Half of the banquet hall fell into a deathly silence after Damian presented his offer.
This was not the kind of silence that follows a bad joke, where people are waiting for the punchline. This was the silence of shock from everyone nearby who heard him. Across the hall, old classmates exchanged bewildered glances. Some whispered quietly behind their hands, their eyes wide with disbelief. Damian had crossed a line. A line no friend should ever cross. A line that shattered years of trust and friendship in a single, casual sentence. Ethan stared at Damian, his mind struggling to process the words that had just left his best friend's mouth. He felt sure that his ears had deceived him. There’s no way Damian was serious—he must have been joking. This had better be some kind of messed-up joke. Like a silly prank that ends with a laugh and a friendly slap on the back. "Not funny, Damian," Ethan said, forcing a brittle laugh. "Good one, though. You almost had me." Damian's smile didn't waver. If anything, it grew colder and more serious. "I'm serious, Ethan. I want Lois. I want your wife, and I'm ready to offer you $50 million for her." The words hit Ethan like a physical blow. He felt the blood drain from his face, his grip on the crutches tightening until his knuckles turned white. This wasn't a joke. This was fucking real. His best friend—the man who had stood by him at his wedding and vowed to always have his back—was now offering him $50 million to divorce his wife and let him marry her. "You bastard," Ethan whispered, his voice thick with anger. "How dare you ask me something so vile. You want to buy my wife? Are you out of your mind?" "Let me explain something to you," Damian continued, his voice as calm as a whisper. "I've had a crush on Lois since high school. But back then, I couldn't compete with you, could I? You were the star quarterback, the golden boy with the bright future. Everyone loved Ethan Carter. I was just the quiet kid in the back of the class." He paused, his eyes flickering toward Lois with an intensity that made Ethan's stomach churn. "But things change, Ethan. Now I'm worth three billion dollars. I own a penthouse building and also have a private jet. I can give Lois everything she deserves—everything you promised her but never delivered," Damian said, his voice hardening. "So I'll ask again. Fifty million dollars, right now. Walk away, and let me marry her." Ethan stared at his best friend, feeling the world tilt beneath him. This was more than just a betrayal. This was complete annihilation. "You think you can just buy my wife?" Ethan's voice was low, trembling with anger. "You think $50 million is enough to make me walk away from the woman I love?" "Yes," Damian responded without hesitation. "Most men in your situation would do it in a heartbeat." This only made Ethan more aggravated. "I don't care if you're worth three billion or three trillion," Ethan continued, his voice growing stronger with each word. "Lois isn't for sale. She's my wife. She's not a transaction, nor is she a prize to be won." He turned toward Lois, his eyes pleading. "Lois, let's go home right now. We don't need to be here. We don't need any of this." For a moment, something flashed in Lois's eyes. She looked at Damian—at his pristine white Brioni suit, his expensive wristwatch, and all the promise of a life she had only ever dreamed about. Damian wasn’t ready to give up just yet. He moved closer, his voice lowering into a gentle, compelling whisper. "Lois, you've heard my offer. Fifty million dollars—he doesn't want to take it, but that doesn't matter because it can be yours if you want it. That's just a fraction of what I'm worth." He paused, licking his dry lips. "If you leave him and marry me, you'll never want for anything again. No more unpaid bills. No more landlords threatening to evict you. No more living from hand to mouth on a man who can't provide for you." Lois stared at Damian as if he was speaking the impossible. She was at a complete loss for words. Her mind raced, conflicted over what she should do. Damian noticed her slight hesitation and then gestured at Ethan with a dismissive wave. "Look at him, Lois. Take a good look at him. This cannot be called love. He's keeping you in poverty. He promised you a life of luxury, and what did he give you? A broken-down pickup truck, a mountain of debt, and empty promises. Is that what you want for the rest of your life?" Ethan's heart hammered in his chest. He glanced at Lois, desperately seeking any sign that she would reject this madness and stand by his side. "Don't waste your time, Damian," Ethan said, forcing confidence into his voice. "Lois loves me. She's my wife. She's not going to leave me for you." But the moment the words left his mouth, something in Lois's expression changed. She raised her hand slowly, her fingers touching the wedding ring on her left hand. Ethan felt his stomach drop as a cold dread spread through his veins. "Lois?" he whispered, his voice breaking. "Lois, what are you doing?" She pulled the ring off her finger. The simple gold band caught the light of the chandeliers, glinting like a tiny star in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the ring at Ethan. It bounced off his chest and clattered to the polished floor, spinning in a slow, mocking circle before coming to rest at his feet. "I accept Damian's offer," she said, her voice flat and lacking any emotion. The words hung in the air like a death sentence.Latest Chapter
Fear of the past
