2025-11-21 02:17:56The airport was crowded, noisy, and bright—yet somehow, Ethan Ward felt completely alone.
He stepped out of the taxi with his rolling suitcase trailing behind him. Brookhaven International Airport loomed ahead like a giant glass beast, swallowing thousands of people with dreams, destinations, and ambitions. But Ethan was not like them. He wasn’t traveling for work. He wasn’t leaving for vacation. He wasn’t chasing excitement. He was walking toward a future that no longer included the people who broke him. Every step he took toward the entrance felt heavier, as if invisible chains wrapped around his chest, pulling back with memories he desperately wanted to forget. As he entered the terminal, his mind replayed the scene he had just left behind—the decorated cars rolling into the Blake family estate, the bright ribbons, the flowers, the voices whispering about Adrian Cole's marriage rituals. Marriage rituals? Less than a month after his company collapsed. Just a few months since he gave up everything for Yvonne. Less than a month since she was still calling him “husband.” Now she stood in her mansion, divorcing him with a smile while preparing for another man’s arms. A sharp, stabbing ache hit him again. He found an empty seat near Terminal 4 and sank into it. The cold metal pressed against his back, grounding him in the present. But the pain in his chest would not fade. He closed his eyes briefly. He remembered the nights he stayed awake helping Yvonne design her brand strategy. The hundreds of pages of documents he drafted. The patents he surrendered—worth millions—because he believed in her. And how she repaid him… with betrayal delivered like a bullet to the heart. His hands trembled slightly. He swallowed the bitterness rising in his throat. He wasn’t supposed to feel this angry, he was supposed to feel free. But freedom didn’t feel like relief, it felt like revenge. His phone buzzed. It was Steward Leonard. Ethan answered quietly. “Steward Leonard… I’ve arrived at Brookhaven International Airport.” “Oh! Young Master Ethan!” The elderly steward sounded relieved. “Thank heavens. The private jet has departed Verdanis about four hours ago and will arrive soon in Brookhaven, Westeria. Please wait in the Special Services lounge. Everything will be arranged for you.” Ethan nodded even though the steward couldn’t see him. “Alright.” He hung up and stared at the crowd again. Everyone looked so certain of where they were going. He had no certainty left. Not after losing his company, not after losing his wife, and not after being humiliated in front of her entire family. He felt a burning weight in his chest—the kind that comes when betrayal is too deep to swallow. “Running away now, Ethan?” A voice cut sharply through the noise. Ethan’s eyes snapped open. Standing a few steps away was a man he recognized immediately. Caleb Stone. He was tall, dressed in an expensive navy suit, hair styled like he had just stepped out of a board meeting. His expression was filled with cruel amusement, like a vulture who had just found a dying animal. Caleb Stone was the CEO of ZealTech Innovations, Ethan’s long-time rival. Mr Stone was a jealous man who had celebrated when Ethan’s company collapsed. Caleb walked closer, dragging his sleek leather briefcase. He smiled mockingly. “Well, well, well… if it isn’t the fallen genius of Brookhaven.” Ethan said nothing. He refused to give him energy. Caleb laughed. “What’s wrong? No smart comeback? No lecture about algorithms or innovation? I expected more from the once-great Ethan Ward.” Ethan still didn’t respond. Caleb leaned closer. “I heard you spent ninety percent of your net worth paying off your employees after the collapse. Admirable, yes…” He paused, then laughed cruelly. “…but that was stupid.” People nearby began turning their heads. Ethan’s jaw tightened but Caleb’s voice grew louder. “You always bragged about being a visionary. A genius. A leader. But in the end? You couldn’t even save your own company.” Ethan clenched the handle of his suitcase. Caleb tapped his suitcase with his shoe. “So, tell me, Ethan. Where are you going now? Another interview to beg for a job? Or—” he grinned “—are you running away from all your failures?” Ethan inhaled slowly, trying to breathe past the anger building in his chest. He looked away. Caleb blinked, confused. “You’re not even going to defend yourself?” Caleb scoffed. “Lost your courage along with your fortune, huh?” Ethan said nothing. Then it happened. Caleb’s eyes drifted to the card around Ethan’s neck—a small rectangular badge. At first, he looked amused. Then his eyes widened. He froze. The card read: “SPECIAL SERVICES — PRIORITY CLEARANCE.” His lips parted slightly as he was shocked to his bone marrow. “What… is that?” Caleb whispered. Ethan ignored him. Caleb’s eyes darted back to his own boarding pass hanging around his neck: “Business Class.” His pride cracked. He knew what “Special Services” meant. It meant private jets, VVIP lounges, Exclusive security, Reserved access, it meant wealth, It meant power, it meant a level of travel he himself was not allowed to touch. Caleb’s voice turned shaky. “Wait—Ethan… how did you get that card? That badge is only given to private aviation passengers and high-ranking officials.” Ethan remained silent. Caleb stepped back, breathing harder. “No… no way.” He shook his head. “This must be fake. There’s no way someone like you—” he gestured at Ethan with disgust “—is using a private jet.” Then Caleb did something stupid. He raised his hand and shouted, “Officer! Officer! Over here!” A uniformed airport officer approached, his footsteps were sharp against the polished floor. “Yes sir? Is everything alright?” Caleb pointed aggressively at Ethan’s badge. “This man—this man has a Special Services clearance. I want you to check how he obtained it.” The officer turned to Ethan, eyebrows tightening. He stepped closer. “Sir,” the officer said, voice firm, “how exactly did you obtain this Special Services access card?” The entire terminal seemed to pause. People stopped walking. Eyes turned. And Caleb stood there with a triumphant smirk, convinced he had caught Ethan in some kind of lie. Ethan slowly lifted his head. His eyes weren’t filled with pain anymore, or sadness, or helplessness. They were cold. Very cold. Like a man who had nothing left to lose. Like a man who was about to rise again. And with that look—
