Chapter 48: The Weight of Truth
Ethan killed the engine of the Ferrari 812 Competizione, the silence that followed feeling heavier than the mechanical roar that had preceded it. He sat in the plush driver's seat for a moment, his hands still gripping the steering wheel. To the world, he was a sovereign with wealth that could buy nations, but as he looked at the sliding glass doors of the hospital's VIP wing, his peak-level composure flickered.
He checked his reflection in the rearview mirror. His Body and Mind were at Peak Level 100, and he looked more vibrant and powerful than ever before, yet he felt a strange hollowness in his chest. How could he explain to Henry McCain, a man who had spent thirty years working himself to the bone for a meager salary, that his son was now the wealthiest individual in human history?
Stepping out of the car, Ethan adjusted his black shirt. He caught sight of the jagged scratch on the Ferrari's door—the mark of the little girl's honesty. It served as a grounding reminder. If a six-year-old could face the truth with such bravery, he could surely face his parents.
The VIP lobby was a masterclass in modern luxury, with marble floors polished to a mirror finish and quiet, attentive staff who bowed slightly as Ethan passed. They had already been briefed by Elena; to them, he was the mysterious benefactor who had purchased the entire surgical floor's availability for the week.
He reached Room 702. Outside the door sat Henry and Sarah. His father looked older than Ethan remembered, the stress of the last twenty-four hours having etched deep lines into his forehead. Between his knees, Henry clutched the keys to the G-Wagon as if they were made of glass.
"Ethan," Sarah whispered, standing up immediately. Her eyes darted to his clothes, then to the high-end watch on his wrist that she hadn't noticed before. "You're finally here. Mom is resting. The doctors... they said it's a miracle. They've never seen a recovery this fast."
Ethan nodded, stepping forward to embrace his sister. "I told you I'd take care of it, Sarah."
Henry looked up, his gaze searching Ethan's face. He didn't stand. He just held up the heavy key fob. "The car, Ethan. Those men... they said it belongs to me. They said you bought it. And this room... the nurses said the bill was settled by something called Black Global Holdings." Henry's voice trembled. "Son, tell me the truth. Where did this come from? Did you get involved with... with people like Thomas?"
Ethan took a deep breath and pulled a chair close, sitting directly in front of his father so their knees almost touched. He couldn't tell them about the Zillion System—the concept was too alien, too dangerous. He had to bridge the gap between their reality and his new world.
"Dad, look at me," Ethan said, his voice dropping to a low, steady frequency that commanded the room. "I'm not a criminal. And I'm definitely not like Thomas."
"Then how?" Henry asked, his eyes wet. "This car alone costs more than our house is worth. Much more."
"Dad, I'm sorry I didn't inform you earlier," Ethan began, holding his father's gaze firmly. "When I was in school, I won a lottery of 10 million dollars. I knew it was a huge sum of money, and I didn't want to squander it, so I decided to invest most of it. By a stroke of luck, the investment paid off."
Henry stared at him, his mouth opening slightly, but no words came out. The sheer mention of ten million dollars was enough to make a man who counted every penny dizzy.
Ethan leaned in slightly, continuing to weave the explanation smoothly. "For the past few months, I haven't just been attending lectures. I've been working with a group of international investors I met through a specialized fintech forum. I developed an algorithmic trading model—a way to identify market shifts before they happen. I called it a 'System'. I joined my investment with them, and the international investors also added some money to make the system successful."
Sarah let out a small gasp, covering her mouth as she listened to her brother translate impossible wealth into terms they could grasp.
"Dad, I know it sounds far-fetched," Ethan said softly, his expression turning deeply earnest. "I also didn't know how to inform you all this while, and that's why I kept quiet. But looking at what Thomas did, I knew I couldn't just stay still."