Chapter 44: A Deadly Game 2

Ethan Cross had always been an enigma at Beacon High. To his classmates, he was quiet, detached—just another student who kept to himself.

No one really knew him.

And that was exactly how he wanted it.

Because if they knew the truth?

Everything would change.

Jordan, his best friend, thought Ethan was just a regular middle-class guy. A nobody.

Sophia assumed he had stumbled into money by sheer luck.

And the rest of the school?

They had no idea that Ethan Cross was richer than all of them combined.

Filthy rich.

And for years, he had kept it hidden.

Why?

Because people changed when they found out. Their eyes lit up with greed, their voices softened with fake admiration, and suddenly, they wanted to be his best friend.

Ethan hated that.

So he made sure no one knew.

But now?

Now, things were getting complicated.

His little stunt on Mia's stream had gained too much attention.

And Young Master K—Kairos Westwood—was taking it personally.

---

Late at night, Ethan lay in bed, casually scrolling through his phone when a notification popped up.

Incoming Call from Young Master K

A voice call.

Through the same streaming app.

Ethan smirked. Clever.

A video call would reveal too much. But a voice call? That was just enough to keep things anonymous.

With a lazy flick of his finger, he answered.

Silence.

Then, a smooth, arrogant voice came through.

"You think you can humiliate me and walk away?"

Ethan smirked. "Pretty sure I already did."

Kairos chuckled, but there was no amusement in it. "You're amusing, I'll give you that. But you've made a very dangerous mistake."

Ethan stretched, completely unfazed. "Enlighten me."

"You don't know who you're messing with," Kairos said coolly. "I have connections."

Ethan burst out laughing.

Kairos went silent.

Then Ethan spoke, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Connections? That's cute. I'm the god of connections."

Kairos scoffed. "Big words for someone hiding behind a screen."

Ethan smirked. "Funny. I was about to say the same to you."

The line went dead silent.

Then, Kairos spoke again, his tone lower, colder.

"You have no idea what you've just started."

Ethan yawned. "You done?"

Kairos exhaled sharply. "Enjoy your little moment, Fleeting Fable. It won't last."

The call ended.

Ethan stared at his phone for a moment before chuckling.

Kairos was pissed.

Good.

That meant Ethan was winning.

---

The next morning, Jordan found Ethan lounging in their usual spot outside the school.

"Okay, dude," Jordan said, dropping his bag onto the bench. "I need answers."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "About?"

Jordan pulled out his phone and shoved it in Ethan's face.

The screen showed a thread on some social media app.

> Who the hell is Fleeting Fable??

Someone dropped $100K on Mia's stream last night.

Some people say it's an oil prince. Others think it's a billionaire's kid.

WHO IS THIS GUY?

Ethan smirked. "Huh. People are really talking about this, huh?"

Jordan sat down, rubbing his temples. "Dude. You're not even reacting. Tell me you weren't involved in this."

Ethan shrugged. "Maybe I was. Maybe I wasn't."

Jordan groaned. "Come on, man. You're telling me some random dude named Fleeting Fable just happens to show up, drop a hundred grand, and destroy Young Master K—and you don't know anything about it?"

Ethan smiled. "Sounds about right."

Jordan narrowed his eyes. "Ethan."

"What?"

Jordan sighed, shaking his head. "You're hiding something."

Ethan's smirk didn't fade. "Aren't we all?"

Jordan scoffed. "Man, I swear, if you're secretly rich or something, I'm gonna be pissed."

Ethan chuckled. "Relax. I'm just a regular guy, remember?"

Jordan stared at him for a long moment.

Something wasn't adding up.

But for now?

He let it go.

---

Meanwhile, across the cafeteria, Sophia sat scrolling through her phone, her nails tapping against the table.

Ethan was hiding something.

And she was going to find out what.

Because if he had money?

Then he was worth chasing again.

And she always got what she wanted.

Always.

---

That afternoon, Ethan received another message.

An invitation.

A private, high-class party.

Hosted by none other than Kairos Westwood.

Jordan, still oblivious to the deeper game at play, peered over Ethan's shoulder. "Whoa. You got invited to that?"

Ethan smirked. "Looks like it."

Jordan shook his head in disbelief. "Man, I don't know how you do it."

Ethan just chuckled.

If only Jordan knew.

Because this wasn't just a party.

This was a challenge.

And Ethan Cross never backed down.