2025-12-18 10:14:11
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CHAPTER 80
"To my son! Welcome back!"Victor Ashford raised his champagne glass high above his head. The ballroom of his private estate was packed with guests. Business partners. Politicians. Journalists. Everyone who mattered in the city.Marcus stood beside his father, wearing an expensive suit and a forced smile. His hand was still bandaged from the injuries he sustained weeks ago. But tonight was not about his injuries. Tonight was about redemption."My son," Victor continued, his voice booming across the room, "has been through hell. He was falsely accused. Arrested. Humiliated. All because of one man's vendetta."The crowd murmured sympathetically."But justice prevailed," Victor said. "The charges were dropped. The accusations were proven false. And now Marcus is free. Free to reclaim his life. Free to reclaim his future."Applause erupted.Marcus nodded graciously, shaking hands with guests who approached to congratulate him. He played the role perfectly. The victim. The wrongly accused
chapter 79
The crowd erupted in applause.Howard looked at Ethan. "You should leave. Before this gets worse for you.""Worse how?""We could call security. Have you removed for trespassing.""I was invited.""By someone who does not have our trust anymore." Gerald crossed his arms. "Leave. Now. Or we will have you escorted out."The crowd was watching and Waiting.Ethan stood there silently his hands at his sides.Patricia called out, "Tell Claire we will be voting to remove her next week! And we will be cutting off her little charity project too!"More laughter. Louder this time.Gerald stepped closer. "Did you hear me? I said leave. Now.""Or what?" Ethan asked quietly."Or we will have security remove you.""Go ahead."Gerald's smile faltered. "What?""Call security. Have me removed. Do whatever you think you need to do."Patricia looked confused. "You are not going to leave?""No.""Then you are even more pathetic than I thought." She turned to the crowd. "Everyone, look at this. He does not
CHAPTER 78
The Grand Riverside Hotel ballroom was packed.Ethan walked in alone. Simple black suit. Nothing expensive. He had not wanted to come but James insisted. "You need to show your face. Hiding makes you look guilty."The moment Ethan stepped through the entrance, conversations stopped.People stared. Then the whispers started."That is him.""The convict.""Living off Claire Sterling's money."Ethan walked toward the far side of the room, looking for a quiet corner. He did not make it halfway before Gerald blocked his path.Gerald was not alone. Patricia stood beside him. Howard was there too. And five other Sterling Global board members formed a semi-circle around Ethan.People nearby stopped talking. Started watching."Well, well," Gerald said. His voice carried across the room. "Look who decided to show up."Ethan said nothing."Tell me something, Mr. Cross," Gerald continued. "Do you have an invitation? Or did you just walk in off the street?""I was invited.""By who? Claire Sterlin
CHAPTER 77
Marcus's father was named Victor Ashford.He was not a good man. But he was a powerful one.Victor owned three manufacturing companies, held board positions at two major banks, and had connections that stretched through every level of the business community. Politicians owed him favors. CEOs took his calls. When Victor Ashford spoke, people listened.And right now, Victor was furious.His son had been arrested. Humiliated. Dragged out of a villa by military soldiers and held in detention for three days. The family name had been dragged through the mud. Business partners were asking questions. Investors were getting nervous.All because of one man.Ethan Cross.Victor sat in his office on the top floor of his headquarters building, staring out the window at the city below. His hands were clasped behind his back. His jaw was tight.He had made some calls. Done some digging. Found out everything he could about Ethan Cross.Ex-convict. No family wealth. No education. No connections.And y
CHAPTER 76
Ethan looked at the supervisor. Then at the card sitting on the counter. Then back at the supervisor."You think I stole this card," Ethan said."I did not say that.""You did not have to."The supervisor's jaw tightened. "Sir, I am following protocol. If the card is legitimate, verification will confirm that. If it is not..." He let the sentence hang.Ethan picked up the card and held it between two fingers. "Call whoever you need to call. Verify it. I will wait."The supervisor looked surprised. Like he expected Ethan to back down. "It could take hours.""I have time."Rachel shifted uncomfortably behind the counter. "Sir, maybe you should just—""Call them," Ethan said. His voice was calm. "Right now."The supervisor stared at him for a long moment. Then he pulled out his phone and walked a few steps away, dialing a number.The lobby was completely silent now. Everyone watching.Ethan stood there with his arms at his sides. He did not look nervous nor look worried. Just patient.Th
CHAPTER 75
Ethan left the hospital the next morning against the doctor's advice.His ribs were still cracked. His face was still swollen. But he could walk and breathe and think clearly, and that was enough.Claire had wanted to stay with him overnight but he sent her home. She needed rest. Real rest. Not sitting in an uncomfortable hospital chair watching him sleep.Sophia had left awkwardly after walking in on them. She mumbled something about checking on her grandfather and disappeared before either of them could say anything.Now Ethan stood at the hospital's billing desk on the first floor. A young woman sat behind the counter typing on a computer. Her name tag said Rachel."Mr. Cross," she said without looking up. "Your total comes to four hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars."Ethan blinked. "For one night?""Emergency surgery. Specialist consultations. Private room. Medical imaging. Pain management." She finally looked up. "You did not have insurance listed in our system.""I do no
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