2024-08-20 15:35:34The constant knocking on the door dragged Ryan out of sleep the next morning.
Groaning, he stumbled towards the door, still in his undershorts. Yesterday had been exhausting, and he had stayed up late. But when he opened the door, his eyes widened in surprise—it was Jane. She looked just as startled, clearly not expecting him to be so unprepared on their big day. “Have you forgotten the significance of today for us?” she asked, frustration edging her voice. He quickly apologised, promising he would be ready in just a few minutes. He invited her in and hurried off to get prepared. When he walked out of his small bedroom, she was taken aback by how good he looked. Even though he was just wearing a simple white shirt with black stripes and black trousers, he looked handsome enough to make any woman turn her head. "No wonder he has a reputation for attracting women," she thought inwardly. Still, even though he was exactly her type, she did not feel any romantic interest in him. "This is the best outfit I've got," he said with a smile, pulling her out of her thoughts. "I'm not sure if it is really fitting for a wedding." "It is nothing fancy," she replied. "It is just a courthouse marriage with just the two of us. Remember, it is all for show." He nodded, understanding, especially since she was also dressed just as casually. The drive to the court to finalise their marriage was silent. "By the authority vested in me by the law, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The seriousness of the statement almost made Ryan burst into laughter, given how absurd the situation felt. "Ryan, you would have to stop working as a skewer seller," she told him as they entered the car after she had ordered the driver to step out. He arched his brows in confusion because it was not stated in the contract and pointed it out to her. "I'm a wealthy and affluent woman, Ryan. People are going to start questioning this marriage if you keep that job. Besides, you won’t need it. I will be paying you a salary as outed in the contract, plus a completion f*e when it is all over." "So, you expect me to just sit around, enjoy this ‘better’ life you’re offering, and rely on your paycheck?" he scoffed. "I've considered that, which also does not sit well with me." She then brought out two documents from a briefcase in the car and gave them to him. "One document transfers ownership of my construction company, of which no one knows I am the owner, to you. The other is a contract stating you will transfer it back to me once our marriage contract is over," she explained. As he read through the papers, which were just as she described, he could not help but be impressed by her well-thought-out plan, clearly tied to her strategy for their contract marriage. A smirk played on his face upon the realisation, and he couldn't wait to find out what it was by himself. He didn’t want to ask her because he was sure she would just lie since she thought she had made him a pawn in her game without him realising it. He also didn't want to ask anyone else for help, knowing that she might suspect something considering how smart she was. "So, by transferring ownership to me, does that mean you want people to know I am the owner now? You want them to think that I am the unknown owner?" She chuckled. "I'm glad you've figured it out by yourself." "Don't you think this is too big for a skewer trader to handle? I mean, the only business I've ever run is small-scale. I don't think—" "You don't need to pretend to me, Ryan. I know of your academic achievements. Even though your background seemed shady when I looked into it, I am not worried about that. Just think of yourself as the figurehead chairman of the company. I will be making all the decisions." He smirked, realising she had done her homework on him before approaching him. “So, what is the real reason you chose me for this contract marriage? Don’t I deserve to know now that I’ve signed the papers?” he asked. She glanced away and said, "You don't need to know. That is an invasion of privacy, which, if you remember, is one of the violations of the contract. It is the same reason I didn't ask about your background." "Okay," he smirked, and then apologised, assuring her that it would not happen again. Before she ordered the driver into the car, she told Ryder that he should pack a few of his things that he would be moving into her house as stated in the contract that night. "I will come get you myself. Don't pack too much; just the essentials. We will go shopping soon to get you stuff that fits your new status," she added. As the driver took them to Ryan's destination—his house—Ryan and Jane were lost in their own thoughts. She felt a twinge of guilt for using him as a pawn in her scheme, taking advantage of his social status to claim what was rightfully hers—at least part of it. Still, she saw it as a necessity, even though she knew no amount of compensation could fully make up for it. Meanwhile, Ryan was not thrilled about going back to his new life. He knew he would lose the freedom and perks he had gotten used to. The pressure and bittersweet reality of his old life were the very reasons he walked away from it years ago. But it was now staring him in the face. However, he steeled himself for what was coming, knowing there was no way out of it this time—all thanks to her.
