Rise Of The Underworld King

Chapter 5

Ethan stared at her in disbelief, his eyes widening as if he had just heard the most absurd sentence in the world. He looked at the daughter of the most feared underground ruler in the province, completely unable to process her request.

"Miss Miretti, are you out of your mind?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with shock. "You are Angela Miretti. Why on earth would you need a fake boyfriend?"

Angela’s face turned bright red in an instant, a deep blush spreading from her cheeks all the way down to her slender neck. She quickly raised both hands in front of her chest, shaking her head vigorously as if she were trying to shake the embarrassment out of the air.

"Not a real boyfriend! Of course not a real boyfriend!" Angela stammered. "Please do not misunderstand me, Ethan. I am not asking for a real relationship."

"Then what are you asking for?" Ethan asked, leaning back against the leather seat, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "What kind of game is this?"

"It is not a game, I promise you," Angela sighed, lowering her hands to her lap and biting her lower lip. "My father is hosting a massive private gathering tonight at the Royal Diamond Hotel. All the top business families, trade directors, and underground figures in the city will be there. And one very specific, very annoying man will be attending."

"An annoying man?" Ethan echoed, his tone steady.

"His name is Raymond," Angela explained, her voice tightening with disgust. "He has been chasing after me for six whole months. He sends flowers to my office every morning, waits outside my parking garage, and uses his family's business connections to force meetings with my father. He acts as if I am already his private property."

"And your father allows this?" Ethan asked.

"My father respects his family's logistics influence, so he does not want to create a war between our groups," Angela said, looking out the tinted window with a frustrated scowl. "Raymond believes that if he applies enough pressure in public, I will eventually surrender and marry him. Tonight, he plans to corner me in front of everyone. That is why I need a shield. I need someone to stand beside me so Raymond finally understands that I am completely off-limits."

Ethan let out a long, slow breath through his nose, his shoulders relaxing as the tension left his body. "So that is all it is. You just need someone to stand next to you and block his advances."

"Yes," Angela nodded quickly. "Just stand beside me, hold my hand if necessary, and look convincing. That is all."

"I see," Ethan said, a faint smile of relief touching the corner of his lips. "For a moment, I thought you were serious about wanting me as a real partner. That would have been far too complicated."

Angela blinked, looking at his relieved expression, and she gently crossed her arms over her chest.

"Wait a minute," Angela said, her voice rising slightly. "Why do you sound so relieved? Is being my boyfriend such a terrible, painful punishment to you?"

Ethan raised his eyes and looked at her beautiful face and quickly raised his hands to defend himself.

"No, Miss Miretti, that is not what I meant. You are a stunning woman with an incredible family background. Any man in this city would jump at the chance to be your boyfriend."

"Then why did you sigh like you just escaped a death sentence?" Angela asked, leaning closer to him, narrowing her eyes with a dangerous glint. "Do you think I am not pretty enough? Or do you think I am too difficult to deal with?"

"I am a divorced man who just left his wife's house in cheap clothes," Ethan replied honestly, gesturing to his plain black coat. "You are the untouchable princess of the Miretti family. If people see us together, they will think you have lost your mind. I was only worried about your reputation."

Angela held her serious glare for three long seconds, and then she suddenly burst out laughing.

"I was only teasing you, Ethan," Angela smiled, her eyes shining with warmth and amusement. "You looked so terrified for a second. Do not worry, I know you are a man of high principles. If you were a greedy opportunist who chased after my family's wealth, I would never have asked you to help me tonight."

"You have a very strange sense of humor, Miss Miretti," Ethan said, shaking his head with a quiet, helpless chuckle.

"Call me Angela," she said softly, her smile turning gentle. "If we are going to convince a room full of business sharks that we are madly in love, you cannot keep calling me 'Miss Miretti' like an employee."

"All right, Angela," Ethan agreed with a nod.

"To be completely honest with you," Angela continued, her voice growing quiet and somewhat hesitant, "I knew you were married. When I decided to look for you today, I thought I would have to beg your wife for permission to borrow you for a few hours. I did not expect to find out that you had just divorced."

