2025-01-19 13:50:49The Stratton family meeting room had been tense from the very beginning. The atmosphere was heavy, palpable to anyone present. However, the tension shifted when Damien Harlow, with unwavering confidence, spoke as though he could foresee the future and the fate of the Stratton family.
Adrian Stratton was the first to break the silence, his mocking laughter echoing throughout the room.
“What did you say? I’ll bring ruin?” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Look at yourself! Besides your crippled legs, are you blind too? Can’t you see that I’m the one driving the company’s growth lately with all the new investments pouring in? Absolutely ridiculous.”
Adrian’s laughter was met with light jeers from a few other family members, including Eleanor Stratton, Celeste’s mother, who stared at Damien with a cold, disdainful expression. Margaret Stratton, Celeste’s grandmother, even smirked from her corner of the room, as if reveling in the humiliation of the man she deemed unworthy of being part of their family.
Yet Damien showed no signs of intimidation. His gaze remained steady, unflinching, despite Adrian’s words cutting like knives. In a low but resolute voice, Damien responded, “I’ll prove to all of you that my words are never wrong. And for the record, I am neither blind nor crippled!”
Every eye in the room turned to him. Gripping the arms of his wheelchair, Damien’s hands trembled slightly as he began to push himself upward. The faint creak of his wheelchair added to the growing tension. Some watched with astonishment, others, like Adrian, with smirks, clearly waiting for him to fail.
Celeste stood at the side of the room, her chest tightening. Her eyes widened as she saw Damien struggling to rise. She knew his limits better than anyone. Standing, let alone walking, was impossible for him. Yet here he was, trying.
Her emotions swirled—anger, frustration, and something else she couldn’t quite name. But anger won out. Anger not only at her family for mocking Damien but at Damien himself for what she saw as a reckless, humiliating stunt.
"What does he think he’s doing?" she muttered under her breath, low enough that no one could hear. "He’s just going to embarrass himself. And me... I can’t watch this."
With her heart in turmoil, Celeste decided to leave. She couldn’t bear to witness what she was certain would end in disaster. Turning abruptly, she started toward the door.
“Running away, Celeste?” Adrian’s mocking voice stopped her in her tracks.
Damien’s attempt to stand faltered for a moment, but he stayed focused on her reaction.
"Are you afraid to face the truth that your husband isn’t just crippled but also an idiot? Looks like he came here to entertain us with his stupidity," Adrian sneered. "Before you go, why don’t you sign over the company to me, sis? That’d be the best gift for Grandma!"
Celeste froze, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
"You—!" she snapped, spinning around to face Adrian, her eyes blazing with unshed tears. Her hand lifted as though to slap him.
"What? You want to hit me?" Adrian challenged, his expression smug.
Celeste bit her lip, trembling with the effort to hold herself back. A glance at her grandmother’s cold, expectant face reminded her of the stakes. Striking Adrian would give her grandmother the perfect excuse to strip her of everything.
Adrian smirked, satisfied as Celeste lowered her hand. He had always been the favored child, always gotten whatever he wanted from their grandmother.
"I’m doing this for your own good," Adrian said smugly. "But you’re too ungrateful to see it. Wouldn’t it be easier if you handed the company over to me? Then you could settle into your marriage, pop out a baby, and take care of it. Let’s just hope your baby isn’t crippled like your husband!"
Celeste trembled violently, her whole body radiating anger.
From his wheelchair, Damien, who was still struggling to rise, caught the shift in Celeste’s demeanor. His chest tightened. He could see her teetering on the edge, her emotions unraveling. That mattered more to him than proving anything to the Stratton family.
Gripping the wheels of his chair, Damien pushed himself forward, rolling between Celeste and Adrian. His back was straight, his presence commanding despite the chair.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Damien asked Celeste, his voice steady.
She turned to him, her expression conflicted. "I’m not giving him what he wants. Right now, I just want to slap him!"
Smack!
A resounding slap echoed through the room. Adrian stumbled back, his hand flying to his face, stunned. He ended up on the floor, appearing to kneel before Damien’s wheelchair, utterly silent. The stinging pain across his cheek made it clear: the slap had landed squarely on him.
