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The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 339: Chris warning
Chapter 339: Chris’s WarningChris didn’t sleep that night.Even after Stephany stormed upstairs and slammed the bedroom door, he remained where he was, sitting on the edge of the couch like a man stranded between two cliffs.The silence of the house pressed against him from all sides.It wasn’t just her words that kept echoing in his mind, it was the meaning behind them. ”Just my lame husband.”Three words. But they sliced deeper than any accusation could.After everything they had been through, after every battle he had fought behind closed doors, this was how she still saw him?The man she brought in. The man she protected. Not an equal.After everything they’ve been through, he thought their relationship has improved. Little did he know that was what she thought of him. Not someone she could trust.Not someone she knew.But that wasn’t her fault entirely.He had hidden the truth for too long.He was the real Chris Brown, the man behind MTD, the force behind Sterling Heritage, th
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 340: A Truth Too Heavy
Chapter 340: A Truth Too Heavy Chris headed out to his enter his car and drive to work, as he reached to open the door with one hand, the other holding his phone loosely, he saw his reflection on the window of his BMW. It stared back at him from the glass like a man burdened by too many masks. “What am I doing he thought?” The urge to tell Stephany the truth pulsed in his chest. Not just about Charles. But about everything. About who he truly was. About being Chris Brown, not just the quiet, polite husband tucked into the Preston family but the possible exiled heir of the Brown Conglomerate, the founding president of MTD Enterprises, the real owner of Sterling Heritage Financial. The one their entire circle whispered about without realizing he sat at their dining table every night. But how could he tell her? How do you look your wife in the eye and confess that the life she thinks she gave you, was a fraction of the empire you already had? That the man she once defended fr
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 341: A Glimpse Of Truth
Chapter 341: A Glimpse of TruthThe meeting had barely ended when Chris stepped out onto the porch, the cool breeze brushing past him like a reminder to breathe.Behind him, he could still hear the low hum of voices as some board members lingered in the living room, mingling and mumbling about projections and partnerships. But Chris had heard enough.He didn’t wait for Stephany.She hadn’t said a word to him after the meeting. Not even a glance. It was like she had shut a door between them, and he wasn’t sure she planned to open it again.His phone buzzed in his hand.Sandra Phillips.He picked up. “Yes?”Her voice was brisk. “Chris, something came up. You need to come to Sterling. Now.”“What’s wrong?”“There’s a last-minute investor review coming from the west branch. They’re requesting clearance on some of the European assets. It’s messy, and I can’t afford a mistake right now.”Chris rubbed his temple. “I was headed to the office anyway. I’ll stop by first.”“Thank you,” she said
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 342: unspoken truths
Chapter 342: Unspoken TruthsStephany froze at the doorway, the handle still in her grip.Her eyes met Chris’s for a brief second, sharp, unreadable, unwavering.He stood near Sandra’s desk, his hand resting casually on the polished surface like he belonged there. Like this was his space.But what shook her more than anything… was the way Sandra looked at him.Not like an assistant looking at her boss’s subordinate. Not even like an old friend. It was the look of someone who knew him deeply, knew things Stephany didn’t.The silence dragged.Stephany blinked, then forced a smile. “Oh. I didn’t know you were here.”Chris returned the smile with maddening ease. “I was just leaving.”Sandra quickly stepped in. “Stephany! I didn’t know you were coming. What a surprise!”Stephany didn’t move. Her eyes flicked between the two of them. “I thought I’d stop by for lunch. We haven’t talked in a while.”Chris cleared his throat and took a step back, adjusting his cuffs like nothing had happened.
