Underestimated: The Rise of Ethan Cole

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

"You're not on the guest list," the security head said firmly. "Stop disturbing honored guests like Mr. Cole and leave the premises."

Sarah's eyes widened in horror. "What?! No, there's been a mistake—"

"No mistake," the man said coldly. "You need to leave. Now."

Drake's face went pale. Sarah stood frozen, humiliation washing over her in waves.

Ethan glanced back one last time, his expression calm, unbothered.

Then he walked into the gala, leaving them standing outside in the cold.

Sarah stepped back from the entrance, her chest constricting. What just happened? Ethan had walked into the most exclusive gala in Boston while she and Drake were left standing outside like beggars.

Elite guests brushed past them, handing invitations to security and gliding effortlessly inside. Each one felt like a knife twisting in Sarah's pride.

All the excitement she'd felt earlier—the anticipation, the confidence, the certainty that tonight would elevate her—had drained away, replaced by cold, creeping panic.

Ethan's voice echoed in her mind, clear as if he were standing right beside her.

*"You'll regret this, Sarah. You have no idea what you've just thrown away."*

Her breath hitched.

What if... what if he'd been telling the truth?

"What if—" Her voice cracked. "What if Ethan is actually someone important?"

The words tumbled out before she could stop them, carried on a wave of panic she couldn't quite suppress.

Drake's head whipped toward her. "What?" He stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "What are you saying? Ethan? Someone important?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "No. Absolutely not."

But Sarah's mind was spiraling. "But what if—"

"He isn't," Drake cut her off sharply. "Think about it, Sarah. If Ethan really had any status—if he was really someone important—then why would he have spent two years quietly rotting in prison?"

Sarah's frantic thoughts stuttered to a halt.

Drake continued, his voice gaining confidence. "If he had connections, power, influence—he would've walked out in a week. A month at most. But he didn't. He sat there for two years like the nobody he is."

Sarah exhaled slowly, relief washing over her. Drake was right. Of course he was right. Ethan wouldn't have stayed in prison if he had real power. He would've pulled strings, called in favors, bought his way out.

"So then how..." Sarah's brow furrowed. "How did he get in?"

Drake's jaw tightened, anger simmering beneath the surface. The humiliation still stung—being pushed aside by security, dismissed like trash in front of everyone.

"During his two years in prison," Drake said through gritted teeth, "Ethan probably befriended some lowlifes. Hackers. Criminals skilled in shady tricks." He gestured toward the entrance. "They helped him tamper with the guest list. Got himself in while canceling our invitations."

Sarah nodded slowly, the explanation settling her nerves. "That makes sense. He's always been sneaky."

Drake's hands clenched into fists. "He'll regret this. I'll make sure of it."

Sarah's panic transformed into anger. "How can we get into the banquet now?" She ran her hands through her hair, frustration bubbling over. "Ethan destroyed everything with his petty tricks. How dare he? I'll make sure he gets caught and receives ten times the disgrace he gave us."

Drake's mind raced, searching for a solution he didn't actually have. Getting the invitation in the first place had been difficult enough—calling in favors, leveraging his family name. He had nothing left to play.

But he couldn't let Sarah see that.

He forced his expression into cool indifference. "I know people who can help us get in."

Sarah's head snapped up, eyes wide with hope. "You do?"

"Of course." Drake nodded, projecting confidence he didn't feel. "I have connections."

"Do these people include members of Boston's other top-tier families?" Sarah asked eagerly. "What about the Stone family?" The Stone family ranked just below the big three.

Drake nodded quickly. "Yes. The Stone family." He had no idea if that was true, but he'd gone this far. No turning back now.

Sarah's eyes scanned the crowd of arriving guests, searching—

And then she saw him.

"Drake!" She grabbed his arm, practically squealing. "Look! The heir to the Stone family is right over there!"

Drake followed her gaze and felt his stomach drop.

