2025-02-21 01:40:22Ethan stared at the bottom of the empty bottle in his hand, the bitter taste of cheap whiskey still burning the back of his throat. The rain poured down in sheets, soaking through his thin jacket as he stumbled along the deserted street. The world around him blurred, the harsh glow of streetlights smeared like watercolor in the night.
‘What’s the point anymore?’ he thought, his steps unsteady as his mind spiraled. He’d spent the last week working double shifts, barely sleeping, eating scraps when he could afford them. Every dollar went to paying off the mountain of debt Chloe and her family had left him with. Months ago, he’d emptied his savings to help them, believing their lies about needing money for medical bills, car repairs, and rent. Now, he was drowning in it, with no end in sight. ‘I always knew love is a scam. All of my efforts to make Chloe and her ungrateful family happy. And for what?’ The thought nagged at him. He was too tired to be angry anymore. All that was left was the gnawing ache of despair, a void that whiskey didn’t quite fill. He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, the rain streaming down his face, mingling with the tears he refused to acknowledge. ‘Maybe it’d be better to just . . . stop. Just stop everything.’ The image of Chloe’s smug smile flashed in his mind, her cold words cutting deeper than he wanted to admit. He clenched the empty bottle, his knuckles white against the glass. A sharp voice broke through his thoughts. “Hand it over, old lady, or this’ll get ugly.” Ethan turned, squinting through the rain. Just ahead, a frail old woman stood at the mouth of an alley, clutching a small, battered purse. Two men loomed over her, their voices harsh and threatening. “Please,” the woman said, her voice trembling. “I don’t have much. Just let me go.” One of the thugs sneered. “You don’t get it, grandma. We’re not asking.” Ethan’s grip on the bottle tightened. His heart raced, but not from the alcohol. A reckless idea took hold, the kind only whiskey and despair could inspire. ‘Maybe this is it,’ he thought. ‘Maybe this is how it ends.’ Before he could stop himself, Ethan staggered toward the alley, his soaked boots splashing in puddles. “Hey!” he shouted, his voice rough but steady. The thugs turned, their faces twisting into sneers when they saw him. “What do you want, pal?” one of them asked, stepping forward. Ethan sluggishly bent to smash the whiskey bottle on the ground. He then lifted the broken bottle, the jagged edges catching the faint light. He pointed it at them, his arm shaking from more than just the cold. “Leave her alone,” he said, the words slurring slightly. The thugs exchanged a glance, and for a moment, Ethan thought they might laugh. But then something shifted. “Wait,” the shorter one said, his voice dropping. He nudged his partner. “That stance. You see it?” The taller thug squinted, his eyes narrowing. Ethan had no idea what they were talking about. He’d seen the stance in some old action movie, one of those ridiculous low-budget flicks where the hero took out a gang with nothing but a broken bottle and a bad attitude. “Yeah,” the taller thug said, taking a step back. “That’s . . . that’s him, isn’t it?” Ethan blinked, his alcohol-clouded brain struggling to catch up. ‘What are they talking about?’ “You kidding me?” the shorter one hissed. “That’s the guy! That’s Razorback!” Ethan’s confusion deepened, but he didn’t lower the bottle. He swayed slightly, trying to look more menacing than he felt. The taller thug’s face went pale. “No way. Razorback disappeared years ago. No one’s seen him since that fight with the Black Wolves.” “You wanna stick around to find out if it’s him?” the shorter one shot back. “Because I don’t.” Ethan watched, dumbfounded, as the two men backed away, their bravado crumbling. “We’re out,” the taller one muttered, grabbing his partner’s arm. “Let’s go.” Within seconds, they were gone, their footsteps splashing into the night. Ethan stood there, the broken bottle still raised, rain dripping from his soaked hair into his eyes. He turned slowly to look at the old woman, who was staring at him with a mix of fear and awe. “T-Thank you,” she stammered, clutching her purse tightly. Ethan lowered the bottle, his body trembling—not from the cold or the alcohol, but from the adrenaline flooding his veins. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. The woman stepped closer, her frail hand reaching out to touch his arm. “You’re a brave young man,” she said softly. “I don’t know how to repay you.” Ethan shook his head, his throat too tight to respond. The woman reached into her purse and pulled out a small object, its surface gleaming faintly even in the dim light. It was a necklace, the pendant carved from jade into an intricate design that seemed to shimmer with its own light. “Please, take this,” she said, holding it out to him. “You’ve earned it.” Ethan frowned. “I don’t want your necklace,” he mumbled, his voice hoarse. “It’s not just a necklace,” she insisted, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made his skin prickle. “It’s meant for someone like you. Someone brave. Please, take it.” Ethan hesitated, then reached out and took the necklace, slipping it into his pocket. “Thanks,” he muttered, not looking at her. The woman smiled faintly, her eyes soft with something Ethan couldn’t quite place. “You’re stronger than you know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Then she turned and disappeared into the rain, leaving Ethan alone in the alley. For a long moment, he stood there, staring at the spot where she’d been. The adrenaline ebbed away, leaving him hollow and trembling. ‘What the hell just happened?’ he thought, clutching the broken bottle tightly in his hand. The rain poured harder, soaking him to the bone, but Ethan didn’t care. Somewhere deep in his chest, something stirred—a spark of something he hadn’t felt in years. It wasn’t hope. Not yet. But it was something.
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Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 9: The Transformation
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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
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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
Chapter 38: The Three Orders
Through a phone call with Elena, Ethan got to learn that the prestigious Blackwell University served as the front for the Obsidian Order headquarters. It was a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, its name etched in gold across the main hall.Ethan drove through the iron gates, his presence turning a few heads as he stepped out of a limited-edition Lamborghini. The campus buzzed with activity, students in tailored uniforms walking across the pristine courtyard, completely unaware of the dark power that lurked beneath their feet.He was a stranger in enemy territory, yet he carried himself with the same effortless authority that had defined his rule over the Jade Society. But he wasn’t here to make a statement—he was here for answers.Waiting at the entrance was Isabella, his fiancée. Dressed immaculately, she exuded an air of elegance, yet her eyes were gentle and welcoming despite Ethan's unexpected visit."To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked, her smooth voice laced with some hi
