Chapter 042
Author: Lamina
last update2025-03-30 14:22:55
The room was deathly silent—so quiet that even the soft hum of the air conditioner roared like a storm as Ethan played the audio on his phone.

It wasn’t just any audio. It was a recording of his conversation between him and Mrs. Adams after a child in the orphanage had committed suicide.

"One less burden to deal with," she had said with chilling indifference when he confronted her.

"Frankly, her pathetic death is a relief for all of us working here."

The girl had left a note before taking her own life—exposing years of abuse, neglect, and cruelty.

Back when he was still struggling, he’d somehow caught wind of the news which buzzed through the neighbourhood he did work before she buried it.

So he decided to go to her office and confront her about it.

"Don't you feel bad at all about what happened?" His voice shook with disbelief upon realizing she hadn’t changed at all.

Years after what she did to him, she was still the same cold, heartless person she’d always been—and she sti
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  • Chapter 115

    Mr. Hayes flinched visibly but quickly composed himself. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said, shaking his head firmly. "Good." Ethan nodded, a knowing smirk spreading across his face. "Keep playing dumb. It suits you." He stood up slowly, circling the chair where Mr. Hayes sat rigid with tension. "You know what I find most amusing about all this? How easily you toss aside even your own family." He stopped directly behind Mr. Hayes. "Your own flesh and blood, discarded like yesterday's trash the moment they become inconvenient."Mr. Hayes gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. "Are you talking about Vivian? Damian's brother?" His shoulders squared slightly. "My decisions, including disowning Damian, are my way of teaching them a lesson for their failures and not following my guidance." "What’s wrong with that?” he asked, letting a hint of confidence slip into his voice. "What's wrong with that?" Ethan repeated, almost laughing. "Then tell me, what's wr

  • Chapter 114

    As Ethan told the story to Mr. Hayes, his knuckles turned bone-white, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his skin.His voice trembled—not from weakness, but from the weight of betrayal—as it clicked that he had been soft. Way too soft.The so-called revenge he’d been dishing out on Vanessa and Damian? That wasn’t even a fraction of what they’d done to him. He had been holding back, probably because deep down, some part of him still wanted to believe they weren’t completely heartless.But the memory he had just shared with Mr. Hayes, along with everything that had happened with Vanessa and Damian before he started tearing their world apart, proved otherwise.Mr. Hayes watched him closely the whole time, staying silent and listening to every word. Finally, he cleared his throat.“They really did all that to you?” he asked softly.Ethan straightened up in his seat and gave a small, bitter smile before looking directly at Mr. Hayes. “Yes,” he said simply. "They did.”

  • Chapter 113

    Ethan chuckled. "Mercy? As how?""Ever since the scandal, the stock of not just Hayes Pharmaceutical but Copper Group has been in freefall,” Mr. Hayes explained, words tumbling out faster now."Crisis has been happening behind the scenes that the public doesn't know about yet. It's only a matter of time before everyone realizes we're worth nothing."He ran a trembling hand over his face. "I've spent every remaining resource and penny the family has to try to make the charges against the company go away. Just disowning Damian wasn't enough. And to make things worse, investors have been pulling out one by one, and the board of directors is losing trust and hope in my leadership."His voice cracked. "Only Chairman Aurelius can help me and my family now because I know he has the resources, influences, and power to make it happen.""And since you’re obviously close to him, maybe you could get him to help me and forget what my stupid, estranged son did with his greedy attitude."Ethan let t

  • Chapter 112

    Ethan tilted his head slightly, his expression shifting to one of innocent confusion—a perfect mask that hid the satisfaction bubbling underneath."Why are you on your knees again, Mr. Hayes? Please, there's no need for that anymore."Mr. Hayes remained where he was, his hands clasped together as if in prayer. His voice trembled with desperate sincerity. "It's because my family and I need your forgiveness and mercy. We need it desperately."Ethan's eyebrows rose slightly, his performance flawless. "Forgiveness? Mercy? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.""Please," Mr. Hayes continued, his eyes never leaving Ethan's face."I had no idea until today about the connection between my son and you. I swear it.”"Please, on behalf of my family, forgive us. Please."A smirk played on Ethan's lips as he tilted his head thoughtfully. "Your son?" He paused, as if something had just occurred to him. "Oh, you mean Damian? Your ex-son, the one you've now disowned?"Mr. Hayes nodded

  • Chapter 111

    Seated across from each other in leather chairs in the living room, Mr. Hayes couldn’t contain himself any longer; his words tumbled out like water breaking through a dam.“Ethan, seriously, thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me that you actually want to listen when Chairman—”Ethan laughed. “Come on, don’t even start. Honestly, I should be the one apologizing for the way those idiots treated you. It was embarrassing.”Mr. Hayes shook his head. "No.""They were just doing their job. No need to apologize.”Ethan watched the Mr. Hayes with a relaxed smile, enjoying the desperation that seemed to pour from every pore. "So, about—""Before we get to business, Mr. Hayes..." Ethan cut in. "What would you like to drink? We have an excellent scotch that I think you'd appreciate. Or perhaps something softer?"Mr. Hayes shook his head, his eyes darting nervously. "No, no, I don't need anything. Please, I just want to discuss the situation. Time is running out for me."Ethan's sm

  • Chapter 110

    The sound of commotion broke through the peaceful night at the Aurelius estate as angry voices and desperate pleas bounced off the high walls and slipped through the slightly open window of Ethan's bedroom. "Please! I need to see him! It's a matter of life and death!" "Sir, we have strict orders from Chairman Aurelius. You need to leave now!" "You don't understand! I need to see him... Please!" Ethan looked up from his phone, eyebrows lifting with mild interest because the desperate voice sounded oddly familiar. He put his phone down on the bedside table and walked to the window, peering out to catch a glimpse of the scene unfolding at the front gate. Two security guards in black suits were struggling with a disheveled man in what once might have been an expensive suit, now wrinkled and stained. He was fighting against their grip, his face red with effort. "Let me see him! Just five minutes! Please!" “Who could be so desperate to see him when he clearly doesn’t want them to?

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