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The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Nine
The morning air was still cool when Ryan's phone buzzed. Groggy and annoyed, he answered it to hear Jane’s voice on the other end."I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to pick you up as promised. I’ve got an emergency meeting out of state," she said, her tone brisk."What about your driver? Can’t he come and pick me up?” He asked, his irritation seeping into his voice."No,” she responded sharply. "You will have to find your own way to my house.”Before he could protest, she hung up. A few moments later, his phone pinged again—this time, it was a text with the address and some money for transport.He stared at the credit alert, his annoyance growing. "She is such a rude asshole,” he muttered, pocketing his phone. Even though they had agreed to keep things strictly business, he had hoped she would show a bit of common courtesy. Instead, it felt like she was going out of her way to make things difficult.“I guess that is what I will have to deal with for the next three years,” he sighed
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Ten
As Ryan drove back to the estate gate, he stopped as the security guard approached the car before opening the gate to let him out. Ryan rolled down the window, smirking as the guard's eyes widened in shock at the sight of him in the sleek car.Ryan scoffed, locking eyes with the guard. "What, you think I stole it because I’m too poor to own something this nice?"The guard struggled to find words, his mouth opening and closing uselessly."Open the gate and let me out of here, you lowlife," Ryan snapped.He chuckled as he watched the guard trudge back to the gatehouse."It’s always the ones with nothing who look down on others when they get a taste of the good life," he muttered to himself.Once the gate was open, he drove forward a bit and stopped in front of the gatehouse."Is there... is anything wrong, sir?" The guard drawled."Sir?" Ryan chuckled.He leaned closer, his voice dripping with mockery. “Don’t worry, I won’t report you to your employer. Your job is safe... for now.”A s
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Eleven
As the officer approached the scene, the young man ran to him."Mr. Jackson!" The officer recognised him instantly."Thank God you are here." The young man—Mr. Jackson said."You see that scumbag over there?" He pointed towards Ryan, who was still standing with the girl. "You won't believe he humiliated me. Me, of all people!" A smirk crossed his face as Ryder's gaze locked with his.The officer quickly apologised to Mr. Jackson, assuring him that he would handle the situation, and then approached Ryder.After asking Ryder what had happened, which Ryder explained in detail, the officer informed him that he would need to come down to the station on charges of intentionally causing traffic and assaulting Mr. Jackson.Ryan scoffed, already predicting how things would unfold. "Intentionally causing traffic? Did you even listen to what I said caused all of this? Since you're clearly choosing not to believe me, why don't you ask the witnesses around?"But to Ryan's surprise, no one spoke u
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Twelve
For a long, tense moment, neither Ryan nor Jane spoke. The silence between them was suffocating as each second stretched out like an eternity. His eyes locked onto hers, searching for answers she wasn’t ready to give. His fists tightened at his sides as he struggled to keep his anger in check. He exhaled quietly, deciding to break the silence. “Jane?” he whispered. "What’s this slap about? What did I do to deserve it?” She scoffed in disbelief, taking a step back. "How can you even ask me that after what you have done? You’re unbelievable.” “I honestly don’t know what you are talking about. I’m completely in the dark here,” he replied, his voice calm, though anger simmered beneath the surface. She shook her head, frustration clear in her eyes. “I thought you were different, someone who wouldn’t abuse their change in status. But I guess I was wrong. Maybe people are all the same after all.” But Ryan was still clueless. “I don’t understand what all this is for. Just e
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirteen
"Shouldn't you at least tell me where we are headed?" Ryan asked Jane as they drove toward the destination she had mentioned earlier.He was sitting beside her. "You will find out when we get there," she replied sternly, without making an attempt to look at him. The drive continued in silence until Ryan's phone rang, breaking the quiet.It was Rose."I thought you were dead," she joked as soon as Ryan answered. "Yeah, your call brought me back to life," he replied, and they both laughed.For the first time since the trip began, Jane glanced at him, surprised and curious about who was on the other end of the line."I was really worried, Ryan. I thought you had been imprisoned, and I couldn't make it to the station because of what you told me." Her voice was filled with concern. "I'm sorry," Ryan apologised, explaining that he was released the same night."How? Where are you, anyway? Everyone is freaking out, even Mr. Lee. He said he has not been able to reach you, and you have not
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Fourteen
Ryan was about to say, "I used to sell skewers on the street before I got into construction. I now own a construction company." He wanted to test if Jane's family, especially her grandmother, only cared about money and status. He figured dropping this information would show their true colors. "He is the CEO of a construction company." Jane cut in. "Will you shut up this instant?!How dare you speak on his behalf when he is here?! Can't he speak?" The grandmother growled. Jane apologised, and Ryan agreed with what she said, realising he didn't need to stick to his original plan anymore. The grandmother scoffed, "The CEO of a construction company? Who is your family?" He chuckled. "Actually, I'm an orphan. I don't have a family, and my adopted mother has passed away." "Besides the construction company, what other businesses do you own and run?" He already knew where the conversation was headed and confirmed that she was materialistic. He chuckled. "That is the only
