Ethan Cole stared at the rain-soaked city through the restaurant's glass wall, his reflection looking just as miserable as he felt.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Bank Alert.
His heart sank before he even opened it.
Available Balance: $17.43
Seventeen dollars.
That was all he had left in the world.
Ethan let out a bitter laugh.
Twenty-four years old.
Working two jobs.
Drowning in debt.
And still somehow failing at life.
The expensive restaurant around him buzzed with laughter and conversation. Businessmen in tailored suits discussed million-dollar deals. Couples clinked wine glasses and exchanged loving smiles.
Meanwhile, he sat alone at a table he could barely afford.
Waiting.
Waiting for the woman he loved.
Waiting for the woman he planned to marry.
Waiting for the woman he had sacrificed everything for.
Vanessa Reed.
A smile appeared on his face despite himself.
Today was their third anniversary.
Three years together.
Three years of struggling.
Three years of dreaming about a future they would build together.
Ethan reached into his jacket pocket and touched the small velvet box hidden inside.
The engagement ring.
His fingers trembled.
It wasn't expensive.
Far from it.
He had worked overtime for eight months just to buy it.
Every extra shift.
Every sleepless night.
Every skipped meal.
Everything had gone into that tiny diamond ring.
Tonight, he was finally going to propose.
Tonight, everything would change.
Or so he thought.
The restaurant doors opened.
Ethan immediately looked up.
His smile froze.
Vanessa had arrived.
But she wasn't alone.
A tall man wearing a designer suit walked beside her.
The man's Rolex alone probably cost more than Ethan earned in two years.
The pair laughed together as they entered.
Vanessa's hand rested comfortably on the man's arm.
Ethan felt a strange knot form in his stomach.
Something wasn't right.
The closer they got, the worse the feeling became.
Finally, they stopped in front of his table.
Vanessa looked down at him.
No smile.
No warmth.
No affection.
Nothing.
Her expression was cold.
Almost annoyed.
"Ethan."
His stomach dropped.
She had never said his name like that before.
"Vanessa," he said carefully.
His eyes shifted toward the man beside her.
"Who's this?"
The man smirked.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"This is Victor Sterling."
The name sounded familiar.
Very familiar.
Then Ethan remembered.
Victor Sterling.
The young CEO of Sterling Holdings.
One of the city's wealthiest businessmen.
Worth hundreds of millions.
Maybe billions.
Ethan looked between them.
His pulse quickened.
"Why are you here with him?"
Vanessa sighed dramatically.
"As expected."
"What does that mean?"
She shook her head.
"Ethan, you're so clueless."
A cold chill ran down his spine.
Something was terribly wrong.
Vanessa sat down across from him.
Victor remained standing beside her like a victorious king surveying conquered territory.
"Ethan," Vanessa began.
"We need to talk."
The words hit him like a punch.
No.
No.
Not those words.
Anything but those words.
He swallowed hard.
"What happened?"
Vanessa leaned back.
"I can't do this anymore."
The world suddenly became very quiet.
Ethan blinked.
"What?"
"I said I can't do this anymore."
"What are you talking about?"
"This relationship."
The words felt unreal.
Like a nightmare.
Three years.
Three years together.
Three years of promises.
Gone in a single sentence.
"Ethan, let's be honest."
Vanessa folded her arms.
"What future do we have together?"
His heart pounded.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you're broke."
The words sliced through him.
"Vanessa—"
"No."
She raised her hand.
"Let me finish."
People at nearby tables had begun watching.
Ethan could feel their eyes.
Their curiosity.
Their judgment.
But Vanessa didn't seem to care.
"You work nonstop and still can't pay your bills."
Her voice grew louder.
"You have no connections."
"Lack ambition."
"No influence."
"No future."
Each sentence struck harder than the last.
Ethan stared at her.
Unable to believe what he was hearing.
"Three years," he whispered.
"I gave you three years."
Vanessa laughed.
A cruel laugh.
"Exactly."
Her eyes hardened.
"I wasted three years."
Those words shattered something inside him.
The ring box suddenly felt unbearably heavy in his pocket.
Victor finally spoke.
His voice dripping with arrogance.
"You should thank Vanessa."
Ethan looked at him.
"What?"
Victor smiled.
"She's finally making a smart decision."
Rage flickered inside Ethan.
"You stay out of this."
Victor chuckled.
"Or what?"
The restaurant grew even quieter.
Everyone was watching now.
Victor leaned forward.
"You know what your problem is, Ethan?"
Ethan clenched his fists.
"You think hard work matters."
Victor adjusted his watch.
"It doesn't."
His smile widened.
"Money matters."
The words echoed throughout the restaurant.
Nobody objected.
Nobody disagreed.
Because everyone knew it was true.
Victor pointed toward Ethan's worn jacket.
"You'll spend your entire life chasing things men like me already own."
Laughter erupted from a nearby table.
Ethan felt his face burn.
Humiliation washed over him.
Yet the worst was still coming.
Vanessa stood up.
Then she walked over to Victor.
Wrapped her arms around him.
And kissed him.
Right in front of Ethan.
The entire restaurant watched.
His heart stopped.
Everything around him blurred.
The laughter.
The music.
The conversations.
It all disappeared.
Only the kiss remained.
Three years.
Three years reduced to this.
Vanessa pulled away and smiled at Victor.
Then she looked at Ethan.
"You see?"
Her voice was merciless.
"This is what a real man looks like."
The room exploded with whispers.
Ethan felt physically sick.
His chest tightened.
His breathing became difficult.
Vanessa wasn't just breaking up with him.
