Vengeful Heir: The Rise of Ethan Bennett

Chapter Eight

The grand ballroom sparkled under the glow of crystal chandeliers, the clinking of champagne glasses and soft hum of conversation filling the space.

Ethan stood near the back, blending into the crowd. Dressed in a simple, understated suit, he looked like any other guest.

No one gave him a second glance, which was exactly how he wanted it. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the opulence, the wealth on display. But his mind was focused elsewhere.

Tonight wasn’t about being seen, it was about stealing the party behind the scene.

Ethan knew the Steele family would be here, basking in their perceived glory. They always showed up to these high-profile charity events, projecting power they no longer held.

Henry Steele, as smug as ever, Sophia draped in designer clothes, and Max, exuding his usual arrogance, walked in from the stairs. They had no idea their empire was crumbling.

Not yet.

As he kept his distance, a sharp voice cut through the noise, drawing his attention. "Well, well, look who decided to show his face," came the familiar sneer of Vivian, Sophia’s cousin. Dressed in a slinky gown, she sauntered over to Ethan, her lips curling into a smirk.

"Vivian," Ethan greeted her coolly, maintaining his composure, though his gut tightened.

She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with malice. "I didn’t think you’d have the nerve to show up here. After all, I’m sure you’ve had to cut back on these kinds of events, given your... situation."

Ethan’s expression remained neutral, but inside, a storm brewed. He knew what was coming. Vivian was always ready to land a cheap shot, and tonight would be no different.

"How’s life after Sophia?" she asked, her voice louder than necessary, drawing the attention of nearby guests. "I heard you’re practically living off scraps now. Funny, isn’t it? Sophia really dodged a bullet leaving you."

Several heads turned toward them, whispers beginning to ripple through the crowd.

Vivian basked in the attention, her voice carrying the sharp edge of cruelty.

"I always knew she could do better. Honestly, what did you ever offer her? A pathetic man with no ambition, no money, no future."

Ethan stood still, his jaw tightening, but he refused to take the bait. He knew his silence would only fuel her further, and that’s exactly what happened.

"Oh, come on, Ethan," Vivian continued, her voice dripping with mockery. "It’s no secret why she left you. Everyone here knows it. You were nothing without her."

The guests nearby exchanged knowing glances, some laughing quietly, others watching with a mixture of curiosity and pity. But Ethan didn’t respond. He remained calm, allowing Vivian to dig herself deeper.

He had learned to control his reactions. Tonight was not about proving anything to these people. He had bigger plans in motion.

Just as Vivian was about to deliver another verbal jab, the large screen in the ballroom flickered. At first, it seemed like a technical glitch, but then something far more deliberate appeared. A video.

The room fell silent as everyone’s attention shifted to the screen. Ethan’s heart rate quickened, but his face betrayed nothing.

The video began playing a recording of Sophia, her voice unmistakable, dripping with disdain.

"I never loved him. Ethan was just easy to manipulate. I needed someone weak, someone I could control."

Gasps echoed throughout the room as the video continued, showing Sophia laughing with Brian, Max’s friend.

The camera shifted, revealing intimate moments private moments between them that should never have been captured, let alone broadcast in a room full of high society guests.

Vivian’s smirk faded, her face paling as she realized the gravity of what was unfolding.

The guests who had been whispering about Ethan only moments ago now watched in stunned silence as the video exposed every  detail of Sophia’s affair with Brian. And it didn’t stop there.

Another clip followed, this time a voice recording of Max, plotting with Henry. "We’ll make sure Ethan’s reputation is ruined. Spread the rumors, get people talking. By the time we’re done, he’ll be nothing."

The humiliation was swift and devastating. Every lie, every cruel scheme the Steele family had concocted was now public knowledge.

The gasps turned into murmurs of shock, and the whispers of gossip turned to disgust. Faces once smiling at the Steeles now twisted in revulsion.

Vivian stood frozen, her eyes wide, not knowing where to look or what to do. The screen went black, leaving a deafening silence in its wake .

Then, as if on cue, the doors to the ballroom burst open. FBI agents poured into the room, their authoritative presence cutting through the tension like a knife. Henry and Max, who had been scrambling to comprehend what had just happened, were immediately approached.

"Henry Steele, Max Steele, you’re under arrest for fraud, embezzlement, and conspiracy," one of the agents said coldly, producing handcuffs.

The guests recoiled, some stepping back in shock, while others whispered furiously among themselves.

Ethan watched it all unfold, his face impassive, but inside, a sense of satisfaction bloomed. He hadn’t lifted a finger, but the Steeles were finally being brought to justice.

As Max and Henry were cuffed and led out of the room, their faces a mix of shock and humiliation, Vivian stumbled back, clearly in disbelief. Sophia, who had been standing near the front of the room, was rooted to the spot, her face drained of all color.

Her eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, but there was none. The walls were closing in on her.

Ethan could feel the eyes of the room turning toward him now, but he didn’t move. He didn’t need to. His work was already done.

"Enjoy the rest of your night, Vivian," he said quietly, his voice calm and measured. With that, he turned on his heel and walked toward the exit, leaving the stunned crowd behind.

The whispers of disbelief followed him out, but none of it mattered anymore.

As Ethan stepped into the cool night air, he allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.

The Steele family had always thought they were untouchable, that their power and influence would protect them from any consequences. But tonight, the tables had turned. And this was just the beginning.

For years, they had mocked him, humiliated him, made him feel small. But now, with their darkest secrets exposed and their empire crumbling, Ethan had finally reclaimed his power. And the best part? No one saw it coming.

The night was his.

***