The Rise of Ethan Ryder: The Despised Husband & CEO
“So this is what you really want, Jasmine?” he asked, his voice calm yet laced with an undercurrent of disappointment. “After everything?”
She crossed her arms, her expression hardening. “Let’s not pretend there was ever an ‘everything’ between us. You don’t get to guilt me, Ethan. I’ve been miserable, living with a man who has no drive, no ambition. I’ve wasted enough time.”
Ethan’s mouth tightened, but he stayed silent, letting her words sink in. She’d always seen him as a failure, the quiet husband who blended into the background. And now, with the prospect of a new life on the horizon, she was willing to cast him aside without hesitation.
In that moment, Ethan felt something within him shift—a quiet yet powerful resolve. She had no idea who he was, what he had done for her, and the lengths he had gone to support her dreams while sacrificing his own. The weight of his hidden life, his secrets, his true identity, all of it bore down on him, but he remained silent.
He calmly reached for a pen, signing his name with a steady hand. As he finished, he pushed the papers back to her, his eyes meeting hers with a new intensity. “You’ll get what you want, Jasmine,” he said quietly, each word filled with a weight she couldn’t quite decipher. “But I want you to remember this moment.”
She blinked, confused, perhaps even a little unnerved by his composed demeanor. “Remember it? What are you talking about?”
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Chapter: Chapter 12: The Hidden Heir AwakensAs Ethan walked away from his former life, a renewed sense of purpose surged through him. The years of playing the humble, invisible son-in-law had finally come to an end. He felt liberated, unshackled from the chains he’d willingly worn to protect his family’s legacy and to live a quiet life with a woman who could never appreciate the depths of his sacrifice.That night, he entered a secluded hotel suite, one of many properties owned by his family’s vast empire. He set his suitcase down, retrieved his phone, and stared at it for a moment. The name displayed on the screen was one he hadn’t contacted in years—Mr. Cheng, his family’s trusted confidant and advisor, a man who knew the full extent of Ethan’s hidden identity and the power he could command at a moment’s notice.With a deep breath, Ethan pressed the call button. It rang only once before Mr. Cheng answered, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of surprise. “Young Master Ethan,” he said, a note of respect in his tone. “It’s been
Last Updated: 2024-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 11: Departure with DignityEthan sat at the dining table, his face expressionless as Jasmine slid a crisp stack of divorce papers in front of him. She looked as beautiful as ever, but her eyes held none of the warmth he’d once imagined. Instead, her gaze was filled with a cold resolve, as if eager to finally rid herself of the man she saw as a burden."Sign them," she said bluntly, her voice devoid of the usual venom yet colder in its finality. "There’s no point dragging this on. We both know this marriage was a mistake."Ethan’s gaze dropped to the papers, his fingers tracing the edges thoughtfully. He could see the faint lines where she’d already signed her name, securing the end of their marriage as if he were nothing more than a failed chapter in her life. His heart clenched, but he remained composed.“So this is what you really want, Jasmine?” he asked, his voice calm yet laced with an undercurrent of disappointment. “After everything?”She crossed her arms, her expression hardening. “Let’s not pretend the
Last Updated: 2024-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 10: The Secret of the PregnancyEthan had noticed Jasmine acting strangely in recent weeks. She was more withdrawn, her mood swinging unpredictably between bouts of nervous excitement and irritable silence. He assumed it was the stress from work or the ongoing tension between them, but a quiet suspicion started to gnaw at him.One evening, as they sat across from each other in the living room, Jasmine finally broke the silence, her expression unreadable. “Ethan, I have something to tell you,” she said, her voice trembling just enough for him to notice.Ethan leaned forward, a spark of hope flickering inside him. Maybe this was a turning point, a chance for them to connect, to bridge the gap that had grown so vast. “What is it?” he asked softly, doing his best to sound encouraging.Jasmine took a deep breath. “I’m… I’m pregnant.”The words hung in the air, and Ethan felt his heart skip a beat. He’d always wanted to be a father, even if their marriage was rocky, he had hoped that perhaps this child could bring them cl
