2024-11-22 15:54:54Greg and his buddies strutted through the entrance, once again leaving Ethan behind like he didn’t exist.
From the smug looks on their faces, it was clear. They were planning to enjoy the sight of Ethan still trapping outside hours later.
Ethan didn’t say a word.
He calmly pulled the sleek, black card from his pocket.
“Hey! What are you doing? That’s not one of our member cards!”
One of the guards called out, spotting the unfamiliar color.
“Let him try,” the other sneered. “What does he think this is, Costco? Just flash a random card and expect the doors to open?”
Ethan ignored them both.
He swiped the card.
The card reader blinked green, and with a soft hiss, the club’s high-security doors slid open without hesitation.
It had been mentioned by Edward Crestwood that only a handful of individuals worldwide had the privilege of becoming members with this card.
It was a mark of wealth, power, and connections that most people could only dream of.
Naturally, it granted entry to countless elite establishments.Including the exclusive membership of Royal Stars Racing Club.
The guards watched in stunned silence as the doors slid open—just like that—after Ethan casually swiped what looked like some unknown, random card.
They blinked, trying to process what had just happened.
One of them rubbed his eyes, thinking the door had malfunctioned.
"Wait," the taller guard said, stepping forward. "That can't be right. The system must have malfunctioned!”
Ethan calmly pulled out the black card and held it up for them to see.
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, still doubtful. But Ethan’s expression remained cold and authoritative.
"Check it," Ethan said. His voice was soft, but there was a sharp edge to it that made them hesitate.
Still, they summoned their courage and snatched the card from his hand.
They ran the card through their system, and were ready to throw Ethan out with injuries if it turned out that he was wasting their time.
However, just seconds later, confirmation of Ethan’s highest-level membership appeared on their screens, and the guards’ smug expressions dropped instantly.
One of them cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Uh... Welcome, sir. Apologies for the misunderstanding.”
Ethan nodded and walked past them without sparing them another word.
They weren’t worth his time after all. After bypassing the rest of the security clearances, he finally made his way into the luxurious building.
Inside the building, the luxurious lounge of the Royal Stars Racing Club pulsed with adrenaline.
The sound of engines and high speed race cars filled the air, and the members drove the crowd wild with their cheers.
Holographic displays hovered above the marble-paneled walls, projecting real-time stats, lap times, and profiles of elite racers from across the globe.
Aria and Natalie were seated near the front, laughing amongst themselves.
They barely noticed Ethan as he walked in. Aria, catching a glimpse of him, smirked and leaned over to Natalie.
“Looks like the guards let him in because of us,” she said, assuming her presence had somehow opened the doors for him.
Still, she was somewhat disappointed that the guards at the door hadn’t given him a tough time.
She had hoped that he would be beaten mercilessly by them before being thrown out, but that hadn’t worked out the way she thought it would.
Meanwhile, Gregory Holden was at the finish line of one the race tracks, basking in the cheers of the crowd.
He had just finished his match, effortlessly defeating his opponent and improving his global ranking once again.
On the holographic leaderboard, his name flashed near the top, marking him as the highest-ranked racer in the city.
The crowd roared Greg’s name as he stepped out of the driver’s seat of his custom red Lamborghini Reveulto, the engine’s final roar echoing through the massive underground race arena.
He pulled off his helmet, grinning broadly, basking in the deafening applause and flashing lights.
Victory looked good on him, and he knew it.
However, his smug expression shifted the moment he spotted Ethan entering the lounge area near the VIP stands, where Aria and Natalie were seated.
A sneer curled on Greg’s lips as his entourage of equally flashy racers gathered around, sensing drama.
“Well, well, look who finally decided to show up,” Greg called out, his voice loud enough to turn heads across the platform.
Conversations stilled, and all eyes shifted toward Ethan, who stood calm and composed, unaffected by the sudden attention.
Ethan locked eyes with Greg, a calm expression on his face.
Greg wiped the sweat from his temple with a towel, still grinning like he owned the place. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Ethan,”
“You don’t exactly seem to me like someone worthy of Aria’s time. In fact, I’m still trying to figure out how you managed to land an engagement with her at all.” he said mockingly.
Ethan said nothing, but a flicker of cold annoyance passed through his eyes.
