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The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-seven
After finishing his daily workout, satisfied by the burn across his body, Ryan headed out of his room to have a quick drink of water from the kitchen, wearing nothing but a pair of workout shorts that hung low on his hips.As he was about to enter the dining room, he halted abruptly, spotting Jane on the couch in the living room, in her pyjamas.Her eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat when a single bead of sweat trailed down from his collarbone, tracing a slow path along the line of his chest, gliding over the dip between his abs before disappearing beneath the waistband of his shorts. She tried to look away but couldn’t, and for a moment, she felt like she had forgotten how to breathe.He cleared his throat, snapping her out of it. "Enjoying the view?” he teased.Her face flushed as she quickly looked away, embarrassed he had caught her staring.“Didn’t realise you were still home,” he added casually."What happened? Why haven’t you gone to work?""Is it because of wha
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-eight
Ryan was met with mass of reporters the moment he drove outside the gate, much to his surprise.The roar of voices and flashing lights hit him the moment he rolled down his window outside. They pressed in, thrusting their microphones and cameras forward as they threw a series of questions at him.“Mr. Ryan! How do you feel about the recent fires that devastated your companies?” one reporter shouted, nearly tripping over another to be heard.Another chimed in, “Are you aware that people are speculating this is all related to the rumors about Mrs. Lin. My apologies; Mrs. Jane's exile from her family? Planning to comment on that?"Those were just a few of the questions he managed to catch.But he stayed calm, almost amused, as he glanced around at the chaotic scene. A faint smile played on his face, surprising them all and making their curiosity spike—they had expected someone whose company had just gone up in flames to act differently.He chuckled, "Wow, news sure spreads faster than w
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-nine
The driver of the car was Derek, a middle-aged man with weathered features. He had been loyal to Ryan's father and his family when they were alive, and now to his uncle. He pulled away as soon as Ryan got in the car. They were on their way to one of his uncle's mansions, far outside the city, to have dinner and dig up information on Jude. Only his uncle’s loyal men—those who had once served his father—knew about this mansion’s location. He had arranged things this way to keep his meeting with his uncle a secret, knowing that every move he made was now being watched. He leaned back, watching the city lights blur by as they drove deeper into the city. He broke the silence a few minutes later. "So... how's life been for you?" he asked Derek. Derek chuckled softly. "Life's been alright. You know, same old grind. The family's good, too." The mention of family made Ryan remember Derek’s daughter, who he had once been close to—almost like a godfather to her—back when he
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Fourty
Ryan was angry as he could not help but feel frustrated that his visit to his uncle to get information about Jude was fruitless. He was hurt that Jude thought he was in control and the only time someone had ever had that power over him was when he lost his family. He was stuck, unable to make any real moves without revealing his true identity. Upon entering the mansion compound, he saw a familiar car parked in the garage, though he could not remember who it belonged to. He was shocked when he met Rose in the living room, sipping a drink. "Rose?" He whispered in confusion. "Hello, darling," she smiled. "What are you doing here?" he asked her. She stood and approached him. She wore a black shirt and a white, skimpy skirt that barely reached her knees, paired with long black stockings. He could not help but notice how stunning she looked, the dress clinging perfectly to her figure. "What? Aren’t you happy to see me?" she chuckled, and before he could react, she threw her arm
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Fourty-one
Days had passed, and the tension in the mansion had thickened like a storm cloud refusing to break. The silence between Ryan and Jane was a heavy weight pressing down on both of them. She had stopped talking to him, shutting him out even when he tried to bridge the silence. Frustration brewed inside her, all because he had ignored her suggestion—a solution she had believed would spare them both from the endless whispers and judgemental glances, because the humiliation had grown so unbearable that that now kept her from stepping outside.But eventually, she reached her breaking point. On Lauren’s advice, she decided it was time to talk things out with him, to finally get him to see things her way.When he opened the door in response to her knock, he was surprised to see her standing there.“Well, well,” he teased, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Who do we have here?” He raised his brows with a playful smirk."Or did you knock on the wrong door?"She shot him a hard look. “E
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Fourty-two
Ryan scanned the room for Alex immediately he entered the bar until he spot Alex in a corner booth."Hey, nephew." Ryan tapped Alex on his shoulder as he sat next to him. "So what is it that you couldn't tell me over the phone and had to drag me here just for?" he asked Alex.Alex shrugged, his eyes darting around the bar. “Trust me, it’s not the kind of thing to discuss on a call.""Here I am. So, shoot," Ryan replied."Before that, you need to promise me not to inform dad, whether or not you'll accept what I'm about to say." Alex said. Ryan was confused as to what Alex was about to tell him—that he was desperate to hide from his uncle when it's about him."Why don't you want him to be involved in this?" He asked Alex with furrowed brows."Because what I'm about to say is really dangerous, and I know he would be against it if he heard of it and would get pissed at me." Alex revealed. "Okay," Ryan sighed, then promised Alex that he wouldn’t tell his uncle about the meeting or the c
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Fourty-three
