From Beggars To Billionaires

chapter 6

Ethan still stands there like stone. His mind was spinning.

“Huh… dad… you serious?” he ask slowly. “Then… What about Damien? Everybody believes he is your only son. If suddenly I appear… What are people going to say?”

Lord Crane gives a small scoff sound. He shake his head little.

“Micheal?” the old man says with a little cold voice. “That boy cannot take over my company, Stark.”

Ethan looks surprised.

“He doesn't have the mind for it,” Lord Crane continue. “Running a big corporation is not an easy thing. It needs a brain, patience, strong heart. Micheal… he doesn't have that.”

The old man sighs deep.

“If I give company to him, he will destroy everything I built my whole life.”

Ethan stay quiet, listening carefully.

Then Lord Crane look straight at him. His eyes are serious now.

“Also remember one thing, Stark,” he say firmly. “You are my first born son.”

Ethan's heart jump little hearing that.

“You are the true heir of all my property,” the old man continued. “Everything I have… including Crane Corporation… belong to you.”

Ethan eyes open wide. He cannot believe what he hearing.

For many years he always feel like outsider in the family. Like someone not important.

Even when people talk about Lord Crane’s son, they always mean Micheal. Never him.

But now… his father says he is the true heir.

A warm feeling suddenly grew inside his chest.

“Dad…” he say slowly, still shocked.

He feel happy but also confused.

“But dad… why are you talking about stepping down so suddenly?” Ethan ask with worry. “Doctor say you going be fine. You still can lead the company for many more years.”

Just at that moment, Lord Crane suddenly feel sharp pain in his chest.

His fingers press the blanket little tight.

But quickly he hide the pain and show smile on his face so Ethan will not notice.

“Ah… nothing like that,” he say calmly.

Truth was… his health slowly became worse these past months. But he not want his son worry too much.

“Well son,” he continue, “this has already been my decision for a long time.”

He point finger a little toward Ethan.

“You think I send you the best business school in the city for nothing?”

Ethan remember those days. The expensive school, the strict professors, the many sleepless nights studying business books.

“I always watch you grow,” Lord Crane say proudly.

“When you graduate, you even get best result in the whole class.”

Ethan scratch head a little, shy.

“But what make me most proud,” his father continue, “is what you do after.”

“You take one small dying company… your wife's family company.”

He pause little and smiles faintly.

“That company is almost bankrupt when you join them.”

Ethan nod slowly.

“But after some years, you turn it into one of best companies in Z City,” Lord Crane say.

“That prove to me that you have the ability to manage big corporation.”

The old man laugh softly.

“What big loss for Isabella and her family.”

Ethan smile bitterly hearing her name again.

“They throw away man who build their success,” Lord Crane continue. “One day they will regret it very much.”

Then his father look serious again.

“Prepare yourself, Stark.”

Ethan look at him.

“When I recover from this sickness,” Lord Crane say slowly, “I will tell the whole world the truth.”

“The truth… that you are my son.”

Ethan heart beat faster.

“And after that,” the old man continued, “I will officially announce you as my rightful heir.”

He pause for a moment, then say the final words.

“And the new CEO… of Crane Corporation.”

The room became silent again.

Ethan stand there quietly, his mind full of shock, excitement, and many thoughts.

His life… which just yesterday looked broken after the divorce… now suddenly changing completely.

Ethan stood there quiet for some seconds. Then slowly a big smile appeared on his face. His eyes became a little wet.

“Thank you so much, father,” he said with a soft voice. “This… this all I ever want. I just want to be close to you again.”

Before Lord Crane say anything, Ethan move closer and hug his father carefully on the hospital bed.

The old man laughed warmly and pat his son on the back.

“My son…” he said with a proud voice.

At the corner of the room, Marcus is watching the scene. His face also full smile.

For many years he knew the truth about Ethan. He always feel pity seeing the young master live such a simple life outside while people respect Micheal instead.

Now finally the real heir coming back.

Marcus nod his head proudly to himself. He is very happy for Ethan.

After some moment, Ethan releases the hug and steps back a little.

“Alright father,” he say with a serious face now. “Since this is what you wish… I will prepare myself to take over the company.”

Lord Crane grinned happily.

“That's good, my son,” he say proudly. “I know you will not disappoint me.”

Just then Marcus' phone vibrate in his pocket. He checks quickly, then his face changes a little.

“Lord Crane,” he say politely, “Lady Vivian already on the way to hospital.”

Hearing that name, Ethan's face change little.

Lady Vivian was his step mother.

Since he was a little boy, she never know he was still alive.

Long ago, his father already explain everything to him.

Vivian was actually his late mother's best friend. After his mother die, Vivian suddenly announced she was pregnant with his father child.

Because of that situation, his father marry her.

But to protect Ethan from enemies, the world believes Ethan died together with his mother in the accident.