Caleb Stone. Tall, arrogant, expensive suit, flanked by two associates. He stood near the entrance, speaking into his phone with a deep frown on his face.

Drake had absolutely no connection to Caleb Stone. They'd never met. Never spoken. Moved in entirely different circles.

But Sarah was looking at him like he'd just handed her the world.

"Let's go meet him!" she said excitedly. "Since he knows you, he'll definitely help us get in. And then we can drag Ethan out and expose him for the fraud he is!"

Drake swallowed hard. He was trapped. If he backed down now, Sarah would see through the lie. But if he approached Caleb and got humiliated...

No. He'd come this far. He had to commit.

Drake straightened his shoulders, forced a confident grin onto his face, and strode toward Caleb Stone like they were old friends.

"Hey, Caleb!" Drake called out, clapping a hand onto Caleb's shoulder.

Caleb's phone conversation stopped mid-sentence. He turned slowly, his expression darkening.

"Caleb!" Drake continued, oblivious to the danger. "Good to see you, man! Listen, Sarah and I got sabotaged—some nobody messed with the guest list. We can't get in, but I figured you could help us out. We go way back, right?"

Caleb stared at him, his face carved from stone.

Who the hell was this man?

Caleb had just gotten off the phone with his men—the gang he'd sent to intercept Victoria Chen earlier that evening. They'd failed. Spectacularly. Beaten bloody by some unknown fighter who'd appeared out of nowhere to protect her.

And now this nobody—someone he'd never met in his life—was touching him. Speaking to him like they were equals. Acting familiar.

"How dare—" Caleb started, his voice low and dangerous.

Then his eyes landed on Sarah.

He stopped.

She was... stunning. The green dress hugged her curves perfectly, her hair cascading over bare shoulders, her smile confident and inviting.

Caleb's anger cooled, replaced by something darker. Lust.

He'd been planning to snap at Drake, send him away like the insect he was. But if he did that, the woman would leave too.

And he very much wanted her to stay.

Caleb's expression shifted, the hard edges softening into something almost friendly. He cleared his throat.

"Oh, really?" he said, his tone suddenly warm. "You got sabotaged?"

Drake blinked, surprised by the sudden change. "Yeah! Some lowlife ex-convict tampered with the list. We need to get in and expose him."

Caleb's mind worked quickly. If he helped them, the woman would owe him. And once inside, there would be opportunities. Dark corners. Private rooms. A few drinks, some carefully chosen words...

He smiled. "No problem. You can both enter as my companions."

Drake's eyes widened. It had actually worked. Relief flooded through him, though he kept his expression casual. "Appreciate it, man."

Sarah's admiration for Drake swelled. He really did have connections. Extensive ones. She'd made the right choice leaving Ethan for him.

"Thank you so much," Sarah said to Caleb, flashing her most charming smile.

Caleb's grin widened. "My pleasure."

He stepped forward, gesturing for them to follow.

As they walked toward the entrance, Sarah leaned close to Drake, her voice filled with awe. "Drake, you were fantastic back there. I never knew you had connections this extensive. You're amazing."

Drake's chest puffed out, ego swelling. "It's all about who you know in this world, Sarah."

Sarah's expression hardened as her mind turned back to Ethan. "Someone like Ethan—someone with his low status—couldn't possibly have entered this banquet through legitimate means." Her voice turned venomous. "All I have to do is publicly expose his background. He is an ex-convict. An unemployed drifter. Once everyone knows, he'll be thrown out on the spot."

She smiled, the plan crystallizing perfectly in her mind.

Everyone would see the truth. They were the real deal. Ethan was the fraud.

And by the end of the night, Ethan would get exactly what he deserved—humiliation, disgrace, and expulsion from a world he never belonged in.

Sarah's smile widened as they stepped through the entrance.

Finally, things were going her way. Drake's connections, Caleb's help, and soon—Ethan's downfall. Tonight couldn't be more perfect.