It was Damien who had done it—from his wheelchair.
Shock rippled through the room. Celeste, Adrian, and every Stratton present stared at Damien in disbelief.
How dare he? A mere in-law striking Adrian, the golden child of the Stratton family?
"You—!" their grandmother began, her voice icy with fury.
Celeste’s face went pale. Panic flickered in her eyes as she turned to Damien, terrified of what might happen next. She knew Adrian wouldn’t let this slide, and their grandmother was sure to retaliate in some way.
Grabbing the handles of Damien’s wheelchair, Celeste leaned down and hissed, "Why would you do something so stupid?"
"Because you’re my wife," Damien replied calmly, unfazed by the brewing storm around them. "And I’ll always stand by your side. If I can’t be your legs, then I’ll be your hands."
"Damien..." Celeste’s voice quivered. "Why would you do something like that in front of them?"
Damien stopped rolling, positioning himself directly in front of her. His piercing gaze met hers, steady and resolute. "Because I wanted to show them I’m not someone they can push around. And because I wanted you to know that I’ll always try to stand beside you, no matter what."
His words silenced her. There was something in his tone—earnest and unyielding—that stirred something deep within her. Blinking quickly, she wiped at her eyes, trying to hide the emotions bubbling to the surface.
"I don’t need proof like that," she said softly, though her tone carried a mix of irritation and something gentler. "You’re just asking for trouble."
Celeste hadn’t expected Damien to act so boldly for her sake. And to strike Adrian of all people? The family’s precious golden boy?
He did it... simply because she was his wife?
"The only thing I need right now is my company!" she declared firmly.
Damien gave her a faint smile.
Before Celeste could process it further, Adrian scrambled to his feet, rage blazing in his eyes. Without a word, he swung a fist at Damien.
Thud!
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair Chapter 7: An Unshakable Resolve
Adrian swung his fist in a fit of rage, but Damien moved with surprising speed. Even in a wheelchair, his movements were precise. With a quick motion, he caught Adrian's wrist before the punch could land on his face.The grip was so strong it sounded like something cracked. Adrian screamed in pain, his piercing cry echoing through the room and freezing everyone in the Stratton family. “Aaaah!” he yelled, clutching at Damien's hand, trying to break free.Damien stared at Adrian with cold, unwavering eyes. The tense atmosphere in the room shifted into a suffocating silence, broken only by Adrian’s ragged breaths and the faint creak of Damien’s wheelchair moving slightly forward. Still holding Adrian’s wrist, Damien spoke, his voice low but cutting through the air like a blade.“Celeste is my wife,” he said firmly, directing his gaze to everyone in the room, who looked on in shock. “From now on, no one is allowed to mess with her. Consider this your warning.”With that, Damien released A
The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair Chapter 8: An Unexpected Turn
Celeste grabbed Damien's arm firmly, stopping him from turning away.“Mom, let him in!” she said sharply, her voice laced with determination.Eleanor, who had been ready to shut the door in Damien’s face, looked at her daughter in shock.“Celeste, he’s—” Eleanor started to argue, but Celeste cut her off.Celeste knew if she let Damien leave now, Adrian would probably hire thugs to beat him up. Damien had hit Adrian for her sake. There was no way she could leave him to deal with the fallout on his own.“He’s my husband, Mom!” Celeste declared, her voice rising.Those words made Eleanor freeze. She couldn’t believe Celeste was speaking like this. For as long as Eleanor could remember, Celeste had shown nothing but disdain for Damien. She treated their marriage as the biggest mistake of her life. But now, here she was, standing up for him against her own mother.Feeling defeated, Eleanor sighed and turned to head upstairs. She didn’t say another word, but the heavy stomp of her footsteps
The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair Chapter 9: Revenge
