Vengeful Heir: The Rise of Ethan Bennett

Chapter Three

Ethan stepped out of the car, his clothes still simple and ragged from the night before. The early morning air was cool against his skin, but it did nothing to ease the weight in his chest.

As he approached the Steele family’s estate, the mocking laughter from the night before echoed in his ears, reminding him of the insults he had endured. His heart raced, a mixture of anger and resolve pulsing through him.

Sophia’s family was already seated in the living room when he entered. Henry Steele, his father in law, was the first to speak, his voice dripping with condescension.

"Ethan, you finally decided to show up. You’re lucky we’re even giving you the time of day after everything."

Ethan said nothing, his face impassive as he sat down across from them. Sophia barely looked at him, her posture rigid and cold. Max, her brother, leaned back in his chair, a smirk on his face, clearly enjoying the moment.

Sophia pushed the divorce papers toward him without a word. Her hand was steady, her expression indifferent, as though this was nothing more than a business transaction. Ethan's heart tightened at the sight, but he kept his emotions in check.

There was no point in letting them see how deeply they had hurt him. He picked up the pen and began to sign, each stroke of the pen feeling like a nail in the coffin of a life he had once imagined would be filled with love and partnership.

"Well, that was quick," Max muttered. "I thought you’d at least try to beg for her back. Like your tough man action yesterday night at the party. I guess it was the alcohol in action, nothing more. Not that it would make a difference anyway, loser." He chuckled, his words meant to cut deep.

Henry leaned forward, tossing a check onto the table as if it were nothing more than pocket change.

"Consider this as compensation for wasting my daughter’s time. You were never good enough for her, Ethan, and we all knew it."

The bitterness burned in Ethan’s chest, but his face remained calm. He didn’t reach for the check. Instead, he stood up, his eyes scanning the room filled with the people who had belittled and humiliated him for years. They thought he was leaving defeated, a worthless man they could dismiss without a second thought. But they were wrong.

He turned to face them, his voice low but steady.

"You’ll regret this."

The room fell silent, the smirks disappearing from Max and Henry’s faces for a brief moment. Sophia finally looked up at him, her cold gaze locking onto his, but she said nothing. She believed he was bluffing, just a man too broken to do anything but walk away. But the steel in his voice had caused a flicker of doubt, even if only for a moment.

Without another word, Ethan walked out, the door closing softly behind him. He didn’t bother looking back. The game had already begun.

As the car pulled away from the estate, Ethan’s mind was already racing. Every insult, every condescending glance they had thrown at him over the years replayed in his head like a broken record. But now, it fueled him. They had no idea who they were dealing with. No idea that the man they had treated like trash was about to turn their world upside down.

Back at his home, Ethan sat in his private office, the glow of his computer screen casting a pale light over the room. It was noon already,  His assistant, Liam, had already sent over the files he had requested both soft and hard copy. 

Steele Industries was vulnerable, more so than anyone in Sophia’s family realized. They had stretched themselves too thin, made too many risky investments, and now they were teetering on the edge of collapse.

Ethan smiled grimly as he scanned through the documents. It wouldn’t take much to push them over the edge. Just a few strategic moves, a few well-timed actions, and everything they had built would come crashing down.

His phone buzzed on the desk beside him. He glanced at the screen, it was Zara on screen.  For a moment, he considered ignoring it, not wanting to hear another lecture about how she had been right all along. But something inside him told him to answer.

“Ethan,” Zara’s voice came through, firm but with a note of concern. “I heard about the divorce. Are you alright?”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “I’m fine.”

Zara wasn’t convinced. “You’re not. But I know you, and I know you’ve already got a plan in motion. Just… be careful. Revenge isn’t always as satisfying as you think it’ll be, you know I am a very good example.”

He paused, her words sinking in, but his resolve remained unshaken. “This isn’t just about revenge, Zara. It’s about taking back control. They’ve walked all over me for years. It’s time they learn what happens when you push someone too far.”

Zara sighed on the other end of the line. “Alright. Just remember who you are, Ethan. Don’t lose yourself in this, like I did."

The call ended, but her words lingered. He couldn’t lose himself. But he wouldn’t let them walk away from what they had done either. There had to be a balance.

The next morning, Ethan set his plan in motion. He made calls, pulled strings, and used his vast resources to begin acquiring Steele family assets, starting with their smaller properties and investments. He moved quietly, ensuring that no one in their inner circle would suspect a thing.

By the time they realized what was happening, it would be too late.

Days passed, and the first signs of trouble began to emerge at Steele Industries. Investors were growing nervous, stocks were dipping, and rumors were spreading. Henry and Max scrambled to find solutions, but the cracks were showing, and Ethan was there, watching it all unfold from behind the scenes.

As he sat in his office, looking over the reports of their financial struggles, he felt a sense of satisfaction he hadn’t expected. It wasn’t just about revenge anymore, it was about reclaiming his power, his dignity. He had been silent for too long, and now it was their turn to feel helpless.

With every passing day, the Steeles’ empire crumbled a little more. And Ethan? He was just getting started.

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