Brown stood on the tarmac outside the busy private terminal of the airport, his eyes steadily fixed on the horizon. A convoy of luxury cars stretched out behind him, their engines quietly purring as men in black suits and sunglasses stood at attention next to each vehicle, looking sharp and polished. For the fifth time in five minutes, Brown checked his watch, his heart pounding with excitement. He found it hard to believe how quickly time moved. Days turned into weeks, weeks stretched into months, and before anyone realized it, six months had passed like a breeze. It had been six months since Ethan had left for Switzerland. During those six months, he had ACL surgery and completed his rehabilitation. Brown couldn't wait to see what changes his new boss had undergone over these months. At that moment, the sound of engines roared from afar, growing louder with each passing second. Brown looked up and saw a sleek black private jet descending from the clouds, its wheels touching d

The auctioneer walked onto the stage, dressed in a black suit with a silver microphone attached to his lapel. He smiled warmly at the assembled crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's auction. As you know, we have a unique opportunity before us: one of the few remaining independent oil refineries in the region is now up for sale." He gestured to a large screen behind him, which displayed images of the refinery. It was a vast network of steel towers, pipelines, and storage tanks. The auctioneer went on: "Whoever acquires this refinery will control a major part of the local energy market." Damian leaned forward, his eyes lighting up with interest. Buying this refinery would take his company to the next level. It would grant him a seat with the real power players: oil barons, energy magnates, and elite networks. He glanced at the newcomer, sitting still with sunglasses hiding his face. Damian smirked. Whoever this mystery bidder was, they wouldn't stand a chance in a b

Ethan stared at Derek, the insult hanging in the air between them like a foul odor. For a moment, he was transported back six months: back to the reunion, back to the banquet hall where everyone had laughed at his expense. He could still hear it ringing in his ears, the cruel, mocking laughter of people he had once called friends and classmates. He could still see Lois's cold eyes as she threw her wedding ring at him. He could still feel the sting of Damian's betrayal, which had shattered his entire world to pieces. That night had haunted him for six months. It had followed him to Switzerland, crept into his dreams, and whispered in his ear during the quiet moments of rehabilitation. But today, something was different. He was not the same man he had been before.The old Ethan would have shrunk back in shame. He would have endured the insult in silence, too broken to fight back.But the new Ethan was not a broken man. He was stronger and more confident than ever before.He stepped

Lois answered the call with a forced smile. "Hey! It's been a while. Did you receive the wedding invitation I sent?"She listened for a moment, her smile fading as the voice on the other end spoke rapidly. The caller was clearly excited, sharing the latest gossip from their high school group chat."You wouldn't believe what happened tonight," the classmate said, her voice buzzing with excitement. "Something crazy went down at Paradise Hotel."Lois's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?""Derek Simmons," the classmate said. "You remember Derek, right? He was at the reunion. The one who was laughing at Ethan with everyone else."Lois's stomach tightened at the mention of Ethan's name. "What about him?""He was at Paradise Hotel tonight with his girlfriend. Apparently, he got into an argument with one of the staff and made a huge scene. And then..."The classmate paused dramatically. "Ethan showed up."Lois froze. "What?""I know, right? Apparently, he's been staying at Paradise Hotel. And