"Can you believe it? It has been a month since I orchestrated Ethan's dismissal, yet I am still in my previous position despite my hard work. The bank manager does not seem to notice my efforts, or perhaps I should say he dislikes me, as I am emulating everything Ethan used to do," Steven articulated. "That is unfortunate. What do you intend to do now?" Jane questioned. "I am uncertain; if I had a solution, I would not be calling you," Steven responded. "Calm yourself. Since you have stated that you are undertaking all the tasks Ethan performed that previously benefitted him, and it has not yielded the same results for you, I suggest you inquire with Ethan about his approach. He may be employing strategies of which you are unaware, and you might be overlooking something significant," Jane advised. "That would be challenging, dear sister," Steven replied. "Why do you say that? There is no harm in reaching out. You could either call Ethan or visit him if speaking over the phon
work with the Supreme Court," Charlotte replied. Steven was amused by Charlotte's transformation into a lawyer, recalling how unremarkable she had been during their high school years, often overlooked even by teachers. "Goodness, Charlotte, how did you achieve this? It is truly remarkable!" Steven exclaimed. "It is all thanks to God. I transferred to another school, which allowed me to focus on my studies. I left behind distractions that had hindered my academic progress, and I became quite studious. That is how I reached this point in my life," Charlotte elucidated. "That is splendid. Please provide me with your contact number so that I may reach out to you whenever I encounter a problem. From this moment on, you shall be my lawyer; however, I would like to observe your courtroom performance first," Steven stated. "That is not an issue. I am currently handling a high-profile case; perhaps you could attend and observe on Thursday," Charlotte suggested. "Certainly, I shall be ava
Moreover, we do not know where to begin." Charlotte was rendered speechless. Ethan promptly added, "Charlotte, Steven is correct; at this moment, I do not have any funds." Charlotte reassured him, "It is perfectly fine; do not concern yourself with that. I will take care of it for the sake of old times, and I will do it pro bono." Upon hearing this, Angela's mood shifted, and she cast an unfavourable glance at Ethan, which he noticed. "Charlotte, please do not worry about assisting me. Thank you," Ethan expressed his gratitude. Meanwhile, Steven was eager to learn about Ethan's secret regarding his promotions but felt it was not the appropriate moment to discuss it. He resolved to defer the conversation until their next meeting, even though he had not received a promotion at work since Ethan's dismissal, he felt content that Ethan was no longer a factor in the workplace. Angela remained silent. After a lengthy discussion with Ethan, Steven realised that he would not have the c
"Oh my goodness, are you serious?" Angela asked. "Yes, my dear, and I stood there in stunned silence," Ethan admitted. "How was it that you were able to open the door? Was it not locked?" Angela inquired. "The door was indeed unlocked; I suspect they did not expect anyone to arrive at that moment, or perhaps he simply neglected to lock it," Ethan inferred. "What happened next?" Angela queried. "When I opened the door, Jennifer immediately saw me, gasped, and began pleading for forgiveness. Conversely, Edward was so overwhelmed with shame that he could not meet my gaze or utter a word," Ethan recounted. "Naturally, he had ample reason to feel ashamed. What actions did you take following your discovery?" Angela inquired with a laugh. "I did nothing; I was too heartbroken. Instead, I merely shook my head in disbelief, glaring at both of them with intense resentment," Ethan revealed. "I empathise with your pain, but did she offer any explanation for her infidelity?
