Chapter 2
Author: Pinky T
last update2026-02-04 17:01:04

Lena walked away, but her heart felt strangely heavy.

She didn’t know why.

Ethan hadn’t chased after her. He hadn’t grabbed her arm, hadn’t demanded an explanation, hadn’t begged her to reconsider. He hadn’t even raised his voice.

He had simply signed the divorce papers.

That calm acceptance unsettled her more than anger ever could. For a brief moment, she almost wished he would shout at her,  accuse her, make her feel justified.

But he hadn’t and she felt conflicted about it.

This is the right choice, she told herself as she walked beside Victor. Their worlds were wide apart now.

Still… the image of Ethan standing alone lingered in her mind.

Meanwhile, Ethan walked through the streets alone.

The city lights flickered on one by one as dusk settled in. Cars rushed past, people laughed, couples walked hand in hand. Everyone seemed to have somewhere to go.

Except him.

The divorce papers felt heavier than they should have in his pocket.

For the first time since waking up three years ago, something inside him cracked not loudly, not dramatically, but quietly.

So this is reality, he thought.

Money mattered in this life. 

It didn’t matter how much effort he put in.

It didn’t matter how loyal he was.

It didn’t matter how much he endured.

Without money, without status and without power everything else was meaningless.

His fingers brushed against the black card in his pocket and just then Fei’s words echoed in his mind.

Supreme black card. Password is your birthday.

He slowed his steps and looked down to the card to think of his next move.

After a long pause, Ethan turned around and headed toward National Union Bank, the largest and most prestigious bank in the country. Even the building itself radiated authority. Tall glass walls reflected the city lights, and uniformed security guards stood at the entrance like sentinels.

Ethan took a breath and walked forward, but before he could step inside, two familiar figures blocked his path.

“Ethan?”

The voice was sharp and full of disbelief.

He looked up and his expression softened.

“Mom?” he said instinctively.

Standing there were Margaret Carter and Ivy Carter.

Lena’s mother and sister.

For a brief moment, Ethan genuinely felt relieved.

No matter how strained their relationship had been, they were still his wife’s family. For three years, he had called them family. He had endured their cold looks, their complaints, their constant dissatisfaction.

But family was family.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Ethan said, a faint smile forming. “Did Lena,”

Margaret’s face darkened instantly and she pushed him back.

“What are you doing here pauper?” she snapped.

The warmth in Ethan’s eyes froze instantly at her words.

Ivy crossed her arms and laughed mockingly. “Look at him. He really dares to come here.”

Ethan hesitated for a moment and cleared his throat, “I just came to handle some business.”

Margaret scoffed loudly. “Business? You?”

Her gaze swept over his worn clothes with undisguised contempt.

“This place isn’t for trash like you.”

The words hit harder than a slap.

Ethan’s smile faded. “Mom,”

“Don’t call me that you dirty pauper,” Margaret interrupted coldly. “You’re no longer worthy.”

Ivy smirked. “Good thing my sister finally dumped you. Otherwise, we’d still have to be embarrassed by your existence.” 

Ethan clenched his fists slowly at their words.

Margaret stepped closer, her voice dripping with cruelty. “Pack your things from the house and get out of our house today. Don’t even think about staying another night.”

“If you dare delay,” Ivy added, “we’ll throw everything you own into the street.”

Ethan stared at them in silence.

Just moments ago, he had been genuinely happy to see them.

Now, all that warmth felt ridiculous.

Margaret’s eyes suddenly locked onto something.

She noticed the ring in his hands and her expression changed instantly.

“That ring,” she said sharply. “Where did you steal it from?”

Ethan instinctively covered it. “This isn’t stolen, it's mine.”

“Don’t lie!” Margaret shouted. “You can’t even afford decent clothes. How could you own jewelry as beautiful as this?”

She lunged forward without warning.“Give it to me!”

Ethan stepped back instinctively and Margaret lost her balance.

She screamed and fell hard onto the marble floor. “Ow,!”

Instantly, her face twisted with fury.

“Security!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “He attacked me! Arrest him!”

Several guards rushed over immediately.

“What happened ma'am?” one of them demanded.

Margaret pointed at Ethan, eyes full of hatred. “He tried to steal my ring and pushed me!”

Ivy immediately chimed in. “Yes! I’m a  witness to it!” 

Ethan took a slow breath and cracked his knuckles “I didn’t touch her officers,” he said calmly. “She slipped while attacking me.”

