Chapter 6 - Chapter 5: The Rise of Ethan Thorne

WITH his physical transformation complete and his health fully restored, Edward stood in front of a cracked mirror he had found in the dump, staring at the unfamiliar yet striking face reflected back. The weak, pale boy was gone. In his place stood a young man with sharp features, an upright posture, and eyes that shone with intelligence and a hint of coldness. Yet, as he looked at himself, he knew deep down that changing his appearance was not enough. He could not simply walk back into the world as Edward Garcia. That name was a heavy chain, dragging behind it all the painful memories—being abandoned by his family, bullied by strangers, and betrayed by the person he trusted most. It was a label that meant weakness and humiliation, and he was determined to cast it off forever. "I'm not him anymore," Edward murmured softly, his fingers touching the glass of the mirror. "Edward Garcia died under that bridge. The person standing here is someone completely new." He sat down at his makeshift desk, took out a pen and paper, and began to write down names one by one, crossing them out quickly. He needed something that sounded powerful, noble, and unforgettable—a name that would represent strength, dominance, and success. After hours of thinking, he stopped his pen and stared at the words he had written in bold letters: ETHAN THORNE. "Ethan Thorne… yes, that sounds right," he said slowly, a confident smile appearing on his face. "From today on, this is who I am." Ethan Thorne was designed to be everything Edward Garcia was not. He was confident, charismatic, and undeniably powerful. To fit this new identity perfectly, Ethan began to study and practice tirelessly. He would stand outside high-end hotels or business centers, observing the wealthy and influential people coming and going. He watched how they walked, how they spoke, and how they interacted with others. Sometimes, he would even strike up conversations with them, pretending to be an ambitious young graduate. One day, he approached a successful businessman who was waiting for his car, and started a conversation. "Excuse me, Sir. I couldn't help but notice the way you handled that negotiation just now. It was really impressive. How did you learn to stay so calm and sharp under pressure?" The businessman looked at Ethan, surprised by his polite manner and intelligent eyes. "Young man, it's not something you learn from books alone. You need experience, and more importantly, you need to understand what the other side really wants. Always stay one step ahead." "Stay one step ahead… I see. Thank you for your advice, Sir," Ethan said with a nod, storing the words carefully in his mind. He also spent countless hours in the library and online courses, studying negotiation skills, global finance rules, and the complex networks of international business. He learned how to analyze market trends, how to build business strategies, and how to speak in a way that inspired trust or commanded respect. The bio-regenerative machine he invented was not just a miracle that saved his life; it was also a scientific breakthrough with huge potential. Ethan realized that the technology could be applied to many different fields beyond medical treatment, such as advanced robotics, sustainable energy systems, and high-performance computing. He spent months refining and improving his invention, making it more efficient and practical. To protect his identity and interests, he registered patents for all his discoveries through several shell companies he set up, creating a complex financial network that seemed to have no connection back to his past. With his brilliant mind and the first batch of funds he obtained from selling some of his smaller technological inventions, Ethan began his rapid rise in the business world. He made bold but calculated investments in emerging tech companies. He could always accurately predict which industry would grow fast and which company had real potential. Sometimes, his decisions seemed too risky and crazy to other investors. "Mr. Thorne, are you sure about this? This company is facing huge losses and has almost no reputation in the market. Investing so much money in it… it's really not a wise choice," his financial advisor asked with a worried look. Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking at the report in his hand with a calm expression. "I know what I'm doing. Their technology is exactly what the market will need in the near future. Give them enough support and time, and you will see the results. Trust me." As expected, within just a few years, the companies Ethan invested in or acquired all turned into highly profitable ventures. He was good at finding the hidden value in struggling businesses and using his own technology and management methods to make them successful. His reputation as a visionary and shrewd businessman spread quickly across the world. Ethan set up his headquarters in a distant financial center where the rules were relatively loose and personal privacy was well protected. He traveled between different countries and cities, negotiating business deals worth billions of dollars, always maintaining a mysterious distance from the public. The media tried hard to dig up information about his background, but all they knew was that Ethan Thorne was a self-made genius billionaire who seemed to appear out of nowhere. No one connected this powerful and wealthy man to the poor boy who once lived under a bridge in Malberry. Years passed, and Ethan Thorne had become a well-known name that made people feel both respect and fear in the business world. He owned private jets, luxury villas, and a global business empire. He had loyal employees and partners who trusted and followed him. His life was completely different from the days when he had to fight for food and shelter. However, no matter how successful he became, the painful memories of the past never faded away. Instead, they turned into a burning fire deep in his heart, driving him to move forward. Finally, Ethan felt that everything was ready. He had built his power and wealth, perfected his disguise, and planned every step carefully. He stood in his luxurious office, looking at the direction of Malberry on the map. "It's time to go back," he said softly, a cold and sharp light flashing in his eyes. "Malberry… the place where I lost everything. Now, I'm coming back to take back what belongs to me, and to make all those people who hurt me pay the price." He picked up his coat and walked out of the office with steady steps. The grand return of Ethan Thorne was about to begin, and the people in Malberry had no idea that the person who was about to change their lives was the boy they had once treated as nothing.