When Ethan heard keys jiggling at his cell door, he squeezed his eyelids even tighter, blocking his face with his arm."Ethan Rider! Get up!" An officer commanded."What do they want at this ungodly hour?" Ethan mumbled under his breath.In annoyance, Ethan slowly lifted his head, looking toward the officer and seeing him push open the cell door."Get up," The officer said angrily again.Saying nothing, Ethan sat on the bed and rubbed his face. His eyes were swollen from lack of sleep, and the pain in his shoulder, leg, and back was excruciating as well. But still, he forced himself to get up.Standing up unsteadily, he walked over to the door, asking the officer when he reached him, "What now?""You are on bathroom cleaning duty." The officer said coldly, slapping cuffs on Ethan's wrist.Too exhausted to argue, Ethan calmly followed him down the corridor to the far west of the building.Finally, they arrived at the very end of the hall, and he uncuffed Ethan's hand before saying, "Ge
Even though Ethan knew he might not survive tonight, he decided to risk a shot at fighting back and try saving Avan. Without even considering if that was the smart thing to do, he reached for the mop, and when he grabbed it tightly with both hands, rushing forward, he swung it hard at the back of the guy's neck, hitting him squarely on the nape, causing him to slightly release his grip on Avan.Seizing the moment, Avan held the dude's wrist and twisted it with all his strength, causing the guy to loosen his fist and Avan dropped to the ground, gasping and wheezing.The dude stumbled away and leaned against the wall next to the bathroom stall, staring at Ethan, and he knew that it was his turn to get attack.Not wanting to show that he was already wounded, Ethan raised the mop and snapped it against his kneecap, breaking it into two.Then he balanced on his feet with the sharp ends pointing out to the guy, and the two had this intense eye contact before the guy smirked, reaching into
The brightness of the light caused Ethan to flicker his lashes, opening his eyes and blinking rapidly as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He felt a dull throbbing on his left temple, but he forced his torso up, hissing when his muscles protested the movement. When he saw where he was, it all came flooding back to him.The loud sound of the ambulance pierced through his ears, and he closed his eyes again, pressing his palms together, trying to ease the headache pulsating through his temples.Suddenly, he heard voices outside his door and he listened, recognizing one of the voices to be Avan."It's okay. I want to be here until my dad and grandfather arrive." He could hear Avan clearly say.Then the next voice he instantly recognized was Chief Rasch as he heard him argue, "You have already done so much my bring a crimial to such an expensive hospital like Hopevale General Hospital... We will handle things from here... So... There's know need to bother yourself anymore, o
The moment Ethan withdrew the phone from his ear, he looked up at General Bull, and the old man gave him a cold smile, saying, "You are not thinking about escaping this place, are you?""Yes, I am," Ethan said with this same expression, only his eyes showing a tinge of defiance as his mind raced through options. The old general laughed, knowing that he was serious, and he could see this fire of determination burning inside Ethan's eyes. He then shook his head with a chuckle, saying, "Do you know what you just said, boy, and the consequences for your words?""I know what I said, I mean every word, and I am ready for the consequences. There are only three options in my head right now. I walk out of here alone, you kill me while I do, or you take me to where I need to go tonight." Ethan said with an unyielding tone and a firm gaze, and General Bull smiled.Looking back, General Bull stared at his son, and Lieutenant General's expression hardened, looking at Ethan with disapproval.Just
The sound of the tv kept echoing in the living room, and even though Nina sat there staring at the screen, she couldn't focus on the series as all the images just blurred together. She was so distracted that she didn't realize when she started picking at her nails until Charles walked into the living room.Staring hard at the tv, she tried not to acknowledge his presence, afraid that if he said anything, she would break and fall apart completely.Charles walked over to her side and gently placed his hands around her shoulder blades, rubbing them lightly and leaning down beside her ear, whispering, "It's bedtime."As she squeezed her eyes shut, she held her breath, trying to calm her heartbeat that had quickened when he touched her. After several moments passed, she finally opened her eyes and stared at the TV.Charles sighed, watching as she continued to fidget uncomfortably. Without thinking, he tugged her closer to him, commended, "Upstairs now.""Please, can I at least watch this
From all angles, Nina could feel everyone's eyes on her, and she slowly raised her head, seeing Chief Rasch and his men standing there, and it brought back memories of Ethan getting arrested.The recall left her staring for a while without blinking, and when her eyelids touched her skin again, teardrops rolled down her cheek as a smile slowly crept on her lips.With a breath of relief, Nina looked over at Ethan and had her smile shifted into chuckles of happiness, and he mouthed, "It's okay."For a second, she hesitated to move, but the moment she took the first steps, she felt a sense of freedom, as she jumped into Ethan's arm, and he instantly caught her, ignoring the pain in his body, not allowing her feet to touch the ground.Everyone else stared eyes wide, especially since Charles claimed that Nina was his wife, and the Walkers stood looking just as embarrassed as they were enraged.When Ethan finally let her feet touch the ground, Nina wrapped her arms around his neck and pulle
