RISING FROM THE ASHES : FROM PRISONER TO SHADOW TYRANT

A STAIN THEY COULDN'T HIDE

"What exactly do you want, Ethan?" Sally’s voice sliced through the chatter and music of the room as she grabbed Ethan’s arm tightly and pulled him aside. "Why can't you let us be at peace at least for a few hours of partying? Can't you really see Charlie being happy? Are you back just to create chaos here?" 

Ethan slowly turned toward her, his gaze remained icy cold.

"Chaos can’t disturb what’s already rotten." He replied, shaking her hand off with effortless disgust.

Before she could react, Jenny stepped between them, glancing around anxiously to ensure no one was watching. "Sally, leave him, he’s not in the right state of mind." 

Sally narrowed her eyes, hissed in a venomous voice, "I’ll deal with you after the party!" 

Ethan let out a cold, mocking laugh and stepped back, with hands in his pockets. "You buried me for someone else. What’s left to discuss?"

"What’s happening here?" Jerome Carvendish stood at the top of the staircase, his tall frame radiating authority. 

His suit was flawless, and his eyes sharp with disapproval rather than concern.

Beside him, Hailey Carvendish adjusted the diamond bracelet on her wrist, her gaze sweeping across the room before landing on Ethan.

Not with relief, not with shock either, but with cold irritation.

Their eyes didn’t see a son who had returned after three years of suffering.

They saw a stain, one that could ruin their reputation.

Jerome’s brows knitted together, standing in front of Ethan, "Who the hell allowed this brat to appear here?" 

Hailey sighed, clearly annoyed by Ethan's presence, "Sally, is this how you’re arranging the party? Do you want everyone to know someone from prison is standing in our house?" 

"Mom, it's not my fault," Sally crossed her arms, while pushing all the blame towards Ethan, "I tried my best to keep all the arrangements perfect, who would expect an imperfection would jump in all of a sudden? This shameless idiot showed up out of nowhere, even after all these, he never learned his place." 

Ethan stood there, listening to his family speak as if he were a stranger.

Jenny took a step forward, and spoke in a hesitant voice to calm the situation, "Uncle… Aunt… Please, don't be angry, it's me who brought him home, today is our Charlie's birthday and Ethan also got released today, so I..." 

Jerome lifted a hand sharply. "Even if he was released today, you shouldn't have brought him here, Jenny, this is not a place for people like him, especially today." 

The words fell like stones without any hesitation.

"There are many places like hotels and even our guesthouse," Hailey sighed as she was disappointed in Jenny for bringing Ethan home, "you should've sent him somewhere like that, we can't let guests feel uncomfortable because of a criminal among them... How exactly are we supposed to face high society if they were to know there's a criminal in this family who just got out of prison?" 

They celebrated the real culprit’s birthday, while calling the victim a criminal.

Charlie’s soft voice followed, almost gentle, "Dad, please don't be harsh, brother is finally home after three years and it's all because of me, I'm already sad that he suffered a lot for my mistake, so, I don't want him to be hurt anymore." 

Ethan stood silently, his face showed nothing as he clearly knew what was going to happen next.

Hailey turned toward Charlie instantly. "Charlie, you don’t have to be kind to ungrateful people like him." 

"Enough nonsense here," Jerome’s eyes hardened. "Follow me, don’t disgrace this place." 

Without waiting, he turned and walked toward a side corridor, Hailey, Sally, Jenny, and Charlie followed behind.

Ethan walked last.

The door was closed behind them with a dull sound, the room was quiet, empty and cold, just like Ethan's heart.

Jerome finally looked at Ethan.

"Do you know what you’ve done by coming back here?" He snapped, "Do you think we forgot what you did to betray all of us?" 

Hailey narrowed her eyes in pure disinterest, "you must be thinking just because you've been in prison for three years would make us forgive you." 

"He probably thinks he can crawl back and take what belongs to Charlie," Sally commented sarcastically, totally forgetting the fact that the one she is insulting is the brother who shares the same blood and parents as her.

Ethan didn’t react, as he felt silence was enough. Simply stood there, hands in his pockets, eyes remained indifferent.

That infuriated them, because they expected him to cry and beg them to forgive him, but he is acting as if he doesn't care or bother about the..

"You’re not even ashamed?" Hailey demanded.

Ethan raised his gaze slowly. "No!"

Jerome’s jaw tightened at Ethan's response, "You ruined everything, and now you come back as if nothing happened?" 

Charlie lowered his head, playing the sweetest son role perfectly. "Dad… Let's not push this further, let's pretend none of those happened, after all he is also a part of this family." 

"See how kind and sweet our Charlie is," Sally said clearly being impressed by Charlie's behaviour, Ethan sneered, "I'm not blind yet and I've a clear vision!" 

Sally clenched her fist, "You...." 

Jerome exhaled slowly. "Stop it Sally!" 

"Dad, it's that bastard," Sally pointed her finger at Ethan, "look at him being disrespectful and arrogant towards me." 

Ethan laughed at her words, "Look at yourselves."

Before she could argue, Jerome cleared his throat, "I'm going to make an announcement in today's party," he looked at Ethan, "since you're here already, let me tell you now itself, so that you'll not make a scene later." 

Ethan's silence made Jerome continue, "The engagement between you and Jenny ends today." 

The words were still ringing in the room.

"What?" Jenny looked stunned, Jerome nodded his head, "Ethan is no longer suitable for you Jenny, he is unfit to be your fiance." 

"But uncle..."

"I've always treated Charlie as my own son," Jerome said in a serious tone, "I think it's better to make him your betrothed than the one whose reputation tainted by prison walls,  

Charlie deserves happiness, and he deserves you." 

Charlie’s eyes flickered with delight as this is the moment he always waited for, but he quickly masked it. "Dad, please… Don't do this, we shouldn't hurt brother anymore, I can't take away his happiness once again." 

"It's him who always steals your happiness," Sally tried to comfort him, "he is the most selfish person ever, you don't have to be sad for someone like him Charlie, he doesn't deserve it...." 

Jenny’s breath hitched, her eyes moved to Ethan.

She was waiting for him to say no, for him to be angry and protest, she expected him to fight.

But Ethan only nodded agreeing with his father, "Fine!" 

That answer of his shattered her.

Sally laughed, and looked at Jenny, "See? Even he knows he doesn’t deserve you... Let's not waste our time anymore on him, Jenny!" 

Jenny clenched her fists, hiding the sudden ache in her chest, Charlie’s lips curved slightly as he thought he had won. "You will never win against me!"