Chapter 2 Hypocrisy

A beat-up Ford that only cost twenty-five bucks a day to rent pulled up in front of a middle-class house in suburban Boston.

Ethan didn't bring Noah along, nor did he take the bulletproof Rolls-Royce. He wasn't ready to explain to his aunt's family why he'd suddenly become a billionaire - that would be way too complicated.

His parents had mysteriously disappeared when he was young, and he'd been living with his uncle and aunt ever since. Though the memories here weren't all pleasant, this was the only connection he had left in the world.

The door opened quickly, revealing a middle-aged man with graying temples.

David, Ethan's uncle.

The moment he saw Ethan, he froze for a second, then his eyes immediately welled up.

"Ethan! Thank God, you're finally back!" David hugged Ethan tightly, his rough palms patting his back. "Come in, come in!"

Ethan smiled. As soon as he walked into the living room, he saw his aunt Susan sitting on the sofa trimming her nails.

Susan glanced up at Ethan, her carefully styled blonde hair swaying with the movement. There was no joy in her eyes, only undisguised disgust.

"Look who's back. Our family's famous 'genius' felon." Susan let out a cold laugh and said sarcastically, "What? Had enough of prison, so now you're back to mooch off us? Let me tell you, we don't support deadbeats in this house."

"Susan!" David frowned, then turned to look at Ethan and sighed. "Ethan, ignore her. What are your plans now? With a criminal record, those big companies definitely won't hire you. I know the owner of an auto repair shop nearby, let me ask if..."

Ethan looked at David's worried expression and shook his head, cutting him off with a relaxed tone: "Don't worry, David. I'll rest for a few days, and soon I'll take back everything that belongs to me and return to the top."

David's frown deepened. He thought Ethan had been in prison too long and something was wrong with his head.

"Ethan, you need to face reality!" David's tone became stern, with that old-fashioned stubbornness. "You're not that golden boy anymore! You're someone with a criminal record now! Stop dreaming these unrealistic dreams!"

Susan chimed in sarcastically from the side: "Exactly. Return to the top? Are the clothes you're wearing even worth twenty dollars? How embarrassing."

Ethan shrugged, not taking Susan's words to heart.

Just then, light footsteps came from the stairs.

"Ethan! My dear brother!"

Ethan turned to look at his cousin, Evelyn.

They'd grown up together since childhood and had a pretty good relationship. He'd stuck up for her plenty of times. By now, she should have already graduated from college.

She ran down from upstairs and happily grabbed Ethan's arm: "You're finally back! I have a friend who's really influential locally, he can definitely help you with the job situation!"

Hearing this, David's brow furrowed slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

But Susan's eyes lit up, and she stood up with a big smile: "Evelyn's talking about Mason, right? Ethan, you're in luck! Mason is the only son of the famous local businessman Grayson Jones. He's always been good to Evelyn. With his help, you'll definitely find a good job!"

Ethan keenly caught the worry in David's eyes and the greed on Susan's face.

Mason?

The notorious local playboy who, relying on his family's money, had ruined countless girls.

Although he hadn't been around during this time, as the king of Hive Prison, getting some intel wasn't difficult.

To figure out what this guy was really up to, and to quickly shut up the nagging Susan, Ethan nodded: "Sure, let's go meet this friend of yours."

Evelyn happily made a phone call, and in less than fifteen minutes, a luxury Mercedes business van pulled up at the door.

The two were soon taken to a top-tier private racing track in the suburbs.

Accompanied by deafening engine roars, they walked into the VIP lounge area.

A young man in designer casual wear with slicked-back hair was leaning against a red Ferrari, holding champagne. Seeing Evelyn, he immediately put on a big smile and came over.

"Evelyn, my darling, you're finally here."

Mason walked up, trying to hug Evelyn.

Evelyn dodged a bit awkwardly and pulled Ethan over: "Mason, this is my cousin Ethan. You promised before that you could help arrange a job for him, right?"

Mason looked Ethan up and down, and seeing Ethan's shabby clothes, a flash of deep contempt crossed his eyes. But on the surface, he still acted generous: "Of course! We're family. How about working at my dad's factory? I can pay you three thousand dollars a month."

"Thank you, Mason!"

Evelyn was very happy, clearly not noticing the subtle expression on Mason's face.

But Ethan didn't say anything. He looked at Mason's fake smile, his brow slightly furrowed.

After the serum transformation, Ethan's senses far exceeded normal people's. Although standing here, his ears clearly picked up the low conversation of Mason's buddies a dozen feet away.

"Mason's really going all out to get that girl, even taking care of her felon relative."

"What do you know? Mason said at the bar last night that this girl looks innocent and is easy to fool. Just get her in bed, play with her for a few weeks, shoot some videos, then kick them both to the curb. She won't even dare speak up!"

"..."

Hearing these words, Ethan's eyes instantly turned cold. An invisible sense of oppression spread from him.

"No need to arrange a job." Ethan rudely interrupted Mason's performance, his voice cold as ice. "Save your little schemes for those other girls out there. You want to play with my cousin, then dump her after shooting videos? You picked the wrong target."

As soon as these words came out, the whole place fell silent.

Evelyn froze, looking at Ethan in disbelief: "Ethan, what are you talking about? Mason's not that kind of person..."

The smile on Mason's face instantly froze, then turned dark.

He didn't know how Ethan knew what he'd said at the bar last night, but now he just felt like he'd lost face in front of this broke loser.

"Ethan, right? You're just a felon. You better know your place!"

Mason violently smashed his champagne glass on the ground, glass shattering everywhere, his eyes cold.

"I suggest you apologize right now!"

"Unless you want to crawl out of here."

Several bodyguards behind him immediately surrounded them with unfriendly expressions.

Looking at those bodyguards cracking their knuckles, Ethan just shook his head and pointed a finger at the red Ferrari behind Mason, his eyes full of amusement.

"Since this is a racing track, let's do it your way."

"Do you dare race me? If you lose, you kneel down and kowtow to Evelyn to apologize."