2025-02-26 14:02:05Moans.
Not just any moans—Vanessa’s. The woman he had loved, the woman he had sacrificed so much for. Ethan Cross stood frozen outside the door as his grip on the doorknob tightened. The message she had sent earlier replayed in his mind: I want you tonight. Was this what she meant? Was this some sick joke? His pulse pounded in his ears. His stomach churned. Before he could think twice, he kicked the door open. CRASH! The door slammed against the wall, revealing the twisted reality inside. Vanessa lay sprawled beneath Damian Hayes, the notorious rich playboy known for treating women like disposable toys. Their sweaty bodies intertwined in the dim light, the sheets barely covering their shame. Vanessa gasped, grabbing the sheets in mock modesty, but Damian? The bastard grinned. “Oh, well, shit. Looks like the Piggy finally found his way home.” Ethan’s world tilted. His heartbeat thundered in his chest. This can’t be happening. His voice cracked. “Vanessa…?” She blinked at him, then—unbelievably—rolled her eyes. “Oh, for God’s sake. Don’t look at me like that. You didn’t seriously think I wanted you, did you?” Ethan’s breath hitched. Damian chuckled, running a lazy hand through his tousled hair. “Damn, bro, you really thought you were gonna get some tonight? That’s adorable. You’re like one of those stray Pigs that follows people home, thinking they’ll keep it. News flash, bud—nobody wants a filthy Piggy .” Vanessa smirked. “More like a farm pig. You fed it a little, and now it thinks it’s family.” Ethan clenched his fists. “I… I gave you everything.” Vanessa snorted. “Yeah, and? That was the whole point. You were useful, Ethan. My perfect little donor boy.” A sharp chill ran through his spine. “What…?” She sighed, clearly bored. “You seriously think I dated you because I liked you? Please. I found out your bone marrow was a match, and I played along. And you fell for it, like the pathetic piggy you are.” Ethan’s stomach twisted violently. “You… used me?” His voice cracked. Damian smirked. “Damn, bro, this is painful to watch. You really thought you were the hero of this little love story? Hate to break it to you, but you were just a walking organ donor.” He leaned forward, his smirk widening. “And now? You’re just a used-up tissue. Time to throw you away.” Ethan trembled with rage. How could she…? He had fought for her. Bled for her. He had given her a piece of himself. And now, she was treating him like trash. Damian let out a fake sigh. “Oh, and by the way—Vanessa told me about your sob story. Orphan boy, abandoned at birth.” He wiped an imaginary tear. “Damn, must suck knowing even your parents didn’t want you.” Ethan’s body turned ice cold. That was his deepest wound. The one thing he never spoke about.And Vanessa had fed it to Damian like gossip. Something inside him snapped.With a roar, Ethan lunged at Damian, his fist connecting with his smug face. CRACK! Damian stumbled back, clutching his jaw. “Oh, you little—” Ethan swung again, rage fueling his movements. But the moment he did, pain shot through his limbs. His legs wobbled. Shit. The bone marrow donation… He was still weak. Damian recovered quickly, eyes flashing with fury. “Oh? Feeling lightheaded, donor boy? That’s what happens when you play hero.” Before Ethan could react, a fist slammed into his stomach. Air whooshed out of his lungs. Another punch. Another. He hit the floor hard. Blood dripped from his mouth. Vanessa laughed, stepping over him. “Ugh. Just looking at you disgusts me.” Damian sneered. “You know, I bet even the orphanage was relieved to get rid of you. Probably said, ‘Finally, the defective one is gone!’” Ethan’s fingers twitched. His breath came in ragged gasps. He had never felt so weak. So powerless. Damian yawned. “Alright, enough fun. Let’s throw him out.” Darkness swallowed him whole. When Ethan woke, pain wracked his body. His vision blurred. The scent of blood filled his nostrils. And then—growling. He turned his head slowly. Savage dogs surrounded him. Big, snarling beasts with hungry eyes and glistening fangs. His pulse quickened. Then it hit him. They threw me in a cage. His bloodstained hands trembled. His wounds throbbed. He was too weak to fight back. The dogs edged closer, sniffing, snarling. Ethan swallowed hard. So this is how I die… Then—something changed. A warmth spread from his finger. His ring. Blood from his wounds had soaked into the band, and suddenly—Power surged into his veins. A force so strong, so overwhelming, it nearly blinded him. His pain dulled. His senses sharpened. Ethan’s eyes widened. His body felt… different. Stronger. Powerful. Something had awakened inside him. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw energy coursing through him. A smirk curled his lips. Vanessa and Damian thought they had won.
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Vanessa sat at her sleek vanity, her fingers drumming against the polished surface as she listened to her mother’s indignant huffing on the other end of the line. “You should have seen it, darling,” Blanche seethed. "That filthy stray acted like he was somebody important! If I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it!” Vanessa’s eyes remained cold as she adjusted her earrings. “That doesn’t matter,” Vanessa said flatly. “Tomorrow, at Aurelius Group's anniversary celebration, I’ll be attending with Damian. That's what matters for now. I’ll make sure he gets a proper lesson afterwards." Blanche gasped, excitement immediately replacing her anger. “Oh, you’re going with Damian?” Vanessa smirked slightly. “Yes. And trust me, Damian won’t let Ethan continue to act out. He’ll remind that stray dog of his place.” Yvonne practically squealed. “Oh, this is perfect! He’s just pretending to be rich. I can't wait to see how Damian will get him utterly humiliated!”
