From Beggars To Billionaires

Chapter 5

Ethan carries Lily in his arms. He looked around, trying to find help. Road very quiet. No people. Only smoke from burning car.

“Help… somebody help…” he mutter, walking fast with her.

Lucky for him, after some minutes, one old man driving small car see the fire on road. The old man stop his car quickly.

“My God! What happen here?” the old man shout.

“Please sir, she need hospital fast!” Ethan say with worry.

The old man nod fast. “Come, come! Put her in car!”

They hurry put Lily inside back seat. Then the old man drive very fast to hospital.

After some time, they finally reach hospital. Doctors and nurses rush Lily inside. They take her to one ward room.

Only then Ethan finally breathed out. His heart still beating fast.

Suddenly someone stand in front of him.

Ethan raise his head… and get shocked.

“Marcus?” he say, surprised when he recognize the man.

Marcus smile big and open his arms. “Young master Stark! You finally here!”

They hug each other warmly.

Ethan still confused. He look around the place.

“Wait… this Mandate Hospital?” he ask.

Marcus nod his head. “Yes Stark. This Mandate Hospital.”

Ethan blink little. In middle of all chaos, the hospital Lily come to… is same hospital his father stay.

He quickly calm himself.

“So… how father now?” he ask quickly.

Marcus answer, “Doctor say he stable now.”

“Thank goodness…” Ethan sigh deep. He feel little relief in chest.

“So where father?” he ask again.

Marcus reply, “Lord Crane in VIP unit of hospital.”

Ethan nod. “Alright Marcus… take me to him.”

Marcus lead the way. They walk through long hospital hallway until reach special ward area.

When they arrive, four strong guards standing in front of big door. They protecting the room.

When guards see Marcus, they bow respectful. One guard open door for them.

Ethan and Marcus walk inside.

“Stark!”

A rough old voice shout with happiness.

It was Lord Crane.

The powerful business lord lying on hospital bed. When he see Ethan, his face full of joy.

Ethan walk fast to bed.

“Hey dad… you alright?” he ask with worry on his face.

“What happen to you?”

It had been a long time since Ethan see his father. Many months have already pass. Work, life, many things make them not meet often.

When Lord Crane see his son standing there, his old face become warm. He slowly raise his hand and touch Ethan cheek gentle.

“Oh son,” the old man say with soft voice, “it's only small sickness. Nothing big. Doctor say I going be fine.”

But Ethan still look worried. His eyes full concern.

“Are they really sure, father?” he ask again. “You suddenly collapse… it make me very scared.”

Lord Crane laugh little. His voice still rough but strong.

“That's what the doctor say, son. They check everything already.”

Seeing Ethan still nervous, the old man smile kindly.

“Oh son, don’t be afraid,” he say again. “Your father is a very strong man. Nothing is going to happen to me, alright?”

Ethan finally nodded his head slowly. He forced a small smile on his face.

“Alright dad…”

For a few seconds the room becomes quiet.

Then Lord Crane suddenly remembered something.

“So son,” he asked, “how is your wife doing? And her family?”

Ethan's body is suddenly a little stiff.

“As you wish before,” Lord Crane continue, “I already offer her company the partnership deal with our group. It big chance for them.”

Ethan lower his head slowly. His face become dark.

Lord Crane noticed immediately.

“What wrong, son?” he ask, confused. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Ethan take deep breath before speaking.

“Well… dad,” he say slowly, “unfortunately… me and Isabella have already divorce.”

“Huh?!”

Lord Crane's eyes open wide with shock.

“Divorce? Why? What happened?” he ask quickly.

Ethan clench his fist tight. Pain show on his face.

“Isabella betrayed me, dad,” he say with heavy voice. “She cheat on me… with Damien.”

“Micheal?”

“Yes… the same Micheal we know.” Ethan look up. “Your son, dad. My stepbrother.”

“What?!”

Lord Crane almost sat up from bed because of shock.

“That boy? Damien?”

Ethan nodded slowly.

“Micheal was her ex boyfriend before. I never knew before. I only found out when he came back from abroad some months ago.”

He paused little, remembering everything.

“After he returns… he starts visiting my house very often. At first Isabella says he is only an old friend. But later… She finally told me the truth. They have dated before.”

Lord Crane's face became serious.

Ethan continued talking, his voice heavy.

