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 her 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 this prestigious company's anniversary celebration today. Not just anyone gets invited, you know.” Vanessa giggled, linking her arm through Damian’s. “Not just invited, darling. Damian’s father is about to finalize a massive partnership with Aurelius Pharmaceuticals 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?” He held his ground, calmly producing a sleek black card emblazoned with Aurelius Pharmaceuticals 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 Pharmaceuticals 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 Pharmaceuticals 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.Latest Chapter
Chapter 354
Dawn hadn’t broken yet when Lucas finally woke up in his room, groggy and disoriented.He needed answers on how he had ended up back home and headed to Adrian’s room to ask him.Adrian looked up when Lucas knocked.His face showed clear signs of exhaustion and confusion from everything that had gone down tonight and what he’d discovered.Relief flashed across his face when he realized Lucas was the one at the door.He didn’t hesitate to let him in.“Dad, you’re still awake,” Lucas said as he stepped inside, immediately asking why he wasn’t sleeping.Adrian stood up, crossing the room toward him."You're awake," he said instead.Lucas nodded and apologized to Adrian for making him worried, concluding that it was because of him Adrian was yet to sleep.Lucas leaned against the doorframe, still unsteady. "What happened? How did I—”“Sit down first.” Adrian guided him toward the leather couch against the wall, his grip firm but gentle."You shouldn’t be walking around yet.”Lucas sank int
Chapter 353
Sitting beside Ethan was Jessica, looking just as confused as Lara and Theo.But Lara’s confusion had shifted—now she was wondering why Jessica was there, and the feast set on the table.Jessica’s confusion was different. Her eyes locked onto Theo, barely believing he was actually alive and standing right in front of her.“What's his connection to Ethan?” Her mind raced, trying to piece things together. The fact that Theo had walked in with Lara only made it more puzzling.Lara and Theo were still standing by the entrance.“I know,” Ethan said, his smile growing wider.“There are a lot of questions running through your minds right now. And trust me, I get it.”He gesturedto the chairs again."That’s one of the reasons I called you all here tonight."“So please. Sit. Let’s talk.”Theo was the first to sit, before Lara followed.Ethan watched them settle before clearing his throat.“To begin with,” he started, his tone shifting to something more serious, "I want you all
Chapter 352
Lara pressed the phone closer to her ear as the car idled in the driveway.“Really?” Her voice carried a sharp edge of disbelief.Her jaw tightened as she listened, while the voice on the other end spoke.She sighed heavily, her free hand moving to rub her forehead. The gesture did nothing to ease the pressure building behind her eyes. "You need to understand that I’m trying my best,” she said, her tone worn thin. "It just seems like he knows what’s going on.”Silence stretched between them.“I know, I know,” she muttered. "Just… give me more time. I’ll handle it.”She ended the call before the person could respond and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. For a moment, she just sat there, staring at the mansion through the windshield. She drew in a slow breath before tucking the phone into her pocket and stepping out of the car.The cool air hit her face, but it did nothing to clear her mind. She was heading toward the entrance when her eyes caught a hooded figure, who was
Chapter 351
After what seemed like an eternity, Ethan eventually nodded.“I do,” he said firmly. "I trust you. I believe in you. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop protecting you.”He paused, his lips curving into a faint, almost sad smile. "Because loving you means I’m always going to worry. It means I’m always going to want to keep you safe, even when you don’t need me to.”Jessica let out a shaky breath, a tear slipping down her cheek.“I can’t promise I’ll stop being reckless,” she said softly. "It’s who I am. It’s what I do.”His smile widened slightly, his thumb brushing away her tear.“I know,” he said quietly. "And I’m not asking you to change.”He leaned in slightly, his forehead resting gently against hers.“I’m just asking you to let me stand by your side while you do it,” he whispered."But what about you? Won't being by my side whenever I do something reckless like tonight be a burden to you?" She pressed. He shook his head, insisting it won't. "But how? What if you were in
Chapter 350
Jessica’s breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might break free from her chest, while Ethan's eyes, which was vulnerable in a way she'd never seen before, held hers with an unwavering gaze.He held her face in his hand, his thumb softly stroking her cheek.“I love you, Jessica,” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper now, but filled with a raw honesty that made her chest ache. "I love everything about you. And I’m terrified of losing you.”She swallowed hard, her throat tight, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.Yes, she loved him, but after what just happened and what he’d told her, she knew she’d end up being a burden. He’d constantly worry about her and lose focus trying to keep her safe.And even though he meant everything to her, she wasn’t sure she was ready to give up her goals just for their relationship. She didn’t want to be dead weight holding him back. In addition, there were other things she might want
Chapter 349
Jessica stood by the guest room window with her arms crossed tight.She’d been pacing for a few minutes, wondering what Ethan might have done to Lucas.The second Ethan pushed the door open, she spun around to face him.Relief flickered across her face as she took a step toward him, her lips parting as if to speak.But before she could get a word out, Ethan’s voice cut through the silence.“You should be resting,” he said quietly, his tone flat.She stopped, her brow furrowing. “Ethan—”“You’ve been through enough tonight,” he continued, his gaze not quite meeting hers. “You need to rest.”But she didn't answer.Instead, she closed the distance between them.“What happened to Lucas?” she asked, her eyes searching his face. "Did you kill him?”He exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening.He finally looked at her, his gaze cold.“What do you think of me?” he asked quietly.She blinked, caught off guard by the question.Ethan’s expression softened slightly, though his voice re
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