The Bugatti Veyron was a car whose name alone commanded attention.
Even people who knew little about automobiles could recognize its iconic silhouette and breathtaking design at a glance.
It was a world-class luxury sports car, with prices reaching several million dollars for high-performance and limited-edition models.
Only the truly wealthy could afford to own one, and even among billionaires, it remained an object of desire that many could only dream of possessing.
Anyone who could drive a Bugatti Veyron through New York City was undoubtedly someone worth paying attention to.
Such a person would be considered a major figure even among the city’s wealthiest residents.
At that moment, the Bugatti’s distinctive doors swung upward, and a man stepped out of the driver’s seat.
The moment the assembled classmates recognized him, gasps of disbelief swept through the crowd.
Ethan?!
How could it possibly be him?!
He wore no visible designer logos, but the quality of his clothes was immediately apparent.
On his wrist sat a Patek Philippe watch, an understated yet unmistakable symbol of luxury.
Despite having graduated only two years earlier, Ethan carried himself with the composure and authority of someone who had occupied a position of immense power for centuries.
Combined with the Bugatti Veyron that had already stunned everyone, his appearance left the classmates wondering whether the man standing before them was really the same Ethan they remembered.
“Wait…
Ethan?
Is that really you?”
“My goodness!
It’s only been two years since graduation.
How have you changed so much?”
“You’re not just more handsome than before.
Even your entire presence is different!
You look like a powerful executive now.
You’re practically a different person!”
“Ethan, I remember you working part-time while we were still in university.
And now you’re driving a Bugatti Veyron?!”
The crowd buzzed with excitement, and everyone’s attention shifted toward Ethan.
Frank Doyle, who had been eagerly waiting to meet the owner of the Bugatti, stood frozen in place.
In the business world, knowing one more influential person could mean gaining another valuable connection.
Someone who could afford a Bugatti Veyron and move comfortably among New York City’s elite was certainly worth befriending.
Frank had been preparing to introduce himself to the car’s owner, hoping to establish a useful connection.
He had never imagined that the person stepping out of the driver’s seat would be Ethan, his former classmate!
When had this guy become so wealthy?
“Ethan, is that really you?
I can hardly believe it!”
Before long, several classmates had gathered around him, eager to ask questions.
Adrian Cross, meanwhile, watched from the side, his expression darkening.
He had been the center of attention moments earlier.
Now, Ethan had stolen the spotlight without even trying.
What irritated Adrian most was that Claire Bennett was there to witness it all.
Ethan had arrived at Adrian’s own reunion in a Bugatti Veyron and immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
Fine.
Enjoy the attention while it lasts.
Adrian kept his irritation hidden behind a polite expression.
He had no intention of confronting Ethan in front of everyone, but he certainly wasn’t pleased.
Claire, too, was surprised by Ethan’s arrival.
She hadn’t paid much attention to him during university and remembered him only as an ordinary classmate.
However, her family had recently looked into the backgrounds of everyone attending the reunion.
The information had revealed no particularly influential family connections among her former classmates.
Their backgrounds were all relatively ordinary and well documented.
That meant Ethan had most likely built his wealth through his own efforts rather than relying on his parents or powerful connections.
To go from working part-time as a student to owning a Bugatti Veyron within two years of graduation was an extraordinary achievement.
Claire couldn’t help looking at him with renewed interest.
“Hey, Mason!
Leo!
Cal!”
Ethan smiled and greeted three familiar faces among the crowd.
They were his former roommates, the people he had spent some of his happiest university days with.
“Wait a second, Ethan.
Is that really your car?”
Cal hurried over, staring at the Bugatti with his eyes wide open.
He reached out cautiously, running his hand over its sleek body as though he needed to feel it for himself before believing what he was seeing.
He swallowed hard before turning back to Ethan.
“Yes, it’s mine,” Ethan replied with a laugh.
“I’ve been doing a little business over the past two years, made some money, and decided to buy myself a sports car.”
Made some money?
The cheapest Bugatti Veyron models already cost millions of dollars, while rare editions could command considerably more.
Whatever Ethan considered a little money, it was certainly an amount beyond the reach of ordinary people.
The classmates were about to bombard him with more questions when Adrian finally stepped forward.
“Ethan, right?
Since you’re already here, why don’t we head into the private room?
We’ll have plenty of time to catch up during the party.”
Adrian wore a friendly smile, but beneath it, his irritation remained.
He was determined to regain control of the gathering, especially with Claire present.
There was no need to create a scene now.
He could deal with Ethan later if the opportunity arose.
“Sounds good!” Ethan replied cheerfully.
“Come on, everyone.
It’s been ages since we last got together.
We’ll have a few drinks and catch up properly!”
“It’s only been two years, Ethan!” Mason laughed.
“Why are you talking as though we’ve been apart for decades?”
The others joined in the laughter.
They had no idea how distant Ethan’s experience had truly become.
For them, only two years had passed since graduation.
For him, five hundred years had gone by in the Marvel Universe.
“Ethan, you have to tell us how you made so much money!” Cal exclaimed.
“At this rate, you’re earning money faster than a bank robber!”
“Exactly!
If we didn’t know you from university, we’d think you’d robbed a bank!”
“Ethan, is your company hiring?
My current job is killing me.
I’m working overtime every day for a miserable salary.
If you’ve got an opening, count me in!”
The group continued chatting and laughing as they followed Adrian into the Olles Hotel.
The moment they stepped into the private dining room, the classmates were once again overwhelmed by the lavish interior.
The room was decorated with expensive furnishings, elegant lighting, and luxurious details that made it feel more like a royal palace than an ordinary restaurant.
Adrian finally regained control of the gathering.
He snapped his fingers, and a team of impeccably dressed servers arrived carrying bottles of fine wine.
Anyone with even a little knowledge of wine could tell that these bottles were exceptionally expensive, with some valued at more than $10,000 apiece.
“Everyone, thank you for coming today,” Adrian announced calmly.
“Make yourselves comfortable.
Order whatever you like, and don’t hold back on the food or drinks.
Everything is on me!”
His words carried the effortless confidence of someone accustomed to spending money without worrying about the consequences.
Fine wine worth more than $10,000 a bottle, expensive dishes ordered without hesitation, and a private dining room of this caliber were luxuries most people could barely imagine.
Yet Adrian treated them as though they were nothing special.
“Adrian, you’re too generous!”
“We’re certainly in for a treat today!”
“This is what it means to be a big shot!”
The classmates immediately gathered around Adrian, showering him with compliments and eager questions.
They hoped to build a relationship with a man whose wealth and influence might prove useful to them in the future.
For the moment, Ethan was little more than an intriguing newcomer.
Adrian, on the other hand, had an established reputation and a powerful family behind him.
Naturally, most of the classmates gravitated toward Adrian.
Only Ethan’s three former roommates stayed close to him.
“Ethan, seriously, how did you make all that money?”
“Owning a Bugatti Veyron must mean you’ve made millions, right?
What kind of business are you in?
Finance?
Technology?
Something else?”
Mason, Leo, and Cal stared at him with barely concealed curiosity.
Ethan took a leisurely sip of red wine and smiled.
“My secret to making money?”
He paused deliberately, letting their curiosity build.
“It’s simple.”
The three leaned closer.
“I’m a fortune teller!”
“A fortune teller?!”
All three stared at him blankly, unsure whether he was joking.
Across the table, Claire Bennett had been chatting with several female classmates when the words caught her attention.
Her beautiful eyes shifted subtly toward Ethan.
She was curious to hear what he would say next.
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