Lois answered the call with a forced smile. "Hey! It's been a while. Did you receive the wedding invitation I sent?"She listened for a moment, her smile fading as the voice on the other end spoke rapidly. The caller was clearly excited, sharing the latest gossip from their high school group chat."You wouldn't believe what happened tonight," the classmate said, her voice buzzing with excitement. "Something crazy went down at Paradise Hotel."Lois's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?""Derek Simmons," the classmate said. "You remember Derek, right? He was at the reunion. The one who was laughing at Ethan with everyone else."Lois's stomach tightened at the mention of Ethan's name. "What about him?""He was at Paradise Hotel tonight with his girlfriend. Apparently, he got into an argument with one of the staff and made a huge scene. And then..."The classmate paused dramatically. "Ethan showed up."Lois froze. "What?""I know, right? Apparently, he's been staying at Paradise Hotel. And
An obsessed hater
The shock spreading across Derek's face brought a wide smile to Ethan's face. It excited him to watch this fool getting humbled. "What's the matter, Derek?" he asked, tilting his head. "You look as if you've just seen a ghost." Derek's face contorted with rage. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and before anyone could react, he lunged forward, grabbing Ethan by the lapels of his suit. "What the hell did you do?!" Derek screamed, shaking Ethan violently. "You bastard! I just lost my job! What did you do?!" The lobby erupted into chaos. The young attendant gasped. Brown stepped forward, his hand reaching for his phone. The security guards who had been standing nearby began to move. But Ethan didn't flinch. He just reached up and grabbed Derek's hands. Ethan's grip was like iron and impossibly strong. One by one, he slowly removed Derek's fingers from his suit. Derek's eyes became large. He tried to resist, but Ethan's strength was too strong. His hands were forced o
The loser part 2
Ethan stared at Derek, the insult hanging in the air between them like a foul odor. For a moment, he was transported back six months: back to the reunion, back to the banquet hall where everyone had laughed at his expense. He could still hear it ringing in his ears, the cruel, mocking laughter of people he had once called friends and classmates. He could still see Lois's cold eyes as she threw her wedding ring at him. He could still feel the sting of Damian's betrayal, which had shattered his entire world to pieces. That night had haunted him for six months. It had followed him to Switzerland, crept into his dreams, and whispered in his ear during the quiet moments of rehabilitation. But today, something was different. He was not the same man he had been before.The old Ethan would have shrunk back in shame. He would have endured the insult in silence, too broken to fight back.But the new Ethan was not a broken man. He was stronger and more confident than ever before.He stepped
The loser
Brown stood outside the Paradise Hotel, the evening breeze ruffling his tailored suit. He took a quick look at his watch; the time was 9:42 PM. The auction should be over by now.Just then, a black Cadillac Escalade pulled up to the curb, its tinted windows reflecting the city lights. Two bodyguards stepped out, one from the driver's seat and the other from the passenger side. Together, they approached and opened the rear door.Ethan Carter stepped out.For the first time that evening, he took off his dark glasses and slipped them into the breast pocket of his overcoat. His sharp eyes met with Brown's as Brown drew closer, bowed slightly with a warm smile spreading across his face. "Welcome back, Master Wayne. How did the auction go?" Brown asked. "It went well," Ethan said as he walked past him. "I trust you'll take care of the paperwork for me."Brown nodded and fell into step beside him as they made their way to the hotel entrance. "Just leave it to me, sir. The previous owners
The refinery auction part 2
The auctioneer walked onto the stage, dressed in a black suit with a silver microphone attached to his lapel. He smiled warmly at the assembled crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's auction. As you know, we have a unique opportunity before us: one of the few remaining independent oil refineries in the region is now up for sale." He gestured to a large screen behind him, which displayed images of the refinery. It was a vast network of steel towers, pipelines, and storage tanks. The auctioneer went on: "Whoever acquires this refinery will control a major part of the local energy market." Damian leaned forward, his eyes lighting up with interest. Buying this refinery would take his company to the next level. It would grant him a seat with the real power players: oil barons, energy magnates, and elite networks. He glanced at the newcomer, sitting still with sunglasses hiding his face. Damian smirked. Whoever this mystery bidder was, they wouldn't stand a chance in a b
The refinery auction
Later that night, the auction hall at the Meridian Convention Center was filled with the richest businessmen in the region. At the pre-auction reception, oil magnates, real estate tycoons, tech entrepreneurs, and old-money aristocrats all gathered for tonight's event. The air was filled with the scent of fine cologne and soft music. Damian Rhodes arrived with Lois on his arm, wearing his finest suit. When he walked in, people’s heads turned, and a group of well-wishers quickly surrounded him. Many of them were business associates and acquaintances. "Hey, Damian! Good to see you, old chap." "Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I'll be there, of course." "Heard you're bidding on that refinery. What wild luck. The refinery is as good as yours, Rhodes. No one else stands a chance." Damian shook hands, accepted praise, and exchanged pleasantries. Lois stood beside him, her emerald dress catching the light, her smile polished and perfect. She played the role of the billion
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