disguised intentions

Mr. Caldwell woke up early, slipping quietly out of bed so as not to disturb Olivia. He moved to his desk, where his laptop awaited, and initiated the transfer of $6 billion to Mr. Greyson. His fingers trembled slightly as he completed the transaction. Once it was done, he leaned back in his chair and exhaled deeply, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on his chest.

A faint rustle behind him signaled Olivia stirring. She opened her eyes and caught sight of him, his face clouded with worry.

"Honey, good morning," she greeted softly.

Mr. Caldwell quickly masked his emotions and turned to her with a weak smile. "Good morning, dear. How did you sleep?"

"It was fine. And you?" Her voice was quiet, but her gaze was searching.

"It was… fine," he replied, his voice cracking slightly as he adjusted his glasses.

Olivia sat up, brushing her hair back. "Today is the deadline for Mr. Greyson's money, isn't it? What are we going to do about it?" Concern etched her features.

"It's done," Mr. Caldwell said firmly. "I've already made the payment."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Where did you get the money? We've been struggling to keep everything afloat."

He hesitated for a moment, then answered, "I secured a contract deal from John—the friend who visited us last week. I used that money to settle Greyson's debt. Now, I just have to figure out how to replace what I've used."

Olivia sighed, a mixture of relief and worry. "At least that's one problem solved. On another note, Lila mentioned she's bringing her new boyfriend to meet us this weekend. Apparently, he's from a wealthy family, but she refuses to tell me much about him."

"That's good," Mr. Caldwell said with a faint nod. "Maybe she's finally found someone serious. It'll give her something meaningful to focus on."

"And David…" Olivia began, a fond smile appearing on her lips. "He's been overworking himself. I heard he barely rests, pushing himself to earn extra bonuses at work. He's doing all he can to help support us."

"He's a man now," Mr. Caldwell replied, his tone unreadable. "It's what he has to do."

Olivia crossed her arms and leaned against the vanity table. "He's just like you, you know. He can't stand to see people suffer without stepping in to help. He has such a big heart, just like his father."

Mr. Caldwell didn't respond, his attention drifting back to the documents scattered across his desk. "I need more time to sort this out," he muttered, half to himself.

Olivia placed a hand on his shoulder and offered a reassuring smile. "Let me make you something to eat. You'll feel better."

"Thanks, dear," he replied absently as she left the room.

Meanwhile, Ethan arrived at a luxurious hotel, stepping out of the car driven by Sam.

"Young Master," Sam said, presenting Ethan with a sleek black card adorned with gold accents. "This is for emergencies—a rare, unlimited balance card with substantial funds. The code is 1256. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to reach out to me."

Ethan took the card casually, staring at it for a moment before slipping it into his back pocket. "Thank you, Sam. I appreciate it. I'm fine now, so you can leave."

Sam bowed respectfully. "Take care, young master. Stay safe."

As the door closed, Ethan sighed and sat on the plush hotel bed. The room exuded luxury, its ambiance calm and inviting. He walked to the window and opened it, letting the fresh afternoon air wash over his face.

"It's time," he murmured to himself. "I need to get to Mr. Caldwell's house."

Ethan slipped into his tattered clothes, the usual attire that marked him as a poor man, and packed his shabby bag with just a few basic necessities.

On his way out, he encountered a young woman in the elevator. Her gaze locked onto him, and Ethan noticed but chose to ignore her.

As they exited the elevator, the woman suddenly called out, "Young man, wait!"

Ethan turned, puzzled, as she rushed toward him. In her haste, she stumbled in her high heels and fell against him, both of them landing on the floor.

For a moment, their eyes met. She seemed captivated, her hands pressing against his chest.

Ethan cleared his throat. "Are you okay?"

The woman quickly stood, brushing herself off. "I'm fine," she said shyly, then her tone shifted to disdain. "But who do you think you are, standing in my way?"

Ethan blinked, confused. "Excuse me? You ran into me."

She crossed her arms and scoffed. "So you're not even going to apologize for almost injuring me?"

"Fine. I'm sorry if that's what you want," Ethan said, turning to leave.

"Wait," she called again, eyeing him suspiciously. "I saw you come out of a luxury car dressed nicely earlier. Now you look like… this. What's your deal?"

Ethan glanced at her, his expression calm. "I wear what I have. To you, it's rags. To me, it's enough."

She laughed mockingly. "You're one of those guys who pretends to be rich, aren't you? Saving up for months just to book a room here for a day."

Ethan's patience waned. "Is that all you wanted to say? If so, I'll leave now."

As he walked away, she called after him again, but he ignored her jeers.

Arriving at the Caldwell mansion, Ethan stared at the imposing building. His heart raced, but he steeled himself.

"I've got this," he muttered under his breath, approaching the door.

Knock, knock!

"Who's there?" a sharp voice called from inside.

"It's me, Ethan," he replied calmly, his tone steady despite the unease gnawing at him.

The door creaked open, revealing Lila's scrutinizing gaze. She froze for a moment, disbelief flashing across her face, before bursting into a harsh laugh.

"What…?" she sneered. "I thought my dad warned you never to show your face around here again." Her expression twisted into one of pure disdain.

Ethan opened his mouth, ready to explain, but she cut him off with venom.

"You're useless, Ethan! You don't belong here, and you're not welcome in this family." She spat the words like poison before slamming the door in his face, the sound echoing down the silent hallway.

Ethan stood there, staring at the closed door, his chest tightening. Slowly, he took a step back, a faint smile curling his lips—not one of amusement, but of quiet resolve.

"Really?" he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. If only they knew the truth. He was no longer the same Ethan they thought they could trample on. He had risen above the man they used to mock.

Now, he had the power to rebuild Caldwell Horizon into an empire untouchable by their scorn—or anyone else's greed. With his father's wealth and unwavering support, he could turn any dream into reality.