"You do not need to feel guilty about it," Ethan said, looking down at his hands. "My marriage was already broken beyond repair. My grandmother's death only revealed the truth that was hiding beneath the surface for three years."

"I am still so very sorry about your grandmother," Angela murmured, reaching out and gently touching his sleeve. "She was a truly pure-hearted woman. If I had known she was in the hospital, I would have brought the best private specialists to her bedside."

"Her time had simply come," Ethan replied, his voice calm. "No doctor in the world can stop old age. But I appreciate your kindness, Angela. Two years ago, you saved and protected her when I was far away. I gave you my word that I owed you a favor, and Ethan Sanders never breaks a promise. Tonight, I will be your shield."

Angela looked at his handsome face.

"Thank you, Ethan," Angela whispered sincerely. "I will make sure my father rewards you properly for your trouble once this night is over."

"I do not need any rewards," Ethan said simply. "A debt of honor is paid with actions, not money."

As the car finally made a U-turn, Angela sat back against the leather seat. She had spent her entire life surrounded by greedy men who either feared her father's name or tried desperately to flatter her for financial gain.

Ethan Sanders was completely different. He did not ask for a single dollar, he did not look at her with lust, and he did not cower at the mention of her dangerous family background. He was as steady and unmoving as a great mountain.

"We are almost there," Angela said, clearing her throat to break the silence as she looked out the window. "Remember, the people inside that ballroom have very sharp eyes. If they sense even a tiny bit of distance between us, Raymond will know it is an act."

"What do you want me to do?" Ethan asked, adjusting the cuffs of his dark coat.

"Just follow my lead and stay close to me," Angela said, taking a deep breath as the car began to slow down. "Do not let go of me, no matter who stares at us."

The black sedan glided to a stop directly in front of the grand entrance of the Royal Diamond Hotel. Towering columns rose toward the sky, illuminated by golden spotlights, while a long red carpet stretched from the heavy glass doors all the way down to the curb.

Dozens of sports cars, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys were parked along the private driveway, their bodies gleaming under the evening lights. Valets in white uniforms rushed forward to open the doors of arriving guests.

The elderly driver stepped out of the front seat and opened the rear door with a respectful bow. "Miss Angela, Mr. Sanders, we have arrived."

Ethan stepped out on the red carpet first, the cool night air brushing against his face. He turned around and offered his hand to Angela, helping her step gracefully out of the vehicle.

Angela adjusted the hem of her emerald-green silk dress, her long dark hair swaying gently in the breeze. Without a second of hesitation, she stepped up beside Ethan, reached out with both hands, and wrapped her slender arms tightly around his left arm.

She pressed her soft shoulder firmly against his chest, leaning her head slightly toward him with a soft, affectionate smile.

"Relax your shoulders, Ethan," Angela whispered into his ear, her warm breath tickling his neck. "You are supposed to be my loving boyfriend, not a stone statue guarding a bank vault."

"I am perfectly relaxed," Ethan whispered back, looking straight ahead toward the entrance.

"Then smile a little bit," Angela teased softly, tightening her grip on his arm. "Show the world that you are proud to have me by your side. The show starts right now."

Side by side, they walked up the stone steps and pushed through the heavy glass doors into the main ballroom.

The grand ballroom of the Royal Diamond Hotel was breathtaking in its luxury. Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the twenty-foot ceiling, casting brilliant shards of light across the floors and tables.

A live string quartet played soft, classical melodies in the corner of the room, while waiters in black tuxedos carried silver trays filled with vintage champagne and delicate appetizers.

More than two hundred wealthy guests—real estate moguls, industrial tycoons, underground syndicate leaders, and their glamorous families—stood around the hall, laughing, drinking, and discussing multi-million-dollar trade contracts.

The moment Ethan and Angela crossed the threshold and stepped into the center aisle, the lively chatter in the front half of the ballroom abruptly died down.

One by one, the wealthy guests turned their heads toward the entrance, their eyes landing directly on Angela Miretti and the unknown young man holding her arm.

"Wait... is that Angela Miretti?" a middle-aged real estate director whispered to his companion, his champagne glass freezing halfway to his mouth. "She actually brought a date to her father's private gathering?"