“Dad… I really love her. I believe she was the woman I will stay with my whole life.”

His eyes become a little red.

“I do everything for her… and for her family.”

He take another deep breath.

“When I married her, her family company was almost bankrupt. They did nothing at that time. But she cried to me… begged me to help them.”

“So I sell everything I have. All my savings. I use it to save their company.”

Lord Crane listened quietly. His face slowly became darker.

“For four years I helped build her company. I work day and night for her business. I never complain.”

Ethan laughs bitterly.

“But in the end… after she became successful… she says she doesn't need me anymore.”

“One day I caught them together. Isabella and Damien.”

Lord Crane's eyes burn with anger.

“And do you know what happened, dad?” Ethan says with a pained voice.

“She did not even apologize. Instead… She asked me for divorce.”

He shakes his head slowly.

“She also remove me from the company. The company I helped build.”

The room suddenly became very quiet again.

Lord Crane face now full anger and disbelief. His hand slowly grips the bedsheet.

“That woman dare treat my son like this?” he said with a low angry voice.

Ethan only stands there silent, his heart still heavy remembering everything.

Lord Crane face become very dark after hearing everything. His hand grip the bed sheet tight.

“That woman…” he say with angry voice. “How dare she do that to you?”

Ethan stay quiet, only looking down.

“That very inhuman thing she do!” Lord Crane continue. “You save her company from bankruptcy. Without you, that company already finish long time ago. And now she kick you out like nothing? How she even have that courage?”

His eyebrow wrinkle deep, showing strong anger.

Ethan laughs bitterly.

“Despite all I do for her, dad… she and her family now see me like nobody,” he say slowly. “Since Micheal come back to the city, everything change.”

He pause little.

“They all like him. They respect him. Because… he is your son.”

Lord Crane look at Ethan seriously.

“But you also my son, Stark,” he say firm.

Ethan shake his head slowly.

“But nobody know that, father.”

His voice sound bitter.

“All my life I live low life. Since I was small boy.”

He look at the floor quietly.

“Till today… nobody know I am your son. But everybody know Micheal.”

Lord Crane heart suddenly feel heavy hearing that.

He look at his son face carefully. The pain there very clear.

For many years Ethan live normal life outside, hiding his true identity. Many people treat him like ordinary man. Some even look down on him.

Thinking about this make the old man feel guilty inside.

He sigh deep and slowly adjust his body on the hospital bed.

“Son…” he say softly after clearing his throat.

“One reason I ask you to come today… is because of this.”

Ethan raises his head a little.

Lord Crane continues speaking slowly.

“I am sorry I made you live such a life of struggle.”

His voice became heavy.

“I keep you far away from home since you were a little boy. Hide you from my world.”

Ethan listens quietly.

“But I do that… to protect you,” Lord Crane explained.

“When your mother was murdered… I was very afraid.”

Ethan's body is suddenly stiff hearing about his mother.

“I'm afraid I may lose you too,” his father says slowly. “So I let people believe you also died in that accident.”

Ethan close his eyes little remembering that past.

That day is still a painful memory.

His mother… She was a very beautiful woman. Kind and gentle. She always smile when she see him.

But that day everything changed.

Even after many years, thinking about her still make his chest hurt.

Lord Crane continued speaking.

“Back then I have many enemies. Too many people want to destroy me.”

He take deep breath.

“And that time I also decided to run for president. The situation is very dangerous. I cannot let enemies know about you.”

Ethan slowly nods. He understand little now.

He always feel angry before, but now he knows his father only tries to protect him.

The room become quiet again for a few seconds.

Then Lord Crane suddenly speak again.

“Well son… look at me now.”

He smile weakly.

“I'm already an old man.”

His hair already gray, his face full of age lines.

“Stark… I think the time has finally come.”

Ethan looks at him confused.

“Time for what, dad?”

Lord Crane looked straight into his eyes.

“I want you to take over the family business.”

Ethan blinks a few times.

“As the new CEO of Crane Empire.”

The words sound heavy in the room.

Ethan's eyes open wide. He cannot believe what he just hear.

“Dad… what?”

He looked at his father with a shocked face.

“Are you serious?”

Crane Empire… that company was a giant business group worth billions. One of the biggest companies in the whole country.

And now… his father say he should become the new CEO.

Ethan stands there frozen, staring at the old man on the bed with an unbelievable look on his face.