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

As the final bell of the day rang, Ethan gathered his things and slipped out of the classroom before anyone could stop him. Jordan had offered him a ride home earlier, but Ethan declined. He needed time alone to think.

The cool evening breeze greeted him as he stepped outside, carrying the faint scent of freshly cut grass and the distant sound of students chatting. Most of them were probably heading to their cars or the bus stop, but Ethan took the longer route home on foot, preferring the solitude.

It wasn't that he had nothing to do—far from it. But after everything that had happened in the past few days, he felt the need to recalibrate.

Sophia was suddenly trying to get close to him again.

Emily was a nervous wreck, terrified of what he might do.

Ethan smirked at the thought. He wasn't going to spread rumors about her. He didn't need to. She was already unraveling on her own, and watching her panic was more entertaining than any revenge he could have planned.

Still, it was funny how quickly the tables had turned.

Money really does change everything.

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. His bank account was fine, his investments were running smoothly, and he had no pressing issues to handle. Yet, he felt restless.

His pace slowed as he reached the edge of the neighborhood where his shabby apartment was located. He could afford better housing, but he wasn't ready to reveal that part of his life yet. Staying here kept him under the radar.

When he reached his apartment, he kicked off his shoes, tossed his bag onto the couch, and pulled out his phone.

His fingers instinctively opened the streaming app, and sure enough, she was live.

"Hey guys! Welcome back to the stream! Today, we're diving into ranked matches, so let's see if I can carry some noobs or if I'll get stuck with trolls."

Ethan smirked. Same confident tone, same energy. Mia hadn't changed.

Mia was one of the few things in his life that still felt normal. She didn't know about his money, his past struggles, or the chaos in his school life. To her, he was just another viewer—another supporter who enjoyed watching her content.

As he settled onto his couch, he sent a quick donation.

[EStorm donated $1000: Hope today's matches go well.]

"Bro just casually dropping 1k like it's nothing."

Mia's eyes widened as she read the message. "Whoa, EStorm! Thank you so much! You seriously don't have to do this, but I really appreciate it!"

Ethan leaned back, watching her reaction with amusement.

She had no idea who he really was.

And that was exactly how he wanted to keep it.

Chapter 38: A Quiet Walk and a Familiar Stream