Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

The day Richard went to court, I took a big gamble with Simon.

Skyline International Corporation had grown like crazy over the years. To the world, I looked like this super ambitious businessman. But honestly, Skyline's expansion wasn't my top priority. Sure, I had the means to win this bet, but if something unexpected happened and I lost, I wouldn't be scared.

I didn't see it coming when Faris brought Emily along.

It wasn't losing that scared me; it was Emily seeing me lose.

I asked her, "Are you afraid of me having nothing?"

Emily shook her head, really firmly.

"I'm not afraid. You won't have nothing; you'll still have me," she said.

In that moment, I felt like even if I lost everything, it wouldn't matter. As long as I had her, I'd be rich enough.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

But I still won that bet.

The day Oliver got wasted, I walked into the bar's DJ booth.

The DJ, wearing headphones, saw me and waved with a grin.

"Ethan," he said.

I took the headphones off his head and said, "Take a break, I'll take over."

I put on the headphones and started DJing.

The neon lights flashed to the beat, and the crowd on the dance floor moved with the rhythm.

Keeping the beat, I squinted and looked outside, spotting Emily and Bella at the bar. They had their backs to me and didn't see me.

Shifting my gaze, I saw the door of a private room.

"Oliver is drunk," the DJ said.

Following his direction, I saw Oliver, drunk and being helped out of the bar.

Oliver was just behind the bar, so Emily and Bella probably didn't see him.

I handed the headphones back to the DJ and called Dennis outside the bar.

"Oliver is drunk and being taken out. Follow them for me; I've got things covered here," I said.

"Got it," Dennis replied.

About twenty minutes later, the door of the private room I had been watching finally opened, and Zachary walked out, heading outside the bar.

I followed him out and saw Zachary enter a small convenience store.

At that moment, Dennis called again.

"Zachary announced his retirement a couple of days ago. Tonight's news is probably just a ruse," Dennis said.

I stared at the convenience store and asked, "Where was Oliver taken?"

"Not far, just across the street at the Whispering Pines Hotel," Dennis replied.

I walked across the street and saw Dennis's car at the entrance of the Whispering Pines Hotel.

I got into the car, and Dennis checked his watch, saying, "They've been inside for about twenty minutes. I ran into an informant, so I didn't follow them in." Dennis seemed to have something to say but hesitated.

I paused while lighting a cigarette and looked at him.

"What's up? Just say it," I asked.

"I saw Emily go in there too, with another woman," he said.

I lit my cigarette and took out my phone to call Emily. She told me she was at Bella's house.

Emily wasn't good at lying, so her guilty tone was obvious. Under my questioning, she finally told the truth.

I didn't have time to find Oliver before his situation was exposed.

I tried to wake Oliver up, but he was too drunk.

Bella was particularly disappointed in him and threw her ring at him. Emily chased after Bella, and after a while, Oliver staggered out after them.

He and Zachary started fighting in the street. I stopped Zachary and carried Oliver back from the road.

Because of this incident, Oliver and Bella completely broke up. Since then, he seemed like a different person.

I thought this might be God's way of testing him, to make him mature through experience. Unfortunately, Oliver's maturity couldn't win back the woman he wanted. Yanis's verdict was upheld, and as agreed, I had to give the land next to Silent Grove Village to Faris.

I arranged to meet Faris in my office. When he arrived, Emily was also there, so I used the excuse of wanting to get some salmon to send her home.

After Emily left, Faris sat down in the chair opposite me.

I handed Faris the transfer contract for the land, and he signed it after a quick glance.

"I've given you what you wanted. I hope you stay away from Emily," I said.

Faris suddenly laughed, saying, "Mr. Windsor, with your charm, are you really worried I'd steal Emily?"

I looked at him seriously, saying, "I know you're unhappy with me, but I hope you take it out on me. She's just a woman; don't drag her into unnecessary conflicts."

Faris kept smiling, saying, "Don't worry, I'll be very busy in the coming period because I have big plans for that land. I won't have time to mess with that silly girl."