Greg chuckled as his friends laughed behind him.
“Come on, man. You can’t really believe you belong in a place like this."
"This is the Royal Stars! People like you don’t even get through the gate."
"You’re a nobody, just a lucky clown who caught Aria on a bad day.”
More laughter followed.
Even a few members of the crowd began murmuring in agreement, watching Ethan with skeptical eyes.
Greg stepped forward, swagger in every motion.
“Tell me, Ethan, do you even have a car worthy of this club? Or are you planning to borrow Aria’s just to keep up appearances?”
Ethan’s lips curled slightly, his irritation increasing with each passing second.
“You talk a lot for someone whose wins only come from custom upgrades and bribed mechanics,”
Ethan replied coolly, his voice cutting through the smugness like a blade.
The crowd fell silent.
Greg blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then his expression darkened.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me,” Ethan said, walking toward the VIP area without breaking eye contact.
“You can insult me all you want, but it won’t change the fact that what I said is the truth."
"And as for the engagement you’re so obsessed with? It’s real, and you don’t have the qualifications to change that.”
A tense silence fell over the area.
Then Greg threw his towel to the ground and stalked closer, fury in his eyes.
“Fine, let's settle this the right way.” he growled angrily.
He jabbed a finger toward the track.
“You and me. One lap around The Loop. If you lose, you back off and leave Aria for good.
End the engagement, leave, disappear—whatever. But if, by some miracle, you win… I’ll admit you belong here.”
The crowd roared in approval, chants of “Race! Race! Race!” building like thunder.
“This bet isn't worth racing for. I like your red Lambo. If I win, the car is mine.” Ethan stated boldly.
“Of course. If you win.” Greg replied coldly, flames of fury burning brightly in his eyes.
Ethan sighed. Greg had no idea what he was up against.
It was like a kid in a go-kart challenging an F1 world champion to a race.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Underestimated Tycoon Chapter 8
“Are you crazy? How dare you set your sights on that car?!” Aria interrupted furiously, her beautiful eyes laced with anger.“Exactly, is that car even something a person like you deserves to drive?” Natalie chimed in. "You're just a country bumpkin! I bet you've never even seen such an expensive car in your life before. What makes you think you're worthy of even competing for such a car?!" Natalie asked mockingly, her tone filled with contempt and disdain as she glared at Ethan. “It’s fine! There’s no harm in racing for it. After all, it will only be his if he has the ability.” Greg sneered, his grin widening as he cracked his knuckles.The red custom made Lamborghini Reveulto was one of his three most prized possessions, and he was extremely protective of the car. However, he was so confident of his victory that he bet it without any hesitation. After all, there was no way a country bumpkin and a pauper like Ethan could ever hope to beat him. He was not worried in the slightest th
The Underestimated Tycoon Chapter 9
As Ethan stepped out of the combat room, the crowd that had gathered in the underground fight club was buzzing with shock and disbelief. "He's cheating!" someone shouted from the back, followed by murmurs of agreement."Of course he won, look at that suit! No wonder he managed to pull off those moves. He didn’t beat Greg fairly!" another voice joined in.Ethan ignored the accusations, his expression impassive, but Victoria, standing beside him, stepped forward and glared at the crowd.“Mr. Ethan did not choose the excellent equipment I provided. His skills are what decided the fight.”The crowd erupted in laughter at her words.“Yeah, right. Do you expect us to believe some random guy just walked in and beat the Gregory Holden?” One of the onlookers sneered.Aria, who had been watching from the front row suddenly stood and sauntered over with a smirk on her face.“Greg will have his revenge soon enough,” she said in a mocking tone.“This win means nothing. You cheated, Ethan. Everyon
The Underestimated Tycoon Chapter 10
“What a joke!” Aria sneered after hearing Ethan’s words. There was no way that his words would be true. She thought Ethan was bluffing. After all, why would someone like him be an important guest at a dinner hosted by the powerful Crestwood family?Just looking at his poor outfit alone, he didn’t even fit in among the city’s elite. How then would he be the important guest to the powerful Crestwood family?It was obvious that he was blatantly lying to their faces. He was a boastful fraud after all.It appeared that it wasn’t just Aria who thought the same way, as the crowd joined in and started to insult Ethan.“Do you really expect us to believe that?” one of the audience uttered, and the rest of the crowd murmured in agreement, with several of them glaring at him with disdainful sneers.“You have quite the imagination.” Greg, ever eager to humiliate him, remarked with a mocking smirk.“It’s not too late to back out of this lie you’ve told before you embarrass yourself even more.” Gre
