Andros_Karova

Ethan Cross was just a broke university student, juggling part-time delivery jobs and barely making ends meet. To make things worse, his girlfriend dumped him for a rich guy, calling him "a loser with no future."

But fate had other plans.

On a whim, he bought an old painting at an auction for $50, not knowing it would change his life forever. That painting was once the most treasured possession of Alexander Langford, the world's richest man who had just passed away. And in his will, Langford made a shocking decision:

Whoever bought the painting would inherit his entire fortune.

Now, Ethan is the heir to a trillion-dollar empire, with mansions, private jets, elite companies, and more money than he can ever spend. But wealth comes with its own dangers—rival corporations, underground syndicates, and even secret cults want him dead.

To make matters more complicated, Langford’s final wish was for Ethan to marry his only daughter, Myra Langford—a cold and mysterious beauty with a past of her own.

With power beyond imagination, enemies lurking in the shadows, and a woman he can’t understand, Ethan must navigate this new world while keeping his true strength hidden.

From rags to royalty… his reign has just begun.

Streets to Fortune

Emily staggered out of Ethan's apartment, her mind a tangled mess of shame, relief, and confusion. Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the distant sounds of the city outside. The cold night air hit her like a slap, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere she had just escaped.

Her hands trembled as she gripped the robe tighter around her body. Even though she was no longer exposed, she still felt bare—stripped of something more valuable than clothing. Dignity. Pride. Self-respect.

She bit her lip, fighting the sting of tears.

That thought was the only thing keeping her from breaking down completely. No matter what had just happened, no matter how humiliated she felt, they weren't in the hands of that monster Carlos anymore. And that was worth it… wasn't it?

The alternative had been unthinkable.

But even as she told herself that, the weight of what she had done—what she had been willing to do—settled deep inside her, like a stone lodged in her chest.

Her nails dug into her palms at the memory of his smirk, his knowing, amused expression as he toyed with her like a cat playing with a mouse. She had always seen him as pathetic, someone beneath her, someone she could step on without consequence.

But tonight, she had seen a different side of him.

She had expected desperation, had expected him to jump at the chance to take advantage of her like any other guy would. Instead, he had humiliated her, played her like a fool, and then cast her aside without a second thought.

But because he had wanted to prove a point.

She stumbled down the stairs, forcing her legs to keep moving even though they felt like lead. Every step away from his apartment was a step away from the reality of what she had just experienced.

When she finally reached the street, she saw Tabitha pacing near a lamppost, her phone clenched tightly in her hand.

The moment she spotted Emily, she rushed over.

"Emily!" Tabitha's voice was thick with worry. "What the hell happened up there? Did he…?"

Emily shook her head quickly, cutting her off. "No."

Tabitha's shoulders sagged in relief. "Thank God. But what took so long?"

Emily hesitated. What was she supposed to say? That Ethan had played her? That he had seen through her desperation and decided to punish her for it?

She swallowed hard. "I—It doesn't matter. He paid. You're safe now."

Tabitha frowned. "But… are you okay?"

She felt like her insides had been turned inside out, like she had been stripped down to her ugliest, most desperate self and forced to look in the mirror.

Tabitha didn't look convinced, but she didn't press the issue.

A moment later, her phone buzzed. She checked the screen and exhaled sharply. "It's Carlos' guys. They confirmed the payment went through. We're in the clear."

The weight of the night's events pressed down on her, suffocating her.

Not just tonight, but in the days to come.

He could humiliate her in class, make a spectacle of the fact that the girl who had once tormented him had been willing to sell herself for a measly $15,000.

And there was nothing she could do to stop him.

A fresh wave of nausea rolled through her, but she forced herself to breathe.

She had to find a way to keep him quiet.

Even if it meant swallowing her pride all over again.

Chapter 36: The Price of Safety