Ethan Cole - The Unlimited System

Jessica's voice shook as she spoke. She looked quickly between Harold and Julie.

"What exactly happened? Why would Dad borrow that much money? And why is Mom the one dealing with all of this?"

Julie looked away, guilt written across her face, but it was Harold who spoke, his voice heavy with the weight of the truth.

"Donald isn't just some wealthy businessman, Jess," Harold began.

His weathered hands gripping the armrests of his chair tightly before adding, "He's a loan shark, and he's one of the worst. He lends money at very high interest rates. When people can't pay him back, he doesn't just take their property... he takes everything."

Ethan, Jordan, and Mark chose not to interfere yet. Similar to Jessica, they wanted to learn more about the situation. The twins were forced to stay in the basement since this thing shouldn't be of concern to them.

Jessica's breath hitched, her mind reeling from the revelation. "But… why would Dad go to someone like him?"

Harold's eyes softened as he looked at her, his tone tinged with regret. "Your dad was desperate. Business was struggling, and he thought a loan from Donald would help him get back on track. But once you borrow from him, it's almost impossible to escape his control."

Julie spoke with a trembling voice. "Your dad didn't tell me everything at first. I found out when Donald's men came knocking. By that time, the interest had grown so much that we could no longer see the original amount."

Jessica's fists tightened as anger rose inside her. "You've been handling this by yourself? Why didn't you tell me?"

"What could I say, Jess?" Julie's eyes filled with tears. "That your father made a mistake that's been haunting us for years? I wanted to protect you, to shield you from this mess."

Harold's tone grew darker. "Donald's not just a loan shark, Jess. He's into everything—drugs, smuggling, bribery. He's poisoned this town, and everyone knows it. But no one has the power to stop him."

Jessica looked at Ethan, who had been quiet and hard to read. "Ethan, look. Even you don't understand the kind of man he is. You can't just go to his place and think you can talk him into anything."

Ethan's lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm not planning to reason with him."

Julie's voice broke. "Ethan, please don't put yourself in danger with your plans. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of us."

Ethan knelt down beside Julie, his tone gentle but firm. "Nothing will happen to me. Trust me on this."

Jessica crossed her arms, her worry etched clearly across her face. "And what exactly is your plan, Ethan? Because right now, all I see is a dangerous situation, and you walking straight into it."

Ethan hesitated, glancing toward Mark, who gave a slight nod of understanding.

Ethan said, "The less you know, the safer you'll be."

He gave a smile and started walking out of the house. Mark followed suit.

"No. Please no, Ethan," Jessica pleaded. "I'm sorry for letting you guys see all of that just now."

Jordan patted her shoulder and said, "Why don't you just leave it to Ethan?"

Jessica looked at him. She was confused by what Jordan was saying.

Jordan gave her a smile before following Ethan and Mark, too.

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Ethan sat in the driver's seat of his car. The car was quiet except for the engine's soft hum. Mark sat in the passenger seat with his arms crossed, looking straight ahead.

Jordan was in the back, not as playful as usual.

Ethan broke the silence. "Mark, what can we do to handle this best?"

"Wait. You didn't think about it yet?" Jordan interjected.

Ethan gave a weak smile. He shook his head.

"I have a few plans in mind but nothing finalized yet," he replied.

Mark hesitated. He knew Ethan was capable, far more than any ordinary young man, but he also recognized the gravity of their situation. His duty as a bodyguard was clear, to keep Ethan safe, no matter what.

After a long pause, Mark said, "Ethan, everything you're planning right now is dangerous. Going to Donald's territory without proper preparation would be a suicide mission."

Ethan glanced at Mark, his brow furrowed. "Is it impossible with just the two of us? A stealth approach?"

Mark shook his head. "It's not just about numbers. It's about experience. This isn't something you can pull off with theory alone."

"You need intelligence, planning, and backup. Right now..." he paused before adding, "We have none of those."

Jordan, who had been quiet up until now, shifted in his seat. "Wait a minute. You're saying I'm not part of this? That's unfair, Ethan. I can help."

Ethan turned slightly, his expression softening. "Jordan, I need you here. If anything happens at the Moores' house, someone has to be there to protect them."

Jordan opened his mouth to argue but then stopped. He couldn't deny the logic.

He nodded reluctantly and said, "Okay. But I still don't like it."

Mark continued, his tone steady but firm. "Even if there are more of us, Ethan, we don't know anything about Donald's operation."

He paused for a moment. He felt he needed to tell Ethan that the reality was not as simple as Ethan thought.

"How many men does he have? What kind of firepower? Surveillance systems? Defenses? Right now, we're completely blind."

Jordan chimed in, his voice carrying a hint of skepticism. "Come on, Mark. Donald's a local loan shark. He's not some international cartel leader. How equipped can he be?"

Mark's sharp gaze flicked to the rearview mirror. "Never underestimate an enemy, especially on their home turf. You'd be surprised what even a so-called local thug can pull off when he's got his back against the wall."

Ethan let Mark's words sink in, the weight of reality hitting him. His earlier confidence in using Stealth and other skills to infiltrate Donald's base suddenly seemed naive.

The plan he had been forming in his mind was full of holes, a reckless gamble that could cost lives.

He leaned back in his seat, exhaling slowly. "You're right. Without information, I'm walking in blind."

Mark nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Strength and skills are only part of the equation. Intelligence is everything."

Ethan's mind raced as he searched for a solution. He took out his phone and called Charles, his dependable advisor for finances.

The call connected after a few rings.

"Ethan," Charles greeted, his tone professional but warm. "What can I do for you?"

Ethan got straight to the point. "Charles, can you arrange for the Novan Bank branch at Brookville to handle one million dollars in cash? I need it in an hour."

There was a long silence on the other end before Charles sighed heavily. "Ethan, we've talked about this before."

He sounded frustrated. "Carrying that much cash is impractical and dangerous. Plus, a local branch won't have that much money available on short notice. Why don't you use a wire transfer or a certified check?"

Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose and realized he had made a mistake. He acted on impulse, thinking that his wealth could fix everything. Even with all his resources, there were limits he could not ignore.

"You're right, Charles," Ethan admitted, his tone resigned. "I'll figure something else out. Thanks."

Charles hesitated before speaking again. "Ethan, I don't know what you're facing, but please take a moment to think it through. Rushing into decisions rarely ends well."

"I will," Ethan said before hanging up.

He put the phone down and looked out the windshield, deep in thought. Even with money to spend, he realized he could not change things as easily as he had hoped.

Mark spoke calmly, "You're trying to solve this too fast. Take a step back. Think. You've got time. Use it."

Jordan leaned forward and said, "Yeah, Ethan. You're wound up tight. Relax a bit. We'll figure this out together."

Ethan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. They were right. He was rushing, letting his desire to protect the Moores cloud his judgment. To win, he needed to think clearly and have a solid plan.

But what did he need the win for? Was it because of pride? Or because of the system backing him, he felt he could do as he wished?

He could simply give that much money to Donald and ask the Moores to move to Novan City, where he could find accommodation for them.

He could provide Harold with the necessary treatment. The twins would have a better opportunity to succeed in football in the city, as there were more academies available for them.

When people asked him why he was so determined to help Jessica and her family, it wasn't out of romance or any other motive.

The truth was, without Donald's threat looming over them, Jessica was already in peril because of Lucien.

Everything stemmed from Ethan.

This would be his plan... for now.