The sum—4.43 million dollars—stared back at them from Ethan's phone screen. A single, bold green notification taunted them with its enormity. Both of them, despite their towering fame and influence, couldn't help but let out a collective "Wow." It was a number so staggering that it rattled even their seasoned minds.
Ethan and Sydney, two of the most popular figures in the world right now, still found themselves struck dumb by the sheer magnitude of what was staring back at them. Even for someone like Ethan, who had made millions from his music career and streaming royalties, this was something different. Sure, his total earnings had already surpassed the sum in front of him, but this… this was unexpected. A number so large for doing almost nothing but making a random bet. He had earned tens of millions over the years—tours, record sales, streaming deals—but still, there was something surreal about the idea of 4.5 million dollars from a bet. The thought that something like that could be won on a whim filled him with a strange thrill. A wicked grin spread across his face as he thought, No wonder betting is addictive.
Sydney, on the other hand, had been in the entertainment industry for far longer than Ethan. She had spent years grinding through smaller roles in shows like Pretty Little Liars, Criminal Minds, and Grey's Anatomy. Despite her growing list of credits, it wasn't until 2019 when she was cast as Cassie in Euphoria that her life really changed. The show exploded in popularity, far exceeding anyone's expectations, and Sydney was suddenly thrust into the limelight. She had been acting for years, but Euphoria brought her a fame that most actors only dream about. But even with her newfound fame, her paychecks still felt modest. She'd made 250k for the first season of Euphoria and had received a slight bump to 350k for the second season—decent pay for a show, but it wasn't life-changing money. It was just the cost of doing business.
And that was perfectly normal in the acting world. Fame didn't automatically equate to wealth. Pay in television, especially for younger actors, was often far less than one might expect, even for those with a huge following. Sydney knew that firsthand. Her wealth was primarily built on her fashion deals—endorsements with high-end brands, collaborations, and appearances at exclusive events. Those deals had made her a force in the fashion world, and they provided the steady stream of income that her acting paychecks couldn't.
Her lifestyle reflected that: her home in Los Angeles had cost her a staggering 3 million dollars. It was a necessary purchase, she had justified. As an actress on the rise, being situated in the heart of California, within easy reach of the entertainment industry's epicenter, was crucial. Not just for convenience, but for security, for networking, for connections. It was all part of the game. Living in a prime location meant she was always in the right places at the right time. She could meet the right people, attend the right parties, be seen with the right faces. For someone like her, that was invaluable.
However, buying the home hadn't been easy. She'd put down a 30% deposit, which was a huge chunk of her savings, and the rest of the cost was all on a mortgage. With her agency fees, marketing costs, and taxes taking up a big portion of her earnings, she had calculated that, unless something major changed, she would be teetering on the edge of financial strain after six months. The Hollywood lifestyle was expensive, and the cost of living, combined with her obligations, made it clear that she would need something more to stay afloat. Fortunately, she had already booked another movie role, one that would pay her more than three times what she earned for Euphoria's second season. Still, that money wouldn't come in for a while, and until then, she needed to be careful with her spending.
So, when Sydney saw 4.43 million dollars flash in front of her eyes, her mind briefly went blank. That was more than her entire home—more than she'd ever made in a single go, even after all her fashion deals and acting work. This wasn't just a big win; this was a game-changer.
The two of them stared at the screen, disbelief written across their faces. The initial shock slowly began to melt away into something else—something more perplexing. They both thought the same thing, simultaneously: How?
Ethan had placed a $200,000 bet—an amount that, for someone of his wealth, was nothing more than a rounding error in his bank account. But now, looking at the enormous payout of 4.43 million dollars, the math didn't add up. He didn't remember choosing the right team; he had barely paid attention to the game. How could a single bet, made without much thought, lead to this kind of windfall? It felt… unreasonable. A question echoed in his mind as he stared at the phone. How does 200k turn into 4 million dollars?
Sydney, too, had begun to feel the same confusion. She had watched his bet with curiosity, sure, but she had never imagined it would result in such a staggering amount. "200k for 4 million…" she muttered, staring at the numbers on the screen as if they were some sort of trick. She turned to Ethan, her brow furrowed. "This doesn't make sense."
Ethan, his mind still scrambling to understand the situation, began scrolling through the app, tapping around as he tried to find an explanation. His fingers hovered over the screen, pausing on the payout summary. He clicked it, his heart beginning to race.
Sydney, still leaning in, couldn't help herself and glanced at the screen, her voice breaking the tension. "Two million," she said, her voice almost a whisper, filled with shock. "Wait—you bet two million dollars?!" Her words hung in the air, and she felt the floor drop beneath her as she processed the revelation.