Ryan stood near a broken window inside an uncompleted building near the bar, his arms folded and his face obscured by a smirk.In front of him, the man he had noticed in the bar was tied to a rusted pole jutting out of the wall, his wrists bound tightly with ropes. A welt had formed above his temple from the blow that had landed him here.Slowly, he stirred, his head lifting weakly. He squinted at the space, panic settling into his expression as the unfamiliar environment took hold of him. "Where... am I?” He croaked, tugging at the ropes binding him to the pole, like a trapped animal testing its cage. Ryan stepped forward, the sound of his shoe echoing against the concrete. He crouched a few feet away from the man, his expression unreadable. "Easy man,” he said, his voice low and laced with mockery. "Save your strength. You are going to need it for what is coming.” The man’s jaw tightened as he glared up at Ryan, the fire in his eyes momentarily outweighing his fear. "What the
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Fourty-four
Parked in front of the towering mansion on the Xin family was Ryan and Jane in Ryan's car.She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. "Ryan,” she began."There's something I want to discuss with you before we leave here.""Please promise me not to react no matter what Jude and his family member say or do," she said when he asked her what it was. He shrugged. “I already agreed, didn’t I?” “But I need you to mean it,” she replied.He let out a chuckle. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. I know how much this means to you, so trust me, I don’t take this visit lightly.” “Ryan, please,” her voice was filled with desperation. "I know they’ll go out of their way to push your buttons, but just this once—for me—can you keep it together?”He sighed. "You don't even believe me.""Please, Ryan. Don’t let them get to you. Promise me you won’t react.” Her voice was barely a whisper, and her eyes glistened with unspoken worries.He exhaled heavily, starin
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- The Contracted Son-in-law
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
- The Contracted Son-in-law
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
- The Contracted Son-in-law
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
- The Contracted Son-in-law
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
- The Contracted Son-in-law
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
- The Contracted Son-in-law
Chapter Fifty-five
The joint meeting between the board of directors and the shareholders was nearing its end in the boardroom when Mr. Cho suddenly cleared his throat to draw every gaze to him. "Before we round up this meeting,” he began, his lips curling into a smug smile, "I’d like to bring to notice something important that needs to be discussed.” Ryan's uncle, seated at the head of the table, leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze locking onto Mr. Cho. "Go ahead," he said curtly, motioning for him to continue. Mr. Cho adjusted his tie and straightened his suit jacket like he had all the time in the world before scanning each face in the room. "It is concerning the Managing Director of the construction company,” he declared. "It has been weeks since the position became vacant, and I think it’s time we discuss who should take over the role.” Several shareholders and directors nodded in agreement, some more eager than others, while a few muttered their support under their breaths. Rya
- The Contracted Son-in-law
Chapter Fifty-four
Mr. Grant's sleek, black sedan pulled up in front of a sprawling mansion illuminated by golden lights that belonged to Mr. Alfred Cho, one of the most influential directors of the Hyeon Group.Mr. Grant is a senior manager of the Hyeon Group. "We are here,” Mr. Grant said as the driver stepped out to open the doors. Ethan gave him a curt nod, his mind buzzing with strategy as he adjusted his tie.As they approached the double doors, a maid opened them, bowing politely. “Mr. Cho is expecting you.” Inside, the grandeur was overwhelming—polished floors, an extravagant chandelier, and artwork that screamed wealth and status. Mr. Cho was seated on a leather couch in the living room, flanked by his wife and his daughter.Ethan stepped forward, flashing a polite smile at Mr. Cho after Mr. Grant and Mr. Cho had exchanged greetings."Mr. Cho, it’s an honour to meet you. I’m Ethan Lin, the heir to the Lin Empire."Mr. Cho barely nodded, his expression unreadable."The heir? I thought the fi
- The Contracted Son-in-law
Chapter Fifty-three
The car cruised through the quiet streets, the hum of the engine the only sound between Ryan and Jane. She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her arms folded tightly as she replayed the heated confrontation between Ryan and her family in her head, her chest tightening at the memory of her grandmother’s words—"You better talk some sense into him, or you will be the one paying most of the prices." A storm was brewing, and she knew it would not take long before it reached them.Ryan broke the silence first. “You’ve been quiet, Jane. What’s on your mind?”“You know… it’s not too late to go back,” she replied.He shot her a quick glance before returning his eyes to the road. “What?!”“We shouldn’t have left like that,” she continued, choosing her words carefully. "We should have stayed, heard her out, and left on better terms. Even if we didn’t agree with her, at least we would not have pissed her off.”He exhaled sharply, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Pissing her off w
- The Contracted Son-in-law
Chapter Fifty-two
Jane’s family remained in silence as Ryan drove away with Jane.The grandmother finally spoke up, calling everyone’s attention."Alright, everyone, I need you all to focus. I think it’s best we talk about this now, while that brat isn’t here, like he suggested," she said firmly."Exactly, Grandmother!" Ethan shot up from the couch, pacing restlessly."We need to do something about this, and fast. I can’t believe this is happening."She ordered him to return to his seat, but he hesitated until she raised her voice at him."How will pacing around solve this? Just sit down, and let's discuss this properly."Even as he sat back down, his nerves would not settle as his legs bounced restlessly, shaking with anxiety. “Does anyone have anything to say about the offer?” the grandmother asked.The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone mulled over it until Noah finally broke it with a chuckle.“I’m still trying to wrap my head around why I’m the only one who doesn’t think this is a big dea
