The return of General Ethan: The Miracle doctor.

Low-life riff rat!

Chapter five.

Rose's smile grew wider as she watched Ethan's expression change from confusion to anger.

She had never found him appealing, despite his physical appearance. To her, he was a waste of good looks, lacking influence, wealth, and power.

“Why would my sister ever marry someone like you?” Rose sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. “You must be stupid to think my sister would settle for a poor, insignificant bastard like you.”

Ethan's fists clenched as he struggled to control his emotions. Rose's words cut deep, but he refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing him lose his temper.

Rose continued to circle him, her smile growing more mischievous by the second.

“Anyway,” she said, “my sister will be visiting you in prison tomorrow to pay you off for your… services. You should be grateful you got to take the blame for us. Otherwise, you'd just be a broke, useless man.”

Caleb's laughter echoed through the room, his voice laced with sarcasm.

“Poor thing,” he mocked, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Caleb's laughter sounded forced, a thinly veiled attempt to hide the intimidation he felt in Ethan's presence.

Ethan's chiseled features and piercing gaze seemed to unnerve Caleb, who couldn't help but feel inadequate beside him.

Rose's voice cut through the tension, her words dripping with malice.

“At least he has a hundred dollars in his account, thanks to Maria.”

Caleb nodded in agreement, his eyes gleaming with sarcasm.

“If I were you, I'd disappear and hide my face in shame. You're not a man without money, so if I were you, I'd join the ladies' set.”

Ethan tuned out their mocking words, his mind drifting back to the fateful day when the incident occurred.

Maria had proposed marriage, and he had accepted without hesitation, believing that everything was for the best.

Ethan's memories flashed back to the day he received his marriage certificate. Maria had cried, professing that she couldn't bear the thought of him in jail. He had believed her, thinking that her tears were genuine. But now, he realized it was all an act.

The truth hit him like a ton of bricks: they had planned to buy him off for a mere hundred dollars. The absurdity of it all made him chuckle. Rose and Caleb exchanged confused glances, mistaking his amusement for happiness about the offer.

Little did they know, Ethan could buy them out ten times over. He folded his arms, his gaze sweeping the room.

“I want to see Maria,” he said firmly.

Rose's laughter echoed through the room. "Seeing Maria won't change anything, darling. You're getting a divorce whether you like it or not!”

Ethan's sharp retort made Rose's face twist in anger.

“You're not her mouthpiece, so shut the fuck up!” he barked.

Rose gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with resentment. This was why she hated Ethan: his pride and arrogance knew no bounds. Other men would be groveling at her feet, but Ethan acted like he was the one in control.

Caleb, however, seemed undeterred by Ethan's defiance. He cleared his throat, his eyes locked on Ethan.

“My brother had a plan,” he said, a smug smile spreading across his face. “If you sign the divorce papers that Maria gives you tomorrow, I'll give you two hundred thousand dollars.”

His voice dropped to a low, condescending tone.

“So, be wise enough to sign the documents tomorrow, right away. You have no choice.”

Ethan's expression remained calm, his hands clasped behind his back.

“Hmm,” he hummed, his eyes glinting with amusement. "If I don't… what will happen?”

Caleb took a step forward, his face darkening with anger. He resented Ethan's defiance, and his voice dropped to a menacing tone.

“If you don't sign the papers, we'll make your life a living hell in prison.”

Ethan's eyes blazed with fury, his anger boiling over. He couldn't believe the extent of Maria's betrayal.

There was no child, no truth to anything she had claimed. And yet, they still had the audacity to use it to threaten him.

Maria had played him for a fool, manipulating him with lies and false promises.

Ethan's mind reeled with the implications, his heart heavy with the weight of his gullibility.

Ethan's gaze locked onto Rose, who stood with a smug smirk on her face.

“Tell your sister and the entire Bryce family that I, Ethan Hawk, will make them regret making a fool out of me,” he declared, his voice low and menacing.

Without waiting for their response, Ethan turned and walked away. Rose and Caleb watched him in stunned silence, exchanging skeptical glances.

“What can he possibly do to us?” Caleb whispered, his voice laced with disdain. “He doesn't have money or wealth. He's just making empty threats.”

But before Ethan could reach the door, Rose stepped forward, blocking his path.

Rose's eyes flashed with indignation as she blocked Ethan's path.

“Who do you think you are, walking away from the youngest master?” she sneered. “You should be grateful that he's willing to offer you money. He owes you nothing. Drop your pride and show some gratitude because pride comes before a fall.”

Ethan's anger simmered just below the surface, his irritation growing with each passing moment. He gritted his teeth, struggling to keep his temper in check.

Rose's voice dripped with condescension as she continued, “In case you're unaware, Ethan, the Bryce family has grown exponentially in power and wealth while you've been in prison. We're now worth millions of dollars. The Swayne family, on the other hand, is on shaky ground.”

Ethan's patience finally snapped. “Get out of my sight!” he growled, his teeth clenched in anger.

Rose's face reddened with indignation. “Don't you dare shout at me, you low-life with no class!” she spat.

Ethan's anger reached a boiling point. His eyes blazed with fury, and his voice dropped to a menacing growl.

“You're pushing me to the wall. Get out of my face now before I do something I might regret.”

Rose, however, refused to back down. She seemed determined to provoke Ethan, to break his pride and shatter his composure.

Her eyes flashed with malice as she stood her ground, her presence a constant goad to Ethan's already-frayed temper.

Rose's face was inches from Ethan's, her breath hot against his skin.

“The Swayne family is worth over a hundred million,” she sneered. “And Maria is marrying Caleb Swayne, the youngest son. We'll be unstoppable!”. She taunted Ethan, her voice dripping with malice. “How do you think a nobody like you can take on the Bryce family? You're nothing but trash, worthless and disposable.”

Ethan's anger finally snapped. With a swift motion, he slapped Rose across the face!