"Who on earth is that man beside her?" another wealthy socialite gasped, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Angela has rejected every single young master in this province for the past three years. She never even allows a man to stand within five feet of her".

"Look at how she is holding onto him," an elderly trade commissioner murmured, adjusting his glasses to get a clearer view. "She is clinging to his arm like a newlywed bride. Is he the hidden heir of a top-tier family from the capital? But look at his clothes... he is wearing a plain, unbranded black coat."

"Could he be a secret business genius from overseas?"

"Or maybe an untouchable figure from a powerful family?"

The whispers rolled through the ballroom like an incoming tide. Men glared at Ethan with envy and jealousy, while women stared at Angela with shock, wondering what kind of extraordinary man had finally managed to melt the famous ice queen of the Miretti family.

Angela kept her chin held high. She ignored the murmuring crowd, deliberately leaning closer to Ethan as she guided him into the room.

"You see that?" Angela murmured under her breath, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. "They are completely speechless. Our plan is working perfectly."

"They are looking at my coat as if it were a biohazard," Ethan replied dryly.

"Let them look," Angela said proudly. "A real man does not need expensive labels to show his worth."

Before Ethan could reply, a voice called out from the right side of the room.

"Angela! Over here!"

A young woman with stylish short blonde hair, wearing a glittering silver cocktail dress and diamond earrings, broke away from a group of young socialites and rushed over to them.

Angela saw her and let out a small sigh of relief. "Emily. I am glad you are here."

Emily was Angela’s closest friend from their university days, the daughter of a prominent banking family in the city. But the moment Emily stopped in front of them, her bright smile completely vanished.

Emily’s sharp blue eyes moved from Angela’s radiant face down to Ethan’s plain black coat, and then down to the way Angela’s arms were tightly wrapped around Ethan’s arm.

Her eyebrows shot up in horror, her mouth opening and closing three times before she could even form a coherent word.

"Angela... what on earth is the meaning of this?" Emily demanded, her voice rising as she spoke. "Who is this person? Why are you clinging to him in the middle of your father's grand ballroom?"

"Emily, behave yourself," Angela scolded gently, pulling Ethan a fraction closer. "Let me introduce you properly. This is Ethan, my boyfriend."

Emily looked as if she had just been struck by a bolt of lightning. She stared at Ethan with undisguised contempt and disgust, looking him up and down as if she was examining a piece of garbage found on the sidewalk.

"Your boyfriend?" Emily shrieked in a harsh, stifled whisper, stepping closer to Angela. "Angela, have you completely lost your mind? Are you playing some kind of sick joke on everyone? Where did you dig up this nobody?"

Ethan stood quietly beside Angela, his face entirely calm.

Emily did not even bother to look at Ethan’s face again. She turned her entire body, deliberately blocking Ethan from her view, and grabbed Angela’s wrist with a tight, trembling grip.

"Angela, listen to me right now!" Emily hissed, pulling Angela half a step away from Ethan. "You need to let go of this street beggar this very second! Do you have any idea what is about to happen in this room tonight?"

Angela frowned, her tone turning cold and defensive. "Emily, stop being dramatic. Ethan is my guest, and he is my boyfriend. You will speak of him with respect."

"Respect? Are you insane?" Emily’s eyes were wide with panic as she glanced nervously toward the VIP lounge at the far end of the hall. "Raymond is here! He arrived thirty minutes ago with his entire entourage of security directors and port bosses!"

Angela’s expression hardened, her jaw tightening. "I do not care if Raymond is here. His presence means nothing to me."

"It will mean everything when he sees this!" Emily whispered desperately, her voice shaking with urgency. "Raymond brought a twelve-carat diamond ring tonight, Angela. He announced to all his business partners at the bar that he is going to publicly ask you to be his official girlfriend during the main toast. He told everyone that tonight is the night you will finally accept him".

Angela’s eyebrows drew together in anger. "He is delusional. I have told him a hundred times that I despise him. I will reject him in front of the entire city if he dares to step on that stage."

