Unstoppable After Divorce

Chapter 4

When Ariana recognized who had arrived, her face instantly darkened with fury.

Even after the divorce, he'd somehow gotten wind of tonight's event and showed up—clearly trying to sabotage her daughter's dinner with Victor.

Storming over, she glared down at him with undisguised contempt. "Ethan! Since when do trash like you belong in a place like this?"

Her shrill voice cut through the lobby. "Don't think I don't know your game! You came to ruin this, didn't you? Well it won't work!"

Ethan stiffened at the familiar venom. His gaze turned glacial as he countered, "What I do here is none of your concern."

"You—!" Ariana's face twisted. With a mocking laugh, she gestured around the gilded lobby.

" Golden Palace is Clouddale's only five-star restaurant. Members only. You think you can sneak in and freeload here?"

Not wanting to waste any more time on Ariana, Ethan ignored her and continued on toward the grand entrance. But just as he reached the doors, a security guard stepped forward, blocking his path.

“Membership card?” the guard asked flatly.

His eyes ran over Ethan’s appearance—simple clothes, no flashy accessories. Nothing that screamed “VIP.” The guard’s lips curled slightly in disdain.

Ethan arched a brow. “I don’t have one.”

He had dined here before with Dante—no one had ever mentioned a membership card then.

The guard's stance stiffened. His tone turned dismissive, almost scornful. “This place is for members only. No card, no entry. Now move along.”

His gaze was sharp, judgmental—as if Ethan were some vagrant trying to sneak into a palace.

Ethan’s expression remained unreadable.

Frowning, Ethan pulled out his phone, dialed Blake.

"Yes, Young Master?" came Blake's obsequious greeting.

"Since when does Golden Palace turn me away at the door?" Ethan asked flatly.

The line went silent for a heartbeat before Blake stammered, "M-my deepest apologies! I'll send someone immediately."

"You’ve got three minutes," Ethan said coldly.

Ethan’s words sent Blake into a panic. Within seconds, he'd summoned Nolan Cruz, the hotel manager. "Get downstairs NOW and bring the Young Master up!" Blake roared, sweat beading on his forehead.

Meanwhile, Ariana couldn't help but sneer at the scene.

"Three minutes until you appear? You worthless piece of trash, don't tell me you actually think you own this place?"

"You think Golden Palace is some back-alley diner where any loser can waltz in?" spat the head guard - Mason Cruz, "We get trash like you every day—pathetic wannabes who can't afford the napkins here."

“"Here's your five-star service”, he cracked his knuckles with a predator's grin, “ crawl out now, or we'll scrape you off our Italian marble!"

Ethan's eyes flashed dangerously. "Touch me, and you'll regret it more than your paycheck can cover."

Mason burst out laughing like he'd heard the funniest joke in his three years as head of security.

"Boys!" he called to his team. "Let's see what 'consequences' this bug's talking about!"

Just as they moved in—

"STOP!"

A razor-sharp command froze everyone. Ariana's face paled.

"B-brother?!" Mason stammered as Nolan Cruz stormed in.

Nolan Cruz —his cousin and Golden Palace's general manager, the very reason he'd gotten this prestigious job at Golden Palace in the first place.

"Don't 'brother' me!" Nolan shoved past him,bowing to Ethan with trembling respect. "Mr. Cross! My deepest apologies for these fools!" Nolan pleaded, "They didn't recognize who they were dealing with. I beg you to show them mercy!"

"Mercy?" Ethan's laugh cut like ice. "Thirty seconds ago, he asked me to crawl out." He leaned in, eyes glinting. "Tell me, Nolan... why should I?"

Nolan's face drained of color. His gaze flickered between Ethan and the security team, remembering his CEO's panicked call about this VIP.

"Mason Cruz! Effective immediately, you're terminated from Golden Palace! “ he roared, “ Get  off this property before I have you dragged out!"

"What?!"

Mason's face twisted in shock and disbelief.

"B-but brother...you can't—this isn't—"

"Don't you dare call me brother!" Nolan shouted, his expression hardening into something terrifying. "You just made the worst mistake of your pathetic life by disrespecting Mr. Cross!"

He snapped his fingers at the surrounding security team.

"Escort this disgrace off the premises—now!"