VEIL OF DECEPTION

The city pulsed with life, its towering skyscrapers glowing against the midnight sky. Azure City—a place where the powerful thrived and the weak were forgotten. Among the forgotten stood Ethan Cross, his fists clenched, his breath uneven as he gazed at the dazzling gala through the glass walls of the Vanderbilt Grand Hotel.

Inside, laughter and luxury intertwined—a world he once dreamed of but could never touch. He spotted Lucas Vanderbilt, the man who had everything Ethan lacked. On his arm, dressed in a silk gown, was Celeste Carter, Ethan's ex—the woman who had sworn to love him but left him for wealth. She leaned into Lucas, whispering something before letting out a soft, cruel laugh.

Ethan's jaw tightened. The weight of betrayal, poverty, and humiliation sat heavy on his shoulders. Just that morning, his landlord had thrown him out. His so-called friends had cut ties. He had no money, no future, nothing but shattered pride.

Then, his phone buzzed.

UNKNOWN NUMBER.

He hesitated before answering.

"Ethan Cross," a deep voice murmured. "Your suffering ends tonight."

Ethan's heart pounded. Who was this?

"You've been kept in the dark for too long. It's time to reclaim what's yours."

The call ended. A second later, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom glided to a stop at the curb below. The tinted window lowered slightly, revealing a gloved hand—its wrist adorned with a golden emblem Ethan didn't recognize, yet felt hauntingly familiar.

Then, a text appeared on his screen:

"Get in. Everything changes now."

Ethan took one last glance at the world that had rejected him. Then, without hesitation, he turned away from his past and stepped into the unknown.

The first move had been played. The game had begun.