Chapter 27 – The Bombshell

The golden chandeliers of Royal Garden bathed the restaurant in a warm glow, illuminating the polished marble floors and exquisitely arranged tables. The air was thick with the scent of exquisite cuisine, a mix of freshly baked bread, aged wine, and the unmistakable aroma of luxury. The hushed conversations of the elite filled the grand hall, the kind of people who wouldn't bat an eye at dropping thousands of dollars on a single meal.

Ethan Cross walked through the entrance with measured steps, his black jacket hanging loosely over his shoulders, complementing the sharp black shirt underneath, the first button left undone. His black trousers fit him perfectly, exuding effortless elegance despite their simplicity.

Behind him, his classmates entered the restaurant, their eyes darting around the lavish interior. Most of them had never been to a place this expensive. Even those from wealthy families only dined here on rare occasions.

As they approached the reception, a well-dressed waiter greeted them with a professional smile, his posture straight and refined.

"Welcome to Royal Garden. Since you are hosting a gathering, we have several private dining options prepared for your group."

With that, the waiter handed Ethan and Lucas a sleek black menu card—but instead of food, it listed the available private rooms and their respective prices:

Private Room – $5,000

VIP Lounge – $15,000

Presidential Suite – $25,000

Ultimate Suite – $50,000

Penthouse – $500,000

A hushed murmur spread through the group as eyes darted toward the list. The prices were astronomical. Some of the students stiffened, realizing they had vastly underestimated how much it would cost to secure a private space in this place.

Most of them had assumed they'd be dining in the general section, maybe at most renting the $5,000 private room.

Lucas, standing beside Ethan, took a casual glance at the list before smirking.

He turned to Ethan, voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "So, what do you think? Should we go for the VIP lounge?"

There it was. A deliberate trap.

Lucas knew he couldn't afford it, but he also knew that Ethan's current image didn't scream 'wealth.' By making the suggestion publicly, he was trying to make Ethan hesitate, to make it seem like Ethan was the one who couldn't afford it.

A few students smirked knowingly, exchanging amused glances. They were waiting for Ethan to struggle, to come up with an excuse, to admit defeat.

But instead of looking flustered, Ethan simply chuckled.

Then his chuckle turned into full-blown laughter.

Lucas's smirk faltered slightly. "What's so funny?"

Ethan wiped a nonexistent tear from his eye, his voice laced with amusement. "You really thought you were setting me up, didn't you?"

Lucas frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Ethan exhaled, shaking his head. "Nah, we can't go for the VIP Lounge."

Lucas's smirk returned, but before he could say anything, Ethan dropped the bombshell.

"It's beneath me. Let's just manage the Ultimate Suite."

Dead Silence.

It was as if the entire world had stopped breathing.

$50,000?

Some of their classmates visibly staggered. One girl gasped so sharply that she nearly dropped her purse. Others looked like they had just been slapped across the face.

Lucas's confident demeanor shattered in real-time. His smirk stiffened, his body went rigid, and for the first time that night, he was the one at a loss for words.

Even the waiter, despite his years of experience dealing with the wealthiest clientele, raised an eyebrow.

Ethan Cross had just flipped the entire game on its head.

The waiter, maintaining his professionalism, gave a polite nod. "An excellent choice, sir. I will make the arrangements immediately."

Ethan turned to Lucas, his gaze sharp. "Unless you'd rather go for the penthouse?"

Lucas's jaw clenched. He wanted to respond, to one-up Ethan, but the sheer ridiculousness of the price made it impossible.

The Penthouse cost half a million dollars. That wasn't just money—that was absurd wealth.

Lucas was rich, but not that rich. Not even his family would casually throw away $500,000 for a class gathering.

Ethan let the moment drag out, savoring Lucas's humiliation. Then he stepped forward, hands in his pockets, his voice dropping just low enough for only Lucas to hear.

"Next time you try to play me, make sure you can afford it."

Then, without waiting for a response, Ethan walked past him, following the waiter toward the Ultimate Suite.

Lucas stood there, his hands clenched into fists, his face burning with shame.

And behind them, the rest of the class watched, some in disbelief, others in admiration, and a few in sheer intimidation.

For the first time that night, it was clear who had truly won.