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The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-one
Jane sank into the couch in the living room, her fingers tracing the glass of juice as she sipped.The meeting with her family still replayed in her head—her stepbrothers' protests, Margaret's cold glares, and the final, game-changing announcement from her grandmother. "She did what none of you could, and I made a promise," her grandmother had declared, silencing the room.She exhaled, satisfied, as she set the glass down on the side table. "The next step is to claim what is mine."She knew it wouldn’t be easy. Taking control of the family's fortune would be a battle considering all she had endured, but now, with Ryan by her side, she had the strength and determination to go after it. Her original goal had been modest—just a seat at the decision-making table. But after witnessing the cruelty of her family, she now wanted more. She wanted it all.Reaching for the remote, she turned on the TV, but what flashed across the screen froze her in place. A breaking news headline blared acro
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-two
Ryan leaned back in his leather chair, sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his new office in the city. It was the first step toward the company’s success, just as he had planned.He was working on some proposal documents for a major contract—just for show though, since he was confident they would secure the deal.His office intercom buzzed, interrupting his focus. His secretary’s voice came through the intercom."Someone is here to see you, sir." She announced, and he asked her who it was."Mr. Ethan, sir...Ethan Lin," she replied."Should I let him in?"Ryan sighed, knowing the storm that was about to walk through the door.He finally told her to let Ethan in, realising it might help him take a break from the task that was starting to overwhelm him.The door swung open, and Ethan strolled in. His eyes scanned the room, a sneer creeping onto his face as he took in the expansive view. "Nice office. I see you’ve made yourself comfortable,” he said, his voice lac
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-three
Towards the end of the day, Jane surprised Ryan by showing up and suggesting they go out for dinner.He pulled up in front of the five-star restaurant she had picked out. She had practically dragged him out of the office since he was not exactly excited about the idea of a dinner date."Trust me, you are going to love this place," she said, reaching for the door handle."Wait, what do you think you're doing?" he asked, raising an eyebrow."What do you mean?" she asked, confused."Hold on, just stay in the car," he said as he stepped out and quickly moved around to her side, opening the door for her."My lady," he joked with a playful bow, grinning. "Your humble servant is at your service."She smiled, her cheeks turning slightly red as she stepped out gracefully. "One date, and suddenly you are all charming. Interesting.""You own the night, my lady." He teased, winking as he closed the door behind her. smiled. "Shall we?" He offered his arm, which she took without hesitation, and
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-four
"What should we—" Jane's eyes widened in shock as she remembered that Lauren would be inside with whoever was inside their house."Lauren!" Her voice was sharp as she reached for the car door, heart racing.Before she could open it, Ryan's hand firmly caught her wrist."Hold on," he said, his tone calm and steady. "In situations like this, we can't let emotions take control. We need to think things through carefully. Besides, we don't know what they want or why they are here." He explained."Then what do we do?! I'm scared, Ryan. I can't lose Lauren." Her eyes were wide with fear. Ryan fell silent for a moment, thinking of what to do.“We should call the police,” she said firmly, pulling her phone from her purse and breaking into his thoughts.But he protested. "That won't help if she's in danger. We might lose her."He locked eyes with her. "Listen carefully, Jane. You need to trust me on this."She gave a quick nod."The people inside might not know she's there—she could be hiding
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-five
Sensing what the call might be about, Ryan urged Jane to answer her grandmother’s call on speaker.“Hello, Grandmother?” Jane’s voice trembled slightly.On the other end, grandmother's voice cut through. “Jane, you and your husband are no longer part of this family. You’ve been cast out again. I shouldn’t have let you and that useless husband of yours back in.”Jane froze, the words hitting her hard. She gripped the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white.It was exactly as Ryan had expected. He wasn’t shocked by the news, certain it was Jude's doing."What... what do you mean, Grandmother?" Jane whispered, her voice breaking.There was a pause before her grandmother continued, "Jude... he threatened me... he threatened the family, claiming that you and your husband are behind his family's arrest."Jane’s brows arched in confusion. "And you believed him? How? How could we possibly do something like that? What kind of power do we have to pull it off?"Before grandmother could r
The Contracted Son-in-law Chapter Thirty-six
Ryan sat on a balcony chair, gazing out at the dim city lights.His mind simmered with anger, replaying Jude’s attack over and over as he took a slow drag of his cigarette.He smirked, grudgingly impressed. "He definitely isn't new to the game," he muttered, acknowledging Jude's bold moves. They were intense—enough to crush most people but not him.No one had challenged him like this in years, not since the incident that had forced him to walk away from his old life. However, it was about time he sent a message of his own.Jane, who had been looking for him inside, was shocked to find him there with the cigarette in his hand. She had never imagined him as someone who smoked, and the sight unsettling her, making her realise just how much she didn’t know about him.He didn’t need to turn to know it was her.“I didn’t know you smoked,” she murmured, trying to keep her voice steady.He didn’t respond, his gaze still fixed on the city, his mind deep in thought, mapping out his move again
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
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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
