Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The Rules of the Game

“By making such a bold move, are you not afraid that I might end up beating the grass only to startle the snake? If the Harrington family realizes they are being targeted this early, they might retract their claws and become much harder to deal with.”

“Look at your face, my dear. You do not look the least bit worried, despite your cautious words. You know perfectly well that in our current game of chess against the Harrington family, someone like Gabriel Cole is probably watching from the sidelines with a glass of wine, enjoying the show more than anyone else. Moreover…” Ethan Caldwell paused for a moment, his long, slender fingers gently scratching the soft flesh under Julian Sterling’s chin, teasing him like a beloved cat: “Who is to say that this does not make you look even more pleasing to his eyes? That man has a twisted appreciation for chaos, my love.”

“Oh, come on…” Julian slapped the man’s shoulder lightly, a gesture that held no real force but rather an affectionate rebuke: “But I have to admit, I still do not understand why Gabriel Cole tried to approach me so deliberately back then. It felt… calculated.”

“If you had not been quick-witted enough to notify Helen Lloyd in time during that incident, it is very likely that the person stepping out to play the hero saving the damsel in distress would have been Gabriel Cole himself, not me.”

“Tch.” Julian let out a scoff, his tone dripping with undisguised disdain at the very thought of owing Gabriel Cole a favor.

Seeing this reaction, Ethan could not help but chuckle. The sound was deep and resonant, vibrating through his chest and into Julian’s body where they were pressed together. He reached out to ruffle the younger man’s soft hair, enjoying the silky texture between his fingers, before steering the conversation back to business: “And what about the business plan you handed over to Kevin Harrington? What is the story there? Is it a fake plan designed to scam him?”

“Why would you use such a harsh word like “scam”?” Julian blinked his large eyes, feigning an expression of absolute innocence that would have fooled anyone who did not know the devilish mind lurking beneath: “I merely provided him with an opportunity, nothing more. Isn’t he desperate for a project to slap Cedric Harrington in the face with? He yearns to elevate his own status within the family hierarchy. I simply gave him a chance, a tool to achieve his dreams. As for how he chooses to use that tool, whether he uses it to carve out a path for himself or whether he accidentally stabs himself in the foot with it… well, that is entirely up to him, is it not?”

Julian paused for a moment, his almond-shaped eyes darting a quick, sidelong glance at the man beside him. He was gauging Ethan’s reaction, checking for any sign of moral judgment or disapproval. However, Ethan Caldwell very quickly caught that fleeting look. There was no objection in his demeanor. On the contrary, he gently patted Julian’s back in a rhythmic, soothing motion, silently encouraging him to continue.

Reassured, Julian went on to explain the intricacies of his trap.

“That business plan is, in reality, a working capital trap. It is designed to look like a goldmine, but it is a black hole. If Kevin decides to jump in, he will have to mobilize a colossal amount of funding. To do that, he will undoubtedly try every trick in the book to persuade his mother to open the family coffers. Once that money is poured into the project, withdrawing it will be next to impossible. The plan itself isn’t terrible, the core idea works. However, the value hidden inside is mixed with a significant amount of noise, useless data, inflated projections, and complex logistical hurdles. If he doesn’t know how to filter and process that information correctly, the project will inevitably collapse under its own weight, and the capital will be frozen indefinitely. It is a classic liquidity trap.”

“I would hazard a guess that if that specific plan were handled by a competent professional, the project’s development would actually be quite lucrative.” Ethan interjected, his mind already dissecting the business mechanics Julian had described.

“Precisely. It has potential. But I simply do not believe that those idiots have the capability to discover the diamonds hidden in the rough.”

“But what if Cedric Harrington gets involved? He is not as foolish as his cousin.”

“If Cedric steps in, then we are looking at two possible scenarios.” Julian analyzed, his voice turning serious as he outlined the battlefield: “First, this plan completely excludes the piece of land that Cedric is currently targeting. If he wants to stop Kevin, he will definitely try to sabotage this plan to prevent Kevin from gaining power. If he digs deep enough to find the flaws I buried, he will bluntly question Kevin’s competence. At that point, it becomes an internal conflict for them to resolve, family drama at its finest. Second, if Cedric decides he wants to leverage this situation to adjust the plan, seize control of the initiative, and redirect the project toward that piece of land he covets, then we can actually lend Kevin a helping hand. We can quietly point out a weakness in Cedric’s approach. As for how the dogs eat each other after that, well, that is their business.”

Julian spoke in a long, breathless string of sentences, outlining the machinations with an intensity that left his throat dry. By the time he finished his analysis, a glass of warm water appeared in front of him. Ethan Caldwell gently lifted Julian’s upper body, bringing the rim of the glass to his lips with tender care: “Drink some water. You have been talking so much that your voice is getting hoarse.”

Julian accepted the care without complaint, sipping the water slowly. His shifting eyes, bright with intelligence, secretly observed the man through the transparent glass.

In truth, Julian had revealed about eighty percent of the truth to Ethan. He felt no need to hide the fact that he and Lucas Hill were setting a trap for the Harrington family. After all, within the business plan he had constructed, a portion of the resources and leverage he was using actually came from Ethan’s own network. However, regarding the matter of building his own private power base with Lucas Hill, Julian had completely omitted that detail. He had buried it deep. Even in the narrative he presented to Lucas, Julian had positioned himself merely as an idle friend lending a helping hand, not as a mastermind building an empire.

As the person pulling the strings from behind the curtain, Julian kept the full extent of his ambitions hidden from everyone. Even the people acting as his hands and feet did not know the full picture. His power base was not yet fully formed, and he held no true authority in his own hands yet. Therefore, he could not afford to fully trust anyone.

However, that fleeting, calculating look in his eyes did not escape Ethan Caldwell’s sharp gaze. But the man misinterpreted it, he simply thought Julian was anxiously probing his attitude towards such ruthless tactics.

Consequently, Ethan felt the need to reassure him. He spoke with an open and relaxed demeanor: “You do not need to look at me with such apprehension. In small matters like this, I support you completely. Both you and I understand the reality of our world: the marketplace is not a charity organization.”

The man paused for a moment, his large hand caressing Julian’s cheek, his thumb gently rubbing against the smooth, warm skin: “The business world is a place where a single misstep can mean there is no turning back. It is a merciless arena that is not designed for the benevolent or the naive.”

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