Chapter 1: Good For Nothing Cab Driver

A cab pulls up to the grand entrance of the Sunset Tower Hotel, its sleek exterior gleaming under the golden rays of the afternoon sun. The hotel's majestic billboard, adorned with the iconic Sunset Tower Hotel logo, proudly stands guard over the entrance.**

"Sir, we've arrived at the Sunset Tower Hotel!" A soft, calming voice filled the air, courtesy of Ethan Sinclair, the taxi driver.

His words gently broke the steadiness that enveloped the luxury establishment.

"Thank you," the stranger replied, a hint of relief in his voice. "Could you please help me with my luggage out of the trunk?"

"Of course," Ethan responded promptly, exiting his cab and assisting the stranger in retrieving his belongings.

As he closed the trunk, the stranger inquired, "How much do I owe you?"

"Two hundred bucks!!" Ethan replied, referring to his standard fare.

"Here, I'll give you five hundred bucks for the extra effort I put in for you today!!" the stranger said, reaching for his wallet. However, upon examining its contents, he realized he had insufficient cash and only had his credit card.

"Would you mind if I used my card at the reception desk to get you some change?" the stranger asked apologetically.

"No problem, I'll wait for you in the cab," Ethan replied, settling back into his driver's seat.

He used that moment to glance at his wristwatch, and he noticed it was 5 minutes past.

His mind raced with concern as he remembered that his workday was almost over, and he needed to leave for his mother-in-law's birthday preparations this evening before tomorrow's celebration.

Ethan took a deep breath, gazing at himself in the rearview mirror.

His fingers danced along his lingering mustache, contemplating its fate.

"I should get rid of this beard," he muttered.

Lost in self-reflection, his attention was abruptly drawn to a black-covered phone left behind the passenger seat.

He was taken aback, not anticipating the stranger's forgetfulness in this situation.

Ethan's mind raced with frustration, thinking to himself, "Not again! Where could he possibly be? I've been waiting for so long!" Glancing at his wristwatch once more, it read 6:30 p.m.

A wave of disappointment washed over him as he realized that the stranger had kept him waiting.

This made him worried because he knew his grandmother-in-law would discipline him for being late.

Ethan frequently found himself on the receiving end of her harsh words, labeled as a worthless son-in-law, a designation that deeply hurt him.

As Ethan stepped out of the taxi, his determination remained steadfast in his mission to return the phone and receive the payment he rightfully deserved.

As he entered the lobby, his eyes fell upon a receptionist, a young woman with short black hair, neatly arranging her tops and blouses behind the counter.

He approached her with a polite demeanor. Ethan explained, "Excuse me, I just dropped off a passenger of mine, who mentioned he wanted to use his credit card to settle my fare. However, he left his phone in my cab, so I've got to return it."

The receptionist, her voice tinged with concern, inquired, "Yes, he's been waiting for you in his room, sir." she nodded her head slightly before her hand reached for her Motorola.

"Hello, sir, he's here," the receptionist's voice conveyed a professional tone.

At the other end of the call, the man responded, "Allow him to my doorstep!"

The receptionist dropped the Motorola and turned to Ethan.

"He said you should come to his room," she said, her voice trailing off slightly. After a momentary pause, she added, "Is room 093?"

Ethan replied with a sincere smile. "Thank you!" he exclaimed, his gratitude visible.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ethan proceeded towards the guest room, his footsteps resonating in the grand lobby.

The anticipation of finally obtaining his payment and returning the phone propelled him forward, adding a spring to his stride.

Ethan, who was dressed in his typical taxi driver's uniform, approached the door of the guest room and knocked politely.

“Come in!" a voice echoed from inside.

As Ethan's hand made its way toward the doorknob, the door swung open, exposing a scene that shook him to his core.

In the room, Maya Reynolds, Ethan's wife, is sleeping with a stranger on the same mattress, engaging in a prolonged romance.

“Just drop the phone and get out of here?” the stranger said, not making eye contact with Ethan.

Ethan's tear-filled gaze remained fixed on the scene before him as he exclaimed, "What about my payment?"

“Wait for me outside the corridor!" the stranger said.

Ethan's mind reeled as he struggled to process the unexpected sight before him. He had been preoccupied with returning the phone and receiving his payment, unable to move away from his spot.

He never knew that he could come across his wife face-to-face in these circumstances because she had mentioned going to her mother's house for birthday preparations.

How was it possible that he encountered her here? Was this a setup? For him to encounter her? Because a five-star hotel like this will not allow a stranger into their guest room, not even a taxi driver like him!?!

The realization hit him with a wave of shock and confusion. His grip on the phone loosened, and it slipped from his hand, falling to the ground. The sound of it hitting the floor grabbed their attention.

Clang!

Maya's reaction was immediate and filled with shock.

She exclaimed, "Jesus!!! What the hell is that?!" in disbelief.

She never expected what she saw in front of her.

During that period, the stranger's gaze scanned Ethan's body for the source of that sound.

Upon noticing his phone, valued at 380 million dollars, lying on the ground, it was evident that someone with limited financial means would not be able to afford such a costly device without resorting to taking out a loan. In a kind gesture, the stranger picked up a robe that was lying near the mattress.

"How dare you drop my phone on the ground? Do you even know how much it costs? You, a poor taxi driver like you, probably can't even afford one with your salary!" the stranger spat out, berating Ethan as he slammed his back against the door.

