They called me worthless, now the beg.

Chapter 7: The Son-in-Law They Look Down On

By the following morning, Ethan Carter had become the subject of another family argument, and this time, the accusation was that he had brought shame upon the Carters by involving the police in Daniel's theft. His grandparents refused to speak to him unless he agreed to withdraw the complaint, while other relatives called to lecture him about loyalty, respect, and the importance of keeping family matters private.

Ethan listened without arguing, but he had no intention of changing his decision. The same people who had expected him to tolerate Daniel's behavior were now treating him as though he had committed the greater offense, and their reaction confirmed what he had already begun to suspect about their attitude toward his inheritance.

By midday, Richard Carter had joined the growing chorus of criticism. He confronted Ethan in the sitting room, his expression full of disapproval as he demanded to know why Ethan was determined to make a simple family dispute so complicated.

“You have been spending money as though it will never run out, and now you're picking fights with your own relatives,” Richard said, folding his arms. “Do you think the inheritance your parents left you will last forever? If you keep behaving like this, you'll have nothing left before you know it.”

Ethan glanced at him calmly. “You seem more worried about how I spend my money than about why Daniel thought he could take it without asking.”

Richard's face tightened, but he quickly dismissed the question with a wave of his hand. “Don't change the subject. I'm warning you because nobody else seems willing to tell you the truth. You need to stop acting like you're better than everyone else and start thinking about your future.”

“My future is my responsibility,” Ethan replied. “You don't have to worry about it.”

Richard scoffed and walked away, apparently convinced that Ethan's confidence was nothing more than foolish pride. Ethan watched him leave without offering another explanation, knowing that revealing his true financial position would only give his relatives a new reason to interfere in his affairs.

Later that afternoon, Ethan received an invitation to a formal banquet hosted by the Bennett family, a prominent family whose influence extended through business, property, and several well-established social circles. The invitation had come through an acquaintance who knew Ethan's name but had little understanding of his circumstances, and the event offered him an opportunity to enter a new social setting without drawing attention to himself.

Ethan examined the invitation before slipping it into his pocket. He had no interest in impressing strangers with wealth or status, but he was curious about the people who would gather there, particularly because the Bennett family had recently become connected to a matter that could affect his future.

By evening, the entrance to the banquet hall was crowded with expensive cars and guests dressed in formal clothes. Warm light spilled through the glass doors, and the sound of conversation drifted into the driveway whenever the attendants opened the entrance, but the atmosphere changed when Ethan approached in his understated suit.

A staff member looked him over, then glanced at the invitation in his hand. “Sir, may I ask who invited you?”

Ethan handed it over. “I received an invitation to attend the banquet.”

The man studied the card before looking at Ethan again, his expression turning doubtful. “I'm afraid this event is reserved for invited guests and their registered companions. Please wait here while I verify your name.”

Ethan stepped aside without protest, but the attendant's suspicious gaze did not escape him. A few guests nearby had already noticed the exchange, and their quiet conversation slowed as they began watching him with open curiosity.

After checking the invitation, the attendant returned with another staff member, who examined Ethan's clothes and then looked at the card as though the two could not possibly belong together.

“I'm sorry, sir, but there may have been a mistake,” the second attendant said. “This is an important private banquet, and we cannot allow anyone inside unless their invitation has been confirmed by the organizers.”

“My invitation has your family's name on it,” Ethan replied evenly. “If you have doubts, contact the person responsible for sending it instead of making assumptions about me.”

The attendant stiffened at his tone, and one of the guests standing nearby gave a mocking laugh. “Look at him. He turns up dressed like an ordinary office worker and expects everyone to believe he belongs at a banquet like this.”

A woman beside the guest smiled behind her glass. “Perhaps he heard there would be wealthy people here and thought he could find someone willing to help him. These events attract all sorts of people.”

Their remarks carried far enough for Ethan to hear, but he made no attempt to defend himself. He had encountered people who judged others by appearances before, and their behavior told him far more about their character than his simple clothes could ever reveal about his own.

The second attendant stepped in front of the entrance, making it clear that Ethan would not be allowed through until someone verified his invitation. “Please wait outside, sir. We don't want any unnecessary disturbance at an event of this importance.”

Before Ethan could answer, a woman's voice cut through the conversation.

“What's going on here, and why is he being kept outside?”

The nearby guests turned toward the sound. A young woman in an elegant evening dress approached from the entrance, her expression composed but her eyes sharp as she took in the invitation, the attendants, and the small crowd that had gathered to watch.

The second attendant immediately straightened. “Miss Bennett, we were only verifying this gentleman's invitation. There seems to be some uncertainty about whether he should be admitted.”

The woman held out her hand, and Ethan passed her the invitation. She read it carefully, then raised her eyes to the attendants, her expression growing noticeably colder.

“His invitation is valid,” she said. “So why are you treating him as though he has come here to cause trouble?”

“Miss Bennett, we were only following the rules,” the attendant explained, visibly uncomfortable. “We didn't think someone dressed like this would be—”

“Would be what?” she interrupted. “Worthy of entering?”

