Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir

Chapter Seven

Ethan finally stopped, turning his gaze to see Vanessa and Damian standing just a few steps away.

Vanessa was draped in an elegant designer dress, her arms crossed, her lips curled in amusement.

Damian, dressed in an expensive tailored suit, had one hand tucked in his pocket while the other was casually slung over Vanessa’s waist.

Damian let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

“Unbelievable. I thought we left the stray dog in the dirt, but here he is, wagging his tail again.”

Vanessa tilted her head.

“Maybe he’s here to beg?”

She smirked. “How pathetic.”

Ethan remained calm, his hands resting inside his pockets.

Damian let out a mock sigh. "You do realize where you are, don’t you? This isn’t a place for people like you.”

He adjusted his cufflinks before giving Ethan a disdainful look. "Unlike you, I actually belong here.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?”

Damian’s smirk widened. "That’s right.”

He puffed his chest out. “I was personally invited to Aurelius Group’s anniversary celebration today. Not just anyone gets invited, you know.”

Vanessa giggled, linking her arm through Damian’s.

“Not just invited, darling. Damian is about to finalize a massive partnership with Aurelius Group!”

Damian flashed a smug grin.

“Once the deal is signed today, my family will officially rise from a third-tier family to a second-tier powerhouse.

Vanessa ran a manicured hand down Damian’s chest, her eyes twinkling with arrogance."Unlike you, Ethan. You have nothing. No money, no status, and absolutely no right to be here.”

Damian chuckled. “And yet, here you are. A useless insect trying to sneak into a world far beyond your reach.”

Ethan scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer.

He tilted his head slightly.

“And you’re already celebrating?” His gaze flickered with amusement.

“Who said the deal would actually go through?”

Vanessa’s smug expression flickered for a brief second before she scoffed. "Are you delusional?”

Damian burst out laughing.

“Oh my God, that’s rich! You think you know anything about this world?”

He stepped closer, his voice dripping with mockery. “Listen, Piggy , do you even know how business works? Deals like these aren’t just ‘hopeful negotiations’—they’re built on relationships, power, and real money.”

Vanessa smirked. “Something you’ll never have.”

Ethan shrugged. “Is that so?”

Damian’s expression hardened. “Tch, I’ve had enough of your nonsense.”

He snapped his fingers, calling over two uniformed security guards who were stationed at the entrance.

The guards quickly approached.

Damian smirked, pointing at Ethan. "This guy isn’t invited. Get him out of here.”

Vanessa laughed, covering her mouth with a gloved hand. “Oh dear, how embarrassing.”

Damian chuckled. “Imagine thinking you could actually walk in here. You don’t belong, Ethan. You never did.”

Ethan didn’t flinch.

Instead, he let out a low chuckle. "Are you sure about that?”

Ethan held his ground, calmly producing a sleek black card emblazoned with Aurelius Group’s insignia.

He raised it for the guards and Damian to see.

“Does this give me the right to enter?” he asked, his tone razor-sharp.

Damian snorted, folding his arms across his chest. “What’s that supposed to be? A crayon drawing of Aurelius Group’s logo?”

Vanessa let out a mocking laugh. "Oh, please. Did you print that in your basement, Ethan? Are you really that desperate to fake status?”

Ethan’s gaze never wavered. "Last time I checked, Aurelius Group doesn’t hand these out to random stray pigs.”

The security guards exchanged skeptical glances.

One guard, a brawny man with a rigid posture, scoffed. "I’ve been working here for years, and I’ve never seen a card like that. Nice try, buddy.”

Damian chuckled, shaking his head. "So you’re telling us you have some super-secret, never-before-seen VIP pass? And we’re supposed to believe that? You?”

Vanessa giggled, linking her arm through Damian’s.

“He’s like a cockroach scurrying around with a piece of shiny trash, hoping someone will think it’s real treasure.”

The guard stepped forward, towering over Ethan.

“Look, punk, we don’t need your forged junk around here. You’re trespassing on private property.”

Damian smirked, waving a dismissive hand. “Get out of my way.”

“You heard him. Scram. Unless you want to be dragged out by force.”

Vanessa’s lips curved in a taunting smile. "Oh, I’d pay good money to see that. A weak, pathetic insect finally squashed under someone’s boot.”

Ethan let out a slow breath. “You can try.”

At that, the guard’s patience snapped.

He lunged forward, grabbing for Ethan’s arm. "Alright, wise guy, let’s see how tough you really—”

SMACK!

Before anyone could blink, the guard’s outstretched hand was slapped away with a casual backhand that sent him stumbling.

The impact echoed through the marble foyer, silencing every snide remark.

Damian’s eyes widened. “What the—?!”

Vanessa’s mouth hung open. “H-How did…?”

Ethan rolled his shoulders, as though unbothered by what had just happened.

His thoughts, however, buzzed with the aftershock of the power surging through him. So this is what my training has done? He hadn’t even put forth real effort, yet the guard stumbled like a leaf in a storm.

The second security guard tensed, eyeing his comrade who was now clutching his wrist and trying to regain his balance.

“You want trouble?” he growled, hands hovering near his utility belt.