Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Ethan seemed amused by my shocked look, his smile barely visible through the smoke. "Perfect, I don't want you either. Not just any woman can sleep with me. Do you think your body is worth a million dollars?" Seeing Vivian's scared face now, I felt pretty satisfied.

Vivian always relied on her dad, Xavier, the dean, to get away with wearing clothes that broke hospital rules, flaunting her charm, and seducing married men.

Vivian's confidence made her humiliation now even sweeter.

But Arthur couldn't come up with a million dollars, no matter how much Ethan pressured him. I started thinking about TV shows where gamblers get beaten up for not paying, and it scared me a bit.

I wasn't sure if Ethan would actually do that. Before I could say anything, Ethan told Oliver, "Take them downstairs to get something to eat."

Oliver got the hint, stood up, and stretched. "I'm hungry too. Ladies, let's go, my treat."

"Let's go, I'm starving," Bella said, pulling me along.

Bella dragged me to the elevator. I looked back and saw Ethan talking to Arthur, who looked terrified. After a bit, Ethan walked towards a private room, with Arthur following, leaving Vivian sitting there. "Emmy, don't go soft, okay? Arthur's a jerk. What are you still hoping for?" Bella scolded me.

I had no illusions about Arthur and didn't feel sorry for him. I hated him. I just felt bad for his parents, who lost their savings in an instant. "I'm not going soft. I just know he can't come up with a million dollars." "Even if he can't, it's not your problem. Don't help him pay." The elevator door opened, and Bella dragged me inside.

Oliver joined us, one hand in his pocket, the other pressing the button. "She's right. He can't come up with the money. Ethan has his ways."

"What will Ethan do to him?" I asked, worried Ethan might break the law to get back at Arthur. But Oliver just smiled and didn't answer.

We got back to the bar on the second floor. Oliver led us to a booth and ordered food.

Soon, the table was full of food. Bella and Oliver were eating, chatting, and laughing, hitting it off right away.

I couldn't eat, feeling restless. If Bella hadn't held me back, I would've gone upstairs to see what was happening. Just as I stood up for the third time, the elevator door opened, and Ethan came down. My eyes followed him closely, trying to read his expression.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"Gone," he said.

I pondered, "Gone? Arthur couldn't possibly come up with a million dollars, and Ethan wouldn't let him off that easily."

"How was it resolved?" I asked again.

Oliver opened a beer and placed it in front of Ethan.

Ethan didn't answer me. He seemed extremely thirsty, drinking more than half the beer before putting it down. Then he slowly lit a cigarette, unbuttoned his shirt, and lay back on the sofa, looking at me.

His eyes were filled with confusion, self-mockery, and puzzlement. Although his lips were upturned, they looked cold and mocking. "Emily, I've always wondered, if you hadn't met me that night, what would you have done?" I felt like Ethan's anger was directed at me.

"So you were that woman. I really didn't recognize you at the time. You really are a beauty," Oliver suddenly realized.

I ignored Oliver and couldn't answer Ethan's question. Honestly, I didn't know what I would've done if I hadn't met Ethan that night.

Ethan had no obligation to help me, yet he did. To me, he was a man with a sense of justice and a gentlemanly demeanor. I really wanted to thank him.

"This hypothetical question doesn't matter. I met you, and that was my luck. Thank you." I poured myself a glass of beer and seriously toasted him.

Ethan was stunned for a moment, then picked up the beer bottle and clinked it with my glass.

After downing the rest of the beer in one gulp, he said, "Emily, sometimes, whether you're lucky or not depends on how you see it."

After finishing my beer, I put down the glass, still not understanding what he meant. But I didn't dwell on it. I was curious about how Arthur resolved the million-dollar debt.

"Alright, are you guys having a secret conversation? Can you consider our feelings?" Oliver interrupted.

"Exactly, you two have hugged and kissed, and now you're thanking each other like strangers," Bella chimed in.

Ethan smiled without explaining, took a puff of his cigarette, and suddenly said to me, "Emily, what you owe me can't be settled with just a glass of beer."