ETHAN: THE RELUCTANT HEIR

Living under the lingering shadow of Edward, their father whose body was never found, Ethan and Hellen have grown up under the care of their mother, Elizabeth. Years of speculation about Edward, rumored to have been shot dead by a business rival, never ceased, yet the family slowly had to accept the bitter truth that any hope of Edward's return was just an illusion. Elizabeth, despite her limitations, worked tirelessly to support her family by building a store business on the outskirts of Manhattan. However, to reach its peak, she was forced to take a loan from Mr. Drago, a powerful and notoriously cruel moneylender – a decision Ethan and Hellen had fiercely opposed from the start, sensing the cunning man's deceit.

Their fears proved true. Just as Elizabeth's business soared, Drago, consumed by envy and ambition, ordered his men to burn down all her stores. In an instant, the family plunged into poverty, burdened by insurmountable debt. Amidst this devastation, Drago emerged with an even more heinous offer: he would clear all of Elizabeth's debts, provided Hellen agreed to become his wife. Hellen flatly refused, and Ethan, her older brother, was furious. He would not let his younger sister become a victim of the old man's greed.

Trapped between honor at stake, dignity trampled, and the threat of total ruin, this family faces an impossible choice. Will Ethan and Hellen find a way to fight against a seemingly impenetrable power, or must they sacrifice one of their own for a glimmer of hope?"