The Underestimated Tycoon Chapter 11
Edward Crestwood.The name flashing on the screen made everyone who saw it fall silent in shock, mouths hanging open.But just a few seconds later, the snickers started.“Seriously?Is this guy serious?” Greg scoffed haughtily.“Is that supposed to be a joke? Edward Crestwood? In your wildest dreams!” Another person in the crowd sniggered.The crowd erupted instantly with mocking laughter. They clearly believed that Ethan, being the boastful fraud that he was, had resorted to cheap tricks like creating fake names on his phone to impress people. The idea that the head of the Crestwood family, one of the most powerful men in the city, would call someone as unremarkable as Ethan was too far-fetched for them to entertain.Aria and her friend, Natalie, crossed their arms and stared at Ethan with an amused expression on their faces. They were eagerly waiting for Ethan’s next move. Ethan, on the other hand, did not pay any attention to the crowd or their jeers. He simply answered the phone c
The Underestimated Tycoon Chapter 12
Meanwhile, the luxury car that picked up Ethan pulled up in front of the magnificent Crestwood Villa. The driver parked neatly and stepped out, opening the door for him. Ethan alighted calmly and started walking towards the imposing manor doors. He could see the anxious expression of the butler standing at the entrance, and it was very clear to him that he had been waiting for his arrival.“Master Ethan, thank you so much for your quick response.” The butler responded, bowing his head respectfully.“It’s nothing.” Ethan replied casually.“Mrs. Crestwood is waiting for you inside. She insisted you see her daughter immediately.” The butler said.“Lead the way.” Ethan ordered calmly.The butler nodded and entered inside the massive villa, with Ethan following him closely. They walked hastily through the elegant hallways, which were filled with expensive artwork and luxurious decor, his haste giving Ethan no time to admire them even if he wanted to.The butler led him to the second floor,
The Underestimated Tycoon Chapter 13
Jason Crestwood, Edward and Olivia’s son, swaggered into the room with an air of confidence, and behind him was a middle-aged man with a serious expression on his face. The middle-aged man was Professor Davies, a renowned person in the city. He was a brilliant and highly respected medical practitioner and had cured a lot of illnesses of sick people in the city. “Thank God you’re here, Professor Davies!” Olivia exclaimed, her voice filled with relief as she rushed to his side. “Please, you have to save my daughter!” Olivia pleaded, tears welling in her eyes. “Don’t worry. I have already assessed the situation with Jason on my way here. I know exactly what to do. She’ll be better in an hour.” Professor Davies said with a confident smile as he glanced briefly at Vivienne’s sickly figure. Olivia Crestwood let out an audible sigh of relief at Professor Davies’ appearance. She trusted that his skills would definitely be better than Ethan, who didn’t have any reputation whatsoever. Jaso
The Underestimated Tycoon Chapter 14
Ethan did not flinch at Jason’s attitude. Instead, he focused his attention on Professor Davies.“You’re making a mistake, I’m telling you.” Ethan said coldly.Professor Davies let out a frustrated sigh at Ethan’s stubborn attitude. He was a renowned individual, and wherever he went, people always revered and respected him. He could not stand Ethan’s constant barrage of disagreements with his method.“This is ridiculous.” Professor Davies said. He crossed his arms and sneered at Ethan. The fact that Ethan was still very young and far less experienced than him also made him extremely annoyed.Jason, sensing Professor Davies' frustration, turned to him and pleaded in a soft tone.“Professor Davies, please ignore him! He must be a fraud that had somehow managed to con my father!” Jason said, casting a venomous glance at Ethan.Ethan sneered at Jason’s words.“Me? A fraud?”“Yes. You’re nothing but a con artist!” Jason shot back.“You really think I’m a fraud?” Ethan asked coldly, his pos
The Underestimated Tycoon Chapter 15
Ethan was about to step out of the Crestwood manor when the butler hurried after him, calling out in a desperate voice.“Master Ethan! Please wait!” The butler's voice was urgent as he drew closer. Ethan, whose hand was already on the door, stopped and turned back to face the butler.“I’m very sorry for what happened earlier, Master Ethan.” The butler, whose name was Harris, apologised to Ethan with a sincere expression on his face.“It’s not your fault.” Ethan replied coolly.“They’ve already chosen who they want to help them, and I’m not the one.” Ethan continued calmly.Harris bowed his head in shame at Ethan’s words. He didn’t like the way Ethan was treated earlier, but there was nothing much he could do.Ethan didn’t say anything else and was about to leave the manor when two guards suddenly rushed up to him.“You! Wait! The Young Master demands your presence! You’ve put the young mistress in danger with your stupid concoctions!” one of the guards yelled at Ethan in a cold voice.
