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Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 16: The Gala
Ethan adjusted his cufflinks, glancing at himself in the mirror one last time. "The black tux fits you perfectly, boss," Victoria said, giving him a slow look from head to toe before nodding. She bit her lower lip, probably without realizing it. "You're gonna kill it at the gala."Ethan loved the man staring back at him. Gone was the hungry, overworked nobody. In his place stood the leader of the Jade Society—a man who now commanded power, wealth, and respect.Jade’s voice crackled through his earpiece. “Your car is waiting, Mr. Wilder.”Ethan straightened his jacket, then stepped out of his penthouse.The gala was held at the Olympus Grand Hotel, one of the most exclusive venues in the city. The moment Ethan’s black Rolls-Royce Boat Tail pulled up to the entrance, the air shifted.Valets in white gloves rushed forward to open the door, their movements precise, almost rehearsed. A few reporters, stationed discreetly beyond the golden ropes, lifted their cameras as soon as he stepped
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 17: The Party Pooper
Ethan barely had time to finish his drink before Marcus leaned in, lowering his voice.“We have a problem.”Ethan didn’t react, just tilted his glass slightly, as if they were discussing something casual. “Go on.”Marcus nodded toward the far end of the ballroom, where a small group of men stood together, speaking in hushed tones.“The man in the middle—gray suit, red tie. That’s Felix Langston. He’s been with the Jade Society for over thirty years.”Ethan followed his gaze. Felix was older, mid-fifties, with a sharp face and a smug confidence that immediately set Ethan on edge.“What about him?” Ethan asked.“He doesn’t like you,” Marcus said flatly. “And he’s about to make sure everyone here knows it.”As if on cue, Felix stepped forward, raising his glass with a fake, practiced smile.“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, drawing the attention of the room. “I’d like to propose a toast.”The hum of conversation died down, and people turned toward him, curious.Felix’s eyes landed on
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 18: The Strange Woman
The night was quiet.The kind of quiet that let the mind wander into deep thoughts.Ethan leaned back in the plush leather seat of his Rolls-Royce, replaying the events of the gala. The power plays, the alliances, the challenge from Felix—it had all gone exactly as he wanted.No one in the society would dare question his place now. He never intended to rule through fear, but it seemed fear was the language they understood best.His fingers brushed against the jade necklace, the cool stone pressing into his palm. A smile came across his face as he thought of how a jewel he’d received while drunk had totally rewritten his entire life.Marcus, seated at the wheel, caught his expression in the rearview mirror. “You keep smiling like that, and people might think you actually have emotions, Mr. Wilder.”Ethan didn’t reply. He kept his eyes on the city, lights blurring past as they sped down the empty road.Then, Marcus tensed, tightening his grip on the wheel.Ethan noticed the slight hesit
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 19: Fearless
Ethan turned toward the approaching men.There were five of them, all dressed in dark clothes. Their movements were too efficient for them to be random thugs. These were men used to tracking and hunting.And because of him, they had just lost their prey.One of them—a muscular guy with a scar across his cheek—pointed at Ethan, rage twisting his face."Where is she?!"Ethan adjusted his cufflinks, completely calm and unbothered."You just missed her," he said, tilting his head toward the street. "I sent her home. She needed a nap.""I saw a man with him moments ago. He must have driven off with her," one of them told the scared man, who appeared to be the leader of the group.The man snarled and turned to his team. "Get in the cars! We’ll follow them!"That was when Ethan moved, reaching the nearest man before any of them could react.A single punch—clean, controlled—slammed into the guy’s ribs with enough force to send him crashing into the bridge railing.The others froze, stunned.‘
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 20: A New Ally
