The Underestimated Tycoon

Chapter 5

As Henry gently guided Ethan toward the living room, another voice suddenly cut through the air.

“Stop!”

Margaret Whitman, Aria’s grandmother, entered the room in hurried strides. A look of anger and disdain on her aged face.

“I object to this engagement!” She declared loudly, clearly having just learned about the unsettling arrangement.

“I’ve already chosen someone else for her.” 

“My granddaughter Aria is going to marry someone far more worthy!”

“Margaret, what are you talking about?”

Henry Whitman asked in a cold voice, but the reply he got from his wife was not one he expected to hear at all.

"Aria will marry Gregory Holden," Margaret declared in a firm voice.

“Gregory Holden? That hypocrite’s son? You must be out of your mind.” Henry sneered, his voice filled with disdain.

Margaret remained unflinching at her husband’s harsh words, her posture stiff and resolute.

“Greg is a fine young man, and he works for the powerful Crestwood family. It is surely a connection that will be invaluable to us one day.”

Henry shook his head, his patience wearing thin.

“The Crestwood family may be powerful, but Greg himself is nothing. His father is a mere lackey who can’t even manage his own affairs, and you want our Aria to be engaged to such a person?”

“He’s more respectable than that boy you’ve brought in!” Margaret shot back, her voice rising as she pointed toward Ethan, who stood silently by the side.

"Respectable, my foot!” Henry snapped, his voice brimming with frustration.

If it were up to him, he would’ve revealed Ethan’s true identity on the spot—laid it all out so his wife would finally be convinced.

But he couldn’t. Not yet. Until everything was settled, the name Blackwell had to stay in the shadows.

“Father.”

A new voice cut through the tension. All eyes turned toward the source.

It was Edward Whitman. Aria’s father and Henry’s own son.

Both of Aria’s parents had been standing quietly in the side hall. Even if they hadn’t caught the full story earlier, the heated argument made everything clear now.

Her mother, Eloise Whitman, looked pale and visibly uneasy. Her father, Edward, had just spoken up, and the disapproval on his face was obvious.

Edward shot a glance at Ethan, clearly judging the worn clothes and modest look, before continuing,

Edward began to say, casting a sideways glance at Ethan’s poor appearance,

"Did I hear that right? You arranged a marriage for Aria? With this young man?"

"Are you being serious, Father?"

"Look at him. You’d think he’s some homeless kid off the street."

"He’s not even remotely a match for our daughter. Let alone worthy of marrying into our family!"

Eloise, who was always quick to follow her husband’s lead, added quietly.

“Yes, Father. He's so unkempt. Surely we could find someone more suitable.” 

She fidgeted with her hands nervously, glancing quickly at the others before continuing,

“He doesn’t even seem like he comes from a proper family. How could we possibly accept him into ours?”

Margaret, encouraged by their support, stepped forward with more fire in her voice than ever.

“Do you hear that? Even Aria’s own parents think this whole thing is ridiculous!”

“Gregory Holden is clearly the better match for our family! Their ties with Edward Crestwood could open countless doors for us."

"This marriage could take the Whitman name to new heights!”

Henry’s eyes darkened as he turned to his son and daughter-in-law, then finally landed his gaze on his wife.

“Are you all finished?”

His voice dropped to a cold, commanding tone—one that brooked no argument.

“Have you all forgotten who the head of this family is?”

“It’s me.”

“And I’ve made my decision. Ethan is Aria’s fiancé. They’ll be getting married soon—and that’s final.”

Henry ended with a tone that silenced the room.

Ethan stood quietly in the corner of the hallway, looking completely unfazed by the chaos unfolding around him.

His expression stayed calm and unreadable, as though none of it had anything to do with him.

he didn’t flinch a little when the shouting, the accusations, the insults being thrown his way.

Money, power, status... none of that mattered to him. What he cared about and what had brought him here was finding the truth behind the death of his mother.

Margaret was trembling with rage. Before rushing out of the room, she left one last sharp words:

“You’re making a mistake, Henry. A terrible mistake.” 

Henry, unshaken by his wife's words, turned toward his granddaughter.

“Aria, take Ethan on a tour of the campus. It’s time you got to know him properly.”

Aria’s expression soured as though she had eaten a fly, but she forced a smile, knowing better than to outrightly defy her grandfather in front of everyone.

“Of course, Grandfather. I’ll be happy to show him around.” She said it sweetly, but her eyes glinted with malice.

With a curt nod, Henry turned away, signalling the end of the discussion.

Aria led Ethan out of the room, her steps brisk and stiff.

She didn’t need to look back to know her parents were exchanging frustrated glances behind them.

As soon as they were out of sight, her sweet demeanour immediately disappeared and was replaced by cold, venomous anger.

“Listen to me,” she hissed, turning on Ethan with fire in her eyes. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but let me make one thing clear—I will never marry you.”

Ethan叹了口气。

“Look here, Aria. I’m not here to force anything on you. But—”

Before he could complete his sentence, she cut him off with a sharp laugh.

"Oh, please, spare me. You’re just another gold digger, trying to worm your way into this family."

“I don’t know what’s gotten into my grandfather today, but I will figure it out.”

“Maybe you couldn’t blackmail me, so you went after him instead?”

“Well, whatever it is—let me tell you something you don’t know. You’re definitely going to regret ever setting foot in this house.”

Ethan’s temper flared, but he bit his tongue and calmed himself.

“Look, I don’t want to marry you either.”

“I’ll try to stall this whole thing for as long as I can.”

“And I’m definitely not after your family’s money,” he said quitely. “If I wanted to, I could buy out your entire family.”

“Oh please,” she cut him off, rolling her eyes. “Bragging again, huh?”

“If you’re so rich, why don’t you go buy yourself some real clothes?”

“My clothes are fine,” Ethan said flatly. “I don’t need that kind of thing to prove who I am.”

“Sure you don’t,” she sneered. “Then what exactly do you want, someone like you?”

“Aria, let me say this one last time. I’ve got my own matters to deal with. Once it’s done, we’ll have nothing to do with each other.”

Aria let out a cold laugh.

“If that’s the case, I’m actually looking forward to it. Just make sure you don’t come clinging to me later.”

“You’re the one who better not cling to me...” Ethan muttered under his breath.