Damien frowned, staring sharply at Celeste. “Is Adrian tired of living? That quick, and he’s already out for revenge. Sure, he’s your brother, but I’m the one who hit him. This has nothing to do with you. Let me handle it.”Celeste shook her head immediately, her eyes red with deep worry. “No!” she snapped, her voice trembling.Damien paused, surprised by her reaction. Usually, Celeste was composed and kept her distance from him. But now, her worry was evident, raw.“Don’t make this worse,” Celeste said, her voice softening to the point of pleading. “He could do something even worse to you. I know my brother’s character.”Damien stood silently, watching her intently. Celeste looked genuinely distressed.“That spoiled jerk,” she continued, “isn’t just pampered; he’s cruel. With the money and power our grandmother gave him, he could take anyone out if he wanted to.”Damien looked at Celeste thoughtfully. Her face clearly showed fear—not just for herself but for him, too.“There’s more,”
The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair Chapter 10: Shadows Behind the Curtain of Power
Everyone immediately turned toward the source of the voice. A middle-aged man in an elegant suit walked closer. His face was calm, yet there was an undeniable aura of authority surrounding him."Mr. Lincoln!" the receptionist called out politely as she stood up.Adrian quickly turned around, trying to regain his composure. He knew the man before him—Lawrence Lincoln, the CEO of Xoldex, a powerful figure in the world of technology business."Mr. Lincoln," Adrian said in a lowered tone, attempting to sound polite despite the anger still burning within him. "I'm here to sign the partnership contract. I'm Adrian Stratton, the new director of Novatek."Lincoln observed Adrian for a moment before glancing at the receptionist, who swiftly explained the situation. After hearing the explanation, Lincoln returned his gaze to Adrian, his expression unreadable."Mr. Stratton, I'm not aware of your new position at Novatek. What I do know is that all offic
The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair Chapter 11: A Heavy Step
Adrian Stratton entered one of his favorite private clubs, a place he often escaped to when the world felt too suffocating. His steps were heavy, his face was tense, and his mind was filled with anger and disappointment.After failing to secure a partnership with Xoldex, he certainly didn’t dare to go home. His grandmother’s cold gaze terrified him. He didn’t want to show his failure to anyone at this moment.In the corner of the room, on a large sofa surrounded by beautiful women, sat Varel Luthan. He was both Adrian’s best friend and business partner—someone who always managed to find an opportunity in any situation. Varel turned and grinned widely as he saw Adrian approaching.“Adrian!” he called out before chuckling. “You look like someone who just lost everything. Did you lose a bet again?”Adrian scoffed and sat beside Varel without saying a word. With a sour expression, he poured himself a drink
The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair Chapter 12: A Tattoo Changed Everything
The room turned into a battlefield of tension as Damien's second slap landed on Adrian's face. The sharp sound echoed through the massive living room, shattering the previous silence. Adrian stood frozen, his face burning red, caught between rage and disbelief. His pride as a Stratton, as a man who always believed he was above everyone else, crumbled before everyone's eyes."How dare you!" Adrian exploded, his voice filled with fury. He glared at Damien, his eyes blazing, his face as red as burning coal. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"Damien remained calm, focusing his thoughts. He tried reading Adrian’s mind—though his ability was still far from perfect and needed practice. But it was clear: Adrian wasn’t planning to fight Damien himself. He would use someone else’s hands. Damien smirked. There was nothing to worry about when it came to his annoying brother-in-law.Sure enough, Adrian spun around toward the door and barked out an
The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair Chapter 13: It Has to Be You!