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Fifteen
As Ryan stepped out of the sleek, black Mercedes-Benz S-Class that Jane had granted him to use as his, heads turned. His Versace suit screamed wealth. The vendors barely recognised him, assuming he was just another wealthy customer until he removed his sunglasses, revealing his face."Ryan?" Someone muttered.A gasp rippled through the crowd. People immediately gathered around him, their surprise evident. Some whispered to each other in disbelief, while others simply stared. Ryan stood there, his eyes scanning the crowd with an air of superiority.Mr. Lee, the man who had known him the longest, pushed through the group. "Ryan, where have you been all this while?" His voice was laced with concern. "Do you know how worried everyone has been, not hearing from you?"Ryan smirked, his lips curling up mockingly. "Well, as you can see, I'm alive and healthy."Mr. Lee glanced at the car, the suit, and then back at Ryan. "What is going on? What is with the car and the clothes?""That is b
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Sixteen
As Ryan sat in his car, it was clear that the vehicle cutting him off was no accident. Three men stepped out, each gripping baseball bats. There was no doubt—they were here to cause trouble.Still, he could not quite place them until he noticed Jackson emerging from a second car parked behind the one blocking his path.A smirk curled on Ryan’s lips as he got out of his car, fully aware of how this was likely to play out. It was dark, the streets were deserted, and this confrontation felt inevitable. He leaned casually against the hood of his car, crossing his arms as he faced them."Been following me this whole time, huh?" He scoffed, locking eyes with Jackson, now standing in front of the three men.Jackson sneered. "You really think you can have it both ways? I don’t know who you are for the commander to settle things so easily, but there is no way I’m letting you get away after humiliating me in public." He flashed a satisfied smirk, clearly eager for a fight.Ryan let out a low
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Chapter Sixty-four
The blindfold was yanked off Johnson’s head, and he squinted, momentarily blinded by the dim bulb swaying above him. His breath hitched as he realised he was tied to a chair in an unfamiliar, damp room.The smell of mildew filled the air, mingling with his own fear-induced sweat. His eyes darted around until they landed on Ryan, standing smugly in front of him, which made his heart race in panic as he flinched.His mouth fell open, his shock evident. “Ryan?" he stammered, his voice hoarse. Beside Ryan stood Ryan's uncle, and one of their trusted men, ready to pounce on Johnson at a moment's notice. "You need to see the expression on your face, man!" Ryan laughed hysterically."You looked like you just saw a ghost. I should be the one reacting that way, not you."“What... where am I? How the hell did I get here? What is going on?" Johnson asked, trying to struggle against the ropes.Ryan chuckled, pacing in front of him. “Whoa, slow down, Johnson. Which question do you want me to a
Chapter Sixty-three
Ryan sat by the corner table of the restaurant he had texted Chris to meet him, swirling the glass of whiskey in his hand. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the entrance. It didn’t take long for Chris to step in, glancing around nervously before making his way to Ryan. "What's this about?" Chris greeted, sliding into the seat opposite Ryan. "You better have a damn good reason for pulling me here. Jude’s not going to let it slide if he finds out. He must not even find out about this meeting. Do you have even the slightest idea of the danger you're putting my life in?"Ryan’s lips curved into a smirk. "Relax, Chris. I’d hate to remind you, but I have enough leverage on you to make Jude’s wrath look like a child’s tantrum." Chris stiffened, but he said nothing, his jaw tightening as Ryan’s words hit home. "Good," Ryan chuckled.He leaned forward. "Someone’s been tailing me for days now." Chris blinked, his brows knitting together. "What?!""You heard me." Ryan's gaze
Chapter Sixty-two
Ryan darted into the train just as the doors hissed shut, his chest heaving as he leaned against the cold metal wall. He pulled his hoodie lower over his face, scanning the train car. No sign of the person following him.Finally, he let out a relieved sigh and sat down.He pulled out his phone and took a quick look at the photo of his stalker, taken earlier at the station before he slipped onto the train."Gotcha," he smirked, lips curling into a dangerous smile."Think you can spy on a pro?" he muttered, chuckling to himself before shoving the phone back into his pocket.The journey felt endless as the train rattled along, carrying him closer to the private burial ground—a sanctuary for his family’s memories. Today marked another painful anniversary of his family's demise, a day he dreaded.He had been doing this every year.The train slowed as it approached the secluded station, just a few minutes walk from the private burial ground.He stepped off, his boots crunching against the
Chapter Sixty-one
