Mrs. Adams shook her head in disbelief.“Unbelievable.” She turned to Vanessa with a glare."I didn’t want to believe you before, but now that I know who he is, I can confirm that you’re not wrong.”Vanessa scoffed, arms crossed. “Oh? Do you know him? Or has he been your gigolo before?”"So he chases after sugar mamas too? Pathetic. No standards whatsoever."Mrs. Adams burst into mock laughter. “Never! He—a gigolo? Please, if anything, you should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking that.”Vanessa's face twitched. “Then, how do you know him?”Mrs. Adams shifted his gaze back to Ethan, a smirk playing on her lips. "This boy… He was abandoned at our doorstep and raised in this orphanage. But instead of being grateful, he repaid us by stealing—over and over—until we had no choice but to throw him out.”The moment the lie left her lips, the room exploded into chaos.Vanessa let out a slow, cruel laugh. “Oh… now I see.”She tilted her head, eyes glinting with mockery. “A thief and a th

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some people stared in shock, while others remained indifferent, their expressions unreadable.Ethan wasn’t surprised. He had long since learned how most of the elites viewed people like him—like they were nothing.He casually slid his phone back into his pocket, watching the Mrs. Adams' arrogance crumble into something dangerously close to fear and disbelief.He let the corner of his lips curl into a slow, satisfied smirk as his eyes, cold and triumphant, locked onto her. He took a step closer, savoring the moment. "You have no idea how much I've been waiting for this day," he murmured, his voice almost a purr.Then, tilting his head slightly, he looked directly at her. “Tell me, Mrs Adams… What were you saying earlier?”Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She looked around, as if searching for someone to pull her out of the sinking pit she had just been thrown into.His voice dropped, filled with an eerie calmness. "You always thought I was bene

The first thing that registered in Ethan's mind as he stirred awake was the satisfaction from the night before. A slow, almost lazy smile stretched across his lips.He had done more than just pass judgment on Matron Grace—he had given Vanessa a taste of her own medicine.She was never in his plans, but calling him a gigolo—in front of everyone? That was a mistake he made sure she regret.***FLASHBACK***"Isn’t false accusation a crime?” he said when the officers turned to him, their brows furrowed in confusion.Their brows deepened.“She just accused me of being a gigolo in front of an audience which I assure you is a blatant lie.” He clarified."And last I checked, defamation is still an offense. So tell me, gentlemen, why is Mrs. Adams the only one being taken in?"Vanessa’s breath hitched."What... what the hell are you saying?” Her voice trembled as shock and confusion bled through.The officers exchanged uncertain glances.“I know it doesn’t make sense,” the stocky officer mutte

Ethan gripped the steering wheel tighter as he chased the black sedan that had always been following him, speeding through traffic in one of the cars his father brought, dodging between lanes with a recklessness that made his heart race.He slammed the accelerator, weaving between startled drivers, eyes locked on his target.His heart pounded as he swerved into the next lane, barely avoiding a delivery truck that honked furiously.The side mirror scraped against the truck’s metal frame, but he didn’t care—his focus remained locked on the car ahead.He was getting too close.They knew he was following them as they took a sharp turn at the intersection just as the light turned red, nearly clipping a passing truck, but he didn't back down—veering after them.He had them—he almost had them—until a mother and child suddenly stepped onto the road.The woman screamed and pulled her child close, shielding him as if that alone could stop the impact."Shit!" Ethan slammed the brakes, tires scre

Vanessa slammed the door behind her, her breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts. The humiliation burned hotter than the anger, wrapping around her like a noose.She pressed her back against the door, sliding to the floor as tears stung her eyes."Me? Held up in a holding cell for almost twelve hours… all because of Ethan?!" The thought alone sent another wave of anger crashing through her, making the tears spill faster.She clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. It didn’t matter that it was late when they detained her—she could have been released last night, but no, they kept her there until the morning. Like a criminal. Like she had done something wrong.And when she finally got home that morning? Her family had tried to calm her, speaking in measured tones, trying to act like this wasn’t a big deal.“All I need to do right now is get back at Ethan for the disgrace he’s done to me.” The words had left her mouth before she even thought about them, raw and full of fury.He