Synopsis:
Betrayed by the woman he loved, Ethan Cross dies penniless and broken—his empire stolen, his reputation ruined, and his life destroyed. At the final moment of his life, when everything fades into darkness, he awakens… 30 years in the past.
Now a young man again, with all his knowledge of the future, Ethan is determined to rewrite his destiny. This time, he will not be a fool. This time, he will become the king of wealth and power. And when the time is right, he will make his enemies—including the woman he once called his wife—suffer a fate worse than death.
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Chapter 1: Death and Rebirth
Ethan Cross lay on the cold floor of his mansion—a mansion that no longer belonged to him. Blood seeped from the wound in his chest, his breath growing weaker. He tried to move, but his body refused.
Standing over him, wearing a cruel smile, was the woman he once adored—Sophia. The wife he had cherished, protected, and given everything. She held the knife in her delicate hands, her expression unreadable.
"You were too naive, Ethan." Her voice was soft, almost pitying. "You thought love was enough. But in this world, only power matters. Now, everything you built is mine."
His so-called friends, his trusted business partners—they all betrayed him. They watched as his empire collapsed. And now, Sophia would take the last thing he had—his life.
Darkness consumed him.
But just as he drew his final breath…
He woke up.
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Chapter 2: 30 Years Ago
Gasping for air, Ethan sat up—only to find himself in a familiar place. His old apartment. The cheap, run-down room where he had struggled in his youth.
He rushed to the mirror. A young face stared back at him. He touched his skin—smooth, no scars, no wrinkles. He was 22 again.
Memories flooded his mind. The stock market trends, real estate booms, technological breakthroughs—he remembered everything. He clenched his fists.
"This time, I won’t be weak. I won’t be betrayed."
With the knowledge of the future, he would build an empire unlike anything before. And when the time came…
He would destroy those who wronged him.
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Chapter 3: The First Step to Wealth
Ethan didn't waste time. He had 30 years of knowledge, and he knew exactly how to make money.
Stock Market: He remembered which stocks would skyrocket. He invested in companies that would dominate the future—Apple, Microsoft, Amazon.
Real Estate: He bought land in places that would become the heart of major cities.
Tech Investments: He funded startups that would become billion-dollar companies.
In just one year, he turned his small savings into millions. Within five years, he became a billionaire.
His name spread like wildfire. The young financial genius, the unstoppable investor, the king of business.
But this was only the beginning.
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Chapter 4: The Game of Power
Wealth was not enough. Ethan knew that power was just as important.
He formed alliances with politicians, military officials, and underground forces.
He built his own private intelligence network, uncovering secrets of his enemies before they even realized he existed.
He gained influence over media companies, ensuring his public image was untouchable.
No one would betray him this time.
And as he built his empire, he watched from the shadows.
Sophia. His ex-wife.
At this point in time, she was just an ordinary woman. She hadn’t even met him yet. She was still looking for a rich, foolish man to manipulate.
Ethan smirked.
"Let’s see what happens when the prey becomes the hunter."
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Chapter 5: The Beginning of Revenge
Sophia still followed the same path as before—she seduced a wealthy businessman, slowly working her way into his heart.
But this time, Ethan was waiting.
He bought the company that her current lover owned. Overnight, the man lost everything. Ethan made sure Sophia was left with nothing.
Desperate, she tried to find a new target. Ethan let her come to him.
She approached him at a party, her eyes filled with admiration. "Mr. Cross, I’ve heard so much about you…"
Ethan smiled. "Have you now?"
She had no idea who he was. She had no idea that she had once killed him in another life.
"Let’s play, Sophia. Let’s see who wins this time."
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Chapter 6: Destroying His Enemies
One by one, Ethan targeted everyone who betrayed him in his past life.
His so-called "friends" who backstabbed him? He exposed their darkest secrets and crushed their businesses.
The business rivals who worked with Sophia to destroy him? He bought out their companies and made them beg for mercy.
The corrupt politicians who sided with his enemies? He had them exposed in scandals that ended their careers.
Ethan had spent a lifetime learning the rules of power. Now, he was rewriting them.
And as for Sophia…
He let her fall in love with him.
He made her trust him, adore him, depend on him.
And then, at the peak of her happiness, when she thought she had won…
He shattered her world.
The same way she once did to him.
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Final Chapter: The Ultimate Victory
Sophia stared at Ethan, trembling. Her fortune, her reputation, her power—gone.
"Ethan… why…?" Her voice broke.
He leaned in, whispering the truth in her ear.
"Because in another life, you betrayed me."
Her eyes widened in horror.
He walked away, leaving her in the ruins of everything she had built.
This time, he was the winner.
And as he stood at the top of the world, the most powerful man in the country…
Ethan smiled.
Revenge was complete.
But his story was far from over.
Now, it was time to rule.
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End of Book One – The Rise of Ethan Cross
(Sequel Teased: Now that Ethan has taken his revenge, will he continue ruling in power, or will new enemies emerge?)