Rise of Underdog

11

Inside the room, the tension grew heavier.

“You seriously went through with it? Sabotaging him just so he wouldn’t reach the peak of his success?” Evelyn asked, still struggling to believe what she had just heard from her husband. Her gaze pierced through him, filled with a storm of emotion—disappointment, anger, and sorrow all tangled together.

Thomas didn’t answer right away. He looked at Evelyn with a calm yet chilling stare.

“I was only protecting our daughter,” he finally said. “That boy stands out too much. He could threaten Scarlett’s position, or worse—become a negative influence on her.”

“A negative influence?” Evelyn repeated, almost scoffing. “You mean the fact that Scarlett has started to show interest in Ethan? That’s what frightens you?”

Thomas stayed silent—a silence that spoke volumes. Evelyn gave a bitter laugh.

“You sacrificed a young man’s future just because you’re possessive over your own daughter.”

“This isn’t about being possessive,” Thomas replied coldly. “It’s about our family’s future. I won’t let our daughter be outshined by anyone.”

Outside the door, Scarlett stood frozen, her body nearly trembling.

Her father’s words—“I won’t let our daughter be outshined by anyone”—echoed in her mind.

But it was that very sentence that made her feel like she had already lost. Because what’s the point of winning… if it means stepping on someone else’s ruin?

Scarlett closed her eyes for a moment. She knew she had to do something. For Ethan. And maybe… to prove that if she were to win, it would not be because of her father’s protection—but because she deserved it. Because she had earned it with her own hands.

Thomas turned his head toward his wife.

“You doubt my capabilities?” he asked, one brow slightly raised, his expression dead serious.

Evelyn swallowed hard, sensing her position was suddenly unsafe under that intense gaze. Especially given the tone of his question—wounded pride masked as curiosity. She took a softer stance, trying to diffuse the moment with something her husband never failed to respond to: validation.

“You know I’ve never doubted you, Thomas,” she said softly but firmly. She stepped toward him slowly and touched his shoulder with a gentle hand.

“I was just… surprised. Because you yourself once told me that young man—Ethan—had great potential. You even compared him to a nobleman’s son.”

Thomas narrowed his eyes, as if trying to recall his own words. But he was too caught up in ego and resentment to acknowledge the truth in what Evelyn said. He brushed her hand away gently, then turned to face the large window overlooking the back garden.

“Potential means nothing,” Thomas murmured, almost as if speaking to himself. “Potential is just an illusion if a person doesn’t know how to bow—and respect those with real power.”

Evelyn said nothing. Beneath those words, she could sense an old wound—one that had never fully healed. She knew Thomas had once been dismissed by men like Ethan—young, idealistic, bold enough to question the system. But Evelyn also knew—revenge cloaked as justice would never bring peace.

“Are you sure… this is the best way?” she asked gently.

Thomas took a deep breath, then turned around. His eyes were cold, unwavering.

“I don’t need anyone’s reassurance, Evelyn. I only need results. And I’ll get them. That boy will know exactly what it feels like to be knocked down from the top… before he even tastes victory.”

Behind the study wall, Scarlett remained motionless. Her heart pounded. She tried to process it all. Disappointment and heartache flooded her chest.

All this time, she thought Ethan had changed because of pressure. But she never imagined that the pressure came from her own father.

Now everything started to make sense—Ethan’s angry glares, the pain behind his words. The things he said that once seemed harsh… now felt painfully honest. Scarlett felt guilty. All this time, she thought Ethan was being too sensitive. But in reality… he had been betrayed. Not just by the system, but by the father of the girl he quietly trusted.

Scarlett stepped back slowly, her feet silent. She couldn’t bear to hear any more. Her heart felt fractured, unsure where her loyalty should lie.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Thomas sat back down. He lit his cigar and looked at Evelyn, who now appeared more thoughtful than vocal.

“You know,” Thomas said, his tone lighter, “this world doesn’t reward people who cling to ideals. Sometimes… the only lesson that works is failure. They need to fall, so they’ll learn to kneel.”

Evelyn lowered her gaze. Maybe he was right… But maybe Thomas had also forgotten—those who fall the hardest are often the ones who hold themselves too high above everyone else.

"You seem to doubt me and my abilities. Are you starting to side with that arrogant man? What a useless and inept man. He confidently proposed to be my son-in-law. Yet, his achievements, barely scratching the surface, aren't enough to rival our family's privilege. Sinclair has his own way of determining who is worthy of joining our family. It's not something that can be easily penetrated, especially by a marginalized person like him," Thomas said passionately.

Evelyn fell silent, her heart trembling as her husband's words grew louder and more condescending. A pang of discomfort welled up in her chest, not only because she realized Thomas had gone too far, but also because she knew those words must have been heard by someone on the other side of the room. She glanced uneasily at the door, but didn't say a word.

Meanwhile, Scarlett, still standing behind the wall, froze. Her father's words cut her heart. She knew Ethan wasn't perfect, and they hadn't even begun a real relationship. However, Scarlett understood very well that Ethan had worked very hard. She saw firsthand how Ethan fought—not just for himself, but also to achieve something greater. And now, those efforts were being undermined simply because she wasn't considered on his level.

With a heavy sigh, Scarlett closed her eyes for a moment, holding back the lump of emotion pressing down on her chest. She felt torn between her filial loyalty to the Sinclair family and her respect and empathy for Ethan, the man who had secretly filled a space in her heart.