Latest Chapter
Chapter 49
Back at the Whitman manor, Aria, Natalie, and Greg made their way to the luxurious sitting room. There, Aria’s parents, Andrew and Eloise Whitman, as well as her grandparents, Henry and Margaret Whitman, were already seated in the sitting room.The reason for their gathering was none other than the pressing issue regarding finding an ally. They were looking to explore other options as they had no faith that they would get an ally anymore.“I think we need to face the reality of the situation.” Margaret Whitman said with a deep sigh, and her eyes flicked between her son, Andrew, and her husband, Henry.“We can’t continue to wait and hope that a big family will change their minds and decide to ally with us.” Margaret added in a somewhat dejected tone.“What are you suggesting, mother?” Eloise asked carefully as she glanced at her mother-in-law warily, as she could sense where the conversation was headed.“I think we should sell our ownership stake in the company. We’ve built it up enoug
Chapter 48
Eastwood Manor, Eastwood Street.While Aria and Natalie were celebrating and rejoicing at the Whitman family being selected as an ally for the Crestwood family, Ethan was at his luxurious apartment working on some important documents.He had been extremely busy for the past 48 hours, as he had to complete several major business deals for his father. Due to the large scale of the business, he hadn’t even had the chance to do anything else. Fortunately, with his work ethic, he had managed to complete everything that he needed to do. He just needed to drop off the documents at their family headquarters in the city, then he would no longer be occupied.As he closed the documents that were on his work desk, he suddenly remembered that the Crestwood family was supposed to release their list of allies today. He didn’t know whether the Crestwood family later chose the Whitman family as their ally.“I can’t believe I forgot.” Ethan muttered as he reached for his phone. He was just about to pla
Chapter 47
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. It was as though everything had stopped moving, and Aria couldn’t believe her ears. She stared at the phone screen in shock, her mind struggling to process what she had just heard and what was written on the phone screen as well.“We’re number one on the list?” Aria repeated in shock, the tone of her voice incredulous. She was having a hard time believing that what she saw was real. She felt like someone was playing tricks on her eyes.“Yes! The Whitman family is the first name on the list, and your family was awarded a very coveted business contract by the Crestwood family! It’s a very important business contract, and being in charge of this would give your family a lot of edge!” Natalie exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief and her tone laced with shock.Aria felt a flood of emotions rush through her body—relief, disbelief, and joy. She couldn’t believe it, and she felt like she was dreaming. She even pinched herself twice, and the sh
Chapter 46
The days went by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, two days had passed since Vivienne’s charity party. Aria hadn’t heard from Ethan in those two days, and while it was surprising to her, she didn’t think too much about it. As a matter of fact, she was quite glad that Ethan had not spoken to her in the past 48 hours. She did not want to have to deal with Ethan.At the moment, Aria and Natalie were in the garden of the Whitman manor and having a conversation regarding an ally for the Whitman family. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting a soft light on the manicured bushes and blooming flowers, but Aria was far too anxious to appreciate the beauty of nature around her.Aria knew what was at stake. Although the Whitman family could still be considered wealthy, their business wasn’t doing too well anymore, and if they weren’t able to secure an ally, they were on a fast track to falling from grace to grass.“Calm down, Aria. It’s not the end of the world.” Natalie, who had
Chapter 45