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 343: The power behind the curtain
Chapter 343: The Power Behind the Curtain The Preston family boardroom had never looked more official. The heavy mahogany table gleamed under the chandelier, and the walls were adorned with fresh charts, proposal folders, and cups of untouched coffee. It was the final meeting to determine the fate of Charles Preston’s proposed investment deal. Everyone was seated—Grandma Preston, Eleanor, Henry, Stephany, several executive board members, and trusted advisors from the company. Yet the seat at the end of the table, where Chris usually sat, remained conspicuously empty. It was no secret that he hadn’t been around lately. To the uninformed, it looked like Chris Brown had been pushed out of Preston affairs. But appearances were misleading. Because while Chris wasn’t physically present, his influence was about to echo louder than ever. At precisely 10:15 a.m., the door opened, and Sandra Phillips stepped in, calm and poised. Dressed in a sleek gray suit and heels that tapped c
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 344: cracks in the glass
Chapter 344: Cracks in the GlassThe ride home was tense.Stephany gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, her jaw clenched the entire way.She couldn’t believe what had just happened.Sandra, her friend, her former roommate, the woman who used to sit across from her in cafés, sharing stories about dreams and terrible dates—had stood there in front of the Preston board and delivered a corporate ambush with the grace of a sword.It wasn’t just business. It was betrayal.And she had the audacity to say it wasn’t personal.But what stung the most… was the voice on that phone.She knew that voice.She knew it.The timbre was deep, deliberate. Familiar. But no matter how hard she tried to place it, the memory danced just out of reach.By the time she pulled into the Preston estate, the afternoon sun had begun to lower, casting shadows across the garden lawn.She slammed the car door shut and stormed into the house, her heels clicking sharply against the marble.Chris was in the
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 345; The man Behind the silence
Chapter 345: The Man Behind the SilenceThe heavy doors of the house flung open with a bang, startling everyone in the living room.Charles stormed in, red in the face, shoulders stiff with anger. His shoes thudded against the marble floor like war drums.Chris looked up from the hallway, his arms crossed, already sensing the storm coming.“There you are,” Charles spat. “The root of all this mess.”Stephany stood from her seat. “Dad, what are you talking about?”Charles didn’t look at her. His glare was fixed solely on Chris.“You think you’re clever, don’t you?” Charles growled, stepping closer. “Keeping quiet. Acting harmless. But somehow, every time something goes wrong in this family, you’re always nearby.” Chris blinked slowly, his face unreadable. “What are you accusing me of this time?”“Don’t play dumb,” Charles snapped. “Sandra Phillips showing up at the board meeting out of nowhere? MTD suddenly inserting themselves into my investment plan? That’s not coincidence. That’s ma
The Return Of The Lame Son In Law. 346: A Visit in the quiet
Chapter 346: A Visit in the QuietThe house felt strangely hollow.Stephany hadn’t noticed it before not really. But ever since Chris left, the silence had changed. It wasn’t peaceful. It was weighty, like it was holding its breath, waiting for something to snap.It had only been three days but the absence carved its mark deeper with every passing hour.At breakfast, Charles grumbled about shareholders.At lunch, Eleanor complained about how Sandra had “lost her sense of loyalty.”And by dinner, the whole house was suffocating with unspoken tension and unexpressed anger.But Stephany didn’t say much. She just stirred her tea absently, nodding whenever someone addressed her, her thoughts clearly miles away.“Stop brooding,” Eleanor said sharply, her voice slicing through the silence. “He’ll be back once he runs out of money and realizes nobody else wants him.”Charles chuckled dryly. “If the boy had any pride, he’d stay gone.”Stephany didn’t respond.She wanted to believe that too.
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360; The Breaking Point
Chapter 360: The Breaking Point It’s the next day after Chris presented himself to the world in his full glory, the media has carried the news both far and near and the Preston’s were still in shock of the revelation. The Preston boardroom was unusually quiet that morning. Sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows, casting golden stripes across the dark mahogany table. The chairs were all filled—executives, advisors, partners from subsidiaries. But one seat at the head of the table remained empty. Stephany’s seat. Eleanor sat in her usual place, fingers steepled, a slight crease in her brow. She glanced at her watch again. Still no word. Still no daughter. Still no leadership. It had been two days since the gala. Two days since the world discovered that Chris Brown—the quiet son-in-law they mocked—was actually the president of MTD and the force behind Sterling Heritage. Two days since Stephany had vanished. “She’s taking time to think,” Eleanor said qui
359: Stephany’s Spiral
Chapter 359: Stephany’s Spiral Stephnay stepped our. And Chris followed her. The air outside the ballroom was colder than it should’ve been. Stephany’s heels clicked furiously against the marble as she stormed down the corridor, the silk of her gown swishing violently behind her. Her breath came in shallow bursts, not from exertion, but from the ache building in her chest, from the burn in her throat she couldn’t swallow. Everyone had lied to her. Everyone. Her father… who paraded around like he was the reason for the deal, when he was nothing more than a shadow. Her mother… who, for all her sharpness, had encouraged her to chase a stranger, unaware he was already sleeping in her daughter’s bed. Sandra… her friend, her confidante, who had stood by and said nothing while Stephany wept and doubted and begged. And Chris. Chris. The man she insulted. Defended. Hated. Loved. The man who, it turned out, had been ten steps ahead of her the entire time. She pushed
358; after the lights
