Chapter 401
It was completely dark outside, and the room was dim, so Stephen did not know what time it was. The scenes from the class reunion flashed in his head.
Everything felt hazy with his pounding headache He remembered everything clearly, yet the memories felt strangely unfamiliar. It was as if he had dreamed of someone else’s life.
“Is anyone there?” Stephen shouted.
Thud, thud.
There was a knock at the door. The butler had heard the noise and brought him some hangover tea.
When the lights came on and he saw the butler, Stephen felt slightly better. He took the tea and drank it. As he sobered up, the memories came rushing back to him.
Happy events, sad events, unforgettable events, Andy’s grand aspirations, the significant losses, and also…being abandoned.
He woke up at a moment when there was nothing he could do.
Stephen’s movements stopped.
The butler asked in concern,” “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Stephen muttered: “Just remembering some things.”
He could not drink anymore and handed the cup back to the butler, saying, “I want to sleep a bit more.”
“Very well. Call me if you need anything.” The butler then left.
Stephen lay down on the bed. The headache from the hangover had not faded yet. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Whenever he closed his eyes, he thought of Ethan and what the latter had said, “You overestimate yourself.”
Stephen could not sleep. He got up again, called the butler, and asked him to find someone to investigate what happened to Ethan’s welfare agency.
At 11 p.m., he got the information.
Stephen looked at the report and was stunned. Ethan’s organization had 2 billion dollars of assets, and it had helped as many as 300,000 people. Most of those receiving aid were from impoverished areas, and some were families of heroes. Lastly, some were from poor families and had seriously ill relatives.
All that money that Ethan earned was through writing novels, producing films, and songwriting. He had never taken a single penny from Riveria!
Stephen’s hands began to tremble as he looked at this information.
Chapter 401
+25 BONUS
During the day, he thought that he had surpassed Ethan and stepped onto a path that Ethan had never seen before. Now, he understood that Ethan had also traveled on this road before! Furthermore, he walked on it faster and further than Stephen.
Every scenery Stephen saw now bore Ethan’s footprints. Ethan understood everyone’s helplessness, hopelessness, and despair better than Stephen did!
Stephen paled. Ethan’s words echoed in his ears again. “You need to learn to view problems from the perspective of ordinary people.”
At that moment, he felt those words strike him like a lightning bolt, shaking his soul to its
core.
Back then, he thought that the meaning of that sentence was to make him learn the foolish thinking of ordinary people.
Now, he understood. He had never lacked anything and had no idea how others lived. It was not until this class reunion that he realized how ignorant he had been.
‘He wanted me to think of myself as an ordinary person and find the answers to problems from everyone’s perspective, offering a solution that satisfies everyone… It’s only now that I understand.‘
Not long ago, he had mocked Ethan in his heart, saying that Ethan was always high above and believed he controlled everything. Now, it seemed like the person who truly thought he was above everyone and had everything under control was himself!
‘If I had understood this principle sooner, I wouldn’t have ruined the fishery and tourism industries of Aqua City. The housing prices in Celestial City wouldn’t have collapsed either.‘
Stephen felt an overwhelming regret.
‘However, it’s not too late for me to realize it now. I still have a chance to make amends, starting with Penny.‘
Just as he was about to draft a plan, his phone suddenly rang. It was Blake.
Stephen answered it.
“Stephen? You don’t need to worry about Penny anymore.”
Stephen frowned. “Why?”
“Something has happened to her.”
Boom!
Stephen felt like lightning just struck him.
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