The Billionaire Heir's Revenge

Chapter 6: Project Phoenix

The banquet ended after midnight.

By the time Ethan left the Grand Titan Hotel, the entire city had already heard the news.

The mysterious heir of Blackwell Global had officially appeared.

Business forums exploded.

News outlets scrambled for information.

Social media was flooded with discussions.

One name dominated every headline.

Ethan Blackwell.

Inside his limousine, Ethan loosened his tie and leaned back.

It had been an exhausting day.

Just twenty-four hours ago, he had been thrown out of the Hart Family home.

Now the entire city was talking about him.

Life truly was unpredictable.

Across from him sat Sebastian Cole.

The old steward looked unusually serious.

Ethan immediately noticed.

"What is it?"

Sebastian hesitated.

Then he handed over a sealed folder.

"Something your grandfather left behind."

Ethan frowned.

The folder was black.

On its cover were two golden words.

PROJECT PHOENIX

The moment Ethan saw the name, a strange feeling appeared in his chest.

"What is this?"

"We don't know."

Sebastian shook his head.

"The late chairman ordered that this file remain sealed until after your inheritance."

Ethan opened it.

Inside was only a single page.

Nothing else.

The page contained one sentence.

Trust no one.

Ethan stared.

Confused.

That was all?

No explanation.

No details.

Nothing.

Below the sentence was a date.

Fifteen years ago.

The same year Ethan had disappeared from his family.

A cold feeling spread through him.

Something wasn't right.

"What exactly happened fifteen years ago?"

Sebastian remained silent.

For the first time, Ethan noticed uncertainty in the old man's eyes.

"I don't know the full truth."

"But I do know this."

Sebastian leaned forward.

"Your grandfather wasn't afraid of competitors."

"He wasn't afraid of governments."

"He wasn't afraid of enemies."

"Yet during his final years..."

"He trusted almost nobody."

The limousine suddenly felt colder.

Ethan lowered his gaze to the document.

Trust no one.

Why would a man worth one hundred trillion dollars leave such a warning?

Meanwhile...

At Sterling International Headquarters.

Crash!

A crystal glass shattered against the wall.

Damien Sterling's face was twisted with rage.

His executives stood silently.

No one dared speak.

The stock price had fallen another eleven percent.

Investors were fleeing.

Banks were growing cautious.

Even worse—

Rumors were spreading that Blackwell Global intended to acquire the company.

Every rumor pushed the stock lower.

Damien slammed his fist onto the table.

"Damn Ethan!"

The executives lowered their heads.

One finally gathered the courage to speak.

"President Sterling."

"We still have one option."

Damien looked up.

"What option?"

"The Hart Group."

Damien frowned.

The executive continued.

"If the marriage proceeds quickly, the Hart Family's assets can be merged into Sterling International."

"We can stabilize our financial position."

A cruel smile appeared on Damien's face.

"Good."

"Very good."

His eyes darkened.

"If Ethan wants to play..."

"Then I'll destroy the Hart Family first."

At the Hart Family Villa.

The atmosphere was no better.

Victoria Hart sat pale-faced on the sofa.

Several directors had resigned.

Suppliers were demanding payment.

Banks had become reluctant to cooperate.

The company's situation was worsening every hour.

Sophia sat quietly nearby.

Her phone rested in her hand.

She kept opening Ethan's contact.

Then closing it again.

Again.

And again.

Victoria noticed.

Her expression immediately darkened.

"Stop thinking about him."

Sophia remained silent.

"He abandoned us."

That sentence almost made Sophia laugh.

Abandoned?

Who abandoned whom?

She remembered the divorce papers.

The anniversary dinner.

The humiliation.

The answer was obvious.

Yet she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Victoria continued.

"Once you marry Damien, everything will improve."

For the first time, Sophia answered.

"Will it?"

Victoria froze.

Sophia stood up.

"I'm going out."

"Where?"

"I need some air."

She grabbed her keys and left.

An hour later.

Blackwell Global Headquarters.

The night shift was still busy.

The empire never slept.

Sophia stood outside the massive skyscraper.

Looking up.

The building seemed untouchable.

Almost unreal.

She took a deep breath and entered.

Immediately, security stopped her.

"Miss, do you have an appointment?"

"No."

"I'm sorry."

Sophia hesitated.

Then quietly said:

"I'd like to see Ethan Blackwell."

The security guards exchanged glances.

Before they could respond—

A familiar voice spoke behind her.

"Miss Hart."

Sophia turned.

Sebastian Cole approached.

His expression remained polite.

But not warm.

Not anymore.

"Mr. Cole."

Sebastian nodded.

"What brings you here?"

Sophia lowered her gaze.

"I want to talk to Ethan."

A long silence followed.

Finally, Sebastian asked:

"About business?"

"No."

"Then what?"

Sophia struggled to answer.

Eventually, she whispered:

"I don't know."

Sebastian studied her for several seconds.

Then sighed.

"I'll ask the Young Master."

Top Floor.

Chairman's Office.

Ethan stood before the city lights.

The Project Phoenix file remained on his desk.

His thoughts were elsewhere.

A knock sounded.

"Come in."

Sebastian entered.

"Young Master."

"What is it?"

"Miss Hart is downstairs."

Ethan's expression didn't change.

"What does she want?"

"She says she wants to talk."

Silence.

Several seconds passed.

Then Ethan smiled.

A faint smile.

"Interesting."

Sebastian waited.

"Should I send her away?"

Ethan turned toward the window.

Memories flashed through his mind.

Three years of marriage.

Three years of devotion.

Three years of humiliation.

And then—

The divorce.

The betrayal.

The signatures.

The end.

His expression became calm once more.

"Bring her up."

Sebastian looked surprised.

"Young Master?"

Ethan smiled.

"If she wants to talk..."

"Let's talk."

Ten minutes later.

The office doors opened.

Sophia slowly stepped inside.

The office was enormous.

Elegant.

Powerful.

Everything reflected its owner's status.

And sitting behind the chairman's desk—

Was Ethan.

For a moment, neither spoke.

The silence felt awkward.

Unfamiliar.

Because the balance between them had completely changed.

Finally, Ethan broke it.

"Sit."

Sophia sat.

Her hands rested nervously on her lap.

She had rehearsed countless things to say.

Yet now...

Her mind was blank.

Ethan looked at her calmly.

No anger.

No warmth.

Nothing.

That frightened her more than hatred.

After a long pause, she finally spoke.

"Ethan..."

"Yes?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Are you happy now?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"You have everything."

"Wealth."

"Power."

"Influence."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"So tell me."

"Are you happy?"

For the first time, Ethan's expression changed.

Not because of the question.

But because he genuinely didn't know the answer.

Before he could respond—

The office doors suddenly burst open.

A secretary rushed inside.

Her face was pale.

"Chairman!"

Everyone turned.

"What happened?"

The secretary swallowed hard.

Then delivered shocking news.

"Someone just launched a hostile takeover attempt against Hart Group."

Sophia's face instantly turned white.

The secretary continued.

"And according to our information..."

"The buyer is Damien Sterling."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Sophia felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.

Damien...

Was attacking her company?

The man she was supposed to marry?

And Ethan slowly leaned back in his chair.

A cold smile appeared on his face.

The game was becoming more interesting.