Chapter 159
Seeing the lady coming closer all for the students started stepping back.
"Don't worry guys"
Marcus whispered to the group, straightening his Armani tie with trembling fingers.
His chest puffed up like a peacock. "My father owns one of the best media stations in this country. I'll handle this."
His voice carried the practiced confidence of someone used to throwing around his family name to get out of trouble.
The others huddled behind him like frightened children, using his bravado as a shield.
Sarah's perfectly manicured nails dug into Thomas's designer jacket. "Tell her your father name and also that your brother is a judge!"
she whispered urgently.
"And my uncle's on the city council,"
Jake added desperately, his face pale beneath his expensive skin.
Marcus pushed out his chest, adopting what he thought was an intimidating stance - shoulders back, chin up, the pose he'd practiced in mirrors since childhood.
His shoes clicked against the pavement as he strode forward, mentally preparing the speech that had gotten him out of countless situations.
"You see, madam,"
Marcus's words tumbled out faster and faster.
immediately Sweat dampened his perfectly styled hair.
"I'm from the Bernard family - we own a house on Crystal Lane. The Bernard Media Group? Perhaps you've seen our coverage in top families Magazine?"
At that moment his hands gesture wildly as he speaks, the designer watches flashing in the light.
"This was all just a misunderstanding."
He pointed at Ethan.
"He was just making outrageous claims, and we..."
His voice trailed off as the woman's imperious expression remained unchanged, her eyebrow lifting slightly.
"We have a contract,"
he continued desperately, fumbling to pull out the papers with shaking hands. His confident facade cracking like cheap veneer.
"Just a silly bet really. He claimed he could get us inside, which obviously was presumptuous and—"
Behind him, the group huddled closer.
Sarah kept smoothing her hair compulsively, while Thomas checked his phone every few seconds as if it might save him.
The other rich kids in other courses didn't say anything.
Sweat began beading on their forehead despite the cool air.
Thomas Armani tie suddenly feeling like a noose.
"We'll leave right now, of course. Everything's settled. No need for any unpleasantness."
Marcus' voice rose an octave as panic set in.
He held out the contract like a peace offering, the paper trembling in his hands.
"See? Just a simple misunderstanding that we can all laugh about later..."
His earlier bravado had dissolved completely.
At that moment he turned, wanting to leave.
At that moment the woman's perfectly painted lips curved into a slight smirk, her Cartier bracelet catching the light as she adjusted her sleeve.
"Perhaps,"
she said, her voice carrying the refined authority.
"you should contact your accountants or families. I imagine one hundred million dollars will require some... financial planning."
immediately Marcus's face drained of color so rapidly he had to position himself properly not to fall down.
"What?"
Sarah's designer sunglasses slipped off her nose, clattering to the marble steps.
"Mr.Ethan has full permission to tour the Grand King mansion."
Her words fell like stones in still water.
"In fact, he's had such permission for quite some time."
Upon hearing what the lady just said the group stood frozen in horror.
Sarah's knees actually buckled. Thomas kept opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.
"This... this can't be..."
Thomas whispered, the contract in his hands now feeling like a burning coal.
His fingers trembled so badly the paper rustled audibly in the silence.
The woman turned to Ethan, extending her perfectly manicured hand with practiced grace. "Welcome back, Mr.Ethan. You're free to tour the grand king mansion.."
her eyes swept over the group with elegant disdain, making them shrink visibly under her gaze.
At that moment horror dawned on their faces as the full weight of their situation crashed down.
A hundred million dollars - a sum that would make even some of their wealthy families think twice. Their perfectly maintained facades crumbled simultaneously.
"The contract,"
Sarah whispered again, her perfectly applied makeup streaking with tears, Chanel mascara running down her cheeks.
"Oh God, the contract! Daddy will disown me!"
Marcus was the first to break down, without thinking twice he dropped to his knees.
His carefully styled hair fell in disarray across his forehead. "Ethan, please,"
his voice cracked like thin ice.
"My father will kill me! The media station will be ruined because of this!"
Seeing Marcus has already surrendered.
The rest immediately fell on their knees one by one. Thomas nearly ripped his pants in his haste to prostrate himself, his watch scraping against the ground.
"We were just joking! About the boot licking... about everything!"
His face pressed against the floor, his pride completely forgotten.
Jake wanted to grab Ethan's sleeve, but his trembling hands won't let him.
"Please, have mercy! We can't crawl through the estates! Our knees would get destroyed."
The group that had been mocking him minutes ago now knelt in the dirt, their designer clothes soiled, their carefully maintained images in shambles.
Their pleading voices overlapped in a desperate chorus:
"We'll do anything!"
Sarah wailed, her makeup completely ruined.
"Please forgive us!"
Thomas begged, his forehead almost touching the ground.
"Don't make us pay!"
Marcus sobbed.
Their bodies shook with genuine fear, designer brands forgotten as they groveled.
At that moment one of the rich kids couldn't keep calm anymore he suddenly rose from his knees, desperation turning to a last-ditch attempt at intimidation.
"Listen here, Ethan,"
his voice quivered despite trying to sound threatening, his perfectly styled hair now plastered to his forehead with cold sweat.
"You might have permission to this mansion, but don't forget who my family is."
His hands shook as he straightened his crooked Hermès tie.
"If you make me pay part of that hundred million... you won't see another sunrise."
The others gasped, some physically crawling backward across the floor. Sarah covered her mouth with her hands, her Cartier bracelets jangling with her tremors. Thomas looked like he might faint.
" My family is stronger and we all know that."
At that moment Marcus joined in, his voice cracking like a teenager's.
"We control the narrative! We can ruin anyone!"
His chest puffed out but his shoulders quivered.
"Your life will become hell. We'll destroy you!"
'I don't even have ten million, let alone a hundred'
his panicked thoughts screamed silently.
'but maybe I can scare him into backing down. Please let this work. Please, please, please...' Your next chapter is on empire
"Don't worry about the contract," Ethan said smoothly, watching relief flood their faces.
"Let's focus on the tour, shall we?"
Upon hearing what Ethan just said the group nearly collapsed with gratitude, their designer clothes already wrinkled and dirty from kneeling.
"Oh thank goodness,"
Sarah whispered, dabbing at her ruined makeup.
"Ethan, you're incredible,"
Thomas gushed, straightening his crushed silk tie.
"So magnanimous!"
Marcus, still trembling slightly from his Smart attempted threats, tried to salvage his dignity.
"You made a wise decision."
"Of course."
Ethan smiled, the expression not quite reaching his eyes.
'Let them think they're forgiven'
he thought to himself, watching them compose themselves like preening peacocks.