The warehouse was always loud.Metal clanged against metal, forklifts roared from constant use, and the air was thick with dust and sweat. Cardboard boxes were stacked like crooked walls, forming narrow paths that workers rushed through all day long, afraid of slowing down even for a moment.At the far end of the warehouse, Ethan Moore bent down and taped the final seam of a shipping box. His movements were steady and practiced, every pull of the tape precise.Though his uniform was cheap and torn in several places, he treated his work seriously and almost stubbornly too.To him, work was work. It didn’t matter how lowly it was, he could be a bricklayer or a cleaner and he would still do it with pride.“Ethan you lazy bone! I need you to move faster!”The supervisor’s sharp voice cut through the mechanised noise of the warehouse. “The truck’s leaving in ten minutes! If you miss the deadline again, don’t expect your bonus!Ethan didn’t argue, instead he simply pressed the tape down fir

The hall was silent for a few moments and suddenly laughter rang out sharp and cruel.Margaret clutched her stomach as she laughed, almost breathless. “This is hilarious,” she scoffed, pointing at the black card in Ethan’s hand. “You really think flashing a fake card will make you look important, you pauper?”Ivy wiped tears from the corners of her eyes and her gaze was dripping with mockery. “Do you even know what kind of card that is? That’s the highest-level card this bank offers. Only the most powerful people in the world own something like that.”She looked up at him and her lips curled. “And you? You’re just a useless warehouse worker.”The surrounding crowd began whispering again, their voices rising and falling like waves.“That card looks real though…”“But how could he own it? You heard what they said, he is a warehouse worker.”“He probably stole it from someone.”Margaret folded her arms confidently, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “Let me make this clear. If t

The luxury sedan slowed to a smooth stop in front of the brightly lit banquet hall.Golden lights spilled from the entrance, illuminating a long red carpet lined with cameras, reporters, and elegantly dressed guests. The air buzzed with laughter, soft music, and the quiet confidence of people who belonged here.Inside the car, Su Yanning held her phone to her ear, her expression cool and composed as she finished a call.“Handle it tomorrow morning,” she said calmly. “I want a full report on it.”She ended the call and turned slightly. “You can go in first, sir. I’ll be right behind you.”Ethan nodded. “Alright then.”He opened the door and stepped out of the car.The moment his feet touched the ground, a few nearby guests glanced over,some curious, some dismissive. Ethan wore a simple but well-fitted black suit. It wasn’t flashy, but it sat on him naturally, giving off a quiet, restrained presence.As he walked toward the entrance, a familiar voice stopped him.“Ethan?”He looked up a

Victor Shaw’s smile stiffened the moment Ethan finished speaking.At first, Victor laughed, the sound sharp and dismissive, like he’d just heard a bad joke. He leaned back in his chair, swirling the drink in his glass, pretending Adrian’s words hadn’t touched him at all. To anyone watching, he looked relaxed,amused, even.But inside, irritation simmered and it was almost getting to an over boil.The more Victor replayed Adrian’s calm tone in his head, the angrier he became. Ethan hadn't sounded nervous. There had been no hesitation, no awkward pause, no sign of bluffing. He had spoken like someone who knew something, like getting the ring from Victor was already decided.And that was unacceptable.To Victor , Ethan was nothing more than a nobody who had somehow slipped into a high-profile auction meant for the city’s elite.It was a mistake he married Lena but he won’t put much thought in that.His clothes were simple, his name unfamiliar, his presence was wrong. Someone like him

The room held its breath as Ethan slowly reached into his jacket, his movements unhurried, almost indifferent, as if he wasn’t standing at the center of everyone’s attention with millions on the line.Lena’s fingers tightened around his sleeve, her voice dropping into a desperate whisper as panic crept into her tone. “Ethan, stop… please, you can still take it back. Just say it was a mistake and walk away before this gets worse.”Victor let out a quiet chuckle from across the room, leaning back in his seat with the kind of confidence that came from already believing he had won. “Let him continue, Lena,” he said lazily, his eyes fixed on Ethan with open amusement. “Some people need to learn the consequences of pretending to be something they’re not.”Ethan didn’t respond to either of them. He didn’t argue, didn’t defend himself, didn’t even spare them a glance. Instead, he simply pulled his hand out of his jacket——and placed a black card on the table.For a brief moment, the entire ha