Ethan, who had been so focused on the numbers that he hadn't realized Sydney was standing right beside him, finally looked up, meeting her gaze. His eyes were wide, still trying to come to terms with what was happening. "Yes…" he said, the single word almost slipping out of his mouth like it was nothing, but it was everything. "I bet two million."
Both of them stood frozen for a beat, trying to digest what that meant. Two million dollars. Not $200k. Not a small amount by any stretch. But two million. And somehow, that had turned into 4.43 million dollars.
Ethan's mind was still spinning, his breath short. It felt unreal. But the numbers didn't lie. And in that moment, he had no idea what to do next.
A Few Moments Later
Ethan was still sitting on the tour bus, back pressed into the cushion, mind spinning. He had checked everything, reloaded the page, done the math three different ways—and it all led to the same unbelievable conclusion.
He hadn't bet $200,000.
He had bet $2 million.
A single extra zero. That was all it took to shift the entire trajectory of his night. At the time he placed the bet, he hadn't even noticed. Had he realized it then, there would've been panic—real, raw, heart-thudding panic. Two million wasn't pocket change, not even for him. But now?
Now he was looking at a balance of $4.43 million.
More than double. Just like that.
And yet, despite the shock, despite the absurdity of the situation, he wasn't freaking out. His heart was beating fast, but it wasn't out of fear. He wasn't angry or anxious. No, his body was humming with adrenaline—the happy kind. His mind wasn't spinning with regret, but with thrill.
Somehow, he had stumbled his way into the kind of win most people only dreamed about. And from the look on Sydney's face, it wasn't just his body that was buzzing with excitement.
There's a universal truth—one that crosses borders, backgrounds, and even bank accounts: people love money. Men. Women. It didn't matter how successful or beautiful or talented or intelligent someone was. Money had a way of igniting something in people. For some, it represented freedom. For others, security. And for most... it was just pure, intoxicating thrill.
Sydney was no exception.
And Ethan was watching that unfold in real time. She'd always looked at him with a kind of warmth—playful, flirtatious, occasionally teasing. But now, it was different.
Her eyes—already naturally magnetic—seemed to narrow, darken slightly in a way that wasn't threatening but enticing. Her smile was soft but deeper, slower, more deliberate. Her body, always poised, now leaned toward him with a quiet kind of hunger. Relaxed, confident, open.
He could feel the change in the air, thick with unspoken tension and curiosity.
It was subtle, but it was there: the allure of a successful man. Not just someone famous or known, but someone who had just accidentally—accidentally—turned a risky decision into millions.
And yet, this wasn't just about the money. Ethan knew that too.
Sydney wasn't one of those people who could be swayed by a flashy bank account. She had turned down her fair share of offers—from producers with too many zeroes, to European billionaires with private jets and obsession in their eyes. She had refused roles that came with strings, walked away from deals that came with expectations, and carved her own path with grace and grit.
But Ethan?
She already liked Ethan.
The charm, the way he treated people, the fact that he wasn't trying too hard. He wasn't arrogant. He was ambitious, but not showy. He didn't throw his fame in people's faces. He was just... him. And that had already caught her attention before the whole 4.43 million-dollar miracle happened.
Now? Now it was just adding fuel to something that had already been burning.
Ethan looked up and caught her staring at him again. He tilted his head slightly, confused by the glint in her eyes.
"What is it?" he asked, voice low, almost wary.
Sydney blinked, then let out a soft giggle. It was delicate, like bells in the wind, but laced with something far more deliberate.
"Nothing," she said, her tone flirtatious and breathy, her lips curving into that slow, sultry smile.
Ethan blinked. Once. Twice.
Was she—?
Before he could say anything else, Sydney shifted, the couch dipping beneath her weight as she leaned closer. Her body moved with grace, her perfume drifting faintly toward him. Her face was only inches from his now. Their eyes locked—blue on blue—his a little wider, hers more relaxed and glowing.
For a moment, they just looked at each other. No words. Just a thick, electric silence.
And then, like magnets finally giving in to their pull, they moved in—together.
Their lips met softly at first, like a question. Then with more certainty, more heat. His hand found her waist, hers touched the side of his face, fingers threading into his hair as their kiss deepened—slow, warm, and full of a promise they both understood but didn't need to say.
As they kissed, Ethan's mind emptied. The numbers, the win, the shock of his accidental bet—all of it vanished in the rush of warmth flooding through him. His phone, still in his hand, slipped from his fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud. He didn't even notice.
There was only her.
It was sweet and sexy, full of new energy and old chemistry.
And for those few minutes, the millions in his account, the entire outside world—it all faded.
There was only this moment. Only them.
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Also Next chapter is the smut scene please go easy on me