the financial resources to investigate who framed me. Why can you not simply let it go?" Ethan asked. "I did not come here for that," Charlotte replied. Ethan blinked in surprise and queried, "Then why are you here if not concerning my situation?" "I am here because of our past, and I wish to discuss what happened between us and explore the possibility of making amends," Charlotte stated. Ethan was amused and he exclaimed, "What! You cannot be serious. There is no 'us,' so please return home." "Ethan, please refrain from being rude and allow me to explain," Charlotte pleaded. "For what reason? Is it only now that you think of me after you vanished without a trace? You blocked my contacts and refused to communicate with me. Now you stand here asking me to refrain from being rude?" Ethan lamented, his frustration evident. "I understand your feelings, and you are justified in feeling that way. However, I did not leave intentionally; it was a sudden decision. It was difficult for m
that revealing the true reason behind his inquiry might raise suspicions, so he nodded and stated, "Never mind. I was merely asking because I miss you and aspire to emulate you in every aspect. I have already adopted the practices I am aware of, leading me to wonder if there was more I needed to do to resemble you." Ethan, moved by Steven's fabricated narrative, expressed sympathy, "Oh, Steven, I understand you are facing considerable challenges at work, but you must be gentle with yourself. My promotions were purely a result of divine grace; remember to take care of your health and approach your work with caution." Ultimately, Steven overlooked the fact that he had previously lied to Ethan about being asthmatic and was surprised when Ethan mentioned his health conditions. He questioned, "What health conditions are you referring to?" Ethan, amused, scrutinised Steven closely, astonished by the question he had posed. "I do not comprehend; did you forget that you are asthmatic?" At
you were unconscious. I am Harper, the individual who saved you from being struck by a vehicle some time ago and also took you home," Harper introduced himself and elaborated. "Ah, I remember now. We did not have the opportunity to introduce ourselves that day, and I did not get to express my gratitude for your assistance," Ethan stated. "No need to mention it," Harper replied. "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Ethan," he said. "Pleasure to meet you, Ethan," Harper reciprocated. "I genuinely do not know how to express my gratitude, for if it were not for you, I would not be standing here today," Ethan implored. "Do not mention it; I am glad I could assist you. However, I would still like to understand the full circumstances surrounding your suicidal intent," Harper requested. "That is acceptable; however, it is indeed a sorrowful tale. Perhaps when you are free, I could visit, and we could discuss it," Ethan suggested. "Um, a visit may not be necessary, as you can see I am l
“Indeed, you did,” Harper replied. Upon seeing Ethan, Angela stood up, and Harper expressed his gratitude. “I wish to thank you for your patience; I assure you that such delays will not happen again.” “Oh, it was no trouble at all,” Angela responded. “Ethan, thank you for your time as well,” Harper expressed his appreciation. “No need to mention it,” Ethan replied. They then departed, and Angela promptly returned to her workplace. Upon arriving home, Ethan informed Alfie that he had met Harper, the individual who came to his aid. He further explained that Harper is the sole proprietor of the cyber café they had visited and expressed that Harper wished to befriend him, which amused Alfie. It took Ethan a week to visit Harper again, but upon arrival, he found that Harper was not present. He approached one of the employees, named Emily, to inquire about his whereabouts. “Good afternoon, I am seeking your boss, Harper. Do you know if he is available?” Ethan asked. “Good afternoon
"Thank you for your understanding, ma’am," Ethan expressed gratefully as he returned to sit with Harper. Without posing any inquiries to Ethan, Harper erupted into laughter. "Haha, I was aware she would not pay you any attention, and now you have embarrassed yourself. I attempted to dissuade you, but you disregarded my advice. Drink up; let us return home," Harper chuckled while giving instructions. "Hehe, and who claimed she did not give me her attention? Allow me to astonish you; she will be joining us shortly," Ethan retorted. "Are you being serious at this moment?" Harper asked, amused. "Certainly I am," Ethan replied with confidence. "Wow, how did you manage that?" Harper inquired eagerly. "I employed my initiative and the strategies I shared with you," Ethan responded. At that moment, Sophie approached and sat down with them, leaving Harper astounded. "Ethan, I am here," Sophie announced. "Thank you for keeping your word," Ethan expressed his gratitude. Sophie smiled
all motivated by a desire for tranquility at work, correct?" Harper asked. "Indeed, it was a source of distress for me, as each morning when I awoke and prepared to go to work, I felt a profound sadness knowing that I had an adversary. I was apprehensive that he might choose to eliminate me at some point. However, I was unaware that his intentions would manifest when he drew closer to me. All I desired in my workplace was the freedom to breathe and to feel at ease, without the burden of enemies. This was the reason I accepted his apology and agreed to befriend him immediately," Ethan elucidated. "Is it accurate to say that you chose to embrace a state of peace and naivety towards him solely for the sake of tranquillity?" Harper inquired. "Precisely, although I was unaware of the implications of my actions. Nonetheless, I find myself in a position where I must accept my circumstances," Ethan replied. "Hmm, observe the consequences of your quest for peace of mind," Harper remarked w
