Vengeance of the Reborn Villain: This Time, I Defy Destiny

Ch 5: My Precious Secretary

For a moment, Ethan was really completely baffled by those words, but then he simply ignored Veronica with a single word.

"Idiot."

"Damn it! You surnamed Ashford, who are you calling an idiot?!"

Before Veronica could react, Damien jumped out, pointing his finger at Ethan's nose, his face full of disdain and arrogance.

"It's just 250 million, right? What's the big deal? Veronica, don't be afraid. With me here, I'll pay this money!"

Damien patted his chest, swearing confidently.

Ever since he obtained his superhuman strength, making him physically stronger than the strongest human shown on television, he felt as if he had been possessed by the goddess of luck.

Whether he was picking up bargains at the antique shops or testing his luck at the casino, everything went smoothly.

He firmly believed that he was the protagonist of this world. A mere 250 million, as long as he was given some time, would be nothing to worry about.

"You, Ethan, what else can you do besides using money to oppress people?"

Damien sneered, his eyes filled with hatred for the rich.

"Today you, Ethan, are high and mighty, but tomorrow I will make you unable to climb high enough to reach me! This 250 million, I, Damien, have noted it down. Within three years, I will smash it back on your face with interest!"

Watching Damien, who was fired up as if he were acting in an inspirational idol drama, the bodyguards in the hall all looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Even Veronica closed her eyes in shame.

Three years?

250 million? This guy who was in old, tattered clothes and lived on gambling and alcohol?

An ignorant man like Damien had no idea what level of capital operation this represented behind the scenes.

Did he think this was buying potatoes at the vegetable market?

Moreover, the time as per contract was only three days, not three years.

Ethan looked at this protagonist who was still spewing nonsense, and instead of feeling any anger, a sense of pleasure welled up in his heart, because at that moment, at the edge of his vision, a faint blue light flickered.

[The plot line has changed significantly.]

[Congratulations! The host broke up the marriage with the ungrateful heroine, Veronica Harrington.]

[Ignoring the protagonist's provocation, the Host used absolute capital to successfully shatter the protagonist's attempt to "act cool without cost."]

[The protagonist's Luck Points have been reduced by 50 points, and his heart has developed blind arrogance.]

[Congratulations to the host: You have gained 5000 system points.]

[Note: The System Points reward is not related to the decrease in the protagonist's Luck Points.]

Scrolling through the notifications quickly and looking at Damien, who was still spouting nonsense, a cruel arc appeared at the corner of Ethan's mouth.

"Pay it off in three years?" Ethan chuckled. "Have you seen too many dramas and damaged your brain?"

Ethan leaned forward slightly, his gaze passing over Damien and locking firmly onto Veronica's face.

"I said it just now: three days. Within three days, the 250 million in funds must be transferred into the Ashford Corporation's corporate account, without a single cent missing. Otherwise, the Ashford Family's legal team will immediately apply to the court for property preservation, fully sealing all assets under the Harrington Group and freezing all accounts."

Ethan stood up and sneered.

"By then, President Harrington, I hope you can still maintain that noble and proud integrity of yours just like today."

Not having realized the immensity of the situation, Veronica's mind was still full of nonsense.

Although she was a bit worried, she also thought of going home and completely blocking and ignoring Ethan for a full month to teach him a lesson.

Maybe this was all Ethan's plan to make her lose face and make her accept him, and she would never fall for it.

"Ethan, you... you will regret this..."

Seeing that Veronica had regained her usual arrogance, Damien's face was also full of righteous indignation.

"Veronica, there's no use talking to such scum! Let's go! I don't believe there's no law in this world! Can his Ashford family really do whatever they want?"

Ethan did not look at them even for another glance.

"Commander Marcus."

"Here!"

The bodyguard captain, Commander Marcus, stepped forward, and his voice rang like a booming bell.

"The performance by Miss Harrington and Mr. Damien is over." Ethan waved his hand, as if shooing away two annoying flies.

"Show them out."

Commander Marcus grinned, revealing his stark white teeth.

He waved his hand, and a dozen burly, fierce-looking bodyguards in black immediately stepped forward, pressing toward Damien and Veronica.

"The two of you, please. If you don't leave, the Ashford Family's rules are not something to be trifled with." Commander Marcus's hand gripped the gun at his waist, and his eyes were full of malice.

Veronica looked at the group of ferocious bodyguards around her and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

She originally wanted to throw out a few more harsh words, but upon meeting Commander Marcus's gaze, which seemed ready to eat her alive, she swallowed them back down.

"We'll see!"

With that parting threat and taking Damien with her, they slunk out of the Ashford Corporation's office in disgrace.

Having thrown out the protagonist and heroine and achieved his goal, Ethan didn't stay in his office for long.

After ordering his personal secretary to drive, he went straight to the back seat of the Rolls-Royce Phantom parked in the basement.

His personal female secretary, Isabella, turned her head and asked with concern from the driver's seat.

"President, are you alright?"

Everyone knew how much Ethan loved Veronica, and Isabella was also present in the office when he broke the engagement and ruthlessly threw Veronica out, so she couldn't help but be worried for her boss.

"What can happen to me?" Ethan couldn't help but say, "In fact, I have never been better."

Seeing his beautiful, loyal, brave, and capable secretary, Ethan's heart was filled with warmth.

Not only did she have a good business sense, but she was also secretly a Martial Artist whose identity Ethan only found out before his death.

In his previous life, she remained loyal to him until the end and eventually died protecting him, which was also when her identity was revealed.

She was a Shadow Guard, raised and trained for the sole purpose of accompanying and protecting her master from the darkness until death or being buried with him should she fail in her duty.

She was sent by the Valerius family and was, in fact, an orphan whom Ethan's own mother had rescued from traffickers decades ago.

Until now and even in the future, it was Isabella's unseen help that had allowed him to navigate and survive countless precarious situations.

Knowing all this, he would be lying to say he had no feelings for her.

In fact, he actually liked Isabella quite a lot and felt a strange kind of affection towards her.

But before his rebirth, Ethan was really such an idiotic fool who neglected such an exceptional woman, all for the sake of an ungrateful wench like Veronica.

"Whoa, President, you lost in thought? Are you thinking about her?"

Unaware of Ethan's thoughts, Isabella waved her hands in front of his eyes and chuckled, "President, do you really not love Veronica anymore?"

Watching her being so teasing, Ethan grabbed the passenger seat, leaned his head over, examined the beautiful Isabella in front of him, and asked genuinely.

"Do you think Veronica and I are a good match?"

Isabella was just about to subconsciously nod when she heard Ethan continue, "Is Veronica worthy of me?"

"Ah?"

Isabella was taken aback.

Ethan smiled evilly, tapped Isabella's head, and said, "Playing dumb while knowing the truth, I'd like to see how long you can keep up the act. For now, take me back to my house… Also, Isabella."

"Huh?"

"Thanks."

The single word was spoken with a weight that outweighed its simplicity. It was a heartfelt acknowledgment and gratitude for everything she had done for him, seen and unseen.

As he spoke, he gently rubbed her head with affection that left her momentarily dumbfounded.

Then, without exposing her identity any further, he leaned back into his seat, closed his eyes, and silently spoke in his mind.

'System, start the lottery.'