After Adrian stormed out in anger, the Stratton household fell into silence, broken only by George’s heavy breathing as he tried to hold back his grief. He sat in his chair, staring blankly ahead, as if carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Eleanor stood beside him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him."George, don’t think about it too much," Eleanor said softly, though the pain in her eyes was obvious.George shook his head slowly, his gaze still distant. "I just don’t understand… How did we end up here? Adrian, Celeste… I just wanted you all to be happy, not fighting like this."Celeste, standing not far from them, felt her heart clench at his words. Even though Adrian had hurt her pride and her family countless times, she still felt guilty about the argument. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she finally spoke."Papa, Mama..." Celeste stepped closer, her voice full of det
The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair Chapter 14: An Embarrassing Choice
Adrian barely slept that night. No brilliant ideas came to him. If anything, his mind grew even more chaotic—filled with fear and frustration. His attempt to involve Moor had only made things worse, and now, he was standing at the edge of disaster.“What the hell did Celeste do to Lincoln?” he muttered angrily. “Did she seduce him? Cheat on me with him? Sneaky woman—always using their bodies to get what they want.”The thought made Adrian even more restless. Before morning had fully arrived, the sound of his ringing phone snapped him out of his daze. His grandmother’s name, Margaret Stratton, flashed on the screen.His heart pounded as he stared at the screen. He knew he had no choice but to answer. With a shaky hand, he pressed the button.“Hello? Yes, Grandma?” Adrian answered hesitantly.“Adrian, I heard you’re signing a contract with Xoldex today,” Margaret’s voice wa
Latest Chapter
Chapter 53: We Won’t Be Fooled
Right in front of them, a guy was casually leaning against the hood of his black Bugatti, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. His gaze was cold, unreadable.Damien Harlow.Just hearing that name was enough to send chills down their spines. The God of War. The man who once led countless battles and trained legendary soldiers. A man rumored to have died in his final battle. Yet here he was, standing before them, alive—more terrifying than the myths about him.Damien exhaled a cloud of smoke and looked at them for a moment before speaking. "I'll give you just one chance to explain," he said, his voice calm but sharp enough to cut through the air.One of the men, the older-looking one, swallowed hard before speaking with a shaky voice. "The last war changed everything… The special forces were disbanded in disgrace. We lost everything—even our livelihoods. We needed money to survive, to support our families. Then someone came along and offered us a job."Damien didn’t react. He just kep
Chapter 52: The God of War
The sky above the temple started turning red as the sun slowly set on the horizon. Damien stepped out of the temple, his face cold and unreadable. His eyes held back a restrained fury after receiving a phone call from one of his men at Stratton Corporation. What he heard made his blood boil."They just won’t stop messing with my wife. And now they’re resorting to dirty tricks?" Damien muttered as he started his car.With one hand already on the wheel, he gave a simple order to his special forces team. "Be ready anytime I need you. We might have to move tonight," he said firmly before leaving the temple grounds.His sleek black sports car roared as it sped down the road toward the city. He needed to see Celeste and figure out what the hell was going on at the company. But the moment he hit the city streets, his instincts screamed at him—something was off.A black car had been tailing him for a while, way too precise to be just a coinciden
Chapter 51: Special Forces
Damien drove through the quiet streets, rain drizzling on the windshield, creating a rhythmic sound that did little to calm his storming thoughts. After his secret meeting with Lawrence, he knew he couldn’t go home just yet. There was something else that needed to be handled first.He turned his car toward a secluded area outside the city. This wasn’t just any visit. He was on his way to meet them—the special forces that General Callum had prepared for him.His mind drifted to his last meeting with the general. Back then, they were in a classified military facility, a place where experiments were conducted to restore Damien’s lost abilities. General Callum was a cold-blooded military doctor, someone who never hesitated to make tough decisions.But that facility had been discovered by the enemy. The last time Damien saw it, the place had been surrounded and destroyed by elite government troops. He had no idea whether the general managed to
Chapter 50: My Goal is to Kill Damien Harlow
