Mocked Son-in-law Is Powerful

CH 2 : DESPISED BY HIS IN-LAWS

The air in the dimly lit room was thick with tension. Olivia Wilson sat on the plush armchair, her posture regal but detached, as she pulled out her checkbook. Across from her, Emily Carter sat stiffly, her hands wringing together in a nervous habit.

“I’ve transferred enough to cover all your debts,” Olivia said, her voice smooth but laced with indifference. “Including the online loans.” She scribbled a figure onto the check and handed it over with a flick of her wrist.

Emily hesitated before taking it. “Thank you… I don’t know how I’ll ever repay—”

“You won’t.” Olivia’s eyes were cold, her lips curling into a faint smirk. “Let’s not pretend you can. This isn’t charity, Emily. It's an obligation. For John’s sake, not yours.”

Emily flinched at the words but forced herself to nod. “I appreciate it, regardless.”

Olivia crossed her legs, her gaze sharp. “Just remember where you stand. Without us, you’d still be on the verge of being dragged away by debt collectors. Keep that in mind.”

Emily swallowed hard, unable to respond and watched John and Olivia leaving. Her mind raced with a mix of gratitude and humiliation. Is this what we’ve come to? Begging for scraps from Olivia?

Nonetheless her self respect, the money was more important to her right now. She rushed to the city hospital and arrived in ward number 105. 

The door creaked open, and a frail voice broke the silence. “Emily… come here.”

Emily turned to see her grandfather lying on the hospital bed, his body weak and withered. She rushed to his side, kneeling beside him.

“Grandpa, don’t push yourself,” she said softly, taking his hand in hers.

His sunken eyes searched her face. “Listen to me carefully… This family… the Wilsons… they’re dangerous.”

“Grandpa, what are you talking about?” Emily whispered, her heart aching at the sight of his deteriorating condition.

“Promise me… promise me you’ll make sure John never leaves them,” he said, his voice trembling with urgency. “He has a purpose there, something bigger than you understand. Keep him… tied to Olivia.”

Tears welled up in Emily’s eyes. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

Before he could respond, a rattling cough shook his body. His grip on her hand loosened as life faded from his eyes. Emily gasped, clutching his hand tighter. “Grandpa? Grandpa!”

The heart monitor flatline, and the room filled with the deafening sound of loss.

Half a month later, John Carter woke up to sunlight streaming through the expansive windows of the Wilson family villa. The events of the past weeks felt like a blur, but something was different—he felt it in every fiber of his being.

Sitting up, he flexed his hands, watching the veins beneath his skin pulse with energy. His mind brimmed with newfound knowledge, ancient techniques, and unshakable confidence. The Dragon Way Bloodline… Celestial Doctor's Inheritance…

He stood, the realization settling in. I’m not the same man I was.

Determined to share the news with Olivia, he threw on a shirt and strode downstairs. But as he approached the sitting room, voices stopped him in his tracks.

“Olivia, it’s time you stop wasting your life with John,” Mary Wilson’s sharp voice carried through the air. “That man is nothing but dead weight.”

“Mother, we’ve been through this,” Olivia replied, her tone exasperated but not dismissive.

“No, we haven’t. Not properly,” Mary insisted. “Lucas Miller is everything John isn’t. Wealthy, powerful, connected. He can give you a life John could never dream of.”

John’s heart sank, his fists clenching by his sides. So this is what they think of me?

Mary’s voice grew colder. “Divorce him, Olivia. Do it now, while Lucas is still interested. I’ve already spoken to him—he’s willing to pay John off to make it easy.”

“Mother—”

“You’ve seen how worthless John is. The only reason we even tolerate him is because he married you. He should be paying us for the privilege!” Mary scoffed. “Hell, I’ll give him some money to disappear. That’s all he’s worth.”

John stepped forward, his blood boiling. “That’s enough.”

Both women turned, startled by his sudden appearance. Olivia’s face hardened, but Mary simply sneered. “Well, speak of the devil.”

“What’s this about Lucas?” John demanded, his voice like steel.

Before either of them could answer, the door opened, and Lucas Miller stepped in, a bouquet of roses in hand. He strode in confidently, his tailored suit emphasizing his polished demeanor.

“Ah, John,” Lucas said with mock friendliness, “just the man I was hoping to see.”

“What do you want?” John growled.

Lucas ignored him, turning to Olivia. “These are for you.” He handed her the roses, his eyes lingering on her face. “You deserve so much better than what you have now.”

Olivia accepted the flowers reluctantly but said nothing.

John’s patience snapped. “Get out.”

Lucas chuckled. “Relax, Carter. I’m just here to help. How about this—I’ll pay you a generous sum to leave Olivia alone? Let her be with someone who can actually provide for her.”

The room went silent. John’s fists tightened, the urge to punch Lucas growing unbearable. “You think you can buy me off?”

Lucas smirked. “Everyone has a price.”

Without warning, John’s fist shot out, connecting with Lucas’s jaw. The man stumbled back, dropping the roses. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

“You’re insane!” Lucas yelled, holding his face. “You’ll regret that.”

John grabbed a knife from the nearby table, his red eyes flashing with fury. “Say one more word, and I’ll make sure you never speak again.”

“John!” Olivia shouted, stepping between them. She slapped him hard across the face. “What are you doing?”

The sting of her hand silenced him, but his anger remained. “He’s trying to steal you from me, Olivia! How can you stand there and let him—”

“You’re the one acting like a madman,” Olivia snapped. “You’ve humiliated me enough.”

Lucas straightened, brushing himself off. “You’ll pay for this, Carter,” he sneered. “Count on it.” With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The silence that followed was suffocating. John stared at Olivia, his chest heaving. “Is that how little you think of me? You let him talk to me like that, and I’m the bad guy?”

“You don’t understand, John,” Olivia said, her voice cold. “You’re making things worse for yourself.”

Mary chimed in, her tone dripping with disdain. “You’ve always been a burden, John. Don’t act surprised when people finally tell you the truth.”

John’s gaze burned into them both. They’ll see. I’m not the man they think I am anymore.