The Rise of Ethan Ryder: The Despised Husband & CEO

Chapter 8: Jasmine’s Rising Admiration for the CEO

In recent weeks, Jasmine’s fascination with her company’s mysterious CEO had grown into an unshakable obsession. Though she had never seen him in person, the allure of his powerful, enigmatic presence and his unparalleled business acumen fueled her curiosity. This CEO—whom she only knew as "Mr. Black"—had single-handedly saved her family’s business from collapse, pulling them from the brink with a precision and influence she couldn’t help but admire.

Every day at work, she heard tales of his ruthlessness in the boardroom, his skill in making decisive deals, and the unwavering loyalty he commanded from his associates. Jasmine found herself mesmerized by these stories, imagining what it would be like to work closely with a man so driven, so powerful, and so... unlike her husband, Ethan.

The more she admired this mysterious figure, the more glaring Ethan’s shortcomings appeared. She couldn’t understand why she had settled for someone who seemed to lack any ambition, any hunger for success. Ethan was dependable in the most mundane way, a man who showed up but never excelled. She had expected marriage to elevate her life, but instead, it felt stagnant, weighed down by Ethan’s passivity. To Jasmine, he was an anchor holding her back, preventing her from reaching the glamorous life she felt she deserved.

She began comparing every detail of her life with Ethan to her fantasies about "Mr. Black." At night, when Ethan made a modest attempt at affection, she recoiled, her mind consumed with thoughts of the CEO. She pictured herself at elegant events, on the arm of a man who commanded respect and admiration, not scorn and pity. The thought of being with someone so esteemed made Ethan’s presence beside her feel all the more unbearable.

Ethan, though outwardly calm, could sense the growing distance between them. He saw the way Jasmine’s eyes lit up when she spoke of her job or the miraculous rescue of her family’s business. But when she looked at him, all he saw was resentment and disdain. The bitterness in her gaze hurt more than he wanted to admit, yet he said nothing, allowing her to continue living in her illusions.

One evening, Jasmine returned home from work, clearly invigorated. Ethan noticed the subtle changes: the way she was more meticulous with her appearance, the way she took extra care in choosing her words as she gushed about her work.

“Mr. Black has completely transformed the company’s future,” she said, almost breathlessly. “Everyone says he’s one of the most brilliant minds in business. If only I could meet him in person…”

The wistfulness in her tone didn’t go unnoticed by Ethan. He nodded, hiding the pang of hurt beneath a composed facade. He was “Mr. Black.” But revealing that truth wasn’t an option—not yet. Not while she still saw him as the lesser man.

As days passed, Jasmine’s admiration morphed into something deeper. She fantasized about meeting Mr. Black at a gala or an exclusive corporate event, envisioning the sparks that would ignite between them. In her mind, he was a man who would see her worth, who would elevate her status simply by association. Ethan, meanwhile, became a shadow—a reminder of a life she wanted to leave behind.

One evening, Jasmine’s family threw a celebratory dinner to commemorate the company’s newfound stability. They toasted to Mr. Black’s intervention and praised his decision-making, oblivious to the real identity of the man who had saved them. Jasmine’s mother, Marjorie Lilian, even hinted that Jasmine should “find someone more suitable,” someone with the kind of power and prestige that Mr. Black embodied.

“Think about it, Jasmine,” Marjorie Lilian said, casting a pointed look at Ethan. “You’re young, beautiful, and capable. You deserve a man who’s going somewhere, not… well, someone who’s stuck.”

The words were a knife to Ethan’s heart, yet he remained silent, a subtle smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he watched Jasmine’s family bask in their ignorance. He knew the truth, and one day, they would too.

In that moment, Ethan resolved to continue his silent role as the orchestrator of their fortune, to watch as Jasmine’s admiration for the CEO grew, blinding her to the reality right in front of her. She wanted power, prestige, and a life free from her “disappointment” of a husband. Little did she know, the very man she idolized was the one she treated with scorn.

As he raised his glass to join the toast, a quiet determination ignited within him. The day would come when Jasmine and her family would finally see him for who he truly was. Until then, he would remain in the shadows, the silent benefactor, the hidden force behind their success.

For now, he would let Jasmine’s admiration deepen, let her create the fantasy of a perfect life with a man she’d never met, a man who was, in truth, standing right beside her.