The Rise of the White Lotus

Meanwhile…

As Ethan Lu drove aimlessly around the city, he actually didn't have anything in mind when he tried to distract himself. After all, he doesn't go to clubs anymore or have anyone to ask to hang out because his friends were mostly busy; Morris Liu was recovering in the hospital while Chris Yu accompanied him. Elliot Gong was overseas right now and keeping his distance from him solely because of the EliXi rumors, and his go-to friend Kevin Woo was now struggling with their company crisis.

Therefore, Ethan Lu just trusted his instinct to drive himself and see where it would lead him. For some reason, he realized that his life is not the same as before… including his brotherhood to those four. Was it because they started to grow up? Or, was it because the truth about Morris Liu and Chris Yu's identity made their relationship grow distant?

Was it because Ethan Lu doesn't think like Kevin Woo anymore? Or the fact that he was still immature enough to be jealous of the rumor that he knew very well would always remain as a rumor? Nevertheless, he suddenly missed the days that he and Kevin Woo would drag the three to have fun with them… excluding the beautiful girl's presence as that is what Ethan Lu would never miss in this lifetime anymore.

Soon, his ride came to a full stop and his gaze locked onto the place in front of him— it was the Lu's private cemetery. "Ahh… so, I ended up here after all." He murmured as he peered at the gate that was slowly opening for him.

If this was in the past, Ethan Lu would shift his gear in reverse mode and leave without entering the place. However, since he doesn't have anyone to talk to right now while being desperate to lift the heavy burden on his chest, he, for the first time in a long time, didn't leave and drove ahead, entering the lonesome cemetery.

As soon as he reached the area where he could park, Ethan Lu exited his car and unhurriedly entered the building where all the urns of the Lu family member resided. Heading to the main hall where all 'precious' family members had their urns, Ethan Lu stopped at one of the monuments.

It had a photo of a beautiful woman in a white dress, smiling gorgeously inn the photo. Even just looking at it, one could tell that the woman lived in luxury as her elegance emanated from her photograph alone. Underneath the unit where her remains and photo resided, her name, Christina Lu was displayed along with her birthdate and her passing day.

"Err…" Scratching the back of his head, Ethan Lu felt a little awkward as if he was meeting his mother after a long time. Furthermore, it was not like he had any good memories with her in the past as he was too young when his mother died.

"Dad… he's still in a coma— huh, I bet you are excited to meet him again because you are that selfish." Letting out a scoff in the middle, Ethan Lu lightly shook his head as he found himself foolish for pretending that he has forgotten what his mother had done to him.

"You know, I didn't actually plan to drop by but, well, maybe, unconsciously… deep down, I am still longing for a mother's embrace." Aside from pain, hate was also laced in his gaze and tone. One could tell the deep scars that his mother, Christina Lu left him as no one could ever make him show this expression in his face. 

"I never actually said it before but I despised you, Mom. Still, here I am, talking to you when I am desperately needing someone to talk to." Ethan Lu scoffed again as he mocked himself and vented his worries, anger, and everything he had been holding in, while standing in front of the person he loathed the most. 

"Tonight, I will officially be the head of the family— are you happy? Huh…" Pausing while glaring daggers at his mother's portrait, Ethan Lu placed his palms on the transparent window that protecting the urn and the photo. 

"Are you happy for giving me all the responsibility? Are you satisfied that I am slowly turning mad of the possibility that she wouldn't choose me? Are you glad for everything you've done just to save yourself? For leaving me just like that?" Without further ado, Ethan Lu landed a punch on the transparent glass. Alas, it only made a slight dent on it as it was a high-end shatterproof glass.

Still, his extreme loathing towards Christina Lu as memories in the past flashed before his very eyes. 

"I hate you… every single one of you…" one after another he spouted even more spiteful remarks, Ethan Lu punched the unit until his knuckles bled. It showed his abhorrence towards the family he was born to aside from the only ally he had— Edward Lu. 

It intensified even more because he had this kind of concern about Lexi. It was not that he was a hundred percent certain that she wouldn't choose him but rather, he was ashamed that his Lu family was this rotten to the core and she has to be a part of it. 

"Still, I hope your decision before made you happy and, at the same time, my plans for the future will make you regret it." Retracting his bleeding fist away from the glass, Ethan Lu could only let out a scoff before turning his head back to the obviously smeared blood and dents on the transparent window. 

Well, Ethan Lu had realized that instead of going up against this powerful family of his, he decided that he would be the one to cleanse it— little by little until he didn't need anymore crippling and shedding bits of blood for them to listen to his own rules. 

****

Hours later…

Finally, the monumental event, as another person would be titled as the new CEO of the Lu Corporation and the new family head of the family, had arrived. 

Representatives from all of the top families in the social ladder began to arrive one after another. Not just that, other businesses magnate that were partnered with the Lu Corporation personally attended the banquet to show their utmost respect to the new leader of the company.  

Even well-known celebrities, athletes, and politicians started to arrive as well. Although the said event should be private with only the approved media outlets that were granted access, still, the outside of the venue was surrounded by more reporters that were hoping to get a scoop from afar. 

They might be called courageous but, this would be an event of the century. Hence, everyone would die just to witness the party and have a glimpse of an interesting scoop they could write about. 

"Master, you shouldn't hurt yourself like this!" For the nth time, Lyrick Jiang could not help but nag Ethan Lu as he saw his master's bandaged hand again. 

If not for the fact that the report of Ethan Lu's whereabouts hadn't been sent to him, Lyrick Jiang would surely nag him even more. However, since he knew that his boss actually dropped by to see his mother, Lyrick Jiang reduced his naggings to him. Regardless, he was still annoying.

"Master, everyone is arriving now… about Miss Yang, I haven't heard from Nico yet. Also, are we going to wait for her?" Shrugging off the unimportant details, Lyrick Jiang hesitantly inquired as his anxiousness was probably just as strong as his boss about this matter. 

"No, you don't have to…" Finally raising his gaze away from his bandaged hand, Ethan Lu gave him a reassuring smile. "Only I will wait for her."