On the drive to Matthew’s house, Ethan’s mind was not at rest. He leaned back in his seat, but the weight of the earlier call lingered, the sharpness in Matthew’s tone echoing in his memory. It was clear his friend’s patience had run thin, and Ethan knew he could not afford to meet anger with more silence. He decided he needed something to soften the atmosphere, a gesture of peace before stepping into the storm.

“Stop by a shop,” he told the driver.

The car eased to a halt near a modest local store, its glowing sign flickering against the fading evening light. Ethan stepped inside, the familiar scent of roasted snacks and sweets filling the air. He moved carefully among the shelves, selecting a variety of treats—biscuits, bottled drinks, packets of crisps. Simple tokens, but perhaps enough to ease Matthew’s mood.

When he approached the counter, he reached for his phone to make the payment. A cold barrier met him. His account had been frozen. The message flashed in sharp clarity, reminding him that his old card had expired, and he had not yet activated the new black card issued by the Blackspire Empire. Without it, his funds were locked.

The cashier frowned, drumming her fingers on the counter. “Sir, are you paying or not?”

Ethan attempted to step aside, already fishing for his driver’s number, but before he could speak, a voice cut through the room.

“Of course he can’t pay. He’s a thief.”

The words were sharp, laced with venom, and when Ethan turned toward the source, his heart tightened. Jack. The cousin of the man who had stolen Mia from him, the same who had cast him into humiliation and even ordered his death. The sight of him brought old scars to the surface, but Ethan’s expression did not falter. He remained calm, though the fire of memory burned beneath his composure.

Jack smirked, pointing toward him. “That’s the trash everyone once called a son-in-law. Caught stealing snacks now? How fitting.”

The shopkeeper stiffened, her suspicion heightened. She tightened her grip on the counter and called out for security. Around them, murmurs began to spread, whispers of scandal dancing between curious customers.

Ethan, however, did not resist. Instead, he drew out his phone and unlocked a hidden function few in the world could access. With swift taps, the Blackspire contact codes appeared, displaying the roster of family drivers along with their images and live locations. He connected instantly with his driver, who was stationed nearby.

Within moments, the driver arrived. By then, the shop manager had already placed a call to security, and the police had been alerted. The situation balanced on the edge of escalation.

The driver stepped forward, his presence calm but commanding. His voice carried authority as he warned the staff of the consequences of their actions. To ensure no harm touched Ethan, he initiated a live recording and transmitted it directly to Blackspire’s security division.

Events shifted rapidly after that. Within ten minutes, the entire mall had been purchased by the Blackspire Empire. Ownership papers were filed and confirmed in silence, but the effects were immediate. The shop manager was dismissed on the spot, arrested for negligence and false accusations. Jack too was seized, his attempts to hide behind arrogance cut short as the guards closed in on him.

The manager’s pleas rang through the air. “Please, forgive me, I didn’t know who he was!” But the words fell on deaf ears. The judgment had already been sealed.

Jack, in contrast, was defiant even in chains. He puffed out his chest and sneered. “Do you think this scares me? My family will crush you. The Serpent Crown Empire will never bow!”

But his words carried no weight anymore. The empire he clung to had already been torn apart, its foundations stripped by Blackspire’s decree. Yet Jack, blind in his arrogance, clung to pride that no longer existed.

Ethan watched the scene unfold in silence. He did not gloat, nor did he exchange insults. Instead, he quietly resolved within himself. This humiliation, this public chaos, was a reminder. If he wished to move forward, he could not allow such mistakes to repeat themselves.

“Activate the new card,” he instructed his driver. “Immediately.”

The driver bowed his head. “Yes, sir. We’ll coordinate with the bank now.”

The car rolled into motion once more, its tires humming against the city streets. Soon, they pulled up before a towering building of glass and steel—the central bank.

News of his visit had already reached the upper offices. The manager had prepared the staff with meticulous care, ensuring every protocol was in place. But none of them knew Ethan by face, and so they waited with professional courtesy.

Ethan stepped inside. At first, the atmosphere was ordinary, the quiet murmur of clerks and customers filling the air. But as his eyes swept across the room, he noticed two familiar figures seated near the front desk. His ex-brother-in-law and his wife, Rose.

The moment they saw him, their faces twisted. Mockery danced in their eyes.

“Well, look who it is,” Rose’s husband sneered. “The beggar who once called himself part of our family.”

Rose chuckled, her voice dripping with disdain. “Still hanging around banks you cannot afford? I wonder what lie you’ll tell this time.”

Ethan did not respond. He simply took a seat, his silence sharper than any retort. But their malice did not stop there.

Rose leaned closer to her friend Esther, whispering, before slipping her phone into the hand of a guard she had discreetly bribed. A quick exchange of cash sealed the scheme. The guard moved stealthily, sliding the phone into Ethan’s pocket without a soul noticing.

Moments later, Rose gasped loudly, clutching her purse. “My phone! It’s gone!”

She leapt to her feet, pointing directly at Ethan. “He took it! Check him!”

Security rushed forward at once. Their heavy boots echoed against the polished floor as they surrounded him. The customers nearby craned their necks, whispers rising into eager anticipation.

“Search him,” the head guard ordered.

One by one, they inspected Ethan’s belongings. Then, with theatrical timing, a guard reached into his bag and drew out Rose’s phone.

A collective gasp filled the air.

“There it is!” Rose cried, her voice triumphant.

The crowd erupted in murmurs, convinced they had witnessed undeniable proof. Their eyes turned toward Ethan, no longer curious but condemning, as though a criminal had been unmasked before them.