Last Updated: 2024-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 9: Confrontation with the Brother-in-LawEthan knew his wife’s family didn’t think highly of him, but Caleb—Jasmine’s younger brother—was a constant thorn. Caleb’s arrogance knew no bounds; he took every opportunity to belittle Ethan, boasting about his own “accomplishments” and never missing a chance to remind Ethan of his “lowly” status. Caleb’s disdain ran even deeper since the family’s business had recently been saved by the mysterious CEO, whom Caleb idolized, never suspecting the man he looked down on was the one responsible.One evening, the family gathered for another of Marjorie’s infamous dinners. Caleb, having had one too many drinks, was in rare form, mocking Ethan at every turn, snickering at his simple attire and making backhanded comments about his lack of career success.“I honestly don’t understand why my sister hasn’t thrown you out yet,” Caleb sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’re useless, Ethan. A dead weight. It’s pathetic how you just cling to us like a parasite.”Ethan clenched his fists b
Last Updated: 2024-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 8: Jasmine’s Rising Admiration for the CEOIn recent weeks, Jasmine’s fascination with her company’s mysterious CEO had grown into an unshakable obsession. Though she had never seen him in person, the allure of his powerful, enigmatic presence and his unparalleled business acumen fueled her curiosity. This CEO—whom she only knew as "Mr. Black"—had single-handedly saved her family’s business from collapse, pulling them from the brink with a precision and influence she couldn’t help but admire.Every day at work, she heard tales of his ruthlessness in the boardroom, his skill in making decisive deals, and the unwavering loyalty he commanded from his associates. Jasmine found herself mesmerized by these stories, imagining what it would be like to work closely with a man so driven, so powerful, and so... unlike her husband, Ethan.The more she admired this mysterious figure, the more glaring Ethan’s shortcomings appeared. She couldn’t understand why she had settled for someone who seemed to lack any ambition, any hunger for succes
Last Updated: 2024-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 7: The Silent ProtectorIn the wake of the disastrous family gathering, Ethan kept his distance from Jasmine and her family, quietly slipping back into the role of an unnoticed shadow in their lives. But he hadn’t completely severed his connection; despite everything, a part of him still felt compelled to protect Jasmine, even if she never understood his actions.A few weeks after that humiliating dinner, Ethan discovered something alarming while reviewing one of his many business portfolios: Jasmine’s family was on the verge of a financial disaster. Her father, Edward, had made a series of risky investments, and the market downturn had put every asset he owned at risk. They were losing money by the day, their luxurious lifestyle hanging by a thread. One wrong move, one missed payment, and everything they had worked for would collapse.Ethan could easily have allowed their empire to crumble, to let them taste the bitterness of failure without his silent support. But something held him back. He knew what it f
Last Updated: 2024-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 193: The Shadow’s LegacyThe earth beneath Madeline's feet trembled violently. Dust swirled around her as the walls of the underground facility groaned under the pressure, cracking like bones breaking under strain. She barely registered the roar of destruction that filled the air—the hiss of overloading systems, the screams of machines giving way to chaos. The world as she knew it was collapsing, disintegrating into oblivion. Her heart raced, and her breath came in sharp, shallow gasps. She had no time to process what had just happened—the deactivation of the doomsday device had only been a temporary reprieve. The machine had been silenced, but it wasn’t enough. The damage was done. Beside her, The Ghost remained unnervingly calm, his posture unflinching as he studied the shifting environment. He seemed almost detached, like the destruction surrounding them was nothing more than an everyday occurrence. But Madeline couldn’t share that detachment. Her mind screamed for clarity, but it was drowned out by the
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 192: The Moment of TruthMadeline’s hand hovered over the activation console, every muscle in her body taut with the weight of the decision. The countdown was ticking, its rhythmic pulse a metronome to the unraveling world around her. Each second felt like an eternity. The hum of the machine vibrated through her chest, each thrum sinking deeper into her skin as though the very fabric of reality were trembling beneath her. Julian’s face flashed in her mind—the way he had looked at her with such fierce trust, the desperation in his voice when he begged her to make the right choice. His sacrifice. His death. All of it had led her here, to this moment. Her breath was shallow. The temperature in the room seemed to drop, her fingertips tingling with an icy sensation. The world outside this facility was in shambles. People were dying, cities were falling, and a war for the future of mankind raged in every corner of the globe. Madeline’s mind raced. Her father’s legacy called to her—control, order, structure. A wo
