Moans. Not just any moans—Vanessa’s. The woman he had loved, the woman he had sacrificed so much for. Ethan Cross stood frozen outside the door as his grip on the doorknob tightened. The message she had sent earlier replayed in his mind: I want you tonight. Was this what she meant? Was this some sick joke? He was excited when he got the message, thinking this was finally the night they’d sleep together after months of dating. But this? Seriously? His pulse pounded in his ears. His stomach churned. Before he could think twice, he kicked the door open. CRASH! The door slammed against the wall, revealing the twisted reality inside. Vanessa lay sprawled beneath Damian Hayes, the notorious rich playboy known for treating women like disposable toys. Their sweaty bodies intertwined in the dim light, the sheets barely covering their shame. Vanessa gasped, grabbing the sheets in mock modesty, but Damian? The bastard grinned. “Oh, well, shit. Looks like the Piggy finally found his

Ethan sat in the grand study, his fingers tracing the smooth edge of the black card his father had given him. The weight of Magnus Aurelius’s words still pressed heavily on his mind. "The world is yours to take, Ethan.” "Ethan," Magnus said, leaning forward in his leather chair, "I need you to prepare for the Aurelius Conglomerate anniversary tomorrow." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Me, Father?" Magnus's eyes gleamed with purpose. "Yes, to step up as my heir and take over as CEO of Aurelius Pharmaceuticals Group—the official announcement will happen at the event." Though Ethan was nervous, he confidently nodded his head. Magnus had no doubt that Ethan would accept. After everything he had endured at the hands of others, Magnus knew he would want to prove them wrong. Ethan let out a slow breath, pushing down the storm inside him. This wasn’t just about stepping into a powerful position. This was about proving something—to himself, to those who had abandoned him, and to the people wh

The room was thick with silence. Lara’s cold gaze locked onto Manager Hensley, her fingers twitching at her sides. Then— SMACK! The crisp sound of her palm meeting his cheek echoed through the store. Hensley staggered, clutching his face, eyes wide with pure disbelief. Blanche and Yvonne gasped audibly. The clerk nearly dropped to his knees. Ethan? He just smirked. Hensley, still dazed, scrambled to recover. His mind worked at lightning speed, and suddenly, a brilliant conclusion formed in his head—this man, this pathetic errand boy, must be Lara’s personal servant! He immediately bowed. "Madam Lara! I—I had no idea your assistant was here to collect something on your behalf! Please forgive my ignorance!” Lara’s lips twitched in irritation. “My assistant?” Hensley nodded rapidly, sweat forming at his temples. “Yes, of course! A noblewoman like you wouldn’t waste time buying things yourself! This lowly servant should’ve spoken up sooner!” Ethan’s smirk deepened. Oh, this j

Ethan finally stopped, turning his gaze to see Vanessa and Damian standing just a few steps away. Vanessa was draped in an elegant designer dress, her arms crossed, her lips curled in amusement. Damian, dressed in an expensive tailored suit, had one hand tucked in his pocket while the other was casually slung over her waist. Damian let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Unbelievable. I thought we left the stray dog in the dirt, but here he is, wagging his tail again.” Vanessa tilted her head. “Maybe he’s here to beg?” She smirked. “How pathetic.” Ethan remained calm, his hands resting inside his pockets. Damian let out a mock sigh. "You do realize where you are, don’t you? This isn’t a place for people like you.” He adjusted his cufflinks before giving Ethan a disdainful look. "Unlike you, I actually belong here.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?” Damian’s smirk widened. "That’s right.” He puffed his chest out. “I was personally invited to this prestigious c

One guard stepped forward, placing a meaty hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Let’s go.” Before Ethan could shake the hand off, a sharp voice cut through the tense silence. “What in the name of all that’s holy is going on here?” All eyes turned toward a tall, older gentleman in a distinguished gray suit striding purposefully across the lobby. His posture radiated authority, and a faint badge on his lapel indicated a high-ranked position within Aurelius Conglomerate. The manager stiffened instantly, turning to face the newcomer. "S-Sir Chandler! I, uh, we have a situation with a trespasser.” Sir Chandler—clearly the manager’s superior—shot a quick glance at the group of guards, at Damian and Vanessa, then locked his gaze on Ethan. "A trespasser, you say?” Damian opened his mouth to speak, but Sir Chandler ignored him, directing his attention to the manager’s hands, which still clutched the clipboard. "Give me a proper explanation, or I’ll start demoting people on the spot.” The manag