She was destroying him.
Publicly.
Completely.
Without mercy.
Slowly, Ethan reached into his pocket.
Vanessa frowned.
"What are you doing?"
He removed the velvet box.
The restaurant fell silent.
Vanessa's eyes widened.
Ethan opened it.
The engagement ring sparkled beneath the lights.
For a brief moment, regret flashed across her face.
Just a brief moment.
Then it disappeared.
Victor laughed.
Actually laughed.
"That's the ring?"
More laughter followed.
Ethan stared at the ring.
Months of sacrifice.
Months of hope.
Months of dreams.
Worthless.
At least to her.
Slowly, he closed the box.
Then stood up.
His chair scraped loudly against the floor.
For the first time all evening, he looked directly at Vanessa.
Not with anger.
Not with sadness.
Just disappointment.
"I loved you."
His voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
Vanessa looked away.
Ethan nodded slowly.
"That's all."
He turned and walked away.
The restaurant doors opened.
Cold rain immediately soaked him.
Yet somehow it felt better than remaining inside.
The rain hid the tears forming in his eyes.
Or at least he hoped it did.
Behind him, the restaurant returned to life.
People resumed eating.
Talking.
Laughing.
His humiliation was already becoming entertainment.
Just another story.
Just another loser.
Just another nobody.
Ethan walked aimlessly through the city.
Hours passed.
The rain never stopped.
Neither did the pain.
His phone vibrated.
He ignored it.
Then it vibrated again.
And again.
And again.
Finally, he answered.
"What?"
A professional female voice spoke.
"Am I speaking with Mr. Ethan Cole?"
He frowned.
"Who's asking?"
"My name is Sarah Williams."
There was a brief pause.
"I'm calling from Blackwood & Partners Law Firm."
Ethan frowned harder.
"I think you have the wrong number."
"No, Mr. Cole."
Her voice remained professional.
"I assure you I do not."
Ethan sighed.
"Look, I don't need legal services."
"Neither do we."
"What?"
The woman hesitated.
Almost as if choosing her words carefully.
"Mr. Cole..."
Her next sentence changed everything.
"We have been searching for you for twelve years."
Ethan stopped walking.
Rain continued pouring around him.
"What?"
"Your presence is required tomorrow morning."
"What is this about?"
Silence.
Then,
"Your grandfather."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"I don't have a grandfather."
"You do."
"No."
His voice sharpened.
"My parents died when I was twelve."
"Exactly."
The woman sounded almost relieved.
"You are Ethan Alexander Cole, correct?"
His heartbeat quickened.
"How do you know my middle name?"
Almost nobody knew his middle name.
Not even Vanessa.
The woman continued.
"Tomorrow morning."
"Nine o'clock."
"Blackwood Tower."
"Ethan..."
Her voice softened.
"What you're about to learn will change your life."
The call ended.
Ethan stood motionless.
Rain hammered the pavement.
Cars rushed past.
People hurried along sidewalks.
Yet the world suddenly felt different.
Strange.
Uncertain.
He looked down at his phone.
Unknown number.
Unknown law firm.
Unknown grandfather.
It sounded ridiculous.
Impossible.
But something deep inside him whispered otherwise.
For the first time all night, he felt something besides pain.
Curiosity.
Hope.
Fear.
He didn't know which.
The next morning arrived faster than expected.
Ethan barely slept.
At exactly 8:55 AM, he stood outside Blackwood Tower.
His jaw nearly dropped.
The skyscraper was one of the most prestigious buildings in the city.
Only major corporations occupied offices there.
People like him didn't belong.
A security guard immediately approached.
"Can I help you?"
Ethan awkwardly nodded.
"I have a meeting."
The guard looked him up and down.
Clearly unimpressed.
"Name?"
"Ethan Cole."
Everything changed instantly.
The guard's eyes widened.
His posture straightened.
Respect suddenly appeared.
"Mr. Cole."
Ethan blinked.
The guard pressed a button.
"The chairman is expecting you."
Chairman?
What chairman?
Before he could ask, the doors opened.
Two assistants appeared.
"Mr. Cole."
"This way, please."
Ethan followed them inside.
Confusion growing with every step.
The elevator climbed.
Twenty floors.
Thirty.
Forty.
Fifty.
Finally, the doors opened.
A luxurious office occupied the entire floor.
Marble.
Glass.
Gold accents.
Everything screamed wealth.
Real wealth.
The kind Ethan had only seen in movies.
An elderly man stood waiting near the window.
Expensive suit.
Silver hair.
Sharp eyes.
Power radiated from him.
The man turned.
Then smiled.
Not politely.
Not professionally.
Emotionally.
As if seeing someone he thought he'd never meet.
"Ethan."
The old man's voice trembled.
At that moment, Ethan knew.
Somehow.
Instinctively.
His life was about to change forever.
The old man stepped forward.
"You have your grandmother's eyes."
Ethan's heart pounded.
"What is this?"
The old man took a deep breath.
Then spoke the words that would shatter Ethan's understanding of his entire existence.
"My name is Richard Cole."
His eyes glistened.
"And I am your grandfather."
Ethan froze.
Richard Cole.
The name hit him instantly.
Everyone knew that name.
Everyone.
Richard Cole was one of the richest men in the country.
Founder of the Cole Global Empire.
A billionaire.
A legend.
A man powerful enough to influence governments.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Yet the old man's next words destroyed every doubt.
"Everything you think you know about your family is a lie."
Ethan's pulse thundered.
Richard looked directly into his eyes.
And smiled.
"Welcome home, heir."
