Chapter 5: The Light That Never Fades
After Ethan Cole passed away, Riverstone felt empty.
The streets were quiet.
The factories worked, but without joy.
People felt like they had lost a father.
But Noah knew one thing —
Ethan's work must not end with his life.
Noah Takes the Responsibility
Noah stood in front of the people at the House of Humanity.
"This place was built with love," he said.
"And love does not die with one man.
It must live through us."
The people looked at him with hope.
From that day, Noah became the leader of Ethan's mission.
He did not wear expensive suits.
He walked among workers, farmers, and students.
He listened to their problems.
The New Generation
Children who once studied in Ethan's free schools
grew into doctors, teachers, and engineers.
One became a doctor in the free hospital.
Another became a teacher in the poor area.
Some worked in factories and treated workers kindly.
They often said,
"We are here because one man cared."
A Test of Power
One year, a new rich company came to Riverstone.
They wanted to buy the land near the river
and build luxury hotels.
They offered Noah a huge amount of money.
"With this," they said,
"you can become richer than Ethan ever was."
Noah remembered Ethan's words:
"I fear being heartless."
He replied,
"This land is for the poor,
not for pleasure."
The company left in anger.
The people of Riverstone cheered.
The Statue by the River
The town built a statue near the river.
It was not a statue of Ethan holding money,
but of Ethan holding a child's hand.
Below it were written these words:
"Wealth ends.
Kindness remains."
Every year, on the day Ethan died,
people gathered there.
They brought books for schools,
food for the hungry,
and medicine for the sick.
They did not cry.
They promised.
The Endless Story
One evening, a small boy asked Noah,
"Uncle, was Ethan Cole a king?"
Noah smiled.
"No," he said,
"he was once a cruel man…
who chose to become good."
The boy looked at the river and said,
"Then I want to be like him."
Noah placed a hand on the boy's head.
"And that," he said,
"is how his light will never fade."
And so, Riverstone lived on —
not rich in gold,
but rich in hearts.