One guard frowned. “Sir, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to handle business,” Ethan replied evenly.

The moment those words left his mouth, Margaret and Ivy burst into laughter.

“Business?” Ivy laughed so hard her shoulders shook. “Do you hear that? This useless man thinks he has business here!”

Margaret sneered proudly. “Do you even know where you are?”

“This is National Union Bank, the largest bank in the country,” she continued loudly, making sure everyone nearby could hear. “To even qualify for a bronze card here, you need at least one million in deposits.”

She reached into her purse and held up a bronze card like a trophy.

“Victor Shaw personally helped us get this,” she said smugly. “That’s what real connections look like, pauper.”

The guards glanced at Ethan with doubt in their eyes.

Ethan remained silent and for a moment, he wondered if Shen Fei had been lying.

Then he remembered her unwavering eyes.

Slowly and calmly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the card.

The moment the supreme black emblem appeared under the lights, the entire lobby went silent.

Even the guards stiffened.

Margaret’s smug smile froze on her face and Ivy’s laughter died instantly.

“That… that’s impossible,” Ivy whispered.

Margaret’s face turned pale. “That’s fake. It has to be fake!” 

But deep down, they both knew.

The black card’s design was unmistakable. 

A supreme black card represented not just wealth but absolute authority.

A card that required over one billion in assets.

A card even Victor Shaw could never obtain.

The guards’ expressions changed immediately.

“Sir…” one of them said respectfully, straightening his posture.

Margaret staggered back a step and Ethan stood there quietly, holding the card.

For the first time,

The world stopped looking down on him..

And Ethan Moore stepped into a realm where dignity was no longer something he had to beg for.

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  • 128

    Sofia couldn’t move.Her reflection stood perfectly still inside the mirror, but its eyes were changing constantly.One moment they looked like hers.The next, they belonged to the little girl.Then they became older.Then younger.Then unfamiliar.Eight different versions stared back at her.Sofia slowly stepped away.“What are you?”The reflection smiled.“I already told you.”“You said you were what remained.”“Of all eight.”Sofia’s hands began trembling.“You’re inside me.”“Partly.”“What does that mean?”“It means you are no longer alone.”Sofia shook her head.“I don’t want you inside me.”The reflection laughed softly.“You’ve never been alone, Sofia.”The bedroom door suddenly opened behind her.Sofia spun around.Ethan stood there.His face was pale.“Sofia.”She immediately stepped backward.“Don’t come closer.”He stopped.“I need to explain.”“You’ve explained enough.”“I know.”“You lied to me.”“Yes.”“You killed the first Sofia.”“Yes.”“You helped create the others.”

  • 128

    The moment Sofia opened the eighth door completely, everything stopped.The seven doors around her froze in place.The shadows behind them stopped moving.Even Ethan became completely still.Sofia looked at him.He was standing with one hand raised toward her, his mouth slightly open as though he had been saying something, but no sound came out.It was as if time itself had stopped.Only Sofia could move.And the little girl.She stepped beside Sofia and looked through the doorway.“Are you ready?”Sofia swallowed.“No.”The little girl smiled.“Good.”Sofia looked at her strangely.“Why is that good?”“Because people who think they’re ready usually aren’t.”Sofia took a deep breath.Then she stepped through.The world changed immediately.She found herself standing inside a small hospital room.A newborn baby was crying on a bed.Her mother stood beside the bed.But she looked younger.Much younger.Ethan was there too.Except he was different.His face looked softer.His eyes didn’t

  • 127

    The moment Sofia opened the eighth door completely, everything stopped.The seven doors around her froze in place.The shadows behind them stopped moving.Even Ethan became completely still.Sofia looked at him.He was standing with one hand raised toward her, his mouth slightly open as though he had been saying something, but no sound came out.It was as if time itself had stopped.Only Sofia could move.And the little girl.She stepped beside Sofia and looked through the doorway.“Are you ready?”Sofia swallowed.“No.”The little girl smiled.“Good.”Sofia looked at her strangely.“Why is that good?”“Because people who think they’re ready usually aren’t.”Sofia took a deep breath.Then she stepped through.The world changed immediately.She found herself standing inside a small hospital room.A newborn baby was crying on a bed.Her mother stood beside the bed.But she looked younger.Much younger.Ethan was there too.Except he was different.His face looked softer.His eyes didn’t

  • 126

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  • 125

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  • 124

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