Jason remained quiet for a brief moment as he contemplated Ethan’s words, but it didn’t seem like he was going to change his mind. Although Ethan had a mysterious background and identity, this was a different ball game entirely, and moreover, he couldn’t make this decision on his own.“I will think about it seriously and speak to my father about the Whitman family. However, he is out of the city currently for business, and he will be coming back in the next three days. When he is back, I will speak to him, and we will release the list of allies we have decided to work with.” Jason said with a pleading tone. It was as though he was trying to pacify Ethan.Ethan looked at him for a few seconds before ultimately nodding his head in agreement.“Thank you. I look forward to seeing the list.” Ethan said, and exchanged goodbyes with them before turning and walking away, his steps as calm and composed as ever.As Ethan walked away, he was already thinking about his next move. He planned to me
Chapter 44
The curtains on the charity event had been pulled already, and in less than twenty minutes, the grand and luxurious hall of the VIP section where the guests were the elite of the city gradually emptied, leaving in the same flashy way they arrived. The journalists and reporters who were still present continued to take several pictures of them, but the fervour was vastly different from the moment of arrival.Aria, Greg, and Natalie all left together as usual, before parting ways on the route to their various homes. They didn’t even bother to look for Ethan or offer him a lift, choosing to completely ignore him and go about their own activities.Ethan as well didn’t bother with them. If they chose to ignore him, then he would respect their decision. Besides, he would rather they ignored him than them reaching out to him only to insult him again.Meanwhile, inside the luxurious grand hall, Jason and Vivienne Crestwood stood near the polished oak doors of the hall, speaking in low voices a
Chapter 43
The party continued in its lavish atmosphere, and soon enough, the charity auction began mere minutes after Vivienne’s speech. The guests settled down, and the lights in the luxurious hall dimmed as an auctioneer took to the stage.“Good evening everyone. I trust you all are having a pleasant evening!” The auctioneer, a handsome man in his early forties greeted politely as he positioned himself properly on the stage. His voice was rich, commanding the attention of everyone present as he presented the first item that was up for auction—a luxurious painting from a world famous artist.The proceeds from the auction, as Vivienne mentioned earlier, would go toward several charitable causes that needed it.In a gathering with such exclusive people in the city, several high-end and luxurious items were presented, including artworks, jewellry and rare collectibles. These were all items that were highly sought for by the guests present, and they placed their bids on their interested items with
Chapter 42
“What a showoff.” Greg sneered as he watched Ethan walk away from them.“He has nothing and yet he’s acting like that! How dare he lie to us?” Natalie added, her voice dripping with disdain.“Vivienne Crestwood got him the outfit? What a fraud.” Natalie scoffed and muttered under her breath, visibly irritated by the thought.Aria’s eyes flickered with surprise at Ethan’s attitude, but she still remained silent. She didn’t know whether to believe his words or not.“He definitely has some nerve, walking around so righteously when he just stood there and lied to our faces.” Greg uttered angrily as Ethan disappeared into the crowd, clenching his fists as he did so.Aria still remained silent, sporting a small frown on his face as she stared at Ethan disappearing figure. She didn’t know what to make of Ethan’s claim. Since his demeanor was so calm and composed, wasn’t there the possibility that his words could be true?“Let’s just ignore him. He’s no one important anyways. He’ll just end u
Chapter 41
For a moment, the three of them stared at Ethan in silence. The words Aria wanted to say got stuck in her mouth, and her jaw dropped. Natalie widened her eyes as she stared at Ethan, while Greg who was sporting a smug expression saw his expression falter. None of them had expected that response, and they could not believe their ears.“Vivienne? What do you mean Miss. Vivienne?” Natalie asked, her voice filled with disbelief.“Do you mean Vivienne Crestwood?” Aria asked, her voice clearly showing her shock.“Yes.” Ethan replied coolly, giving her a small nod of agreement.“You’re such a liar, Ethan. Why would Vivienne Crestwood get someone like you an outfit?” Greg immediately rebutted, not believing his words for a single second at all.Ethan didn’t respond to Greg’s insult, and opted to remain silent. He had already answered their questions, and whether they believed him or not was left to them, as he had no intention of explaining any further to them. He already expected them not to