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 191: The Last GambleThe air was thick with tension, crackling with the hum of the doomsday device that loomed before Julian and Madeline. The device’s core pulsed ominously, its glow casting erratic shadows across the chamber as if the very air itself held its breath. The swirling vortex of energy at its center was maddening, a singular point of impending destruction, and it seemed to echo in Julian’s chest.Across from them stood The Ghost, their posture unmoving, a figure of cold calculation. The mask they wore was gone, revealing eyes that gleamed with a sickening mix of control and confidence.“You have a choice,” The Ghost spoke, their voice like smooth velvet, impossible to ignore. “Join The Collective. Together, you can reshape the world. Rebuild it from the ashes of the old. Or refuse, and watch everything crumble into dust.”Julian felt Madeline stiffen beside him. The weight of the offer hung between them like an unbearable burden.“What’s the catch?” Madeline’s voice was sharp, her grip tighte
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 190: The Final ConvergenceJulian's heart pounded in his chest, the pressure building with every rapid click of his fingers over the console. His mind raced as his eyes darted to the countdown timer ticking down with relentless precision. The hum of the doomsday device vibrated through the floor, its glowing, pulsating lights casting ominous shadows on the cold metal walls around him."Almost there," Julian muttered to himself, breath shallow and fast, as he worked frantically, his hand slick with sweat. He was so close to disabling the device, to stopping everything from going to hell.But then, the tremors started. A low rumble, soft at first, then growing steadily stronger until the ground beneath him seemed to vibrate in warning. Julian’s eyes widened in alarm.“Madeline,” he growled, his voice tight with urgency, “we’ve got company.”She was already moving, her stance hardened, eyes scanning the cavernous room. She raised her weapon, her fingers curling around the grip with practiced ease.“Not yet,” she w
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 189: A World on the EdgeJulian’s pulse pounded in his ears as he paced in the dimly lit underground corridor, the weight of Madeline’s confession pressing down on him like a vice. Every word she had spoken was a jagged piece of a puzzle he couldn’t quite fit together. Her betrayal, her lies, everything he had believed about her, it all felt like a cruel trick. But now—now she stood at his side. Was she an ally or an adversary? Could she truly be both?As they descended further into the labyrinth of tunnels, his thoughts spun wildly. He couldn’t shake the image of her tear-streaked face, her whispered confession. She’s torn, he thought bitterly. She’s still deciding. But will she make the right choice when it matters most?He turned to her, his voice cold, the question that had burned in him since her revelation escaping his lips. “You said you’d help me stop this,” he spat, anger and distrust clear in his words. “But tell me, Madeline—what happens when it’s over? Are you going to pick up where your father le
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 188: The Truth About MadelineThe underground base hummed with the low, unyielding buzz of machinery, but all Julian could hear was the thundering beat of his own heart. His eyes were fixed on Madeline, her pale face betraying the storm of thoughts she tried so desperately to hide. The air between them crackled with unspoken truths, each second thicker than the last. The hesitation in her gaze, the quick flicker of guilt—he had seen it before, but now it carried the weight of something much greater. Julian’s voice cut through the oppressive silence, sharp and unforgiving. “Tell me the truth, Madeline,” he demanded. His eyes bored into her, seeking the answers buried beneath the facade. “What’s really going on? No more lies. No more half-truths.” Madeline froze, her breath caught in her throat. For a moment, she looked like a deer caught in headlights, trapped between the weight of her past and the consequences of her choices. Slowly, she stepped back, but not from fear. It was the step of someone preparing to fa
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
