Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

After hopping outta the car, I found myself in this sketchy, beat-up parking lot, trash everywhere, and some homeless dude chillin' in a raggedy tent. "Where the hell is he?"

Couldn't wrap my head around Ethan being in a dump like this; the whole vibe was giving me the creeps.

Faris took one last drag on his cig, flicked the butt, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and started walking, his voice drifting back to me.

"Chill out, you'll see him soon enough."

He stepped into this janky elevator. But I just stood there, not about to get in.

Faris shot me a look, leaning against the elevator wall, holding the door open with one hand, staring me down.

"If you don't see him soon, you can do whatever you want to me."

Guess Faris really did know where Ethan was.

Taking a deep breath, I finally stepped into the elevator but stayed in the corner, keeping my distance.

He smirked, all smug, and hit the button for basement level three.

We got there quick. Faris stepped out first, and I trailed behind.

This basement was dark as hell, the concrete floor kinda damp, and only these weak wall lamps lighting the way.

The further we went, the more freaked out I got. Suddenly, I wondered if I was being a total idiot, following this guy who once kidnapped me to some creepy place what if Faris was gonna use me to mess with Ethan again? Just as my mind was racing, a wooden door popped up at the end of the hallway, with faint noises coming from inside.

Faris knocked lightly twice, and a small square hole opened in the door. An eye peeked through.

After a moment, the door creaked open from the inside.

"Faris, you're here." The dude who opened the door greeted Faris like he was some big shot.

Faris patted the guy's shoulder. I followed him in, and what I saw blew my mind.

It was like a hidden world in there, as big as a plaza, with flashing lights, tables everywhere, the sound of mahjong tiles, shouting, and noise-it looked like a secret underground casino.

There were a bunch of people, but they all seemed like low-level thugs. If Ethan was here, he should be easy to spot, but I hadn't seen him yet.

Still doubting if he'd really be in a place like this.

"Keep up," Faris suddenly stopped and said.

Only then did I realize I had fallen behind. I quickly took a few steps to catch up.

We cruised through the big casino and slipped out another door, heading down this super dark hallway. At the end, there was another set of double wooden doors.

But this one was already open.

What hit me was this long, massive gambling table.

Right away, I spotted Ethan sitting at one end. The bald dude at the other end? No clue who he was, never seen him before.

This spot was even more hidden than the last casino. Just a few people around, and it was dead quiet. The few spectators were all on the other side, while Ethan was solo, just like the day I got snatched. He was alone but cool as a cucumber, not losing any of his swagger.

Someone noticed Faris and called out. Faris just waved back.

I hesitated.

Was it a mistake coming here? Would I mess things up for him? Cause trouble?

But it was too late. Ethan turned his head, and his eyes darkened when he saw me.

"What are you doing here?"

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have come.

I was about to bounce, but a hand grabbed me.

"You're already here. Why rush to leave?" Faris said with a grin.

In the once quiet room, whistles started up. The guys who knew Faris were now eyeing me with these mischievous grins, probably thinking there was something going on between us.

I got dragged to the gambling table, not too thrilled about it.

Honestly, I was torn. Didn't want to cause Ethan any trouble. But I was dying to know why he was here.

I knew he wasn't a gambling junkie.

There were no chips on the table, just a map.

Ethan tossed his cards down, and the bald guy across from him laughed.

Right then, a waiter in a suit marked a spot on the map with a red marker. The map already had several marked spots.

"Come here," Ethan said, looking at me.

I didn't hesitate and immediately shook off Faris's hand, walking to Ethan's side.

At this moment, he was alone, and the least I could do was stand by his side.

"Sit," Ethan said, nodding towards a chair next to him.

As soon as I sat down, the bald guy gambling with Ethan laughed. "Looks like you've got another chip besides Skyline International Corporation's territory."

As he said this, his eyes slid meaningfully over me.

He was talking about me, but my sudden excitement wasn't because of that; it was because of the words "Skyline International Corporation's territory."

I looked again at the big map in the center of the table. The marked spots should all be Skyline International Corporation properties.

Had all those spots marked with red circles already been lost?

