Chapter 2

Everyone said I'd gone crazy.

I'd brought home a beggar, spent a fortune on private doctors and imported antibiotics, and even enrolled him in the most elite financial trading courses.

When Tiana saw the bandaged figure seriously studying "Security Analysis," she burst out laughing.

"Serena, has this beggar scrambled your brains? Does he even know what 'finance' means?"

Mom chimed in, shooting me a disgusted look.

"What's so special about this beggar? You're just throwing money down the drain!"

I didn't even look up. "My money. I'll throw it wherever I want."

And it was true—all the money I'd saved over the years from reading fortunes and feng shui was flowing like water toward him.

I even bought an expensive tourmaline ring at auction and gave it to him.

Everyone thought I was man-crazy.

Bewitched by a beggar.

Only I knew—once he survived this final trial, Ethan would soar.

And I would use his fortune to defy heaven itself.

Resilient and enduring, Ethan—continuing fortune.

"Ethan, don't disappoint me."

He didn't disappoint me.

In three months, Ethan completed all the finance courses. I gave him startup capital to register Ethan Capital.

By the fifth month, he attacked the stock market, precisely shorting overinflated green energy stocks. One week, two hundred million profit. He became famous overnight.

By the seventh month, he moved to commodity futures. I helped him predict policy shifts. Another eight hundred million.

In just one year, Ethan Capital grew from a tiny office into a financial empire.

Ethan himself made headlines as the city's newest billionaire—mysterious and low-profile.

And I, as general manager, stayed by his side the entire time.

The day came quickly.

Ethan's injuries healed completely. He removed the bandages from his face.

When he was invited to the Annual Outstanding Entrepreneur Awards, the entire financial world went wild.

Major media outlets swarmed:

"One Year to Billionaire Status! Mysterious Rising Star Ethan's First Public Appearance!"

Amid massive anticipation, Ethan stepped onto the stage.

He stood against the light—eyes like stars, tall and striking.

For a moment, the entire venue fell silent.

Then thunderous applause erupted.

Ethan's acceptance speech contained only one name: Serena.

The tourmaline ring on his left hand gleamed under the spotlight.

Now he'd created a matching couple's ring and personally placed it on my ring finger.

Then he announced our wedding date: one month away.

The media exploded. Camera flashes went off like fireworks.

"Breaking news! The man who became a billionaire in one year—his first public appearance is a proposal!"

"Oh my god, such a handsome, devoted billionaire—he's straight out of a romance novel!"

"Marrying him would be a dream come true!"

I looked at Ethan up close—his sharp nose and thin lips.

Less than a month until the fortune transfer array would be complete.

Once I obtained that top-tier golden koi fortune, I'd soar to the top.

At that point, Ethan would be marrying into my wealth.

I could certainly afford to keep him.

But no one noticed that Tiana was there that day, working as an intern reporter.

She stared at the man on stage, lips parted, hands pressed over her heart, as if the surrounding noise didn't exist.

Only her pounding heartbeat remained.

She murmured like she was dreaming: "My... Prince Charming has actually appeared..."