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***FLASHBACK******Fifteen months earlier—before the bone marrow transplant***The rain poured down in heavy sheets as Ethan pulled his thin delivery jacket tighter around his shoulders, the cheap plastic bag containing clutched against his chest to keep it dry. The electric scooter he used for deliveries had broken down three blocks back, and he'd had no choice but to continue on foot.His shoes squelched with every step, his socks soaked through. But he kept moving. This was his last delivery for the night. After that, he’d head back to his tiny apartment, count the few money he’d made, and stress over how he was going to cover even a small part of Vanessa’s hospital bills. She’d been stuck there for weeks, going through endless tests after they found out she needed a bone marrow transplant.He saw her as his girlfriend—his responsibility—even though her parents could easily afford everything."2487 Oakridge Drive," he muttered to himself, checking his phone again. The address
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Ethan chuckled. "Mercy? As how?""Ever since the scandal, the stock of my company 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 the silence linger, watching the des
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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 Ninety-eight
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 Ninety-seven
The sound of commotion broke through the peaceful night at the Aurelius castle as angry voices and desperate pleas bounced off the high walls and slipped through the slightly open window of Ethan's bedroom.After all of Magnus’ begging and pressure because he was scared there might be another attack and that the ring might not protect Ethan next time, Ethan finally agreed to stay in the castle until he was crowned King of the World. Magnus had even begged him to stay inside the castle the whole time until then."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 bla
Chapter Ninety-six
Later in the day, as Vanessa and her family were still celebrating, a sudden news report interrupted the air.“Breaking news,” the anchor’s voice was grim, grabbing everyone’s attention."New evidence has emerged in the Callum Construction scandal, directly implicating Jonathan Callum and his daughter, Vanessa Callum, along with other executives, in what authorities are now calling one of the largest fraud schemes in the city’s history.”Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat, and so did the rest of her family’s.Then, the screen flickered to show emails—dozens of them—between Jonathan and other directors, discussing ways to cut costs by using cheap materials and bribing inspectors. Then came documents with their signatures at the bottom.“What?!” The words escaped their mouths in unison, their faces paling.The anchor continued, “These emails and documents, provided to us by senior vice president Richard Callum, directly contradict Ms. Callum’s statements from the media briefing earlier, whe
Chapter Ninety-five
"I know you're aware that the evidence used against James Harry and the other supervisors is false," Ethan revealed, his voice surprisingly calm. "Vanessa and her father used it to throw them under the bus and save themselves, isn't it?"Richard's eyes widened. He glanced over his shoulder, then scanned the coffee shop as if looking for hidden cameras or eavesdroppers. When he turned back to Ethan, his face had lost all its arrogance."How do you know about that?" Richard whispered, leaning closer. "That information isn't public. Nobody outside the inner circle knows what really happened."Ethan chuckled. "Have you already forgotten what I told you about the Copper Group deal? You can say I'm... well-informed." He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "I have my ways of knowing things people think are hidden.""What are you, some kind of hacker?" Richard asked, his eyes narrowing."Does it matter?" Ethan shrugged. "Do I have your undivided attention now?"Richard shifted in h
Chapter Ninety-four
Richard rushed back to the table, nearly knocking over his chair. His composure had been replaced by wide eyes and a pale face because he knew that if the words got out, he would be doomed."How do you know about that?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me right now!"Ethan said nothing, just calmly took another sip of his coffee.The silence stretched between them until Richard couldn’t take it anymore. He decided to mask his panic and fear by intimidating Ethan, convinced that people like Ethan always give in eventually, no matter their initial arrogance and boldness."It was Lara, wasn't it?" Richard chuckled."Though I can't understand how she found out..." He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up. "I can’t believe she was so blinded by love that she actually told you something like that,” he said, narrowing his eyes at Ethan and leaning forward. "Now, tell me—what do you want from me? Why are you saying this to my face?”Ethan just stared back at him,
Chapter Ninety-three
The coffee shop buzzed with afternoon chatter. Lara had picked the place, and Ethan was fine with it because it was nice and quiet.He sat at a corner table, watching the door through the steam of his untouched coffee.Right on time, a tall man with perfectly styled dark hair walked in. The man was Richard who Ethan had being waiting for. Richard wore an expensive navy suit that looked custom-made, with a silk tie and polished leather shoes.The moment Ethan lifted his hand and waved, Richard’s eyes immediately narrowed. At first, he ignored Ethan, continuing to glance around the place, hoping maybe Lara was just running late. But after a while, when it was clear no one else was coming, he gave a frustrated sigh and stomped over to the table where Ethan sat.Ethan stood up as Richard approached, flashing a big smile.“Mr. Callum,” Ethan said, reaching out for a handshake.Richard stopped, towering over the table without bothering to sit down. His eyes dropped to Ethan’s outstretc