Ryan sat on the edge of the creaky motel bed, the faint hum of the ceiling fan doing little to ease his frayed nerves. His phone buzzed again on the bedside table as Jane’s name flashed across the screen. He didn’t pick up. Her calls, like his uncle’s, had been piling up for hours, but his mind was too clouded to deal with them. He just wanted to be alone.Moments later, Ryan's phone buzzed again. It was a text message from Alex, informing Ryan that he was in the motel and asking for Ryan's room number. He explained that he had come under his father's orders since Ryan had been ignoring their calls.Ryan shot up from the bed after confirming that Alex was in the same motel and walked to the window. He parted the curtains slightly, peering out, and found out that the black sedan was still there, parked under the dim glow of the flickering motel light."Where is he?" he muttered, scanning the car. It was empty. "Could he have gotten a room too?"Realising the danger of meeting Alex,
Chapter Sixty
Ryan had always found a way around every obstacle, but this time, it felt like he had hit a dead end. No amount of thinking or even a smoke break could help him figure out a way forward without exposing his true identity. Frustrated and angry, he decided to leave the house the night after the break-in. Staying any longer meant facing her, and that was something he just could not do without getting annoyed at her.He sat in the car, ready to start the engine, when a knock on the window made him pause. It turned out to be Jane. "What's going on, Ryan? You've been avoiding me since... since yesterday," she said as he rolled the window down. Earlier, Lauren had seen Ryan walking through the living room with a travel bag in hand. Sensing something was off, she went straight to Jane. "It looks like he's leaving for a while," Lauren told her. "With the travel bag, I’m pretty sure he’s not coming back anytime soon.""So why are you asking me when you know I have?" Ryan scoffed, his face
Chapter Fifty-nine
Lauren's face was pale, fear still flickering in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she stammered, "It was some men... they were wearing masks... they broke in and attacked me."But that did not concern Ryan."What did they take?" he asked her swiftly, his mind racing.He was devastated when she broke the news to him that it was a document from his room they took as the implications clawed at his chest. A man who introduced himself as the head of the estate security team stepped forward."Sir, be rest assured that the culprits will be arrested. We are already on it. The gates are locked, and no one’s leaving." He assured Ryan.Ryan scoffed, disbelief etched on his face. "You're assuring me? If your team had done the necessary thing instead of following a useless protocol when I reported it, none of this would have happened!" He scowled."I'm sorry about that. I've been briefed on it, but you can't really blame the person since it's the protocol, and it can't be violated. But don't worr
Chapter Fifty-eight
Two days after Ryan received the proposal, Jane's grandmother unexpectedly invited him and Jane to a family meeting, catching them off guard after everything that had happened the other day. "What about the offer from Hyeom Group? Have you signed it?" the grandmother asked Ryan as soon as the meeting began, after making him and Jane wait for a long time.Ryan chuckled in amusement when she asked him why he was yet to sign it and submit it to the company. "Why are you suddenly concerned about it? Didn't you want me to reject it two days ago?" he replied. She leaned back on her chair. "I need answers, boy. I need to know your decision on it, whether you've chosen this family over the offer or the other way around."He scoffed. "Is this family worth it?"Everyone's eyes widened in shock, including Jane's. She had begged him before they left home to be on his best behaviour, but he was done pretending she had any real say over their lives—especially his. "What are you doing, Ryan?" S
Chapter Fifty-seven
The moment Ryan's uncle stepped into the boardroom, he muttered a brisk "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen," as he acknowledged the board directors and shareholders gathered for the emergency meeting he had called to set things straight. After settling into his chair, he let his gaze sweep across the room, taking in each face one by one. A small smile tugged at his lips seeing that everyone was present, just as he wanted.Mr. Cho, whose face has been scrunched in fury, leaned forward.“Where is he?” he asked, his voice cutting through the room like the crack of a whip. “Where is the chairman? We believe that the reason for this meeting is for you to finally reveal who the chairman is to us, as we've demanded."Murmurs of agreement echoed from several of them, some nodding, and others staring expectantly at Ryan's uncle.With an unreadable expression but a faint smile, he announced, his voice carrying the weight of control. “Yes, part of this meeting is about the chairman."Curiosi
Chapter Fifty-six
Ryan had arranged to meet his uncle at the unfinished building where he interrogated Chris. To get there, he disguised himself and hired a taxi to prevent being followed.Ryan laughed hysterically, much to his uncle's surprise, when his uncle explained in detail to him how drastic the meeting with the directors and shareholders ended. "What's funny?" His uncle asked him with a furrowed brow. "It is uncle. I'm surprised it is the reason you demanded we meet urgently," he replied.“You know this is all your fault, right?” He added, realising that his uncle's silence was a request for clarification.His uncle's brow furrowing in confusion. “What? How?” Ryan let out a scoff. "How is it your fault?” he repeated mockingly. “It is the way you’ve been handling them with levity, Uncle. From the way you described Director Cho—is that his name?” His uncle nodded in affirmation.“From the way you said he acts and speaks condescendingly to you like you are beneath him says a lot, uncle. it sa