"You don't understand the danger," Emily pleaded, her fingernails digging into Angela’s arm. "You know how violent Raymond’s temper is. He controls the entire southern security syndicate. He has dozens of ruthless fighters at his command, and he destroys anyone who disrespects his pride. If Raymond sees you standing here, clinging to another man like a lovesick schoolgirl, he will lose his mind".

"This is my father's party," Angela said firmly. "Raymond would not dare to cause a scene in front of Franco Miretti."

"Raymond might not touch you, but he will tear this poor, useless guy into pieces," Emily pointed an accusing finger back at Ethan. "The moment this party ends, Raymond will have his men track this beggar down, break his legs, and throw him into the river. You are going to get an innocent man killed just to satisfy your stubborn pride".

Angela froze in place. A sudden wave of dread rushed through her veins, striking her straight in the heart.

She had been so focused on creating a quick, simple shield to avoid Raymond’s annoying advances that she had completely overlooked how terrifyingly ruthless Raymond truly was. Raymond was not a civilized businessman; he was a violent, arrogant young master who had put several rivals into the hospital for far smaller offenses.

Ethan was just a simple, ordinary man who had spent three years living a quiet life as a live-in son-in-law. He had just lost his beloved grandmother, he had just gone through a painful divorce, and he was only here tonight out of a pure sense of honor to repay a two-year-old favor.

If Ethan were beaten, crippled, or killed because of her selfish scheme, Angela knew she would never be able to forgive herself for the rest of her life.

A heavy wave of panic and guilt washed over Angela’s face. She let go of Ethan’s arm, turned to face him directly, as gripped his hands with trembling fingers.

"Ethan... look at me," Angela said, her voice shaking with urgency as she looked into his eyes. "Emily is right. I made a terrible, reckless mistake. I did not think this through."

Ethan looked down at her pale, frightened face. "What is wrong, Angela?"

"You have to leave," Angela pleaded, trying to push him gently toward the exit. "Right now. Take the keys to my car from the driver outside, drive straight to the airport or leave the city for a few days. Do not stay in this hotel for another minute. Please, Ethan, go before it is too late".

"Why should I leave?" Ethan asked softly, not moving an inch despite her pushing." Why should I? ".

"Because Raymond is dangerous, "Angela cried in a low, panicked whisper, tears of frustration gathering in the corners of her eyes. "He is cruel, ruthless, and he has powerful underground fighters who do not care about the law. If he sees you with me, he will destroy your life. I brought you here to help me, but I cannot let you get hurt because of my family's mess. Please, Ethan, if you care about your own life, run away right now"

Ethan looked down at the beautiful, proud woman who was now genuinely terrified for his safety. Even in the middle of her own crisis, her first instinct was to protect him, an 'ordinary man' dressed in cheap clothes.

A gentle, faint smile slowly appeared on Ethan’s handsome face. He took half a step forward, standing firmly in front of Angela.

"Angela, listen to me carefully," Ethan said. "I told you in the car that I am a man of my word. When Ethan Sanders gives a promise, the sky may fall and the earth may split, but I will never run away from a fight."

"Ethan, this is not a movie!" Angela pleaded, her heart pounding violently against her ribs. "You do not understand who Raymond is!"

"It does not matter who he is," Ethan said calmly. "In this city, in this province, and in this entire world, there is no man alive who has the qualifications to make me run."

Emily stared at Ethan with wide, mocking eyes, letting out a loud, hysterical laugh. "Look at this arrogant clown. He actually thinks he is some kind of invincible martial arts hero. You have no idea what real power looks like, you pathetic—"

Before Emily could finish her insulting sentence, the soft classical music from the string quartet suddenly stopped.

A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the entire ballroom as the guests standing near the VIP corridor quickly parted to both sides, lowering their heads in fear and respect.

Heavy, arrogant leather shoes clicked loudly against the floor.

A tall young man in a white designer suit, wearing a gold watch and surrounded by six muscular men in black suits, walked slowly into the center of the room. A cruel, fake smirk played across his face as his cold eyes locked directly on Angela and Ethan.

"Well, well, well," the tall young man said in an arrogant, unfriendly way. "Angela, my sweet darling... would you like to introduce to everyone who this handsome guy standing beside you is?”