Chapter 778: The Grudge from Twenty Years Ago

Ethan Hawthorne had met the man a few times before. This was back before Old Master Hawthorne went abroad. At the time, the country was torn by war and factories were failing. Old Master Chandler had taken the initiative to consult with Ethan’s father, bringing Quinn Chandler with him. Quinn was supposedly an illegitimate son whom Old Master Chandler despised, and his position in the Chandler family was awkward.

Ethan couldn’t confirm how awkward Quinn’s position was, but the fact that he was despised was certainly true. Old Master Chandler had already sent his wife and legitimate children abroad, yet he had left only Quinn behind. It was a clear statement: he didn’t want Quinn and his mother going overseas to be a nuisance to his wife and her children.

Ethan had been present as well. He and Quinn Chandler were both around seventeen or eighteen at the time—an age of youthful arrogance, where they felt invincible. Although war raged elsewhere, the situation in Tristone was somewhat better. It was like an isolated island in a vast sea; while tempests raged all around, the island itself remained relatively tranquil.

As a result, the wealthy young masters of Tristone continued their usual pastimes of wining, dining, and fawning over starlets. Ethan Hawthorne was no exception. He had become infatuated with a singer called White Rose. She was beautiful with a stunning figure, had a lovely voice, and was quite young—only eighteen.

She was said to be a student, possessing a unique blend of innocence and allure—enchanting without being crass. From the moment she debuted, she took Tristone by storm and quickly became the city’s top headliner. She was pursued by countless wealthy young men, Ethan Hawthorne among them.

As a young, handsome scion of the Hawthorne family, it was only natural for White Rose to be interested. She and Ethan Hawthorne became passionately involved. Everyone in Tristone’s high society knew White Rose was Ethan’s woman, and the other wealthy bachelors were savvy enough to leave her alone.

But Quinn Chandler had just arrived in Tristone and was unaware of the situation. His background and upbringing had given him a dark, conflicted personality—a mix of deep insecurity and immense pride. He also loved showing off to prove his worth. So, the moment he arrived in the city, he began a fervent pursuit of White Rose, showering her with flowers and jewelry daily and completely disregarding Ethan Hawthorne.

As a social butterfly of the entertainment world, White Rose was naturally delighted to be pursued. She never explicitly rejected Quinn Chandler, instead playing an ambiguous game between him and Ethan Hawthorne—a game she seemed to thoroughly enjoy.

One day, the two rivals had a fateful encounter, and their animosity boiled over into a fistfight. Ethan Hawthorne lost the one-on-one brawl. Holding a grudge, Ethan hired some gangsters the very next day. They beat Quinn Chandler to a pulp, stripped him down to his underpants, and dumped him on the city’s most bustling street.

It was just Quinn Chandler’s bad luck that a newspaper reporter was passing by. He snapped a photo on the spot and wrote a sensationalist gossip piece about the love triangle. Within days, the entire country knew the story of how the young masters of the Hawthorne and Chandler families had brawled out of jealousy over a singer.

Afterward, both Ethan Hawthorne and Quinn Chandler were punished by their fathers. Old Master Hawthorne, however, didn’t do much. After all, his own past wasn’t exactly pristine, so he lacked the standing to properly discipline his son. Old Master Chandler, on the other hand, was absolutely livid. He supposedly broke three whips while beating Quinn, leaving him unable to even get out of bed. The feud between Quinn and Ethan was thus permanently forged.

Quinn Chandler was definitely here for revenge. Ethan Hawthorne was absolutely certain of it. A wave of anxiety washed over him. He lit a cigarette but didn’t smoke it, simply letting it burn until it was nothing but ash. Only then did he feel himself start to calm down.

Straightening his appearance in the mirror, Ethan Hawthorne left the study.

"Any word back from Goldie Thorne?"

He asked Bernice as he reached the bottom of the stairs. The waiting was making him anxious. If Goldie Thorne didn’t get back to them soon, he would just go to him directly. He absolutely had to convince Goldie to partner with him.

Bernice and Jacqueline Spann were in the middle of preparing lunch. Bernice shook her head. "Not yet. I’ll give him another call in a bit."

Jacqueline Spann, who had been focused on chopping vegetables, froze. The color drained from her face, and she nearly sliced her own finger.