By the time Celeste arrived at the office, everything was already in chaos. Several staff members were gathered in the conference room, looking panicked, while the legal team was busy calling partner companies—both upstream and downstream—trying to figure out why they were suddenly cutting ties.If this continued, the newly established Stratton Enterprises, which had only been running for two days, would collapse again, and George Stratton's credibility as a leader would take another hit. Failing twice in a row? That would be humiliating.Celeste and George rushed into the room. Thomas, the head of the legal department, immediately approached them, his face grim.“We’ve tried convincing them to reconsider the contract termination,” Thomas said in frustration, handing a tablet to George. “But they refuse to cooperate with us. They also made it clear they won’t support us in the future. All the penalties for breaching the
Chapter 49: The Calm Before the Storm
It was a quiet afternoon. George and Celeste were at work, while Eleanor had gone out to meet her friends—other wives of wealthy businessmen in town. The house was almost completely silent, except for the ticking of the clock in Damien and Celeste’s bedroom.Damien sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Ever since Celeste asked for a divorce, they had been sleeping in separate beds, even though they still shared the same room.His eyes drifted to the small bedside table next to Celeste’s bed. The drawer was slightly open, tempting him to take a peek inside. Initially, he only wanted to tidy up the room, but his hand froze when he found something unexpected—a divorce document hidden inside.His heartbeat quickened. His fingers traced over the paper, following the names printed on it. Celeste was serious about this. If she insisted on leaving, Damien knew she would be in danger. She was an easy target for the vultures l
Chapter 48: The Hatred is His Own Doing
Crystal chandeliers hung grandly from the ceiling, casting a golden glow that added to the luxury of the evening party. Champagne glasses clinked in every toast, and laughter echoed along with the soft music playing in the background. George stood in the middle of the room, receiving congratulations from colleagues and business partners. Tonight was a celebration of his return to the business world after being inactive for so long, and everyone seemed eager to celebrate his success.Adrian watched the scene with a grim expression. His grip on his drink was so tight that his knuckles turned white. He couldn’t stand it any longer—he was about to leave.This party, the fake smiles of everyone around him, and—most painfully—Celeste. He spotted her right as he was about to walk out. His sister stood not too far away, wearing an elegant red gown that hugged her figure perfectly. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders, shimmering under
Chapter 47: The Dragon Emerging from the Water
Damien lowered his head slightly, leaning closer to Celeste, and whispered, "I'll explain everything when we get home. But for now, we need to go in."Celeste wanted to argue, but she knew this wasn't the right time. There were still so many questions in her head, but the most important thing now was how they were going to handle tonight.Damien opened the car door and got out first, maneuvering his wheelchair with ease. With confidence, he rolled himself towards the entrance of the hotel, signaling the others to follow. Celeste finally stepped out, followed by Eleanor, who still looked confused. George hesitated, but after taking a deep breath, he finally got out too.As they walked in, they were greeted with warm welcomes. Familiar faces from the business world smiled at them, though some seemed confused by their presence. The waitstaff bowed respectfully, and soft music played in the background.Eleanor whispered to her husband, "George, is this really
Chapter 46: That Night Was Special
The grandest hotel owned by Xoldex Group hosted an extravagant party attended by businessmen, celebrities, top officials, and influential figures from Viremontis. Lavish dishes were served on long tables adorned with delicately scented candles. Expensive drinks flowed in crystal glasses that shimmered under the massive chandeliers. The guests came dressed in their finest—men in designer suits and women in dazzling gowns that swept the floor.Amidst all this luxury, Lawrence Lincoln stood greeting guests with a friendly smile. But every time someone asked if the party was to celebrate his success, he would shake his head."I'm just the organizer," he kept repeating. But no one believed him.Adrian Stratton approached him, looking sharp in an all-black suit, exuding his usual charisma as a young and successful businessman."Mind explaining why your hotel suddenly has my family name on it?" Adrian asked, feeling a little awkward. Was there someone else
Chapter 45: A King Has Stepped Down
That night, the atmosphere in the Stratton family's dining room felt warmer than usual. The dining table was filled with fancy dishes they normally wouldn’t eat. The delicious aroma filled the room, while the chandelier lights highlighted the neatly arranged porcelain and silverware.As always, Damien had prepared everything. But tonight, something felt different. Even Eleanor and George, who were used to Damien’s surprises, sensed that something was off."Is it someone’s birthday?" Eleanor mumbled, glancing at Celeste sitting beside her. But Celeste shook her head, indicating she had no clue why they were having such an extravagant meal.Celeste raised an eyebrow. "If this is to celebrate Novatek separating from Stratton Enterprises, don’t you think it’s a bit much?"Just then, Damien walked out of the kitchen, carrying a huge platter with a giant lobster covered in buttery sauce. His smile was wide, full of triumph. "This i
