Chapter 19

Everyone in the store stood still as they all gaze at Ethan. 

The air felt heavy with surprise, and no one knew what to say.

Ethan at that moment stood tall, his face calm, but his eyes were sharp as he gazed at Jay, who started laughing loudly again, almost nervously.

Jay wiped his brow with the back of his hand and shook his head. He couldn't believe he almost fell for the bastard trick, someone that begs before he can feed himself now miraculously claim he donated five million dollars.

Jay voices out immediately.

"Ethan, you must be crazy!"

Jay said, his voice still shaking a little. 

"There's no way you have five million dollars! You can't play everyone for a fool; we all know you very well; a leopard can't change his spot; you're poor, and you will forever remain poor."

He pointed at Ethan and turned to the cashier. 

"Call security! Don't let him escape; he must be dealt with for everything to decide the store!"

The cashier hesitated for sometime, but she was doing so because, for some reason, her system is having issues and she can't confirm from her end if the money was actually donated. She gazes at Ethan, then back at Jay. She wasn't sure what to do. 

Her hands trembled as she picked up the phone to call for security. The tension in the store was thick, and everyone could feel it.

People started to whisper to each other, their eyes darting between Ethan and Jay.

"Did he really say five million to donate?"

 One woman muttered to her friend, who nodded, her face pale with shock.

"He can't be serious; can you just look at him? He looks like a university student, so that would give you an answer to your question." 

A man added, shaking his head slowly.

Ethan stood still; his face was calm, but deep down in him he wished he could just smack in the Jay face for the first time.

He had to stay cool because he still hasn't gotten the Straight he wanted. 

He can't let them see how much he has actually grown. 

His hands clenched into his fists by his sides, but his voice was steady as he spoke. 

"I'm not running. I told you, I've donated the money."

Ethan faces the cashier with a serious gaze because she's not doing her job properly.

"Since you can't do your job properly, call someone to confirm the donation and stop wasting my time; I have something very important to do."

The cashier was still unsure if actually Ethan had donated the money, she didn't want to say anything that would upset him in any way, if he truly donated the money, it might lead to her being sacked. Immediately,  she picked up the phone to ask someone in the payment department to check the account.

Her call was answered immediately, and she went straight to the point.

"Can someone confirm if there's a donation of five million dollars? in the charity account"

She asked, her voice shaking a bit. She glanced at Ethan nervously, then at Jay, who was pacing back and forth now, biting his nails for some reason he's afraid.

Ethan looked so serious, and this was the first time he had seen him like this, something about him had changed.

The whole store seemed to hold their breath. No one could move. The only sound was Jay's shoes tapping on the floor as he paced, trying to look confident, but everyone could see the sweat on his forehead and the way his hands were trembling.

He kept glancing at Ethan, his eyes narrowing trying to figure out if this was a trick or he was actually serious.

Jay's girlfriend couldn't say anything because she knew it's better to let him be when he's this intense; he can easily lose control of himself.

"It's a trick; how can you believe such nonsense for someone who has been begging Billy for a job last week, now suddenly has five million dollars?"

Jay muttered under his breath, his hands now still shaking more visibly. 

"That isn't possible. There's no way he has that kind of money."

Ethan stood there, calm on the outside, but inside, he was burning with anger and at the same time excited to get one over Jay for his bully. The rest should be waiting for him because he's going to pay them back. 

His fingers twitched slightly, but he forced himself to relax.

He wasn't going to let Jay or anyone intimidate him anymore.

His eyes stayed on the cashier, waiting for the call to come through.

Minutes felt like hours. Everyone watched immediately as the cashier's phone rang.

The sound was loud in the silent store, making everyone curious about what the outcome would be. 

She picked it up; her hand started trembling as she listened. Immediately her eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly in shock.

The person on the other end confirmed it. 

"Yes, five million dollars was donated to the account at the exact time you said."

The cashier's face immediately went pale, and she looked around the store. 

"It... it's true."

She stammered, barely able to believe it herself. 

"He donated five million dollars just like he said."

immediately gasps filled the store. People began to murmur, their voices rising with disbelief and filled with awe. 

"Did he really do it?"

"No way, this has to be some sort of mistake; it has to be."

immediately Jay stopped pacing, his face became even more pale, and

His jaw tightened. He couldn't believe what he just heard.

"That... that doesn't mean anything. It's just a coincidence! There's no way Ethan can really have that money! It's not possible."

Immediately, all his friends supported him.

"It has to be a coincidence."

But deep down, Jay started shaking. His legs felt weak, and he almost stumbled.

He turned to the cashier; his voice was shaking as he tried to regain control.

"Ask him the name! Ask him the name of the donor! I bet he won't be able to tell you!"

The cashier, her hands still trembling, looked at Ethan. 

And she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. 

"Sir What's the name of the person who donated the money?"

She asked, her voice low, filled with uncertainty.

Ethan, however, didn't flinch. 

He looked straight into the cashier's eyes, his voice firm and confident. 

"The name is William Hayes."

Immediately the cashier blinked, and she was stunned. 

She checked the screen in front of her, and immediately her heart started pounding in her chest.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she typed in the name, her breath quickening.

immediately the name popped out of the screen, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

Her hand flew to her mouth, and she gasped. 

"It's true"

She whispered, her voice barely audible but loud enough for everyone to hear. 

"The name of the donor is William Hayes."