Underestimated: The Rise of Ethan Cole
Three years in prison. All for a woman who never loved him.
Ethan Cole took the fall for his fiancée's family, sacrificing his freedom for the woman he thought he'd marry. He endured three years behind bars, clinging to her promise of a wedding the day he walked free.
But when that day finally came, Sarah didn't show up in a wedding dress.
She showed up with divorce papers.
And a new man on her arm.
Humiliated, betrayed, and cast aside like trash, Ethan signed the papers without a word. Sarah thought she'd seen the last of him—just another nobody she'd used and discarded.
She had no idea who she'd just thrown away.
The former Chairman of the Southern Territory had offered Ethan the Phoenix Ring—a symbol of absolute power commanding networks across Boston's elite, East Coast politics, and the underground world. Ethan had always refused, wanting only a simple life with Sarah.
But that life was gone now.
And this time, he accepted the ring.
Now Ethan is back. And he's taking everything—his power, his respect, and his revenge.
The people who mocked him will kneel.
The woman who betrayed him will beg.
And Boston's elite will learn the hard way:
You should never underestimate a man with nothing left to lose.
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Chapter: Chapter 8Chapter Eight"You're not on the guest list," the security head said firmly. "Stop disturbing honored guests like Mr. Cole and leave the premises."Sarah's eyes widened in horror. "What?! No, there's been a mistake—""No mistake," the man said coldly. "You need to leave. Now."Drake's face went pale. Sarah stood frozen, humiliation washing over her in waves.Ethan glanced back one last time, his expression calm, unbothered.Then he walked into the gala, leaving them standing outside in the cold.Sarah stepped back from the entrance, her chest constricting. What just happened? Ethan had walked into the most exclusive gala in Boston while she and Drake were left standing outside like beggars.Elite guests brushed past them, handing invitations to security and gliding effortlessly inside. Each one felt like a knife twisting in Sarah's pride.All the excitement she'd felt earlier—the anticipation, the confidence, the certainty that tonight would elevate her—had drained away, replaced by c
Last Updated: 2025-10-31
Chapter: Chapter 7Chapter SevenDrake's car pulled up in front of the Grand Harrington Hotel—a towering structure of glass and marble that dominated Boston's skyline. The venue for Victoria Chen's charity gala.Sarah stepped out in a flowing green gown, the hem short in front but trailing dramatically behind her. Her hair cascaded over her bare shoulders in styled waves. She flipped it back with practiced elegance, her chin lifted high as she took Drake's arm.Heads turned as they entered the lobby.Whispers rippled through the crowd. The rumors had been circulating for weeks—Drake Hastings and Sarah, Boston's rising CEO. A possible marriage alliance. New money meeting old money.Sarah smiled, soaking in the attention. She could already hear them: The next Mrs. Hastings. The elevation would do wonders for her family's status."Thank you so much for bringing me, Drake," she said sweetly, clinging to his arm. "If I can make a connection with Victoria Chen tonight—get her to lift the blacklist and restore
Last Updated: 2025-10-28
Chapter: Chapter 6Chapter SixVictoria led Ethan into an upscale boutique in downtown Boston—the kind of place where even the doorman's suit probably cost more than most people's rent."Wait here," she said, disappearing into the racks.A few minutes later, Victoria returned, holding a midnight-blue suit draped over her arm. The fabric caught the light—expensive, unmistakably so.She thrust it toward him. "Put this on."Ethan blinked. "That's... Victoria, that's too much. I can't—""You can, and you will," she cut him off firmly. "This is to prevent you from being looked down upon by just any Tom, Dick, or Harry. I won't have another incident like the one with my secretary." She pushed the suit into his hands. "Now go."Ethan opened his mouth to protest again, but the look in her eyes told him arguing was pointless.He sighed and headed toward the dressing room.---When Ethan stepped out, Victoria was scrolling through her phone, distracted."Alright, I'm—"She looked up.And froze.The suit fit him p
Last Updated: 2025-10-28
Chapter: Chapter 5Chapter Five"What do you want from me, Ms. Chen?" Ethan asked.Victoria stepped back, gesturing toward the seating area. "Please, have a seat, Mr. Cole.""Ethan is fine."He moved to the leather couch, settling into it with the ease of someone who'd been on his feet far too long today.Victoria studied him as he sat—young, sharp-featured, composed. But she'd noticed the way he'd looked at her when he first walked in. That brief, unguarded moment when his eyes had lingered just a beat too long. Admiration, yes. But something more.Interest. Attraction. Maybe even a crush.Her lips curved slightly. So the young Mr. Cole wasn't as unaffected as he pretended to be.That made him seem... flippant. A bit too easily swayed by a pretty face. Her father had warned her repeatedly to treat this man with the utmost respect, insisting he was someone capable of helping her. But looking at him now—so young, and clearly a little starstruck—she couldn't help but wonder if her father had misjudged him
Last Updated: 2025-10-28
Chapter: Chapter 4Chapter Four"I think there's been a mistake," Ethan said, his voice calm but commanding. "I'm the guest Ms. Chen is expecting."Silence.Then Drake burst into laughter—loud, sharp, disbelieving."Are you serious right now?" He looked around the lobby like he was performing for an audience. "B Corporation isn't some prison yard where you can run your mouth without consequences! You think you're the VIP guest Victoria Chen is waiting for?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "That's embarrassing. A disgrace to B Corporation's reputation."Sarah stepped forward, flipping her hair dramatically. "I had no idea squatting in jail for two years made you this shameless, Ethan." Her voice dripped with mockery. "You should be thrown out for this! Do you even understand what you just said?"She crossed her arms, smirking. Ethan couldn’t stand watching her walk in with Drake, could he? This was just another desperate ploy to get her attention. Pathetic.Ethan’s eyes slid over them both—cold, unbothered
Last Updated: 2025-10-28
Chapter: Chapter 3Chapter ThreeOf all the places in Boston, Ethan hadn't expected to see them here.Sarah.Drake.Standing in the middle of B Corporation's marble-floored lobby like they owned the place.The irony was almost poetic.But unlike their shock at finding him, Ethan's expression remained cold, controlled. That rage from earlier—the cold, simmering hatred he'd felt when Sarah first appeared—still burned beneath the surface. But he'd learned long ago how to wear a mask.Three years in prison had taught him patience.Ethan stood slowly, adjusting his sleeves with deliberate calm, and met Sarah's furious gaze."I'm not here for you," he said flatly. "I'm here at someone else's request. You're not worth my time."Sarah's jaw dropped, clearly not expecting that response.Drake laughed—sharp and mocking. "Someone else's request?" He stepped forward, sneering. "Who the hell in B Corporation would invite you? What, did they need an ex-con for security? Maybe you're here to keep the peace as their ne
Last Updated: 2025-10-28
