1.POOR TWINS ASK A YOUNG BILLIONAIRE TO BE THEIR DAD AT SCHOOL HIS ANSWER

The night before the scheduled press conference, a heavy rainstorm swept over the city. Thick fog rolled through the streets, casting long shadows across the quiet neighborhood where Sophie’s diner stood.

At 2:00 AM, the silent alarm at the diner went off on Ethan’s phone.

Ethan sat up instantly in bed, his eyes sharp. He checked the security feed on his tablet—the cameras inside the diner were blacked out one by one.

"Ethan? What is it?" Sophie asked, waking up immediately.

"The diner's security feed just went down," Ethan said, pulling on his jacket. "Stay here with the guards and the girls. I’m going there now."

"Be careful, Ethan!" Sophie pleaded, grabbing his arm. "Call the police!"

"Marcus is already calling them," Ethan said, kissing her forehead quickly. "I won't let him burn down what we built."

Ten minutes later, Ethan’s SUV pulled up outside the diner. Smoke was already billowing from the rear kitchen windows into the rain-slicked alleyway. Ethan grabbed a heavy flashlight from his trunk and rushed toward the side entrance, kicking open the jammed emergency door.

Inside, the kitchen was thick with gray smoke. A small fire was crackling near the main electrical panel, fueled by accelerants poured intentionally over the wall. Through the haze, Ethan saw a hooded figure trying to break open the floor safe where the historical property deeds were kept.

"Step away from the safe!" Ethan bellowed, his voice echoing over the roar of the flames.

The intruder spun around, pulling a iron crowbar from his belt. "You should have stayed out of this, Vance!"

The intruder lunged forward, swinging the crowbar toward Ethan’s head. Ethan ducked swiftly, the heavy iron whistling inches above his shoulder. Using his momentum, Ethan tackled the man into the stainless steel prep table, knocking the crowbar from his grip.

The two men grappled on the slick floor as smoke filled the room. The intruder fought wildly, throwing a sharp elbow that caught Ethan across the jaw. Ethan gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain, and pinned the attacker’s arms to the floor.

"Who sent you? Was it Sterling?" Ethan demanded, his voice like iron.

Before the intruder could answer, the distant wail of fire engines echoed down the street. Realizing his time was up, the attacker used a hidden pocket knife to swipe at Ethan's arm, slicing through his jacket. Ethan flinched, giving the man just enough space to squirm free and crash out through the shattered rear window into the storm.

Ethan coughed heavily, grabbing a fire extinguisher from the wall. Ignoring the pain in his bleeding arm, he fought back the flames near the main electrical line until the fire department burst through the front entrance with hoses ready.

When the fire was finally extinguished, the kitchen was charred and soaked, but the main structure and the dining hall were saved.

Marcus arrived at the scene shortly after, finding Ethan sitting on the back of an ambulance, a paramedic wrapping a bandage around his wounded arm.

"The arsonist was caught two blocks away by the police," Marcus reported, out of breath. "He’s already talking. He was hired directly by Erebus Holdings."