Chapter 10 – Web of Power

Ethan walked briskly down the dimly lit streets, his mind spinning with the events of the night.

Marcus Kane.

The name now carried a weight he didn't fully understand.

Who was this man? And more importantly, why was he watching Ethan?

His instincts screamed danger. But he wasn't about to panic—not yet.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and dialed the one person he knew would have answers.

James Windsor.

The call barely rang twice before a smooth, composed voice answered.

"Young Master Ethan."

The moment Ethan heard those words, the tension in his shoulders eased slightly.

James Windsor wasn't just his butler.

He was his right-hand man—his closest advisor.

And if there was anyone who could untangle this mess, it was him.

---

"James," Ethan said, keeping his voice low. "I just had a little… encounter. Marcus Kane. Ring any bells?"

There was a pause.

Then James sighed. "Ah. So you've met him."

Ethan stopped walking. "Wait. You know him?"

"Of course, Young Master."

A car drove by, casting long shadows against the buildings. Ethan leaned against a streetlamp, gripping his phone tighter.

"James," he said, voice firm. "Start talking. Now."

James chuckled softly. "Marcus Kane is the leader of the Obsidian Syndicate. An underground faction deeply embedded in the city's power struggles. He's one of the most feared men in the criminal underworld."

Ethan exhaled sharply.

That explained the intimidation. The air of control.

But James wasn't finished.

"However," he continued, "he does not work against you, Young Master. He works for you."

Ethan's grip on the phone tightened. "...What?"

"Not directly, of course," James clarified. "He works under the true boss of the underworld—Lucas 'Viper' Morelli."

The name sent a jolt through Ethan.

Lucas Morelli.

A name whispered in the shadows. A man rumored to control everything from high-stakes black-market trades to political corruption.

A man who, according to James, worked under Ethan.

His stomach turned.

"James." His voice was low. "How the hell do I own the underworld?"

Another pause.

Then James replied, voice calm and unwavering.

"Because, Young Master Ethan… Lucas Morelli serves the true ruler of this city's wealth and power. And that ruler… is you."

Ethan stared ahead, numb.

The inheritance.

The billions of dollars. The untouchable authority.

It wasn't just money.

It was a legacy of control. A network of power.

And somehow, without knowing a damn thing about it, he was now at the center of it all.

---

Ethan ran a hand down his face.

"So let me get this straight," he said slowly. "I inherit a fortune from some guy I've never met—Alexander Langford—just because I bought a painting?"

"Correct," James replied smoothly.

"And now I'm suddenly the puppet master of half the city?"

"More than half, Young Master. Nearly all of it."

Ethan felt like the world was tilting.

"And no one thought to tell me this sooner?"

James chuckled. "You've had a lot on your plate, sir. I was waiting for the right time."

Ethan let out a dry laugh. "And you thought now was the right time?"

"Well, you did call me, sir."

Ethan sighed. James always had a way of making chaos sound like a well-organized business meeting.

But this?

This wasn't some minor revelation.

This was a damn empire.

And he was at the top of it.

Whether he wanted to be or not.

---

Ethan started walking again, his mind racing.

"Alright. Back to Kane," he said. "If he's under Morelli, and Morelli's under me… that means he already knows who I am?"

"Not quite," James corrected. "He knows you exist. But he does not yet know your face."

Ethan frowned. "Then why was he following me?"

"Likely suspicion, sir. The Obsidian Syndicate is responsible for handling many… delicate affairs in the underworld. If Marcus believes someone is interfering with that balance, he will investigate."

Ethan's jaw tightened.

So Marcus Kane didn't know who he was—yet.

That meant Ethan still had an advantage.

And he wasn't about to waste it.

"Alright," Ethan said. "What's our next move?"

James paused, then spoke carefully.

"That depends on what you wish to do, Young Master. If you wish to continue living as an ordinary college student, I can ensure complete secrecy. No one will ever connect you to the empire you now control."

Ethan swallowed.

"And if I don't?"

"Then, sir…" James's voice was deadly serious.

"Then you must prepare to step into the shadows and rule."

---

Ethan stared up at the night sky.

So this was it.

Two paths lay before him.

1. Ignore it all. Continue living his life, pretending none of this existed. Let James handle everything from behind the scenes.

2. Step in. Take control. Learn the truth. And claim the power that was now his.

A normal life… or a life of absolute control.

His gut told him one thing:

"I didn't come this far just to be blind to my own power."

Ethan took a breath.

Then, in a voice filled with finality, he spoke.

"James. Arrange a meeting with Morelli."

There was a pause. Then, James chuckled.

"Understood, Young Master. I'll have it set up."

Ethan hung up, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

The air around him felt different.

He wasn't just some college student anymore.

He was Ethan Cross.

And for better or worse…

He was about to step into a world that had been his all along.