him until my first promotion, after which everything changed. His behaviour shifted, leading to feelings of animosity and jealousy, and ultimately resulting in my current predicament,” Ethan elaborated. “Please, be gentle with yourself. You earned that promotion through hard work and determination. You erred in befriending your adversary, but as I mentioned, it was not your fault, as you could not have predicted these events,” Harper clarified. "While I acknowledge this, I must question the benefits of the promotions I received; had I not been promoted, none of these events would have transpired," Ethan lamented. "In that scenario, you would have declined the promotions when they were offered to you," Harper asserted. "I made an effort to do so, yet the bank manager insisted that I deserved the advancements. I had no foreknowledge that it would lead to this outcome; had I been aware, I would have persuaded him to confer the promotions upon someone else. I suppose I was merely
saying, “Here you go.” “Thank you,” Charlotte expressed her gratitude. Ethan nodded as he sat down, and a momentary silence ensued until Charlotte broke it by saying, “Ethan, I wanted to ask how everything transpired between you and Steven.” Ethan feigned ignorance. “What are you referring to?” Ethan questioned. “Well, a month ago, you and two of your friends visited my home seeking information about Steven. When I inquired why you needed such information, you indicated that you suspected he was involved in framing you. I requested feedback, yet I have not heard from you since,” Charlotte elucidated. Ethan found it necessary to prevaricate, as he wished to conceal from Charlotte the fact that Steven was responsible for framing him; he also aimed to prevent her from pursuing legal action against Steven, as he preferred to seek retribution on his own. "Ah, well, we conducted our investigation and discovered that he was not involved. I did not wish to cause you undue stress, which
from me," Steven mused to himself. Meanwhile, Angela, intrigued, immediately asked, "My love, what did Steven say he wanted this time?" "Actually, he called me yesterday regarding an issue with his bank manager, and I encouraged him to apologise," Ethan replied. "Hmm, I do not wish to know the specifics of his issue with the bank manager; whatever predicament he finds himself in, he undoubtedly deserves it," Angela remarked. Ethan smiled and said, "My love, please remain calm. I am aware you have a dislike for Steven, and he has indeed received his just desserts. I only wish he would encounter further difficulties at work." "You can say that again," Angela concurred. "Let us take a nap; I am quite exhausted," Ethan suggested. "With pleasure," Angela replied happily. Conversely, Steven remained profoundly distressed, as he aspired to secure a promotion that the bank manager was reluctant to grant. Furthermore, he contemplated ways to dispose of the manager but realised he could
"My love, ignoring her calls will not resolve anything. Simply answer and ascertain the reason for her call, and act as though everything is normal," Angela urged. When Olivia called again, Ethan finally answered. "Hello, dear sister," Ethan greeted. "Good day, big brother. I have been attempting to reach you, but you have not been responding," Olivia retorted. "I apologise for that; I was occupied," Ethan replied. "It has been a while since I heard from you, and you seldom call, so I decided to reach out today to see how you are faring," Olivia said. "I am doing well. And you?" Ethan inquired. "I am faring well, and I am reaching out to you as I require financial assistance for my tuition fees and monthly expenses. I spoke with Father, and he informed me that he has yet to receive his salary, insisting that I contact you," Olivia explained. Upon hearing this, Ethan was taken aback, while Angela subtly encouraged him to continue the conversation. "Um, how much do you
which is why I have chosen to withdraw. Since that time, I have been apprehensive about entering another relationship, as I am uncertain of the behaviour the next woman I date may exhibit, and I am unwilling to subject my parents or relatives to further humiliation," Alfie elucidated. "I understand your sentiments, but do not dismiss the possibility that you have yet to encounter the right woman. It is not obligatory to marry anyone you date; take the time to truly understand her before making such a commitment. Moreover, why the urgency to marry?" Ethan inquired. "Ethan, how long should one date a woman before proposing marriage? I was in a relationship with Gloria for a year and with Lucy for eight months. Ultimately, it seems inconsequential. I have come to realise that neither was truly compatible with me, which is why I adhere to the adage, 'Man proposes, God disposes.' However, as I am now in my thirties, I seek companionship and someone to call my own. This is why I desired t
indicating that we would depart at dawn. When I asked why we could not take an evening flight, he mentioned he was expecting someone, to which I agreed and then retired to my room to rest,” Alfie continued. “Please, go on. I am all ears,” Ethan encouraged. The following morning, which was two days prior to my wedding, I awoke and awaited his arrival to call me so we could board our flight back. However, he did not come. Nonetheless, I chose not to disturb him, as I was under the impression that we would be departing from Vancouver that day. Consequently, I picked up my phone and call my fiancée, Lucy, who informed me that she was en route home with her friends. Shortly thereafter, Calvin knocked on my door, expressing a desire to speak with me," Alfie recounted. "What did he say? I trust he has not changed his mind about being your best man?" Ethan inquired eagerly. "Not at all, he had a different matter to discuss," Alfie responded with a laugh. "Very well, what was the nature
other four friends arrived and inquired why I had injured Levi, I explained the situation, and when they asked who my fiancée was, I stated it was Gloria. Can you guess what happened next?" Alfie continued his narrative. “What!” Ethan exclaimed. The group erupted into laughter, and one of them named Mike asserted that Levi was indeed correct, claiming he could attest to this because he had been intimate with her on multiple occasions. The other three concurred, laughing heartily as Mike informed me that they all had been involved with her, thereby justifying Levi's label of her as promiscuous, which Alfie recounted with evident sorrow. “Oh my goodness, that is quite troubling. Did you confront her about it?” Ethan inquired. “Indeed, I did, but she denied everything,” Alfie replied. “They will invariably deny such allegations. What actions did you take next?” Ethan pressed. “Well, I informed my friends that they were lying. Mike then reassured me, stating that he would invite her