Turning to face Mr. Walker, knowing that her mother had some kind of close relationship with him, Nina frowned at him, asking, "What do you know about my mother that I don't already know?"All eyes were now on him, but Mr. Walker's main focus was the Bulls because he knew how much power and influence they had and didn't want to risk them thinking less of him and giving them reasons to go against him.Giving Nina one of those fake-ass pitiful looks, he said, "It's not a matter to be discussed in front of others. I respect your mother and want-""Respect my mother? Who? You?" Nina asked, interrupting Mr. Walker and drawing a deep breath, and as she exhaled, her voice became stronger and louder, "You knew my mother before I was even born. You saw me grow up. You were there when we laid her to rest, you had access me for all the years I were in a relationship with your son, and tonight is the night you choose to bring whatever this is to my attention.""I know this is poor timing. But you
When Mr. Hester heard his front door open, he walked into the hallway and saw a group of Drak men approaching him, and he beamed at them.The look of doubt on their faces turned into all smiles as they talked over each other excitedly."Seriously, Sensei is here, out of prison?!""And Nina too?!""But how?""When did this happen?"They kept throwing questions at the old man, and Mr. Hester raised his hand which brought order to their chaos."Yes, Zane is here with Nina. The two were dropped off by the Bulls family." Mr. Hester said."Wait. Who?" One of the guys asked, and the others seemed like they all had the same question."The Bulls are the most influential families in the country when it comes to Military power and prestige," Mr. Hester explained. "The Bull Family has connections with the white house and international power that is even stronger than most politicians in the State. Their family is also very powerful in the political, economic, and social aspects since the Bulls h
When Nina slapped Ethan's face, his eyes opened wide, and then he blinked back the sleep, feeling the weight of her hand on his face.Slowly, he lifted her hand off his nose and mouth and rested it on the bed, watching her as she slept peacefully.A smile crept slowly onto his lips, and he stared at her for a moment longer before turning away, and standing up from bed.Silently, he moved across the room, the morning chill making goosebumps rise on his skin. Shirtless, he glanced out of the window, the sight of the sun rising in the distance bringing a sense of calm and purpose. Then with a deep breath, he retrieved his phone and dialed Avan’s number."I need a favor," Ethan said the moment Avan picked up on the second ring.After yawning in his ear, Avan's voice, tinged with a hint of curiosity, responded on the other end, "It's pretty early for favors, brother. What do you need?"For a moment, Ethan hesitated considering his words carefully before he spoke. "I need someone to keep Do
The sleek black Uber came to a smooth stop, its engine purring softly as Drak gracefully emerged from the vehicle. Tracy, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, stood there, her expression a medley of disapproval and impatience. As her eyes fell upon Drak, stepping out with an air of confidence, her features contorted, forming a scowl that threatened to unleash her wrath upon him."You're early!" Tracy's voice rang out, laced with irritation, as she scrutinized him with disapproving eyes.Drak paused before her, his gaze locked with hers, unfazed by the displeasure radiating from her every pore. "You say that like it's a bad thing," he retorted.The muscles on Tracy's face clenched, preparing to release the storm of her fury upon him for his audacity. However, her eyes drifted to the bandage wrapped tightly around Drak's head, and a wave of unexpected anxiety washed over her. In that moment, she couldn't help but take a deep breath, her anger shortly diffused."The only job I could
Darting his eyes to the right, Ethan noticed three guys, coming towards them with menacing intentions etched on their faces. They moved with purpose, their strides purposeful and confident. With a quick flick of his gaze to the left, he saw another four dudes, equally as intimidating, closing in on them. The air grew thick with tension as their aggressive energy filled the bar, suffocating the peace that had previously lingered in the place.Turning away from the bartender, Ethan locked his gaze straight ahead, assessing the remaining six men, who were inching closer with every passing second. At that moment, Ethan's adrenaline surged through his veins, heightening his senses and sharpening his focus. His training had taught him to remain calm in the face of danger, to assess the situation, and to plan his next move. With a steely determination, he locked his gaze straight ahead, refusing to show any sign of fear or vulnerability.The remaining six men closed in, their footsteps ech