Ethan stepped into the mansion, rolling his shoulders to ease the stiffness from the fight.The moment he entered, Victoria was already waiting.“She’s awake,” she said, crossing her arms. “Doctor patched her up. Stab wound wasn’t that deep, but she lost a lot of blood.”Ethan barely nodded. Good . . . That meant she could talk.“I’ll deal with it after a shower.”Victoria arched a brow. “Want me to keep an eye on her?”Ethan smirked. “She’s not going anywhere.”With that, he made his way upstairs, stripping off his bloodied dress shirt as he entered his bathroom. A hot shower later, he changed into a black fitted sweater and slacks, then headed straight to the guest room.The moment he stepped inside, the woman—who looked like she was in her twenties—smirked.“I was wondering when you’d show up.”She was sitting up on the bed, bandages wrapped around her stomach, looking way too casual for someone who had almost died.Ethan pulled up a chair across from her and sat down.“You have on
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 21: The Guest
Elena had expected luxury. She had expected to have control over the negotiations surrounding her involvement in the Jade Society, knowing exactly how valuable she was.But that was just her understanding.Just like how she had expected Ethan Wilder to be a smooth-talking playboy who would waltz in, be stunned by her beauty and helplessness, and then desire her for himself—ultimately offering her a deal after her little stunt.Instead, she was locked in a guarded room for two weeks.The room itself wasn’t bad. If anything, it was nicer than any five-star hotel she had ever seen. A king-sized bed, an en-suite bathroom with gold-trimmed mirrors, and even a private balcony that overlooked the city.But the guards at her door? The constant surveillance? The fact that she wasn’t even allowed to step outside unless escorted?Yeah. Not what she planned.She sighed, flopping onto the bed. ‘Figures. Should’ve expected this much from control freaks.’She wasn’t worried. She could play the long
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 22: This Means War
"Is this supposed to scare me?"Ethan’s voice was calm, but the weight behind it was enough to make the air thick.The massive screen in front of him replayed the scene on loop. Smoke. Fire. Bodies crumpled on the ground like discarded puppets. The wreckage of what had once been a high-security Jade Society facility.It had happened at dawn. A classified research lab in Washington, D.C., burned to nothing. No survivors.The room was dead silent.Marcus stood beside him, arms crossed, watching the footage with a hardened expression. "They wanted to send a message."Ethan leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. His fingers drummed against the desk once, twice."They sent the wrong one."A muscle in Marcus’s jaw twitched. "I think this has something to do with Elena. They must know we have her. They probably assumed she was being kept there—maybe even working for us. If that’s the case, this attack was meant to eliminate the threat she poses."Ethan’s gaze never left the screen. The m
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 23: The Moles
Elena leaned back in her chair, her fingers laced behind her head as she stared at the screen, a smug grin spreading across her face.“Did you just hack my system?” Ethan’s voice was dangerously calm.Elena tilted her head. “Technically, yes. But in my defense, I did it for you.”Anna, Victoria, and Marcus stood around the desk, eyes locked on the screen, scanning the names appearing in bold red text.Betrayers.Moles.Obsidian Order spies hidden inside the Jade Society.Some had been there for years, feeding secrets to the enemy.Marcus let out a low whistle. “Damn.”Victoria’s face hardened. “These people are in high positions.”Anna crossed her arms, still glaring at Elena. “And what if you decided to use this against us?”Elena rolled her eyes. “How would I even do that?" Then, grinning, she added, "Besides, if I wanted to destroy you, sweetheart, I’d have done it already.”Ethan’s jaw tightened. 'She has a point.'Elena stretched lazily. “Besides, I like working for the winning s
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Chapter 47: An Unexpected Visitor
