Lust in Ecstasy: Love, Lies and Revenge
Chapter 58: The Weight of Fortune.

Chapter 58: The Weight of Fortune.

I got to Eric’s house feeling like shit.

I hadn’t lost anything—at least, nothing that was truly mine—but that didn’t stop the hollow feeling in my chest. No matter how much I tried to shake it off, it clung to me.

After I finished telling Eric everything, he didn’t say a word. He just sat there, silent. Maybe he was too spooked to speak. Or maybe he knew I didn’t need words right now. Maybe he just wanted me to have this moment—to sit with everything, to let it settle. And honestly? His presence alone was enough.

We sat side by side on a single-seater couch by the pool, both leaned back, staring at the night sky.

It was a Wednesday night. My flight didn’t leave until Friday morning.

I turned to Eric. "You cool with me staying till then? Won’t your dad mind?"

He glanced at me before looking back up at the sky. "My parents are on holiday. I’ve got the house to myself." He shrugged. "Stay as long as you need."

I nodded, exhaling slowly.

At least I had somewhere to stay until then.

As we sat there, staring up at the night sky, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude toward Eric.

If it weren’t for him, I knew my life would’ve stayed the same—stagnant, pathetic, stuck in the cycle I’d been living for years.

Sometimes I wondered what I had ever done to deserve a friend like him. He was reckless, selfish in his own way, always doing things that mostly benefited himself... but somehow, I still ended up reaping the rewards.

And sitting there, in that quiet moment, I made a decision.

If Eric ever needed me—really needed me—I’d go to the ends of the earth for him. The same way he had, time and time again, for me.

---

The next day, we spent hours talking to the team in Vancouver. Eric introduced me as an associate—not the No.1 guy, but someone important enough to be in the conversation.

We had a long video call, exchanging ideas, discussing plans, and for the first time in a while, I felt genuinely excited. I tried to play it cool, not wanting to give myself away, but I could feel it bubbling under the surface.

Toward the end of the call, I spoke briefly with each team member, and they all seemed genuinely happy to have me on board. Hearing that... it did something to me.

Later in the day, Eric and I drove to pick up my passport and take care of any other documents I needed for the move. Fast-tracking everything had cost me a small fortune, but I didn’t mind.

On the way back, a sleek Mercedes-Benz E-Class caught my eye. It had the kind of elegance and comfort that suited my parents perfectly. Besides, my dad had always been a Mercedes guy—it just felt right.

I glanced at Eric. "Think you can arrange something like that for my parents?"

He smirked, keeping his eyes on the road. "Look who’s finally embracing his billionaire status."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "It’s not about that. Just feels like the least I can do for them."

Eric nodded, his smirk fading slightly. "Yeah, I get it. They’ve done a lot for you."

The rest of the drive was mostly quiet, just the hum of the engine and the occasional streetlight flashing past. I stared out the window, my mind drifting between the excitement of the move and the lingering weight of everything I was leaving behind.

By the time we got back to his place, it was late. I sent a message to the dealership Eric recommended, same place he’d gotten his car, setting things in motion for the car. Then, without saying much, we both crashed in the living room—him on the couch, me in the recliner—drained from the day.

We lay there in silence for a while, the dim glow from the pool casting soft ripples of light across the ceiling. I could hear Eric shifting slightly on the couch, then his voice cut through the quiet.

"You know," he said, his tone unusually serious, "you’re actually doing it."

I turned my head slightly, looking over at him. "Doing what?"

"Breaking out of the cycle. Moving forward." He let out a small breath. "Most people just talk about the things they want to do, but you’re actually making it happen."

I stared up at the ceiling, letting his words sink in. A part of me wanted to dismiss it, say it wasn’t that deep—but deep down, I knew he was right.

"To be honest, it still doesn’t feel like I am," I admitted.

"That’s because change doesn’t feel like some big dramatic moment. It’s just... small steps, one after the other. Then one day, you look back and realize you’re not in the same place you used to be."

I let out a quiet chuckle. "When did you become a philosopher?"

Eric smirked. "Always have been. You just don’t listen."

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips.

"It’s strange, isn’t it?" I said.

Eric glanced over. "What is?"

"My life these past few weeks. Feels like I’ve been burning through all my luck at once. How else do you explain it?"

He raised a brow, waiting for me to continue.

"I became an overnight billionaire, lost my virginity to an insanely hot chick, and somehow managed to knock up another one." I let out a short laugh. "At this rate, I just hope I don’t run out of luck before my game launches."

Eric smirked. "Yeah, might wanna slow down before the universe decides to balance the scales."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Too late for that."

"Yesterday’s drama was definitely not a good thing," I said, my expression clouded with concern.

I paused, thoughts drifting to the people involved. I wonder how they’re all doing. Faith, Esther and Abby.

That’s none of your business, my mind snapped back.