The attendant fell silent, and the guests who had been laughing moments earlier suddenly found other things to look at. The young woman returned the invitation to Ethan and turned toward the entrance, making it clear that she expected the staff to let him pass.

“My apologies for the inconvenience,” she told him. “I'm Evelyn Bennett, and this banquet is hosted by my family. You are our invited guest, and you shouldn't have been made to stand outside while people judged you by your clothes.”

“Ethan Carter,” he replied, accepting her apology with a slight nod. “I appreciate your help, but you don't need to apologize for other people's assumptions.”

Evelyn studied him for a moment, seemingly surprised that he showed neither embarrassment nor eagerness to impress her. Most people who entered her family's social circle were quick to flatter her or make a show of their connections, but Ethan appeared more interested in the event itself than in gaining her favor.

As they entered the banquet hall, the warm air carried the scent of polished wood, perfume, and freshly prepared food. Crystal lights shone above the tables, and guests exchanged greetings beneath the low hum of conversation, yet the attention that followed Evelyn and Ethan made it clear that their arrival had not gone unnoticed.

A middle-aged man approached them, his expression darkening when he saw Ethan beside Evelyn. He was Victor Bennett, one of the senior members of the family, and his displeasure became obvious when Evelyn introduced Ethan as an invited guest.

“Evelyn, may I speak with you for a moment?” Victor asked, barely acknowledging Ethan. “I understand that you have been meeting people outside our usual circle, but I hope you haven't forgotten the responsibilities that come with being a Bennett.”

Evelyn's shoulders stiffened. “I haven't forgotten anything, Uncle Victor. Ethan received an invitation, and I won't allow anyone to insult him simply because he doesn't arrive with an expensive car or a famous surname.”

Victor gave Ethan a dismissive look. “You are defending a man you barely know. Do you even understand what kind of person he is, or are you impressed because he managed to get himself invited here?”

“I can judge a person's behavior for myself,” Evelyn replied. “And so far, he has shown more restraint than the people who tried to humiliate him at the entrance.”

A few guests nearby exchanged surprised glances, while Victor's expression hardened at being challenged in front of them. He had expected Evelyn to accept his authority without question, and her defense of a man the family barely knew had turned a private disagreement into a public confrontation.

“Fine,” Victor said, shifting his attention to Ethan. “If you believe you belong in this circle, then perhaps you should prove that you are more than an ordinary man who happens to have an invitation. The Bennett family does not make important decisions based on sympathy.”

Ethan met his gaze without flinching. “What exactly are you asking me to prove?”

Victor's eyes narrowed, and the surrounding conversations began to fade as more guests turned toward them. “I am asking whether you have the ability and character to be considered as a live-in son-in-law for this family, or whether you're simply another man hoping to benefit from our name and wealth.”

Evelyn's composure finally cracked. “Uncle Victor, you cannot make that decision on the spot, and you certainly cannot use Ethan to make a spectacle for everyone here.”

“Then he should have no reason to fear a fair test,” Victor replied. “If he wants to be taken seriously, let him demonstrate that he deserves consideration.”

The words sent a ripple through the gathered guests, many of whom looked at Ethan with open disbelief. Some smiled in anticipation, already convinced that a man dressed so modestly would fail, while others watched Evelyn to see whether she would withdraw her defense of him.

Victor raised his voice so that everyone nearby could hear. “Here is my condition, Ethan. If you fail to prove yourself worthy, you will leave this banquet in disgrace, and the Bennett family will make it clear that you are not suitable for such an arrangement. But if you succeed, our family will honor the terms of the arrangement and give you the consideration you claim to deserve.”

Evelyn turned toward Ethan, alarm written across her face. “You don't have to accept this. He's putting you on the spot because he thinks you'll fail, and you shouldn't let him dictate your future in front of all these people.”

Ethan looked around the hall, taking in the expectant faces and the quiet contempt that had followed him from the entrance. His relatives believed he was wasting his inheritance, strangers assumed his modest appearance meant he had nothing, and now the Bennett family wanted to decide his worth before they knew the first thing about him.

He turned back to Victor, his expression calm enough to make the older man's confidence falter for an instant. “I'll accept your challenge, but I won't agree to be humiliated simply to entertain your guests. If your family expects me to prove myself, then the terms must be fair, and your family must honor its side if I succeed.”

Victor's smile returned as the room fell quiet. “Agreed,” he said, though the confidence in his voice suggested he was already imagining Ethan's failure. “Let everyone here witness what happens when a man reaches beyond his station.”

Ethan's gaze remained steady, and he gave a slight nod. “Then let's begin, because I would rather settle this now than waste the entire evening listening to people explain why they believe I'm unworthy.”

The guests leaned closer, eager to see the ordinary-looking man brought to heel, while Evelyn watched Ethan with growing uncertainty. Victor had chosen his challenge believing the outcome was already decided, but Ethan had accepted without hesitation, and no one in the room could understand what he knew that made him so willing to risk public disgrace.