The feeling of cold water splashing in his face made Ethan jump from his sleep, gulping on water that entered his mouth, and coughing out aggressively while sniffing out the ones that entered his nose. Eyes red from the water that got into them, Ethan glared at Savannah, standing at his bedside with an empty jug in her hand and a pissed look on her face. “Get your ass up and walk into that garage to get my car washed, now!” Savannah growled out. Knowing that Savannah told him to wash her car every morning, by five, Ethan knew not to argue with his master's daughter. So, even though he was still drowsy because he didn't have much sleep since Jeff Rider made him his designated driver last night and ordered him to take him and a bunch of hot girls on a wild night around the city, he immediately got out of bed. “Can you please leave so that I can change?” Ethan asked. “Get out and go wash my car now!” Savannah screamed in his face. Numb from all his emotions, Ethan turned away from
The terminal was busy with families hugging each other, but Nina had on a dark shade, rolling her suitcase along with her head held high, yet, deep down, her heart was aching that no one came to pick her up. When she got outside, she finally removed her glasses, squinting her eyes as the sunlight blinded her for a second, and then, she stared at the cab driver, waving at her. “Ma’am!! Where are you going?” The driver yelled excitedly, walking toward her. ‘For some reason, I was naive to think that at least dad would show up to pick me up… After all, he didn’t care to attend my graduation.’ Nina thought, fighting back tears that were threatening to fall. Then she smiled at the driver as he helped her with the luggage, and she said, “I am heading to 23rd whitewater street.” “Ohh… you live on the rich people's side of town,” The driver teased as he escorted Nina to the cab. When he opened the door, she gave him a friendly smile before entering the cab, closing the door gently. As
At ten o'clock the next day, Ms. Coral walked through the front door of the hospital with Ethan by her side, his expression deadpan and stiff, and yet, a sense of fear of what meeting this somewhat stranger would make him feel. They approached the front desk and then Ms. Coral smiled at the lady at the desk, saying, “I was here yesterday morning and this is my son, and we are here to see-” “Right! Yes! Please, ma’am, follow me this way.” The nurse behind the desk spoke as she stood up from her seat and gestured to the right corridor before leading the way. Hesitantly, Ethan followed behind the two ladies quietly, wondering what his father looked like because his mother confessed to him when he was old enough to understand that she burned all of all of his father pictures when she received the divorce paper from his father's lawyer, changed his and her last name to her father last name, and decided to do nothing with his father or memories of him. Because of how in tears she was and
Sitting at the dining table, Nina tried to pretend that everything was fine like her father didn't slap her yesterday after she caught her half-sister in bed with her man. "Stop playing with your food, Nina. It's not healthy." Her father said in a stern tone, causing her to aggressively drop her fork into her plate. "Can I get a break?!" Nina snapped, standing up abruptly as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at her father, trying hard not to cry again. "I'm just having a hard time dealing with the fact that I am supposed to put on a show with Charles, know that she and him-" "Edward, your daughter is trying to ruin our Dana reputation and I will not have that. What happened in the past is the past, we have to move on." Mrs. Simone spoke softly but firmly. Like an obedient puppet, Mr. Simone looked at his daughter and said, "Do not get on my last nerve, Nina, and know your place in this house. Dana is your sister, and you should know what such scandalous words c
The large wooden table was covered in food, from barbecue ribs to vegetables, fruits, and soups, all perfectly cooked. All maids were walking on eggshells, knowing how important today was for the Rider family and one mistake would get them punished severely or worse. “Bobby!” Madam Rider's voice echoed in the dining room, sending chills down everyone who heard it, and they all turned their faces away from her, leaving Bobby the only one facing her. “Yes, ma’am,” Bobby replied with a deep bow, his voice trembling slightly at her cold eyes. “Do you know where Ethan said he was going?” “Well, no ma’am...” “What do you mean by, ‘No!” Jumping slightly, Bobby stuttered out an apology. “I don’t mean to say that ma’am I just… well, I don't know where he could have gone…” “He asked for two days' leave. It's been a week plus already and he's not back!” Madam Rider snapped, causing Bobby to flinch again, this time from fear. “That useless thing knows how to take advantage of people's
Frowning, Clara shifted slightly on the couch and mumbled, “Well, you could have agreed with me more calmly than that.” “No, Clara. I am not agreeing with you. The thing is…” Mr. Rider paused to glare at Ethan like he was blaming him for this whole mess. When she noticed how her husband was staring at Ethan with this hesitant look on his face, Clara frowned before speaking again, “What is it? Spit it out!! Why aren't you agreeing with me? You know he needs to be punished for disrespecting my authority and doing his own thing… if we don't set an example with him…” “Ethan was away for all those days because he was saving my life… He was at the hospital with me. His bone marrow was what they used for my treatment...” Mr. Rider confessed softly. A mirthless chuckle left Jeff’s lips as he gave Ethan a cold stare, mumbling in his head, ‘Is this idiot trying to get my father to promote him, is that why he’s kissing up his ass?’ As he hardened his jaw, Tyler stare at Ethan with an unim
The sound of a knock made Mr. Simone raised his head to see Nina standing outside of his study door, and he gave her a small smile, mumbling, “What is it, Nina?” Calmly, she walked into the room, and then closed the door behind her, saying softly, “Do you have a minute to talk?” “Sure,” Mr. Simone replied, moving his laptop out of his way so he could focus on her. Although she and her father had had great issues since her mother died and he remarried, Nina was hoping that this time, just once he would be a supportive father. “Remember when I was about to leave for my scholarship, what I asked of you?” Nina questioned, sitting in front of her father, crossing one leg over the other and resting her elbow on her knee. The dumbfounded look on her father's face made Nina sigh in frustration, knowing that he might not have even cared to listen back then when she was talking to him. “You promised me that the spot was going to be filled up by a temporary employee and that I can have the
The quietness in the guest room had Ethan uneasy, even though he was finally sleeping on a softer and more comfortable bed. After twisting and turning for a while, he couldn't sleep anymore so he decided to leave the bed and go outside to get some fresh air and also get his stuff from the worker's quarter. “You fat lazy pig!! Can't you do any damn thing properly!” Madam Rider's voice echoed into Ethan's ears as he came downstairs. The moment he stepped into the hallway, he saw her standing behind Bobby as he struggled to hang up a large framed portrait of her and her five children on the wall. These portraits had always been in the family gallery room, and they had been placed there by professionals because of the size and weight of each piece. “Higher, you fat junkie!” Clara screamed, causing Bobby already tired hands to tremble under the weight of such a huge glass frame. Anger rose in Ethan like fire as he watched Bobby struggle to keep the portrait above where Clara wanted
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