You’re just a small fry who’s finally getting thrown out.”

Ethan’s gaze didn’t waver. “We’ll see about that.”

Lauren laughed, her voice cold and mocking. “Get out, Ethan. Go back to your pathetic life and leave us alone.”

Ethan handed the papers back to her, his expression resolute. “I’m leaving. But remember this moment, Lauren. Because I promise, I’ll come back stronger than ever.”

Brandon smirked. “Big words for someone who’s got nothing.”

Ethan ignored him, turning to Rebecca. “Let’s go.”

Rebecca nodded and followed him out, her posture graceful and composed. As they walked down the driveway, Ethan could feel the weight of everything crashing down on him. He clenched his fists, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

Once they were inside the car, Rebecca turned to him, her voice gentle. “Are you okay?”

Ethan shook his head, his eyes filled with a mix of pain and determination. “No, I’m not okay. But I will be. I’m going to make them pay for what they’ve done.”

Rebecca studied him, her expression thoughtful. “Do you really hate them that much?”

Ethan let out a bitter laugh. “How could I not? They took everything from me, humiliated me, and threw me away like I was nothing.”

Rebecca nodded slowly, a glint of understanding in her eyes. “Hatred can be a powerful motivator, Ethan. But don’t let it consume you.”

“I won’t,” Ethan said firmly. “I just want to prove them wrong. I want to show them that I’m not worthless.”

Rebecca smiled faintly. “You’ve already started to prove that. But there’s still a long way to go.”

Ethan looked out the window, his voice barely a whisper. “I know.”

Rebecca reached into her bag and pulled out a set of keys, handing them to him. “Here. I want you to stay at my villa in Dragon Paradise.”

Ethan’s eyes widened as he took the keys, his fingers trembling. “I can’t… I can’t accept this, Rebecca. It’s too much.”

Rebecca shook her head, her voice firm. “You need a place to stay, and I want to help. It’s the smallest property I own, and it’s just sitting there empty. Take it.”

Ethan stared at her, overwhelmed by her generosity. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Just don’t give up,” Rebecca said softly. “That’s all I ask.”

Ethan nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. “I promise I won’t.”

Rebecca smiled and started the car. “Good. Now, I have a dinner party to attend. But if you need anything, call me.”

As they drove to Dragon Paradise, Rebecca’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and sighed. “It’s my secretary. Probably wondering why I’m late.”

Ethan smiled faintly. “I’m sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble.”

“You haven’t,” Rebecca assured him. She answered the call, her tone brisk. “Yes, William?”

“Miss Rebecca, the Governor and the Chief are asking for you. What should I tell them?” William’s voice was laced with confusion.

“Tell them I’ll be there in an hour,” Rebecca replied. “I had something more important to take care of.”

William hesitated. “More important than the Governor?”

“Yes, William. More important.” Rebecca hung up and glanced at Ethan, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re quite the troublemaker, you know.”

Ethan chuckled, feeling a little lighter. “I’m sorry.”

Rebecca shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “Don’t be. It’s refreshing.”

When they arrived at Dragon Paradise, Ethan’s breath caught in his throat at the sight of the luxurious villa. He turned to Rebecca, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t deserve this.”

Rebecca’s gaze softened. “Yes, you do. Now, go inside and rest. You’ve had a long day.”

Ethan nodded, holding the keys tightly. “I’ll never forget this, Rebecca. Thank you.”

She smiled and waved as she drove away, leaving him standing at the entrance of his new home, his heart swelling with hope and determination.

As she drove to the dinner party, William’s voice crackled through the speaker again. “Miss Rebecca, may I ask why you’re helping him?”

Rebecca’s eyes softened as she thought of Ethan’s resilience and integrity. “Because, William, I’m starting to believe in him. He has something… rare.”

William was silent for a moment. “And what is that, Miss Rebecca?”

“Humility,” she said softly. “And the courage to face adversity without losing himself. I think he might just surprise us all.”

She ended the call, her thoughts drifting back to Ethan. As she arrived at the elite dinner party, she felt a sense of anticipation building within her. Ethan was just beginning to realize his potential, and she was eager to see where his journey would lead.

And for the first time in a long while, Rebecca felt hopeful about more than just her own future.