The Rise of the Humiliated Son-in-Law

The First Step, Successful

Gaston had finished speaking with Damian, and the atmosphere in the room felt somewhat tense despite their important discussion coming to an end. Damian, a tall man with neatly groomed black hair, stood from his chair with an upright posture. His face displayed a serious yet friendly expression, as if he wanted to ensure everything went smoothly.

"Allow me to escort you, Master," Damian said, his voice firm but polite. He stepped toward the door, ready to lead the way.

However, Gaston declined. "No need. I can leave on my own," he replied with a slight smile. He felt confident enough to walk out by himself after their satisfying conversation.

Suddenly, Gaston remembered his broken bike. "What about my bike? Is it fixed?" he asked.

Damian nodded and called one of his subordinates waiting outside. "Check on Mr. Harper's bike," he ordered. His subordinate immediately nodded.

Before long, the subordinate returned and confirmed, "The bike is good, sir. It’s been repaired and is ready to use."

Gaston felt relieved upon hearing the news. "Thank you. I really appreciate it," he said, extending his hand for a handshake as a gesture of gratitude. After that, he said his goodbyes and stepped out of the room.

The day was getting warmer, and the sunlight bathed the streets in warmth. Gaston pedaled his bike home, feeling the cool breeze on his face.

Upon arriving home, he placed his bike in the shed located behind the house. After ensuring the bike was secure, Gaston stepped inside the house.

Inside the house, the atmosphere was calm. He took a deep breath, feeling comfortable in the familiar surroundings. Soon, the front door opened, and Vivian, his wife, returned home.

Gaston, acting like a fool, greeted his wife, Vivian, with over-the-top enthusiasm. He bounced around like a child who had just seen a new toy. As Vivian opened the door, her smile was wide, as if she had just won the lottery.

"Vivi, you’re back?" Gaston asked cheerfully.

Vivian, who had just come home from a job interview, entered the house with tired steps. "The interview is over, which is why I’m home early," she replied, taking off her shoes and neatly placing them on the shoe rack.

Gaston was confident that Vivian would get the job she had been dreaming of. He looked at his wife's face, searching for signs of optimism. However, Vivian only smiled, as if trying to keep her hopes modest.

After placing her shoes, Vivian began to survey the house. She noticed some of Gaston's toys scattered around the living room, a collection of action figures lying in the corner, and dirty dishes still waiting to be washed. "You didn’t get into any trouble at home, did you?" she asked, somewhat suspiciously.

Gaston shook his head with a sweet expression, like a child who had just been caught misbehaving. "No, Vivi! I promise!" he said, trying to reassure her.

Vivian let out a sigh of relief. "Good," she said, feeling a bit more at ease. However, fatigue began to creep into her body. "I’m tired; I want to take a nap," she added.

"Gaston won’t be noisy," he replied confidently.

Vivian smiled. "Good boy!"

Gaston flashed a grin. Luckily, Vivian had no idea what he had been up to that day.

A few days later.

Damian had arranged a meeting in an elegant room at the Wagner Group building. The room was lined with dark wood paneling, adorned with valuable paintings on the walls, and featured sparkling crystal chandeliers. A large round table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by comfortable leather chairs. On the table, various food and drink options were laid out: cookies, elegant mini sandwiches, and a variety of fresh fruits. For drinks, there were gourmet coffee, tea, and sparkling water served in crystal glasses.

Damian stood at the head of the table, acting as the host. He wore a sharp black suit, adding to his professional and authoritative demeanor. Before the meeting began, the buzz of participants filled the room, with laughter and conversation creating a relaxed atmosphere. However, the mood suddenly shifted when a dashing man wearing a mask entered the room. All eyes turned to him, and the atmosphere became tense.

The man was Gaston. With his upright posture and mysterious aura, he walked to the center of the room. Damian immediately introduced him, "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Master X."

One by one, participants began to question the presence of Master X. "Who is he?" "What are his skills?" "Why should we allow him to be here?" The chatter resumed among them, igniting a sense of curiosity.

Calmly, Damian explained, "Master X is just an illusionist. He will perform an intriguing show for us tonight."

As planned, Gaston began to showcase his illusion tricks. He pulled various tools from his bag—cards, cylinders, and even some seemingly impossible objects to make disappear. The guests were captivated, watching his nimble and skilled hand movements.

However, in the midst of the entertaining performance, Damian suddenly shifted the participants' attention by displaying a slide on the large screen behind him. The slide showed an image of himself severely injured, blood streaming from a wound on his head. It was clear how close he had come to being killed. The room fell silent in an instant, everyone shocked and speechless, their faces turning serious.

Gaston halted his illusion tricks, sensing the profound shift in the atmosphere. "What’s going on, Damian?" he asked.

Damian directed their attention to the photo. "Does anyone here know about this case?" he asked in a serious tone. The participants exchanged glances, confusion and fear beginning to creep in.

Gaston, with his keen senses, listened to every whisper and heartbeat around him. He realized they were barely able to find an answer. However, he continued to search, paying close attention to every sound.

As the tension escalated, Gaston suddenly heard a different heartbeat. "Samuel White," he murmured to himself. The heartbeat felt abnormal, vibrating with a tension that stood out from the others.

Gaston stared at Samuel, and in that instant, he realized who the traitor was. He signaled to Damian, indicating that he should keep a closer eye on Samuel.

Once the performance ended, the atmosphere returned to calm, but the guests still felt bewildered by what had just occurred. They were unaware of Gaston and Damian's larger plan.

Damian wore a faint smile, realizing they had taken the first step toward uncovering the truth. There was a second plan he had already prepared.