So till today, Vivian and many other people still believe that story.

Ethan take small breath.

“Dad… I think I should go now,” he say slowly.

Lord Crane nod understanding.

“I understand, son. This is not the right time for you to meet her yet.”

Ethan nods. He turn around ready to leave.

But just when he reached the door, his father suddenly called him again.

“Stark, wait.”

Ethan turn back. “Yes dad?”

Lord Crane look at him seriously.

“What about Isabella company?” he ask. “Since you not manager there anymore… should I cancel the partnership deal with them?”

Hearing that question, Ethan suddenly remembers everything that happened yesterday in the mansion.

The humiliation.

The divorce papers.

The way Isabella and her family look down on him.

And how Micheal stands there proudly like winner.

A small cold smile slowly appeared on Ethan lips.

He let out a little smirk.

“Yes dad,” he say calmly. “Terminate the partnership.”

Marcus raise eyebrow a little but stay silent.

“They don’t deserve it,” Ethan continue. “Not after everything they did.”

Lord Crane nodded slowly.

“Alright, son. If that your decision, I will cancel it immediately.”

Marcus also nod. “I will take care of it, young master.”

Ethan gives a small thankful nod.

Then he walked toward the door and open it slowly.

Before leaving, he turned his head one more time and look at his father.

Lord Crane smiles proudly at him.

Ethan also smile back before walking out of the room.

As he walks through the hospital hallway, a gentle smile appear again on his face.

His life changed very fast in just one day.

Yesterday he was a man kicked out from his wife's house like nobody.

But now… he was the true heir of Crane Empire.

Soon, the whole world will know the truth.

And when that time comes…

Isabella and her family will finally discover who he really is all this time.

Ethan chuckle softly to himself while walking outside.

He could already imagine their shocked faces.

They would be completely bewildered when they find out the man they humiliated…

Was actually the real son of Lord Crane.

---

In another ward room of the hospital, the young woman slowly open her eyes. Her head feel heavy and her body weak.

She look around the room slowly. White walls. Medical machines. Strange smell of medicine in the air.

“Where… where am I?” she ask with weak voice while scanning the place with confused eyes.

A doctor who was standing close to the bed smile gently.

“You are in hospital, miss,” the doctor say calmly. “Yesterday you had bad accident on the road. Some gentleman bring you here very fast.”

The woman blink her eyes slowly, trying remember what happen.

Suddenly the memory come back to her mind. The road… the car losing control… the loud crash… the smoke…

Then her eyes open wide.

“Stark!” she suddenly shout weakly. “Where is Stark?”

Just then a voice sound from the door.

“I’m right here…”

The woman turn her head quickly.

Standing at the door was Ethan.

After leaving his father wardroom, he hurry back here as soon as he hear the woman already wake up.

When the woman see him standing there safe and fine, her heart suddenly feel warm.

A beautiful smile slowly appear on her face.

Ethan walk quickly to her bed with worried face.

“I was very happy when doctor say you finally wake up,” he say. “How you feeling now, Lily?”

Lily lift her hand slowly and touch her forehead.

“I think… I have little headache,” she say with small smile.

Ethan sigh with relief.

“You scare me yesterday,” he say honestly. “That accident very terrible. You almost lose your life.”

Lily look at him quietly for moment. Then she smile softly.

“I lose control of the car,” she explain. “Everything happen so fast.”

She pause and look into his eyes deeply.

“You save my life again, Stark,” she say gently. “How can I ever thank you?”

She slowly reach her hand and hold his hand warmly.

Ethan feel little awkward but smile kindly.

“There no need thank me,” he say. “I just lucky to be there when accident happen. I only glad you safe now.”

Lily eyes shine softly hearing his words.

For some seconds they just look at each other.

Then the doctor finish checking her condition and quietly leave the room so they can talk.

After the doctor gone, Ethan pull a chair and sit beside the bed.

Lily look at him carefully like she don’t want miss any detail of his face.

“Stark…” she say slowly. “How you been all these years?”

She tilt her head little and smile.

“After I return to this country… I try find you many times.”

Ethan look little surprised.

“Well… I been fine,” he answer casually. “Just normal life.”

Lily smile charmingly at him.

Looking at him now bring many old memories back to her heart.

Back in college days, she was the most beautiful girl in the campus. Many boys chase after her every day.

But her eyes only look at one person.

Stark.

Even before the incident happen, she already have big crush on him.

But one day something terrible happen.

A group of bad thugs corner her behind the campus building. They try bully her and do bad things.

She was scared and crying that day.

But suddenly Stark appear.

Without thinking twice, he fight those men and save her.

After that day, her heart fall completely for him.

They become very close friends after that.

But inside her heart, her feeling for him keep growing stronger every day.

Now… after seven long years… she finally seeing him again.

And somehow… he still look the same man she fall for in college.