Chapter 51 Ethan returned to the living room, dressed in black jeans, a fitted black singlet, and a dark coat.His outfit was simple, without any expensive accessories or flashy designer labels. Despite having hundred million dollars to his name, Ethan had never developed the habit of dressing extravagantly.He preferred comfortable clothes that allowed him to move freely.After adjusting his coat, he glanced toward the sofa."All right, Lizzy. Let's go."There was no response.Ethan frowned, the sofa was empty.Duke was still lying on the cushions, but Lizzy was nowhere to be seen. "Where did she go?"He looked toward the kitchen, then the hallway leading to the bathroom.Had she left?That seemed unlikely. Her dog was still here, and she had been practically begging him for money only a few minutes earlier."Lizzy?"Before he could call again, a pair of soft hands suddenly slid across his chest from behind.Ethan stiffened.A familiar feminine fragrance reached his nose, and a wom

Chapter 53By the time Ethan arrived at the luxury car dealership, the morning rush had already begun.Several expensive vehicles were displayed behind the enormous glass windows, their polished bodies gleaming beneath the showroom lights.Ethan parked his car and stepped inside.He wasn't there to purchase another vehicle. His main purpose was to check on the modifications being carried out on his Mercedes-AMG G 63 4x4².The customized SUV was one of his most important preparations for the coming apocalypse.He had spent a considerable amount of money on it, and he wanted to make sure the work was progressing according to schedule.However, he had barely entered the showroom when a familiar voice called out to him."Mr. Carter!"Ethan turned.A young saleswoman was approaching him with a bright smile.He recognized her immediately.She was the same woman who had attended to him and Claire when they visited the dealership the previous day."Good morning, Mr. Carter," she greeted warml

Chapter 55At exactly 2:10 p.m., a silver sedan pulled into the parking area of Ethan's apartment building.Rose stepped out of the driver's seat and glanced at the address displayed on her phone.She had spoken with Ethan a few minutes earlier, and he'd given her his apartment number and confirmed that he lived on the fifteenth floor.After checking that she had arrived at the correct building, she reached into the back seat and retrieved her handbag and a slim leather folder containing several documents.She had brought her laptop as well, knowing that preparing a proper loan agreement might require more than a few handwritten notes.Once she had everything, she locked the car and headed toward the entrance.However, she had barely stepped into the lobby when she noticed something strange.People were staring at her.An elderly woman sitting near the reception area stopped speaking the moment Rose walked past.Two younger women standing beside the elevator exchanged meaningful glanc

By the time Rose finished preparing the documents, almost two hours had passed. She carefully reviewed the loan agreement one last time, checking the repayment terms, interest rate, and the conditions Ethan had requested. Everything was in order. All that remained was to verify Lizzy's identification, confirm the repayment schedule, and obtain the necessary signatures.Rose saved the document on her laptop before closing it. "All right, Mr. Carter. That should be everything for now."Ethan looked up from his phone. "Already?"Rose smiled. "Yes. I've prepared the agreement. Once the borrower provides the remaining information and signs it, you can proceed with the transfer.""Good.""I'll send you a copy for your records.""I appreciate it."Rose began gathering her documents, unaware that Ethan had noticed something unusual about her throughout the afternoon. Although she'd managed to complete her work without making any mistakes, she had seemed distracted. Several times, she'd pause

Ethan was about to turn back toward the apartment building when he noticed three familiar figures approaching from the parking lot. Ryan, Robert, and Margaret Bennett—his former in-laws.For a moment, Ethan wondered whether the universe had decided to test his patience that afternoon. He had barely finished seeing Rose off, and now another group of people from his past had appeared. He glanced toward the building entrance, wondering whether he could reach the elevator before they noticed him.Seriously?But just as he took a step, a familiar voice rang out."Ethan! Ethan, wait!"He stopped and turned his head. Margaret was waving at him, with Ryan and Robert walking beside her.Ethan closed his eyes briefly. I really didn't sign up for this.He had already dealt with enough unnecessary drama over the past few days. First Lizzy, then Mrs. Parker, and now Victoria's entire family. For a moment, he considered pretending he hadn't heard them, but that would only encourage them to follow h