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.
***

Latest Chapter
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Five
As Henry sat on the floor in pain, he could see his eyes flashing right before his very eyes. Never did he imagine that something like this would ever happen to him.He was humiliated to the point where he would never rise again and then slowly he began to recall all the things he had done wrong.If only he had wholeheartedly accepted Ethan as his son-in-law, then he wouldn't have encountered any issues at all. Instead, it would have become a victory for them.“What is going on?” Max asked, but as the realization struck him that they were about to be arrested, he immediately rose to his feet and dashed out of there.Even while one of the officers chased after him, Max felt like this was life and death. He gave it a really good race, running away from there.Henry was captured and taken away, but Max immediately regretted running away as he wished he had just been captured like his father since he didn't have anywhere else to go.After trying all the friends and business partners he kn
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Four
Seeing Henry on his knees in front of the stage, everyone had their attention on Ethan, wondering how he was going to react to this, but Ethan had totally ignored him and walked off of the stage. He went straight to where Sasha was standing all by herself, but just then, Sophia stormed right there. There was not even a flicker of remorse in her eyes, rather it was consumed with rage and envy.“Ethan! You must be filled with joy knowing that you deceived me, right?”“Deceived you?”“Yes. I mean, how do you manage to sleep at night after doing something like that? I was married to you for years and had no idea that you had been deceiving me!”“Shut up Sophia and get out of here. Is that the only thing you think of the entire situation, that I should have informed you of my true identity so you can jump on me and suddenly become a lovely wife?”“I was a good wife to you, you were just poor, and you know it's hard for anyone to deal with that. At least, now that everything is out, I have
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Three
As the face of the most sorted man was revealed, there were many reactions as expected, but it was all silence. All jaws dropped at the image of a man before them.But for Sophia, this was death itself. Her mouth was wide open, and she wasn't certain if she would ever be able to shut it.She was not able to endure it anymore. She fell back on her chair, expecting Brian to hold her, but he was also frozen, and couldn't move.After a long moment of silence, it was followed by loud applause, with the crowd cheering and the media taking pictures from all angles just in case they never get this opportunity again.“Ethan! "This is not possible!” Henry finally spoke. He clutched his chest, almost gasping for breath. “What the hell is going on here, are they playing some sort of trick on us?” Max asked, also fuming for breath. “Sophia, you need to get on your feet. I think that this is some sort of joke. Isn't this the same man we just chased out of the hall? There is no way he is Mr. Benne
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Two
Henry held his shoulders up high as they all stood there watching Ethan walk out of there. Once he was away, the guests all began to whisper to themselves.“The Bennett family is so powerful that no one has ever been able to challenge them, but did you see how easily Mr Henry was able to belittle the princess of the Bennetts?”“Yes! I think that Bennett might be losing their powers and soon Steeles will take their place.”“Can that ever happen, given the amount of power Bennetts has acquired?” Another guest who was listening chipped in on the conversation.“We can't tell yet. I guess we will have to sit down and see how the event goes.”They concluded as they watched the Bennett family return to their seats. Zara seemed like nothing had happened while the event immediately began.“Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to the twenty-eight global business gala!” A loud voice spoke from up on the stage and there was loud applause. Everyone has settled around their tables, where a vari
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy One
Ethan remained calm despite the whole situation. He knew that the Steele family were going to be surprised when they saw him, but he thought that all they were going to be was just a surprise. He never imagined that they would become so cocky and take it up to this length.“I am not here to cause trouble and do not want to banter words with you, so I suggest that you get off my way now that I am asking nicely.”“Else, is there anything you can do?” Sophia chipped in. She was also becoming so furious at his presence, since she thought that he would leave immediately, but now he was becoming more and more of a hard nut.“Listen Ethan, I don't know if you have suddenly grown some sort of obsession for me all because of the amount of wealth that my family is about to acquire, but you should know that we have already resolved the divorce documents alone. There is no trick you will use here that will make me compensate you any further.”“Your family are so full of themselves, acting so prou
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy
The Steele family had immediately settled in once they arrived at the venue and, before they knew what was happening, they had begun to mingle.First, they went ahead to exchange pleasantries with people they knew and had done business with in the past, but when they did, they did not fail to mention the fact that they were the guest of honor for this event with a special invitation and, as a result of that, this had drawn the attention of many.Seeing that they were treated as special, Henry could not stop talking about all of his achievements and how far his company had come, even though they went through obstacles.The guests who held glasses of wine around their fingertips all stood listening attentively to him, for most of the reason was the fact that he was going to hold a very important position today in the global world, and they all wanted to get close to him.But just as he was speaking, he was suddenly interrupted when he noticed a male figure stepping in alone. Henry did
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