Ethan kept his head low as he moved through the parking garage beneath Joy’s penthouse building.Baseball cap pulled low, janitor’s jumpsuit zipped up, and a mop bucket rolling in front of him."This is ridiculous," Klaus snickered in his mind. "A man who commands armies . . . now cleaning floors to dodge his psycho fiancée."'You wanna deal with Isabella, be my guest,' Ethan muttered internally."Hard pass."Ethan grunted and pushed the mop bucket to the service elevator, slipping inside and jabbing the button for the penthouse floor.He wasn’t taking chances.Not with Joy.Not with what she meant now.When he got to her door, he rapped twice in a weird pattern—like she was part of some secret club now.The door swung open.Joy’s face lit up . . . then crumpled. Tears welled up in her eyes before she could hide them."Hey," Ethan said softly.Without a word, she threw herself at him, arms wrapping tight around his middle. Her whole body shook with silent sobs."I missed you," she whi
Chapter 46: Collateral Damage
The morning sun streamed through the massive windows of the manor’s east wing, making everything feel deceptively warm and peaceful.It wasn’t.Anna moved briskly down the hallway, her clipboard clutched so tightly her knuckles had gone white. She had no real reason to be on that side of the house—except to check if Ethan was free. Or just . . . catch a glimpse of him.Pathetic, she told herself.She was so lost in thought, she didn’t notice Isabella until the woman stepped directly into her path."Anna, isn’t it?" Isabella’s voice was sweet—too sweet.Anna stopped, her heart stuttering for half a second. "Yes?"Isabella smiled. The kind of smile a cat gave a mouse just before it played with it."You've been looking awfully tense lately," Isabella said, circling her slowly. "Jealousy does that to a woman."Anna froze, gripping the clipboard harder."Something on your mind?" Isabella tilted her head, studying her. "Maybe . . . feelings you shouldn’t have?"Anna swallowed, her voice tig
Chapter 45: Queen of the Manor
Ethan sat at his desk, staring blankly at the papers before him. Numbers, names, logistics . . . none of it sank in.Instead, his mind replayed the feel of Isabella’s lips, the glint in her eyes, the way she’d threatened Joy without batting an eyelash.And now she was somewhere in his home. Redecorating, no doubt. Claiming her territory like a lioness.Klaus snickered in his head. "You should’ve run faster."'Shut up,' Ethan muttered internally.A knock came, sharp and brisk.Before he could answer, the door swung open.Isabella entered, hands on her hips, wearing a silk blouse and a pencil skirt that looked more suited to a seduction than a meeting."We need to talk about the west wing," she announced.Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. "The west wing?""Yes. It’s dreary. I’m ordering renovations. Also, your study—" she paused, looking around with visible disgust. "—this needs a woman’s touch.""My study doesn’t need anything," Ethan said coolly.She laughed, like he’d made a joke
Chapter 44: Her Bloodline
"She’s a descendant," Klaus said, his voice low and steady.Ethan blinked. "Of who?""The witch who forged the Jade Necklace. Her name was Seraphina. A pureblood mage. She made the necklace with the intention to heal, to grant power to the weak. But it was corrupted by men. And I was the first fool to wear it."Ethan stared at the ceiling, barely breathing. "So Joy . . . she’s . . . what? A witch?""Not exactly. Her blood is diluted. Generations removed. But the magic is still there. It slept in her family line, dormant. And your, ah, little entanglement with her must have stirred it. That’s why I can speak now."Ethan rubbed his temples. "So you’re saying my one-night stand triggered ancient magic and woke up the ghost in my necklace. Great.""You’re welcome," Klaus said dryly. "The question is, what are you going to do with this knowledge?"Ethan didn’t answer.Weeks passed. Ethan did what he could to act normal. He attended council meetings, reviewed budgets, signed off weapons shi
Chapter 43: The Voice of Klaus
It was well into the afternoon when Ethan stepped back into the mansion. The sun cast lazy rays across the marbled hallway, warm and golden, but he barely noticed it. His mind was still spinning from the night before, the morning after, and the eerie silence that followed.Anna was the first to spot him.She didn’t hesitate. Her heels clacked sharply against the polished floor as she ran toward him, arms wide, eyes wide with a mix of relief and pent-up panic. She threw herself into his arms like she’d been holding her breath the entire time he was gone."You're back!" she said breathlessly. "Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea what kind of mess you left behind?"Ethan gave a tired smile, his hands resting lightly on her waist. "Handled something personal."Anna pulled back just slightly, enough to study his face. Her hands slid up to his shoulders. "You okay? You look . . . off.""I'm fine," he muttered. "Just need a minute to myself."Her brows pulled together. "Alone,