How could he gamble so big? Why would Ethan dive into such a high-stakes game?

The vibe at the table was tense, and I didn't dare to ask a single question.

Ethan then lost several more rounds in a row, and the bald dude across from him was laughing like a maniac, clearly loving it.

Faris, sitting on the side with his arms crossed, didn't show any reaction, just watching like it was a movie.

Only one spot remained on the map: the Skyline International Corporation building.

I suddenly stood up and grabbed Ethan's arm.

"Stop gambling," I said.

I tried to pull Ethan away, but he didn't budge.

"Whether to gamble or not is up to Mr. Windsor. I certainly won't force anyone," the bald man said calmly.

Despite losing so much, Ethan's expression didn't change. He reached out, grabbed my waist, and pulled me onto his lap.

"Are you afraid I'll end up with nothing?" he whispered.

I looked at him and shook my head firmly. "I'm not afraid. You won't end up with nothing; you still have me."

Ethan was momentarily stunned, then he smiled a genuinely happy smile.

"Emily, let me tell you, even if I lose everything, I can make a comeback."

I definitely believed him.

Seeing his smile at that moment, I suddenly felt that even if he lost, it wouldn't matter. Whether he had everything or nothing, he was still the charming Ethan. Ethan said to the bald man, "One last round. I'll bet the Skyline International Corporation building against everything I've lost, including that USB drive."

When he mentioned the USB drive, I glanced at the other side and noticed one on the table in front of the bald man.

What could be on that USB drive that made Ethan bet everything?

The bald man readily agreed. Having won so much, he seemed to believe that even God was on his side and was confident that he would win this final round as well.

I couldn't help but worry about Ethan.

After losing so many rounds, would luck finally favor him this time? Moreover, this casino seemed to be the bald man's turf. It was hard to say if the game was fair or if there was any cheating involved. But I didn't show my tension. I didn't want my anxiety to affect Ethan.

The cards were dealt to Ethan, and he picked them up casually, showing no sign that he was in a high-stakes game that could take him from heaven to hell.

Before the bald dude revealed his cards, Ethan tossed his cards on the table and said calmly, "If you can beat this, I lose."

The bald guy, Simon Green, looked at Ethan's three cards, and his smug grin vanished, his face going pale.

Everyone else was wide-eyed in shock, and even Faris raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the cards.

Seeing their reactions, I felt a glimmer of hope.

After a moment, Simon threw down his cards in frustration and said, "You won the last round. Consider yourself lucky."

I couldn't believe it; it felt like a dream.

Ethan stood up, lazily looking at Simon with a faint smile.

"Sorry to disappoint you."

Simon's face twitched. He picked up the USB drive on the table and said seriously, "A bet is a bet. Take it."

Someone handed the USB drive to Ethan.

Ethan took it and said, You know the rules. I don't want to see a second copy of this."

Simon stood up and said coldly, "Mr. Windsor, no wonder you own half of Starlight City. You're sharp. I may not have many skills, but I understand the importance of a promise. You're free to go." I still hadn't fully processed what had happened, but my hand was already being held.

Without a word, Ethan pulled me out. As we were about to leave, two men rushed up and closed the doors.

I tensed up immediately.

Ethan's fingers gently rubbed my palm, as if to comfort me. He turned back calmly.

"What does this mean?"

This time, Simon didn't speak. Instead, Faris stood up from his chair, walked over slowly, and smiled, clapping his hands with a grin.

"Ethan, that was a spectacular comeback. But don't forget our agreement."

Ethan said coldly, "I keep my word. I haven't forgotten."

Faris nodded. "I believe you. I'll have someone escort you out."

Ethan tightened his grip on my hand and walked out quickly.

We passed through the dark corridor, the noisy underground casino, and reached the red-painted wooden door. The doorman, who was on the phone, obediently opened the door. We entered the elevator and finally returned to the underground parking lot from basement level three.

It wasn't until Ethan drove out of the parking lot and the car was moving through the bustling city at night that I began to feel the surreal experience of what had just happened. After driving for a while, I finally calmed down from the thrilling experience.

The car stopped at an intersection.

"Stay away from Faris," Ethan suddenly said.