As for the big plans he mentioned, I couldn't care less. Even when I later found out he was going to build a cemetery, it didn't really faze me. After all, it was something the Windsor family owed him. Even if he ruined Silent Grove Village, I had no objections.

But when Victor found out about this, he stormed into the house and smashed a fish tank over my head.

I knew he'd be pissed, so when I saw him so worked up, I stayed calm. Even when he broke my head with the fish tank, I kept my cool.

But when he hit Emily with the next blow, I lost it.

Even though I could have taken the hit better, she chose to stand in front of me.

Facing Victor's fury, I didn't argue back. From the perspective of a father and son, I was wrong in this situation, so I didn't fight back or argue. But from the standpoint of moral justice, I wasn't wrong; I was atoning for his sins. Victor was too agitated and fainted from the anger.

At the hospital, after Victor finished his examination and it was confirmed that he was fine, I went to get my own head bandaged.

The doctor removed several pieces of glass from my wound and carefully told me to bear with it. But I didn't feel any pain at all; I just felt disappointment.

I often wondered, if many years ago, Victor had just been an ordinary person, even if he had been a bit poorer than most, it wouldn't have mattered. As long as he had been honest and upright, that would have been great.

Then maybe I wouldn't have walked this lonely path. I could have changed our lives with my own hands, given him a good life, and made him proud to have a son like me.

But reality was so cruel. The sins Victor committed were destined to be a mountain on my shoulders, one that I had to carry step by step, never able to put down for a lifetime.

When I went to see Victor in the hospital, Linda came and subtly blamed me.

I suddenly felt that ever since Victor had Linda, he no longer needed me. So I left, holding Emily's hand.

At that time, I felt that only Emily and I truly needed each other. We had to be together, giving each other warmth.

This wasn't the first time Victor hit me, but it was the first time I saw a look in his eyes that wanted to tear me apart.

Even I felt sorry for myself. Cindy left too early, and the person who gave me life, Victor, never cared about me. Yet, during my growing years, I carried Victor's sins, living with shackles, and I was so tired.

The room was dark, and I felt an endless despair and hurt.

I said, "Emily, I'm cold. Could you give me a hug?"

The moment Victor hit me, my disappointment turned into despair. He personally threw me into a closed ice cellar, leaving me to fend for myself.

At this moment, the only person giving me warmth was Emily. She held me, warming me with her body, gently blowing on my wounds, so tenderly that it seemed she wanted to melt me. She was like a fire, someone I wanted to hold onto for a lifetime and never let go.

At that moment, I really wanted to merge with her, never to be separated.

The next morning, Oliver was lying at my doorstep.

For Bella, Oliver had become very despondent these days. I knew this time he was truly in love, and I also knew that some fates cannot be forced.

God loved to play jokes on me. Just when I thought happiness was about to arrive, He would strike me hard, making me feel that my previous happiness was just an illusion.

A few days later, I went on a business trip. The director who had cast Faye as the female lead called me, saying they were holding a launch event for the new show and hoped I could attend.

I was the sponsor of that show, and I hadn't heard from Faye in a while. I was curious about her progress and changes, so I went.

Faye seemed to have adapted to the crew and was getting along well with the members.

She saw me on stage and waved happily. I nodded at her.

After the event, Faye came down and sat next to me, holding my arm.

Faye asked me, "Ethan, why are you here? Why didn't you tell me in advance?"

I pulled my arm away from her hand and said, "It was a last-minute decision."

I had a brief conversation with her, asking about her situation at the art academy, and then prepared to return to the hotel.

"Ethan, let me treat you to a late-night snack?" Faye said urgently behind me.

I turned to look at her, saying, "No, Faye. This opportunity didn't come easily. I hope you cherish it and focus on your acting. It's important to stay true to yourself."

Back at the hotel, I took a shower and only then saw Emily's missed call.

I grabbed a towel, drying my hair as I called her back.