The next morning, Ethan arrived at the office with one thing on his mind. The competition. Horizon Capital had spent millions trying to push his company out of the market. They were buying competitors, stealing clients, and offering prices that normal businesses couldn't survive.But Ethan had finally understood something. Adrian wasn't trying to win every customer. He was trying to force Ethan into making a mistake. And Ethan wasn't going to give him one.David entered the office carrying several folders. "We have another problem."Ethan looked up. "What now?""Horizon has approached five of our smaller clients.""How many accepted?""Three are considering it."Ethan nodded. "Good."David stared at him. "Good?""Yes."David looked confused. "We're losing clients.""Small clients.""Clients are still clients."Ethan stood and walked toward the whiteboard. "Look at the pattern."David followed. Ethan wrote down the names of the companies Horizon had targeted. "Why these five?"David st

The news spread faster than Ethan expected. Within forty-eight hours, three companies that had recently broken away from Horizon Capital contacted his company. Then came the investors. Then the business newspapers. Everyone wanted to know who was behind the sudden rise of Ethan's company.Ethan didn't like the attention. He had spent most of his life being ignored. Now, people were suddenly fighting for a meeting with him.David entered his office carrying another stack of requests. "Another six."Ethan looked up. "Six what?""Meeting requests.""From?""Investors, company directors, and two major business families."Ethan sighed. "Decline them."David stared at him. "All of them?""Unless they're directly connected to our current expansion."David smiled. "You really don't enjoy attention.""I enjoy results."By noon, the chairman called Ethan into his office. "I've been receiving calls all morning."Ethan sat down. "About the company?""About you."Ethan frowned. "Why?"The chairman

Lawson mansion had never felt so quiet.Kyle sat alone in his room, staring at his phone.The message from the unknown caller was still on his screen.“You have no idea who Ethan really is.”Kyle had read those words so many times that they had begun to annoy him.He hated mysteries.More importantly, he hated mysteries involving Ethan.For years, Ethan had been nothing to him. A useless son-in-law who could barely afford decent clothes. A man who stayed silent whenever people insulted him. Someone Sophia had married because her family had forced her into the marriage.But things had changed.Ethan was no longer the same man.He had money now.He had connections.People at the company respected him.Even powerful businessmen had started looking for him.And the worst part was that nobody knew exactly how he had achieved all of it.Kyle clenched his fist.“I won't let him rise above me.”He threw the phone onto the bed.Just then, there was a knock on his door.“Come in.”The door ope

Ethan stood outside Mr. Harris's house, staring at the envelope in his hand. The words written by his father were still fresh in his mind. If Ethan ever comes looking for me, tell him not to trust anyone carrying the Ainsworth name.He had read the sentence several times, but it still made no sense. Why would his father leave a warning like that? And why had he disappeared without saying goodbye?For years, Ethan had believed his father was simply gone. He had heard different stories from different people. Some said his father had left because of financial problems. Others said he had gotten involved with dangerous people. But now Ethan knew there was more to it. His father had been hiding something. And whatever it was, it had been important enough for him to disappear.Ethan folded the note carefully and placed it back inside the envelope. Then he looked toward the road. The two men who had been watching him were no longer visible. But Ethan knew they were somewhere nearby. He could

Ethan left the old railway station with the black card still in his pocket. The message from the unknown caller kept replaying in his mind. If you find the ring, you will find the truth. But where was the ring? And who had hidden it?Ethan drove back toward the city, but something felt different. He checked his rearview mirror. A black SUV was several cars behind him. He changed lanes. The SUV changed lanes too. Ethan turned onto a smaller road. The SUV followed.His eyes narrowed. Someone was watching him.He didn't panic. Instead, he continued driving normally until he reached a busy intersection. When the traffic light turned red, Ethan suddenly turned into a narrow side street. The SUV tried to follow. But a delivery truck blocked its path. Ethan continued forward and disappeared into another street.He stopped a few minutes later and looked behind him. The SUV was gone. But Ethan knew it hadn't been a coincidence. Someone had been following him.He reached into his pocket and tou