1. The Victory Celebration
Ethan stood at the heart of Level Up Games' headquarters, staring out the glass window. The city lights stretched endlessly before him, but his mind was still reeling from the battle they had just won.
The lawsuit was over. Titan Edge had backed down, settled, and Vaughn was disgraced.
Behind him, the office buzzed with energy—employees laughing, popping champagne, celebrating their survival. They had made it.
Alex threw an arm around Ethan's shoulders. "You did it, man. You really pulled it off."
Ethan smirked. "We did it."
Grace approached, holding two glasses of whiskey. "To surviving our first corporate war."
Ethan took a glass, their fingers brushing slightly. A fleeting moment passed between them before she pulled away, looking just a little flustered.
"To surviving," Ethan echoed. They clinked glasses, and for the first time in months, he allowed himself to breathe.
2. The Next Steps – What Comes After War?
As the night settled, the executive team gathered in the conference room—no more battles to fight, just a future to build.
Mason leaned back. "With the lawsuit behind us, we can finally focus on what actually matters—growing Level Up Games."
Alex grinned. "Yeah, and we've got Horizon Interactive's backing now. We should think bigger."
Ethan tapped his fingers on the table. "Expansion."
Grace raised an eyebrow. "International?"
Ethan nodded. "Money Masters is already a hit in the U.S., but we're leaving billions of potential players untapped. Japan, South Korea, Europe, Latin America… we need to go global."
Silence fell over the room as the idea sank in.
Then Alex leaned forward. "So… we're taking this worldwide?"
Ethan smiled. "Yes. And we're going to do it better than anyone else."
3. Reconnecting with the Past
With the chaos over, Ethan finally had time for something he had been neglecting—his family.
At his grandmother's house, Vera greeted him with a knowing smile. "So, you're a big shot now, huh?"
Ethan chuckled. "Something like that."
They sat down for tea. Vera studied him carefully. "You look different, Ethan. Stronger."
Ethan exhaled. "I had to be."
She nodded. "And now that you're not fighting anymore… what's next?"
He hesitated, then finally admitted, "I don't know. For the first time in a long time, I don't have a battle to fight."
Vera smiled. "Then maybe it's time to start living."
4. A Night Out – Ethan & Grace
That thought stuck with him, and later that night, he found himself standing outside a quiet rooftop bar—Grace had invited him for a drink.
She was already there, leaning on the railing, looking out over the city. When she turned, the usual sharp, professional mask was gone.
"I don't think I've ever seen you relax," Ethan said, joining her.
Grace smirked. "I could say the same about you."
A comfortable silence fell between them. Then, softer, she added, "You really impressed me, Ethan. The way you handled everything… I don't think I've ever met someone like you."
He looked at her. "You were the one who kept everything together."
She rolled her eyes. "That's just numbers. You… you actually made the impossible happen."
Another pause.
Then Grace exhaled. "I was thinking… now that the company isn't constantly on fire, maybe we should—"
Just then, Ethan's phone buzzed. An email from a foreign investor.
The subject line: "Let's talk about taking Money Masters worldwide."
He glanced at Grace.
She sighed, amused. "You're never going to slow down, are you?"
Ethan grinned. "Not yet."
She shook her head, smiling. "Then let's make sure we do it right."
As the night air surrounded them, Ethan felt something shift. This wasn't just survival anymore.
It was the beginning of something greater.
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End of Chapter 21