There was this hesitant look in Tracy's eyes as she gazed at Drak, his bloodstained face and hand, and the blood dripping from his hair. Her gaze shifted from his face to his shoulder and then settled on the bottle beside him. "You swear on your mother's life that if I get you this job, you wouldn't report this incident and pretend like I never knew you?" She asked, her eyes boring into his.Stunned for a second, Drak nodded, his heart racing with hope. "I swear," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.Tracy sighed, her eyes softening. "Fine. I'll see what I can do. But you better not mess this up, or I'll make sure you regret it.""I promise," Drak said.With a sigh, she reached into her bag. "Wait for my call tomorrow, and get yourself fixed before showing your face." She let out, and then took out her hand, tossing a few bucks on the floor. "Use that."Looking at the floor and the money scattered about, Drak's eyes darkened, but he didn't dare raise his head as he fought to c
Ethan's heart raced as he took one last glance at Nina. He knew he had to leave her out of all of these things because of her safety, but the thought of keeping things from her made his chest ache. With a heavy sigh, he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the empty hallway.Drak stood in front of him, his expression unreadable. They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their mission heavy on their shoulders. Finally, Ethan broke the silence."What about London Hale?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.Drak's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement. "Ah, yes, Hale. The last time we spoke, you needed a way into his facility, and information on the bone marrow he stole from you..."The name alone sent shivers down Ethan’s spine. The last time they crossed paths, he had barely escaped with his life.He then nodded, his mind racing with memories of the painful procedure he had endured at Hale's hands.Drak's eyes flickered with
The moment Mr. Rider walked into the dining room, it grew silent, no one daring to look up. He dragged out a chair and sat down heavily. His eyes immediately fell upon his Savannah, and she felt his gaze on her, but she didn't dare look up from the plate of food in front of her. "Savannah, I need all your car keys and your credit cards, and you should stay away from public eyes for the time being." Mr. Rider said with this unsettling calmness. Anger bubbled inside Savannah as she heard him address her like a child, and she tried not to lash out, saying, "Seriously! You are grounding me! Father, I am not a kid anymore. You can't-" "You live under my roof and earn from my money, you abide by the rules." Mr. Rider interrupted his voice hard. The rest of the family looked up at him, but before they could utter a word, he added, "If anyone thinks that I am being unfair, you can join her in her punishment." A pin drop could make a loud sound once those words left his lips, and for a
Holding her eyes captive in his calm gaze, Ethan watched her, his lips slightly twitching and yet no words leaving them, causing Madam Rider to command, “Answer me!” Not a spark of fear showed in Ethan's eyes, and Madam Rider knew he wasn't the same... he wasn't the boy who showed up at their mansion desperate for a job, the boy that trembled at the sound of her voice, that took the insults, the abuse, and he definitely wasn't just a bastard and a servant... Something had changed about his aura, how he carried himself, the confidence that he held in her presence, and the way he looked, and talked. How his eyes were clear and steady, his face expressionless, his tone indifferent. It was so unlike the Ethan she knew... "How?" Ethan finally said. "What?" Madam Rider replied. Lowering his eyelids slightly, he held his silence, causing a look of frustration to flicker in her eyes. "Explain to me how I could make all of this happen," Ethan said, an expression finally showing on his
10:00The party had grown even more lively, classical music still playing in the background, and everyone was enjoying themselves without a care in the world.There were so many familiar faces there that Ethan remembered from his and Nina’s wedding ceremony, and the way they were side-eyeing them now and whispering took him back to that day, and he clutched his fist tightly.10:10The ballroom suddenly grew this immediate tense energy as more guests started entering the hall one after the other, catching the attention of the others.It was a bunch of guys, young, and handsome, all walking into the room, and Nina stared after them, wondering who they were because she had been in the elite circle in the past, for a long while, and none of these faces, she could recognize.But her confusion soon faded when she stared up at Ethan, and saw the way he looked at these men with such a strange glint in his eyes.“Who are they?” Nina asked, not understanding why he was staring, but knowing that
As he stared at Ethan, Mr. Rider felt cornered, knowing that denying him would only lead to an explanation and more questions, and he didn't want to ruin the perfect image he had portrayed to the Hallow. He needed his reputation to stay faultless, and Ethan had the power to ruin so much. "Son, Nina, you guys are finally back. Two years have treated you two well, it seems." Mr. Rider said as he smiled weakly. "How about we catch up more tomorrow? As you can see, it's your sister's engagement ceremony, and tonight, it should be all about her and her fiance. Won't you agree?" It was clear what Mr. Rider was doing with his words, and Ethan could read the threat that lingered in his stares. "Of course, tonight is all about my beautiful sister. She is the true star of the show." Ethan answered, smiling at him as he saw the slight twitch in his eye. As the waiter was passing by him, he reached into the tray, grabbed a glass of champagne, and took a sip, ignoring the way Mr. Rider tried