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Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 28: The Warning
“You think beefing up security is enough to stop them?” Victoria’s voice cut through the silence.Ethan leaned back in his chair, eyes cold. “No. But it’s the first step.”They were gathered in the penthouse suite of one of the Jade Society’s luxury hotels. The city stretched out beyond the massive windows, but no one was admiring the view.Jade sat with her feet propped on the edge of the glass table, twirling a knife between her fingers. “The Obsidian Order isn’t some street gang we can scare off with a few extra bodyguards.”Ethan met her gaze. “I know.”Victoria crossed her arms. “Then what’s the real plan?”Ethan glanced at Elena, who stood near the sleek touchscreen monitor displaying a live feed of digital surveillance. She tapped the screen, pulling up a web of financial transactions, coded messages, and known Obsidian Order operations.“I’ve been monitoring their communications and financial movements,” she said. “And from the look of things, they’re gearing up for something
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 29: Declaration of War
Morning sunlight streamed into the penthouse suite. The air was thick with tension.Ethan placed his phone on the table. With a tap, he played the video for everyone to see.The room was deathly silent.Then Victoria spoke, voice tight. “That bastard.”Jade’s grip on her knife tightened. “So, what’s the plan?”Ethan’s voice was cold. “We’re not just defending ourselves anymore.”Victoria raised a brow. “You’re declaring war?”Ethan met her gaze. “Yes.”Jade grinned. “About time.”Elena leaned against the table, arms crossed. “You realize what that means, right? There’s no backing out after this.”“I’m not backing out.” Ethan’s eyes were hard. “I want a message sent to every branch of the Society. Every member. Every ally. They need to know—this isn’t about survival anymore. We’re taking the fight to them.”Victoria whistled. “Damn. You’re serious.”Ethan nodded.Jade smirked. “Then let’s make sure they hear us loud and clear.”. . .That afternoon, as Ethan sat alone in his office, hi
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 30: Marry the Enemy
“I have met with the Elders of the Obsidian Order.”The entire room stiffened.Felix’s smirk vanished. Cassandra’s fingers tightened around her glass.The woman’s gaze didn’t leave Ethan’s.“They have agreed to a truce.” A pause. Then—“Under one condition.”Ethan’s fingers curled. “What condition?”She didn’t blink.“You will marry Isabella Grayson.”The name hit the room like an explosion.The younger sister of Alexander Grayson.Ethan’s fingers curled against the armrest of his chair. His jaw was locked, his eyes dark as they met the old woman’s unwavering gaze.“You can’t be serious,” he said, his voice dangerously low.The woman didn’t flinch. “I have never been more serious in my life.”His breath came slow and measured, fighting the urge to snap. “You expect me to marry the sister of the man who threatened my family?”“I expect you to do your duty,” she corrected.Felix let out a quiet laugh. “This just keeps getting better.”Ethan shot him a glare before turning back to her. “T
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 31: Heated Desires
“You’re awfully quiet.”Anna's voice pulled Ethan from his thoughts. He was standing by the massive floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse suite, staring at the city below, but seeing nothing.“I don’t have anything to say.” His voice was flat.Anna stepped closer. “You just got ordered to marry the sister of your biggest enemy, and you’re acting like it’s just another business deal.”Ethan exhaled through his nose, a humorless sound. “Isn’t it?”She stopped a few feet behind him, arms crossed. “That’s how you’re going to handle it? Like another one of your cold negotiations?”“How else should I handle it?” He turned to face her, eyes sharp, jaw tight. “Tell me, Anna. Should I be happy? Should I celebrate? Maybe send Isabella Grayson flowers and a love letter?”Her lips pressed together. She wasn’t in the mood for his sarcasm.“You don’t deserve this,” she said after a pause.Ethan huffed. “You think I don’t know that?”Silence stretched between them.Then, Anna sighed. “You’re stro
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 32: The Engagement Party
Ethan stood near the entrance of the ballroom, his posture composed as he scanned the room. The air was thick with power, old money, and the unspoken tension between the two warring factions.High-ranking members of the Jade Society were gathered in their finest suits and gowns, mingling with the elites of the Obsidian Order. It was a rare sight—two powerful, secretive organizations that had spent decades undermining each other now standing side by side, exchanging pleasantries over champagne.But beneath the surface, everyone knew what this night truly was. A test beyond the spectacle. A leash around Ethan’s neck.He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing on the woman standing a few feet away.Clandestine Wood.Ethan found it strange that he had only recently learned the name of the old woman who gave his life meaning. To the public, she was the second richest woman in the world, a ghost who rarely showed her face, a woman who held power in places no one could trace. But even Ethan knew that
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 33: The Bargain
Ethan’s blunt response left the room tense.Clandestine quickly turned to him, her intense gaze warning him to behave.Then, she spoke.“Apologize.”Ethan met her gaze, unwavering. “For what?”“For disrespecting this gathering.” Her voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of command. “For interrupting like a reckless child instead of behaving like the leader you claim to be.”Ethan kept silent, refusing to stoop that low.Then, she sighed. “I must apologize on Mr. Wilder’s behalf,” she said, turning back to the elders as if he was no longer worth acknowledging. “He can be . . . territorial.”Across from her, one of the elders—a silver-haired man with deep lines of experience carved into his face—tilted his head with amusement. “And so are we.”A subtle tension tightened the air.But Clandestine was wise. She didn’t challenge their pride. Instead, she leaned back slightly, her fingers tapping the edge of her cane. “To the best of my knowledge, Elena fled from the Obsidian Order,” sh
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 34: Romantic Intrigues
The wedding was set for the following year.The engagement party had been a success—on the surface, at least. The truce was intact. The demands had been negotiated. The power struggle had played out in polite, measured words instead of bloodshed.But Ethan felt no victory.Now, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse, he looked out at the sprawling city below. The skyline stretched endlessly, glowing under the moon’s quiet light. Yet, for all its vastness, he felt trapped.A pawn in a game too large for him to control.His reflection stared back at him in the glass, jaw tense, mind restless.Clandestine Woods.The real power behind the Jade Society. The woman who moved the pieces while he played the role of the grandmaster.His leadership? A front.His decisions? Guided.His life? Not his own.A soft rustle behind him. Then, warmth.Anna’s arms wrapped around his torso from behind, her bare skin pressing into his. He could feel her breasts against his back, the heat o
Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 35: The Unknown Messenger
Ethan woke to the sharp blare of the alarm.His eyes snapped open. A second later, he was out of bed, feet hitting the cold floor. He barely registered that he was still in his pajama pants as he grabbed the pistol from his nightstand and bolted out of his room.The chill night air hit him as he stepped outside. Shouts rang through the estate. Guards were in pursuit of a masked man dressed in all black, their voices sharp with urgency.“Stop right there!”Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. The masked intruder moved with eerie precision, evading the guards like a shadow slipping through cracks.From the opposite corridor, Marcus and Jade emerged, drawn by the commotion. Their expressions were grim, eyes locking on Ethan before shifting to the masked man.The intruder wasn’t running away. Not anymore. The moment he sighted Ethan, he ran straight toward him."Get away from the Sire!"Ethan’s grip tightened around his gun. His stance shifted instinctively, shoulders squared,
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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