The Rise of Ethan Ryder: The Despised Husband & CEO

Chapter 7: The Silent Protector

In the wake of the disastrous family gathering, Ethan kept his distance from Jasmine and her family, quietly slipping back into the role of an unnoticed shadow in their lives. But he hadn’t completely severed his connection; despite everything, a part of him still felt compelled to protect Jasmine, even if she never understood his actions.

A few weeks after that humiliating dinner, Ethan discovered something alarming while reviewing one of his many business portfolios: Jasmine’s family was on the verge of a financial disaster. Her father, Edward, had made a series of risky investments, and the market downturn had put every asset he owned at risk. They were losing money by the day, their luxurious lifestyle hanging by a thread. One wrong move, one missed payment, and everything they had worked for would collapse.

Ethan could easily have allowed their empire to crumble, to let them taste the bitterness of failure without his silent support. But something held him back. He knew what it felt like to see everything fall apart, and as much as he resented their treatment of him, he couldn’t let Jasmine and her family suffer ruin—at least, not yet.

Without hesitation, Ethan set a plan into motion. He reached out to his network, mobilizing his vast resources to stabilize Edward’s crumbling investments. He restructured their debts under a private holding firm, concealing his involvement and disguising the financial aid as a fortunate investment from an anonymous benefactor. Within days, the family’s assets were secured, their financial crisis averted without them ever knowing who had saved them.

But Ethan wasn’t simply being merciful. His intervention was part of a larger plan. He wanted to expose his true identity, but not in a way that would make them indebted to him. Instead, he wanted them to see who he truly was—the man they had scorned, ignored, and mistreated. This rescue was the first step, the spark that would ignite a chain of events leading to their ultimate reckoning.

As the dust settled, Jasmine’s family celebrated their miraculous financial turnaround, convinced it was nothing more than good fortune. They toasted to their recovery, laughing and rejoicing, oblivious to the one who had pulled them back from the brink. Ethan watched from afar, silently enduring their ongoing disdain, knowing that soon enough, they would be forced to recognize his true worth.

Unbeknownst to them, his actions had set in motion a series of changes in their business dealings, connections, and alliances. Rumors of a mysterious investor began circulating in their social circles, whispers of a powerful figure in the shadows pulling strings to influence their rise.

For Jasmine, however, the mysterious benefactor became an intriguing puzzle. She admired this anonymous investor’s savvy, imagining him as an enigmatic, powerful figure—the very kind of man she wished her husband could be. Ironically, her fascination grew, with Jasmine unaware that the man she yearned to meet was none other than Ethan himself.

As the weeks passed, Ethan continued to watch over the family, protecting their interests while carefully orchestrating his next moves. With each strategic decision he made, he grew more determined. No longer would he be the silent, submissive husband or the mocked son-in-law. This time, he would reveal himself as the man he truly was—a protector, a mastermind, and the ultimate force they had underestimated for too long.

The stage was set, and soon, they would all witness the silent protector emerge from the shadows, reclaiming his rightful place, not as a faceless benefactor, but as the man they had always thought beneath them. And this time, there would be no escaping the truth.