Chapter 359: After the Lights The ballroom lights dimmed slowly, the last echoes of applause fading into the glittering hush of evening elegance. The crowd had dispersed into small clusters some lingering around the champagne bar, others whispering in stunned awe near the media walls. The air was thick with disbelief, admiration… and a new respect that hadn’t been there before. Chris Brown stepped off the stage like a man who had just laid his past to rest. His face was composed. His shoulders straight. But inside? A storm raged. He didn’t look for her in the crowd. He didn’t need to. He felt her. Stephany. And she was coming. Each step she took echoed like a countdown. He turned slowly to face her, meeting her eyes across the polished marble floor, under chandeliers that suddenly seemed too bright. Her heels clicked to a stop three feet in front of him. She didn’t speak at first. Didn’t blink. She just looked at him like she was seeing a ghost. No… like she was seei
357 the speech
Chapter 358: The Speech The ballroom, moments before electric with noise, now pulsed with stunned silence. The man everyone had ignored, mocked, and dismissed… stood before them. No longer in the shadows. No longer “just a son-in-law.” Chris Brown. The President of MTD Enterprises.If not because Sandra herself introduced him, no one would believe he was the owner of Sterling, the one calling the shots. The man who had, without the Preston name, without favors or inheritance, built a corporate empire that now stood at the helm of Preston Holdings’ salvation. He stepped up to the stage, his black tux catching the soft gold light of the chandeliers above. Calm, composed, magnetic. He didn’t need a grand entrance. He was the moment. The microphone felt cool in his hand as he brought it close. “Good evening,” he began, his voice smooth, quiet, but undeniably strong. The crowd leaned in. “I’ll keep this brief,” he continued. “I know the wine is flowing, and so
356; president on a bike
Chapter 356: The President on a Bike The Grand New York Ballroom shimmered with opulence. Glittering chandeliers hung like frozen stars above the gold-accented floor. Guests milled about in tuxedos and flowing gowns, laughter and polite applause filling the space as media crews tried to capture every angle. Business moguls, celebrities, and dignitaries gathered, sipping champagne and posing for press photos beneath the towering banners that read: “The New Preston Empire – Gala of Legacy and Innovation.” Charles Preston stood front and center, basking in the glow of attention. His tailored white suit gleamed under the lights, and he wore a practiced smile that hadn’t wavered since the event began. Every reporter, every business associate—he greeted them all with open arms and exaggerated humility. “I just did what any visionary would do,” Charles said during an interview, brushing invisible lint off his shoulder. “The expansion was necessary. And thanks to our trusted par
355; a night of glass And gold
Chapter 355: A night of glass and gold. Add her mother pushes her to welcome him The Grand New York Ballroom shimmered like a crown jewel in the heart of Manhattan. Crystal chandeliers dripped light onto mirrored floors, casting glittering illusions across a sea of tuxedos and couture gowns. The air was thick with cologne, champagne, and the sharp undercurrent of ambition. It was a night carved out for legends. And Charles Preston was ready to claim it. "Smile, Mr. Preston!" "Over here, Charles!" "The face behind Preston’s comeback!" Charles grinned wide, adjusting his cufflinks as camera flashes burst in succession. Reporters flanked the red carpet, microphones stretched forward like spears as he paused just long enough for the spotlight to settle comfortably on him. “Yes,” he said with polished ease, “we’re very proud of the progress Preston Holdings has made this year. Tonight is about celebrating that growth—and the vision that brought us here.”
354: Behind the Velvet curtain
Chapter 354: Behind the Velvet Curtain The night shimmered like a stage awaiting its lead actor. Inside the Grand Ballroom at the Empire Crown Hotel, chandeliers sparkled above a sea of elegantly dressed guests. Velvet drapes framed tall windows, and gold, edged mirrors gave the illusion of endless luxury. A symphony quartet played in the background, their music crisp, purposeful like the gala itself. This wasn't just a party. It was war with lace gloves and champagne. And behind the scenes, the generals were preparing. Connor Shaw, head of the Metropolitan Police and Chris’s long, time ally, stood in the back service corridor of the hotel, earpiece in, tablet in hand. His eyes weren’t on the stage. They were on security feeds. “I want eyes on every major entrance,” he said into the comms. “Check for duplicates of the guest list, especially near the back elevators. Nothing gets past us tonight.” He wasn’t here in uniform. He was dressed in a black tailored suit
353; The interruption
Chapter 353: The Interruption The city glowed with twilight as the sun bowed behind glass towers and flashing billboards, preparing to hand the stage over to a night of prestige, power, and unveiling. The Preston Expansion Gala was just hours away, and every detail had been scrutinized to perfection—down to the shimmer of champagne and the alignment of name cards. But Chris never made it to the venue. Not yet. He had left the penthouse in his tailored suit, calm and resolved, his presence a storm wrapped in elegance. The drive his most trusted escort had been instructed to take the back route, avoiding media hotspots. It was supposed to be quiet. Controlled. But power always attracts chaos. And Chris never saw it coming. As the car approached an underpass just twenty minutes from the gala hall, a black SUV swerved from nowhere, cutting them off. Before the driver could react, another vehicle blocked them from behind. Then darkness. Metal clashed. Tires screeched. Doors fl
352: the call of blood
Chapter 352: The Call of Blood The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Chris's penthouse office, casting elongated shadows across the polished marble floor. He stood by the window, gazing out at the city skyline, his reflection a ghostly overlay against the bustling world beyond. The news had broken earlier that day: the elusive president of MTD was also the owner of Sterling Heritage and would be making a public appearance at the Preston gala. His phone buzzed on the desk behind him, a persistent vibration that refused to be ignored. Chris turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he saw the caller ID: "Grandpa Brown." A sigh escaped his lips, heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved tensions. He picked up the phone, the device cool against his palm, and answered with a measured tone. "Grandpa." The voice on the other end was sharp, tinged with a mix of frustration and disbelief. "Christopher, care to explain why I had to find out from the p
