Chapter 48: Spoiling Ethan. Noah headed downstairs as his cousin got changed. He walked up to his aunty and uncle smith and asked. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢 "Can I go out with Ethan for a walk? Spend some time together, he wants some fresh air." His aunty nodded. "Sure, sweetheart." Uncle smith also nodded. "Thank you, Noah. I appreciate it." Noah smiled warmly. "Don’t worry about it uncle. Ethan is my little brother." After Ethan got dressed, Noah took an uber with him and headed to the mall. ... Noah watched his cousin’s face crumble as they approached the Bitten Banana store. The flagship location gleamed with polished glass and chrome, displaying the latest smartphones like precious jewels. Noah’s plan was simple. He wanted to buy himself and Ethan the newest phones that just dropped and he wanted him to flex on his ex online. But fate had different plans. Through the store’s massive windows, Ethan suddenly froze. His face went pale as marble, eyes fixed on something inside that made his breathing shallow. "Is that her?" Noah followed his cousin’s gaze. A group of teenagers clustered around the display models. Six girls, one boy. The boy, was tall and confident, he had an expensive haircut, and he held court like a king among his subjects. And there, laughing at something he’d said, stood a petite brunette who kept glancing at him with obvious adoration. "Yes." Ethan’s voice came out strangled. Amy. And the infamous Jason. Noah studied the scene with predatory focus. The girl, Amy, maintained careful distance from Jason in front of the group, but her body language screamed attraction. The way she angled toward him, the secret smiles, the casual touches disguised as friendly gestures. Playing innocent while cheating. Classic. "Alright, perfect. Let’s go in." "Noah, I can’t—" "Trust me." They pushed through the glass doors. The store’s ambient lighting cast everything in a premium glow. Jason spotted them first. His smile was razor-sharp, the expression of a predator who’d found new prey wandering into his territory. "Yo, Ethan! What’s up?" He approached with confidence, designer sneakers silent on polished floors. "What a coincidence. I was hanging out with Amy...and the others together." Coincidence my ass. You are clearly looking for trouble, little brat. But don’t worry, I read enough novels to handle third-rate villains like you. The group followed Jason like satellites orbiting their sun. Amy’s eyes widened slightly when she saw Ethan after peaking across Jason’s back, surprise flickering across her face before being replaced by manufactured innocence. "Ethan! Hi!" Her voice carried forced brightness. "I didn’t expect to see you here." I bet you didn’t. Ethan stood frozen, clearly fighting between flight and confrontation. Amy stepped closer, playing the role of devoted girlfriend with Oscar-worthy performance. "I was just telling everyone about that movie we watched last week—" Ethan turned away from her mid-sentence, cutting her off. The dismissal was so complete, so unexpected, that Amy’s mouth hung open in shock. Good man. Don’t give her any attention. Noah had been observing from the side, but now stepped forward with perfect timing. His voice carried across the store with perfect projection. "Young Master, which colour of the new Banana 16 Pro Max would you prefer?" The effect was immediate and devastating. Ethan’s eyes widened ever so slightly. Even he hadn’t expected this plot twist. The girl group erupted in barely contained whispers. "Did you hear that?" "Young Master?" "Ethan is a Young Master?" "Is he rich?" Hook, line, and sinker. Jason’s confident smile wavered. His eyes darted between Noah and Ethan, recalculating social dynamics in real-time. Amy stared at her supposed boyfriend like seeing him for the first time. The casual dismissal suddenly took on new meaning—what if Ethan had been the one with money all along? Noah continued his performance with professional-grade acting. "The platinum finish arrived this morning. Shall I have them prepare the full package? Including the new headphones?" "Young Master Ethan?" One of the girls whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Like, actual Young Master?" The question hung in the air like smoke from an explosion. Every eye in the group fixed on Ethan with laser intensity. Ethan’s throat worked for a moment. Then, as if stepping into a role he’d always known, he straightened his shoulders. "Yes. Order the full package for me." Noah nodded with deference. "Of course, Young Master." The group’s collective intake of breath was audible. Even Jason’s confident mask slipped for a heartbeat. Noah raised his hand, and a sales assistant walked to them instantly, the kind of service that money trained people to expect. "How may I help you today, sir?" "Two Banana 16 Pro Max units. Top spec. And..." Noah paused theatrically, "the Young Master mentioned wanting the new AirPods Max as well." Go big or go home. I have enough money anyways. God blessed me, so I should bless the family around me. The assistant’s eyes lit up like Christmas morning. "Excellent choice! The platinum finish just arrived this morning." Amy pressed closer to the group, suddenly fascinated by every word. The other girls leaned in like spectators at a gladiator match. "Let me calculate that for you." The assistant’s fingers danced across his tablet. "Three Banana 16 Pro Max at $1,199 each... that’s $3,597. The AirPods Max at $549... your total comes to $4,146." There goes four thousand dollars. Thats 40 golden coins. Close to four iced teas sold. The number hit the group like a physical blow. One girl actually gasped. Another’s phone slipped from suddenly nerveless fingers. Jason’s face went through several colors. Four thousand dollars. He’d saved for two months just to buy his own phone. People thought he was rich because of his Merc. But they were all too young to understand that his car despite looking new was quite old with a very high milage on it, hence why he got it for way cheaper than it was. It was also a relatively old model, but he added some screens to make it look new. Noah pulled out his credit card. The assistant accepted it with a nodd "Thank you, sir." The card reader beeped once. Twice. Transaction Approved. Even Ethan’s jaw dropped. His cousin had just casually spent more money than most families saw in a month just to make him feel better. The card disappeared back into Noah’s wallet like it belonged there. It actually went through. Noah really has that kind of money now? Ethan thought, feeling guilty. Amy’s face had gone completely white. Her eyes darted between Ethan and the receipt like she was watching her entire worldview crumble in real-time. "Holy..." one of the girls breathed. "Ethan, you’re actually loaded." Jason’s mouth opened and closed like a beached fish. His merc suddenly seemed less impressive when facing someone who bought phones like groceries. The assistant returned with three pristine boxes and a shopping bag worth more than some people’s rent. "Thank you for your business, Young Master. Please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything else." Ethan accepted the items with newfound confidence. "Ethan," Amy’s voice cracked slightly. "I had no idea your family was so... successful." "There’s a lot you don’t know about me." Ethan’s voice carried steel now. The group stared in stunned silence as the Young Master they’d never noticed prepared to leave. Noah’s performance had transformed their social hierarchy in minutes. Sometimes the best revenge is success. Especially when it’s this expensive. "Ethan wait!" Amy said.