Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening novel Chapter 36

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Ethan stood still, unfazed. His expression remained calm-almost too calm-as if none of the chaos touched him. His arms rested loosely at his sides, his eyes watching everyone with that same steady

gaze.

Alice opened her mouth to speak, but her voice was drowned out by the rising tide of jeers.

Eleanor’s voice sliced through the air like a whip. “Alice, you will end this farce right now. Apologize to everyone and send this man out before we become the laughingstock of the entire city!”

Alice’s father slammed his fist on a side table, nearly knocking over a crystal vase. “This is a reputable family! You dare bring in someone who preys on women and lies about his identity? It’s appalling!” 2

Sophia, still smug, stepped up beside Belen and wrapped her arm around his. “We should all write directly to the Nova Corp board. Someone this lowly doesn’t just own a company. He fakes his way into it. The company deserves to know.”

The room had become a mob. Nods all around. People whispering, “Yes, I know someone at the corporate office,” and “I’ll send a message right now.”

“Expose him!”

“Call security!”

“Let’s drag him out ourselves if we have to!”

Yet Ethan didn’t flinch.

Ethan could see clearly now-every glittering chandelier and gold-framed portrait in the Morgan estate meant nothing when the hearts beneath this roof were so small, so shallow. His eyes swept over the family’s members, noting how quickly admiration had turned to disdain, and how none of them had stopped to ask even one question before raising pitchforks.

Beside him, Alice’s hand trembled. Her face was pale, stricken with guilt and fear. She leaned toward him, speaking so softly only he could hear.

“Ethan…” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, “this is all my fault. I should never have lied. I thought it would protect you… but now they’re turning on you like wolves. I’ll fix this-I’ll take full responsibility.”

Ethan’s gaze flicked toward her, calm and warm despite the chaos. He whispered back gently,

“You don’t need to protect me, Alice. I walked in here knowing what I’d face. Let me handle this.”

Then he took a step forward.

“Everyone,” Ethan said, his voice cutting clean through the noise. “If I’m not the mysterious owner of Nova Corp, then how do you explain Alice receiving that exclusive development order from us?”

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The room faltered. Murmurs rippled again, but this time not with mockery-this time with doubt.

“Wait… he’s right,” one man muttered, lowering his phone. “Wasn’t that order sealed with Nova Corp’s private executive stamp?”

Her aunt frowned. “And it had the Platinum Seal, didn’t it? The one only the top brass can issue?”

“No way someone like Alice could fake that,” her younger cousin said, brows furrowed. “Even our company doesn’t get that kind of stamp.”

“But… if he’s lying,” someone else added slowly, “then how did she get it?”

They began to shift uncomfortably, the certainty from before cracking like thin glass.

Belen scoffed and shoved past a cluster of guests. “Don’t let him twist your heads! That order was a fluke. He probably stole someone’s stamp or hacked their system! The real boss of Nova Corp- everyone knows-is someone elite. Not this nobody in cheap jeans!”

Sophia stepped forward with a sneer. “And besides,” she added, curling her lip, “Alice isn’t even in their good graces anymore. After what happened with the Irving family, she’s done. I have insider sources.”

People turned to her with wide eyes.

Sophia nodded smugly. “Nova Corp’s already canceling the deal with the Morgans. You know why? Because the mysterious owner found out she’s nothing but a liability. A social climber who tried to use

their name for clout.”

Gasps erupted again.

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