Ethan parked his car in the small lot by Maddox Movers. The warehouse was plain but well-kept, with a few moving trucks outside. Workers moved around, lifting furniture, loading boxes, and giving each other instructions.

  Ethan got out of his car and looked around until he spotted a strong man with gray hair shouting commands near the loading dock. Even from a distance, there was no mistaking Andrew Maddox—Jordan’s father.

  Ethan barely had time to call out before Andrew turned and spotted him.

  For a moment, there was confusion in the older man’s face, but then his eyes lit up with recognition.

  “Well, well.” A wide grin spread across his face as he walked over. “Ethan Cole? That really you?”

  Ethan smiled and nodded. “Long time no see, Mr. Maddox.”

  Andrew laughed loudly and put his hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Years, kid! Years! Look at you now. Last I saw you, you and Jordan were just two kids trying to figure out life. Now, you’re the man running Nova Tech? I was so surprised when Jordan told me that.”

  Ethan chuckled. “Just to keep me busy.”

  “Busy, huh?” Andrew smirked. "Good. Good. You know, being busy means you've things to do. Look at me. I have been so busy for years that it feels overwhelming."

  Ethan nodded. “That means business is running well.”

  Andrew threw his head back and laughed. “Damn right! Come on, come on—let’s talk in my office.”

  Ethan followed him inside, passing stacks of boxes and moving equipment, the air filled with the scent of wood, fabric, and faint traces of motor oil. Andrew stole another glance at him as they walked.

  “I still can’t wrap my head around it,” Andrew admitted. “You were always a smart kid, but Nova Tech? That’s something else.”

  Ethan gave a small smile. “I had good people around me.”

  Andrew grunted. “It takes more than good people to get where you are. Takes guts. A lot of it.”

  They reached Andrew’s office—nothing fancy, just a small room cluttered with paperwork, family photos, and an old but sturdy desk. The air was slightly cooler here, the hum of a worn-out air conditioning unit filling the silence.

  Andrew gestured to a chair. “Sit, sit. Let’s get you something to drink.”

  As Ethan took his seat, Andrew turned to his assistant at a desk near the door. “Get us something, will ya? Coffee or tea, Ethan?”

  “Tea, please.”

  Andrew nodded and leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “Ethan… I really appreciate you giving Jordan a shot at Nova Tech.”

  Ethan straightened slightly. He wasn’t expecting that to be the first thing Andrew brought up. Andrew rubbed a calloused hand over his face. “And… I’m sorry. For Jordan just disappearing like that.”

  Ethan said nothing, just waiting for him to continue.

  Andrew exhaled, his voice quieter this time. “He acts tough, you know? He is always joking, always making it seem like he’s got everything figured out. But that boy… he’s been carrying a lot for a long time.”

  Ethan nodded slowly. “Yeah… I noticed.”

  Andrew shook his head. “Me and my wife, we’ve been working non-stop for years. We had to. We wanted to build something for him and make sure he never had to struggle. But in doing that, we weren’t always there. Jordan learned to handle things on his own really early. Too early.”

  A beat of silence passed.

  Andrew sighed. “And now, he’s just… gone. No calls. No messages. Just disappeared. But this was not the first time he did this.”

  "He had done this before?"

  Andrew nodded. "Yes. Like I said, he appeared to be okay, but when things get tough, he'll disappear."

  Ethan frowned. “He hasn’t reached out at all?”

  Andrew shook his head. “Not every time he went missing. Before that, he’d text now and then just to let us know he was doing okay. But now? Nothing. We've asked around and asked to see the CCTVs at the hospital, but nothing. It feels as if he did not want to be found.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. It made sense. If Jordan was with the LaRues, he wouldn’t be leaving trails. Still, he kept his expression neutral. No need to add more worry to Andrew’s plate.

  “If I hear anything, I’ll let you know,” Ethan promised.

  Andrew met his eyes, relief flickering in his gaze. “Same here. If he reaches out, you’ll be the first to know.”

  A silence settled between them. Ethan knew Jordan was out there somewhere. He knew the LaRues were involved in whatever was happening. But until he learned more, there wasn't much he could do.

  After a few more minutes of talking, Andrew looked at his watch and sighed. “I have a lot to do today, but I appreciate you coming by, Ethan. Really.”

  “Of course,” Ethan said, standing up.

  Andrew extended his hand, and Ethan took it. His grip was firm—strong but full of respect.

  “If you need anything, just let me know,” Andrew said.

  Ethan nodded. “Same goes for you.”

  As he left the office, he started thinking about what to do next. Finding Jordan was not just something he wanted; it was something he needed to do.