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THE SUPREME LEADER'S SECOND THRONE
Darius Verda arrived at Arkstone Ridge believing that the Khagan Council would provide the protection his family desperately needed. He had spent the previous evening preparing his arguments with VerdaLife's lawyers. Although Ethan Xavier had exposed his true identity as the Supreme Leader of Verdanis, Darius remained convinced that the Council would prevent him from destroying one of the country's largest medical companies.The heavily guarded entrance to Arkstone Ridge looked exactly as Hilton had once described it. Security officers inspected Darius's invitation before allowing his vehicle through the gates. Beyond the entrance stood the magnificent building where the most powerful business families in Verdanis gathered to make decisions concerning their privileges and responsibilities.Darius entered the Khagan Chamber accompanied by two lawyers as permitted by the Khagan authorities. His eyes moved across the magnificent hall, taking in the expensive decorations and the seven s
I CHALLENGE YOU BEFORE THE KHAGAN COUNCIL
“Go on, Mr Verda,” he said. “I am listening.”Darius drew confidence from the opportunity to explain himself.“The Khagan Council protects the country's most important business institutions,” he continued. “VerdaLife supplies medicines, supports hospitals and contributes to medical research across Verdanis. Removing our family from that position would affect the entire healthcare system.”Several directors nodded cautiously. For the first time since Ethan's identity was revealed, Darius believed he had found an argument that could protect the family's remaining influence.“The Supreme Leader cannot simply declare our Khagan status invalid because he disagrees with our management,” Darius added. “If you want to challenge our position, you must present your case before the Council. Its members have the right to examine the evidence and make a decision.”Lorne looked toward Ethan, waiting for his response.Ethan did not appear offended. In fact, Darius had finally raised an argument that
THE VERDA FAMILY'S LAST SHIELD
Elias slowly rose from his chair. His hands trembled slightly as he looked around the room. He knew that speaking openly could permanently damage his relationship with the surviving members of his family.“Your Excellency, I supplied certain records belonging to my late brother Roland,” Elias admitted. “Those documents contained information about suspicious transactions and financial activities within VerdaLife. I preserved them because I knew they might become important.”Darius turned toward him in disbelief.“You?” he exclaimed. “Elias, are you telling me that you secretly handed our family's private documents to government investigators? After everything this family has done for you?”Elias looked at his uncle.“Yes, Uncle Darius,” he replied quietly. “I provided the records because I could no longer pretend that nothing was wrong. I should have spoken earlier, but I was afraid of what would happen to the family.”“You betrayed us!” Darius shouted. “Roland is dead, Hilton is missi
A XAVIER AMONG THE VERDAS
He had seen that face before. Although he had never met Ethan Xavier personally, Darius clearly remembered seeing him during the private commissioning of the Paralysis Projects. It was the same event where Ethan's life had been threatened, and an assassination attempt had nearly succeeded.Darius could still remember the fear and confusion that followed the incident. He had seen Ethan's face clearly that day, but he never imagined that the Supreme Leader would later enter VerdaLife disguised as an ordinary temporary employee.Now that the fake moustache and plastic facial disguise had been removed, there was no longer any doubt in his mind. The man standing before him was the same Ethan Xavier he had seen during that dangerous commissioning ceremony.“No... this cannot be possible!” Darius exclaimed, gripping the edge of the conference table. “You... you're Ethan Xavier! You're actually the Supreme Leader!”Several directors immediately leaned forward to examine Ethan's face. Without
THE FACE BEHIND ETHAN WARD
Darius Verda stared at the armed Tribunal officers entering his boardroom. He had expected the security department to explain why the doors were locked, not a senior military officer arriving without permission. His anger grew when he recognized the man leading them.“Brigadier General Lorne, what is the meaning of this?” Darius demanded, rising from Hilton's chair. “Who authorized you to enter VerdaLife's headquarters and interfere with a private board meeting? I demand an explanation immediately.”Lorne did not answer him. He glanced at the detention order in the security chief's hand before turning toward Ethan, who was standing beside the conference table. The general straightened his uniform and gave a formal military salute.“Supreme Leader, the building is secure,” Lorne announced respectfully. “The Tribunal officers have taken control of the executive floor, and your instructions have been carried out. We are awaiting your next orders.”A shocked silence settled over the board
WHO DARES LOCK MY BOARDROOM
Darius however believed that if he could keep Ethan under supervision, his lawyers would have enough time to decide how to contain the growing scandal.However, Darius had made one serious mistake. He believed he was dealing with an ordinary temporary employee who had become too confident because of government support. He had no idea that the young man standing before him was Ethan Xavier, the Supreme Leader of Verdanis, whose authority extended far beyond anything the Verda family could command. The very person Darius was attempting to detain possessed the power to challenge his family's position among the Khagan business families.Ethan understood exactly what Darius was trying to accomplish. He could see that the acting chairman wanted to silence him without making the decision appear unlawful before the other directors. Nevertheless, Ethan chose not to reveal his identity or challenge the order further. He simply watched as Darius handed the signed document to the security chie
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