RISE OF THE UNDERDOG SON-IN-LAW: DRAGON'S POWER UNLEASHED

7 Star necklace

Julian strolled into the Isle of Love jewelry store with an air of calm confidence.

The dazzling lights illuminated the showroom, reflecting off countless sparkling gemstones. His presence, though understated, drew subtle glances from the staff.

“Good afternoon, sir. Can I assist you with something?” A well-dressed saleswoman asked, with a polite tone but skeptical as she took in his modest attire.

“I’m here to see the ‘7Star’ necklace,” Julian said, his voice steady and deliberate.

The saleswoman raised an eyebrow, trying to mask her doubt. “The 7Star necklace is... quite exclusive. Are you sure you’re looking for that piece?”

Julian looked totally unbothered by her gaze. “Yes. Show it to me.”

“Of course, sir. One moment.” She gestured for another staff member to retrieve the necklace.

Behind the counter, murmurs began.

“Did he really just ask for the 7Star?” one whispered.

“Does he even know how much it costs?” another muttered.

Julian’s ears caught every single word of them, but he ignored them, but his focus remained unshaken.

The saleswoman returned with a velvet box. As she opened it, the brightness of the necklace filled the room. Seven perfectly cut diamonds glimmered like tiny stars, arranged elegantly in a celestial pattern, showing its uniqueness.

“This is the 7Star necklace you're looking for sir,” she said, her tone now laced with caution. “It’s one of only ten in the entire country. The price is thirteen million, one hundred forty thousand dollars.”

“It’s beautiful,” Julian said, his expression unreadable. “I’ll take it, can you pack it for me?”

A pause hung in the air, the saleswoman blinking as if she hadn’t heard him correctly.

“Pardon me, sir?”

“I said I’ll take it,” Julian repeated with a stern tone.

“Ah... right. Of course,” she stammered, trying to regain her composure. “Would you like to arrange financing, or...”

“No need.” Julian pulled out a sleek black card and placed it on the counter.

The room filled with extreme silence and the staff exchanged wide-eyed glances, disbelief was quite evident on their faces.

“Run the card,” Julian said, his voice calm but commanding.

The saleswoman hesitated for only a moment before complying. The machine beeped, and the transaction was approved instantly.

“Thank you for your purchase, sir,” she said, handing him the necklace with both hands, there's a newfound respect carried down by her voice.

Julian nodded, taking the box. Without another word, he turned and left the store, his steps measured and deliberate.

The staff burst into chatter the moment the door closed behind him.

“Did that just happen?” one asked, still staring at the door.

“He didn’t even blink at the price,” another added.

“Who is he?”

“No idea, but I wish I knew him.”

Unbeknownst to them, someone had snapped a photo of Julian as he exited the store. Within minutes, the image made its way into a group chat.

In a nearby café, a group of young women leaned over their phones, sipping on iced lattes as they chatted.

“Look at this,” one of them, Lisa, said, holding up her phone. “Someone just bought the 7Star necklace.”

“That’s crazy,” another, Tim Casilus, said, scrolling through the photo. Her eyes widened. “Wait... doesn’t he look kind of familiar?”

Lisa leaned in. “Who? The buyer? That’s just some random rich guy.”

“No, I swear I’ve seen him before,” Tim insisted. She quickly opened her gallery and pulled up a blurry photo of a man in a suit. “See? Doesn’t he look like this?”

Lisa squinted. “That’s... a stretch. But maybe?”

Tim’s heart raced. “What if he’s my Prince Charming? I mean, look at him buying something so expensive like it’s nothing!”

“Girl, you’re dreaming,” Lisa teased, laughing.

Tim ignored her, saving the photo to her phone.

Meanwhile, at the Steel family villa, Rose sat on the edge of her bed, scrolling through her phone. A notification popped up in a group chat she shared with her sisters.

“Look at this!” Mia had written, attaching the same photo of Julian outside the jewelry store.

Rose frowned as she opened the image. Her breath caught for a moment, "That... looks like Julian."

She stared at the photo, trying to convince herself otherwise.

“No way,” she mumbled under her breath, “Julian can’t afford something like that.”

Her thoughts spiraled as she considered the possibility. But what if it is him? Where would he get that kind of money?

Mia’s message followed shortly after.

“Looks like someone’s living a double life,” she wrote with a laughing emoji, Rose sighed, tossing her phone onto the bed.

The idea of Julian buying a necklace worth millions seemed absurd. He’s barely managed to hold a job, let alone something like this. It’s impossible.

But a nagging doubt lingered.

Her musings were interrupted by the sound of her bedroom door creaking open. She turned and was startled by his presence. “Julian?”

Standing in the doorway was her husband, holding a small velvet box in his hand.

“What are you doing here?” Rose asked, her voice a mixture of confusion and frustration.

“I came to give you this,” Julian said, stepping inside.

He handed her the box, and Rose hesitated before taking it. Opening it slowly, her eyes widened as the 7Star necklace sparkled under the light.

“This... this can’t be real,” she whispered in disbelief. “Where did you get this?”

“It’s real,” Julian answered normally. “And it’s yours.”

Rose looked up at him, her mind racing. “How could you afford this? Julian, what are you hiding?”

Julian met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “I told you things were going to change, Rose. This is just the beginning.”

“I don’t understand,” she said, her voice trembling. “Who are you?”

Julian smiled faintly. “I’m your husband. And it’s time I started acting like it.”

Rose stared at the necklace, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion, disbelief, and a flicker of hope she couldn’t ignore, "what exactly are you hiding from me?"