Thud!?! Thud!?!

A knock echoed through the air as the stranger released his grip on Ethan's clothes.

The stranger's hand extended toward the doorknob, revealing a woman in her late forties.

"Can you people lower your voice!?!" the lady exclaimed.

"Because it's disturbing us in our apartment!" she added.

"Thank you for your opinion, but I paid for this apartment. Someone from the next guest room can't come here and tell me what to do!" the stranger exclaimed, slamming the door behind her.

"You guys need to stop. Stop this harassment!?!" Maya exclaimed at the top of her voice.

“Ethan. You need to apologize!?!"

"Apologized!?!" Ethan said, his face twisting with a hit of disbelief.

“Yes! You need to apologize to him now. I will explain everything to you when we get home, we are just here for a business deal, this man is not someone you could offend!" Maya said, her voice carrying a hint of frustration.

"Who's this guy!?!" the stranger interrupted.

"He's my husband, we've been married for three years, and he was the man I used to talk about!?!" Maya said.

"Oh, is this the loser you usually talked about? Maya, you never mentioned to me that your husband is a taxi driver!" The stranger said with derision.

"Should have let me know, so that I can promote him to the highest level in the prime taxis organization." The stranger said with a mocking tone.

"I don't fucking need your promotion!?! And I don't care who you are!" Ethan said, turning away from the stranger's face.

"So, Maya, you've been going all around behind my back, cheating on me all this while. I work 55 hours a week, doing everything I can to please you. And I thought I'd met the woman of my dreams! Not even knowing that you are a miserable bitch, someone not to be trusted," he paused.

Maya's voice interrupted.

"I wasn't the way you thought. We're just having a business conversation."

Ethan's laughter echoed in the room, a mix of bitterness and hurt.

"Oh, a business conversation! In a hotel room, huh? And he was naked!" Ethan pointed accusingly at the stranger standing beside her.

"While you're here just putting on your robe, how does this look like a business conversation? I'm not naive. No wonder every time I sought intimacy, you came up with some excuse, saying you were stressed from work. So, this is what has been happening behind my back!"

Maya's expression shifted intensely, her voice drowning out Ethan's words.

"So you're trying to act like a Mr. Nice Guy, huh? Who provided the apartment you stayed in? Who provides the food you eat? The Audi you drove. Who provided that? You're utterly useless— not even worth a bit of my toes— and yet you have the nerve to talk nonsense to my face. You, the one I've been wanting to divorce, you pathetic loser!"

"Oh, you're calling me a loser now?" Ethan shook his head slightly. "With all that I've done for you and your family, not even thinking about those nights I cooked for you, took care of our pet, cleaned your mess when you were sick! So, is this how you want to pay me back?"

"Just be silent, you destitute fool, a worthless piece of trash. Good for nothing taxi driver. The affluent are conversing; you play no consequential part in the affairs of the wealthy!" Maya asserted, her facial expression carrying a hint of arrogance.

Despite running into her husband, it didn't fluster Maya and the stranger at all! It was because Ethan was a live-in son-in-law. He had an inferior status among the Reynolds.

“You had better go on your knees and plead for his mercy. Do you know who he is? Tony West. He is the boss of an investment firm and the scion of a top family in Los Angeles. And do you comprehend the net worth of his family?"

Tony West, a scion of the illustrious West family in Los Angeles, carries a legacy so weighty that the mere mention of his name brings with it a cascade of prestige and recognition. The West family is renowned for their wealth, numerous achievements, and the indelible mark left by Mr. George West, who stood as a titan in the city. Mr. George West's empire included a prestigious five-star hotel, and his net worth soared to an impressive 10 billion dollars, securing him a top spot on the city's financial rankings.

With his own remarkable achievements have positioned him as a prominent voice within the elite upper class society of Los Angeles, where only the wealthiest individuals hold sway and have the ultimate influence.

In an upper circle society, Tony has the power and connections to have Ethan fired.

Tony's laughter filled the surroundings as he moved away from Maya, then approached Ethan, whispering words into his ear. "Your wife is amazing on the bed and that will only consider not taking my action too hard on you," Tony said.

"I will only give you two opportunities: either you beg, your forehead touching my feet or your job as a taxi driver ends now! Make a wise choice!" he declared, stepping back, their gazes meeting.

Despite the disrespect shown to Ethan, the situation forced him into a position where he had to plead for something he hadn't done wrong.

They both acted as if nothing happened between them. Instead of receiving an apology, Ethan found himself pleading because he couldn't afford to lose the job.

The modest earnings he received were vital in providing support for his poor father.

With no second thought, Ethan goes down on his knees, pleading for Tony's mercy.

"Now, pick up my phone for me!?!" Tony said.

Picking up the phone to Tony, he exclaimed, "You bastard!!, see the way you damaged my phone, instead of me paying the money I owe you I'll either use it to repair my phone!?!"

Tony continued speaking, he suddenly used his foot to kick Ethan in the face so hard that he staggered backward.

"Get out of here!" Tony shouted, chasing him like a dog.

With a heavy heart, Ethan walked away, his wife's harsh words fading in the distance.

"I regret the day we got married!?!"

As he made his way into the elevator, he pressed the downstairs button.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Retrieving it, he glanced at the unknown caller ID, answering with a sense of doubt.

"Hello?" Ethan spoke, and the caller's panicked voice relayed distressing news, "Young Master, your father is dying.