  Just as he was about to reach for his car, he felt a strange sensation come over him. A presence. Not just any presence—an Ascendant.

  Ethan stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as his Divine Eyes activated on instinct. He turned slowly, scanning the area, and what he saw stunned him.

  Jordan.

  Ethan’s eyes locked onto his best friend, standing just a few feet away, exuding a powerful silver aura. His once-familiar presence was now enhanced, his entire being radiating with strength. But what truly caught Ethan off guard was what he saw with Divine Eyes—

  Lower Two-Star Silver Ascendant.

  Jordan had ascended.

  And not just that. With the boost that Silver and Golden Ascendants had, his battle prowess was already on par with a Lower Three-Star Ascendant.

  Jordan smirked, his posture relaxed but confident. “Hey, buddy… surprise to see me?”

  Ethan kept his expression neutral. “Jordan…”

  Jordan tilted his head. “How are you doing?”

  Ethan didn't answer. His instincts screamed at him that something was off, and instead, he asked, “Where did you go? What happened to you?”

  Jordan grinned but didn’t respond immediately. Instead, Ethan felt another presence approaching. A much stronger one. A second later, Alexander stepped into view.

  Ethan didn’t react, but his Divine Eyes told him everything—Low Three-Star Silver Ascendant. Even if Alexander was just an ordinary Low Three-Star, taking both him and Jordan on at once would be a struggle if that was their plan.

  The reason Ethan had been able to eliminate Donald’s hired Ascendants before was because they had already been badly injured by Steve. This situation was completely different.

  Alexander smiled, reading Ethan’s wariness. “No need to be so worried, Ethan. We’re not here to fight you.” He let his words settle before adding, “Not yet.”

  Jordan laughed playfully. “Come on, Ethan. Don’t be so tense. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

  Ethan studied Jordan carefully. His aura had changed, but his personality… remained the same. He was still Jordan.

  Jordan walked forward and placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder, his grin never fading. “Thanks for giving me the chance to work with you. Thank you for introducing me to this world of Ascendants. It’s awesome. You know how much I love this kind of thing, right?”

  Ethan didn’t respond. He was still trying to figure out where this was going.

  Jordan’s expression softened, but his words carried an edge. “But… why did you keep everything to yourself, Ethan?”

  Ethan’s gaze sharpened.

  Jordan continued his voice casually but carried something deeper. “You never told me how you got rich. How to be like you, like Mark, Steve, and the others. I thought we were best buddies?” He smiled, but there was something in his eyes.

  Before Ethan could answer, Alexander’s voice cut through the air.

  “Enough with the unnecessary talk, Jordan. We need to prepare.”

  Ethan frowned slightly. Prepare? For what?

  Jordan sighed, waving Alexander off. “Yeah, yeah, I know. But I’m meeting my best friend here. Can’t I have a little more time?”

  Then, Jordan reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a sleek black envelope. “Here, Ethan. Take this invitation. I hope I’ll see you there.”

  Ethan took the envelope without looking at it. His eyes were locked on Jordan. “What do you mean? Aren’t you coming back?”

  Jordan’s smirk remained, but there was a hint of something else beneath it. “Life brought me something better,” he said. “But don’t get me wrong—I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. It’s just that… like you, I found a purpose.”

  Ethan’s expression darkened slightly. “By following the LaRues?” His tone was calm, but there was weight behind it.

  Jordan paused.

  Ethan took a step forward. “After what they did to Mark? To Jessica? To Jessica’s father?”

  For the first time, Jordan’s smile faded. His gaze lowered slightly, and for a moment, Ethan saw hesitation. But then, Jordan spoke, and his response struck Ethan harder than he expected.

  “Well… that wasn’t directly related to Alexander,” he said. His voice wasn’t as confident this time, but he didn’t stop. “I’m following him. Not them.”

  Ethan’s mind processed that quickly. Alexander?

  Jordan shrugged. “The LaRues? They’re just a piece of the puzzle. What we’re planning is much bigger than them.”

  Ethan’s jaw tightened. “What are you planning?”

  Alexander, who had remained silent for a moment, stepped in.

  “Enough, Jordan. You're spilling too much.” His tone was sharp.

  Jordan raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. You heard him.” He turned back to Ethan, stepping back as if to leave.

  But before he could, Ethan reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

  “Where’s Mark?” Ethan’s voice was low. “Is he okay?”

  Alexander answered before Jordan could. “He’s fine,” Alexander said smoothly. “For now.”

  Ethan’s grip on Jordan’s shoulder tightened slightly.

  Alexander’s smirk widened. “We’re not planning to kill him. He’s… useful to us.”

  Ethan didn’t react immediately. But deep down, he knew. This wasn’t the last time they would meet.