Chapter 42: Her Upgrade
“Are you sure you want me to come with you?” Ethan asked as he slipped into the driver’s seat of the Lamborghini, glancing over at Joy.She was already buckling up. “Yes. You practically changed my entire life overnight. The least you can do is back me up when your people freeze my account.”Ethan frowned. “My people?”Joy held up her phone, flashing the bank’s message. “Bank of Dominion. They froze my account over ‘suspicious activity.’ Said I had to come in for verification.”Ethan cursed under his breath and pulled out of the hotel lot. “Didn’t even cross my mind they might do that. I should’ve warned you.”“Guess they weren’t used to seeing seven zeros pop up out of nowhere,” she said, smirking.The ride was smooth, quiet except for the occasional buzz of the city outside. But Ethan’s mind wasn’t. He was thinking about Clandestine, Marcus, the Society, the Jade necklace that had a voice now, and somehow, even Joy.Joy kept stealing glances at him, still trying to wrap her head aro
Chapter 41: Act the Fool
"You're dreaming, you fool. Wake up, Ethan . . . wake up, you fool. Wake up!"Ethan’s eyes flew open.For a moment, everything was hazy. The ceiling above him slowly came into focus. The warmth under the sheets, the soft weight beside him—it all felt too familiar. He turned his head and saw Joy sleeping soundly. And just like in his dream, she was very much naked beneath the covers.But something was off.The room wasn't quiet.No, it was filled.Elite Jade Soldiers lined the perimeter of the room, their weapons lowered but at the ready. Marcus leaned on his cane by the far wall. And in the chair directly in front of Ethan’s bed sat Clandestine Wood, her posture relaxed, but her stare sharp.“What the . . .” Ethan blinked, sitting up slowly.And then he heard it.A voice, male, clear, but coming from nowhere."It's me, you fool."Ethan’s eyes scanned the room again. No one had spoken. At least, no one visibly.Clandestine’s voice cut in, amused. “Had fun last night?”But Ethan ignored
Chapter 40: A Million For Your Time
“Say what now?” Ethan blinked, staring at her.Chloe’s older sister smirked, calm and unbothered, her eyes showing she was nothing like her sister. She reached under the counter, pulled out a near-empty bottle of whiskey. “Yeah. Serves her right. She was a brat. Always thought the world owed her a fairy tale.”Ethan raised a brow. “Oh, really?”She caught his expression and laughed. “Don’t look at me like that. I know my family are terrible people, trust me.”Ethan tilted his head, amused. “Is that why you ran overseas?”“You bet.”Ethan chuckled. “You’re not exactly what I expected,” he said, still trying to wrap his head around it.“I get that a lot.” She poured him another shot. “Name’s Joy, by the way.”He raised his glass. “Joy. That fits. So . . . what’s your story?”She leaned on the bar, arms crossed, eyes steady. “Hmm, my story?” she said, then smiled. “Nothing interesting, to be honest.”“I get the feeling I might find it interesting.”She laughed. “Doubt it,” she said, then
Chapter 39: Her Obsession
When Ethan left the office, he found Isabella sitting quietly on a bench outside. As soon as she saw him, her expression turned expectant—like she wanted him to talk to her or thank her for sending the Unknown.He walked over and sat beside her."You didn’t have to do it. So why?"She gave a nervous smile. "When I was told I’d be marrying the leader of the Jade Society, I cried all night. Refused to eat—right up to the engagement party. But then I saw you. You were warm to me, despite the hatred you had for my brother and the Order. You spoke kindly. You made me laugh. You tried to make it bearable, even though I was marrying a man I didn’t know."She fell silent. Ethan wasn’t sure how to follow up, and the space between them grew awkward."I like you, Ethan," she said at last. "And I know what this engagement means. I know what you were to the Society—a life-force to extend the lives of its real leaders. But when we left the engagement hall, something in me shifted. The feeling was b
