Ethan Ramsey arrived in Pine Valley in 2004, claiming to be the heir to the Cambias fortune. Ethan explained to Ryan Lavery, the head of Cambias Industries, that he was the son of the late Alexander Cambias Jr. and a maid, Hannah Nichols. Ethan's mother had given him to the Ramsey family to raise, not wanting the corrupt Cambias to influence her child. Ethan's adoptive mother, Edith, revealed Ethan's heritage on her deathbed, leading Ethan to claim his birthright.
Ethan had no substantial proof that he was a Cambias. The entire family -- including his father, Alexander Jr. -- had died with no remains left behind. Frustrated, Ethan began a friendship with Kendall Hart, a fellow outsider. He also befriended Bianca Montgomery, the mother of his deceased cousin Miranda. Bianca, seeing Ethan as a link to her beloved daughter, supported his quest to find the truth.
Unbeknownest to Ethan his father was alive and living in Pine Valley as Zach Slater. Zach (then Alexander Jr.) had faked his death to escape his tyrannical father. Zach was surprised at the arrival of Ethan, who was determined to claim his birthright. Zach had Ethan tested and learned that Ethan was his son.
Zach feared Ethan would be poisoned by the power of Cambias fortune, just as it had corrupted Michael and their father. Zach came forward and revealed himself as a Cambias, but lied and said that he had done DNA tests to prove Ethan was not his son. Out of love and a desire to protect Ethan, Zach denied his son his birthright and his father.
Ethan wanted another DNA test for his own confirmation, and when Zach wouldn't submit to one, Bianca Montgomery offered to contribute the shirt she wore when she gave birth to her daughter (that she believed to be dead), a child of rape by Ethan's would-be uncle, Michael Cambias.
Ryan Lavery, who inherited the Cambias estate after the death of its patriarch, immediately clashed with Zach and Ethan. Jonathan, Ryan's brother, hoping to protect Ryan's place as heir to the Cambias fortune, stole and burned the shirt.
When Ryan was shot, he immediately suspected Ethan was behind the shooting as a way to get Ryan off of the Cambias throne. After Ethan was arrested for Ryan's shooting, Ryan and Greenlee were shot at, leading Ryan to suspect Zach as the culprit. Ethan, meanwhile, began a relationship with Kendall Hart as she helped him come to terms with his heritage.
Ethan was overjoyed when his cousin Miranda was revealed to be alive, having spent the last nine months being raised as Bess Chandler. The joy was soon clouded by suspicion against Kendall, who was accused of methodically poisoning Greenlee with anti-psychotic medication.
Zach helped put the idea in Ryan's head that Kendall was the guilty party, hopeful that Kendall would be convicted and Ethan would have a reason to leave town. The opposite effect happened, as Ethan has vowed to stand by Kendall and clear her name.
