"Babe, hurry up! My husband's going to be back soon!"
Inside the luxurious villa, I stood at the bedroom door, overhearing the anxious voice from inside.
That voice was unmistakably familiar to me; it belonged to my wife, Elizabeth Wright.
"He's a useless loser. So what if he comes back? Even if he sees us, he'll just have to swallow it!" A gruff male voice rang out, piercing my ears.
I stood frozen at the door, my entire body trembling uncontrollably.
*Rage was boiling up within me, threatening to rob me of my sanity.*
With a loud "bang,"
my bloodshot eyes flashed as I kicked the door wide open!
Inside the room, there they were—a man and a woman, alone together, disheveled and half-dressed.
Seeing Elizabeth's submissive pose on the bed made me seethe with rage; my tears betrayed me, trailing freely down my cheeks.
"Elizabeth! Why would you do this to me?" My gaze was wrought with pain; my teeth clenched as I stared her down with unrelenting fury.
A flicker of panic flashed in Elizabeth's eyes, but it quickly evaporated.
It was replaced with a chilling look of indifference.
"Well, since you caught us, there's no point in hiding anymore," Elizabeth sneered.
"Why? Why would you treat me this way? Three years. I've spent three years in your Wright family, living like less than a dog! If you told me to squat, I wouldn't dare to stand. And yet—and yet you would still betray me!"
My voice nearly broke into a scream as I roared this accusation, my face drenched in tears.
Elizabeth let out a cold laugh and said, "Someone like you—an absolute nobody—how could any woman ever love that?"
Then, she shifted her gaze to the muscular man by her side.
"Do you know who he is? Randy Phillips, of the Phillips family! Truth be told, we've been together in secret for a long time now. If it weren't for Grandpa insisting we stay married, I would've kicked you out ages ago!" Elizabeth's eyes gleamed with disdain as she smirked.
Randy snorted and chimed in, "Quit wasting time telling this loser anything. There's no way he can comprehend the Phillips family, let alone The Anderson Family of the Sterling City."
My face twisted into a bitter smile.
*Although I didn't know much about business, I was at least aware of the Anderson family from the Sterling City.*
*Recently, all of Crestview City's media had been buzzing about them. It would've been hard for me not to know.*
Looking at Elizabeth's stunning yet utterly cold face, I couldn't help but let out quiet sobs.
"For three years, I've served you—I've served you like a dog. Even dogs develop feelings after a while..." I choked, sobbing uncontrollably.
Elizabeth sneered, "You? You're worse than a dog."
Randy broke into mocking laughter, "Idiot, if you know what's good for you, just pretend you didn't see anything today. The three of us can still live together happily, and you can even keep serving your goddess like you've been doing."
"But if you don't know what's good for you, pack up your things and get out." Randy's demeanor was lofty and commanding, as though he were the master of the house.
*I felt a crushing sense of powerlessness.*
*When Elizabeth's grandfather, Todd Wright—obsessed with divination at the time—insisted I would bring good fortune to the family, I had been taken in as a live-in son-in-law.*
*For three years, I endured humiliation. Apart from Todd Wright, no one in the Wright family ever respected me.*
*This only deepened my insecurity, driving me to placate the family incessantly, terrified of offending anyone.*
*But in the end, all my efforts had led to this bitter reality.*
*"I really am a worthless fool," I muttered to myself with self-deprecation.*
"Three years of this. Maybe it's time I grew a spine, don't you think?" I fixed my gaze on the shameless couple in front of me. My eyes suddenly took on a sinister gleam.
"What, are you mad now?" Randy noticed the look in my eyes but remained utterly unfazed, his expression brimming with mockery.
My glare didn't waver. Seizing my resolve, I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. "You piece of garbage—I'm coming for you!"
With that, I lunged at Randy with all my might!
But a man like me, frail and utterly lacking in physical strength, was no match at all.
Before even landing a blow, Randy effortlessly sent me sprawling onto the ground with one swift kick.
The searing pain in my abdomen made standing up almost impossible for me.
"Damn it, how dare a useless piece of scum like you swing at me?" Randy roared in anger.
He stormed toward me, pummeling and kicking me relentlessly.
*This pushed me to the brink of despair.*
I lay motionless on the cold floor, taking blow after blow without resistance.
*"What a pathetic existence I lead," I mused bitterly, cradling my head.*
*"I can't even avenge myself—is living even worth it for me?" My eyes began to glaze over with hopelessness.*
The unrelenting assault left my mouth smeared with blood.
"Enough, enough. Beating up this loser is beneath you," Elizabeth cooed, pulling Randy away sweetly.
Randy spat on my face for good measure and pointed to the door. "Get out of here now, or I'll kill you!"
I struggled to rise from the ground, dragging myself step by step toward the exit.
*Hatred burned in my heart—for this vile pair of adulterers. But more than anything, I loathed my own weakness, my failure to exact justice.*
*I refused to leave in such utter humiliation. Not without a fight.*
"Elizabeth, you'll regret this," I turned to say coldly.
Randy pointed at me, erupting in curses, "Get the hell out right now, hear me?"
Wiping the blood from my lips, I staggered out of the Wright family home.
As I reached the entrance, I ran into my mother-in-law, Megan Wright, who had just arrived.
Megan's eyes briefly scanned the Mercedes parked outside, and an immediate understanding seemed to dawn within her.
"Mom..." I called out weakly, my voice tinged with wounded pride.
Megan's expression mirrored the others—cold and detached.
Annoyed, she waved me off. "If you know everything now, then do the smart thing and leave peacefully! Let me tell you, everyone in the Wright family agrees it's time for you to be kicked out!"
Despair gripped me even tighter upon hearing this.
"Does Grandpa agree to this too?" I asked, unwilling to give up just yet.
Megan sneered, "He doesn't have a choice this time! The Phillips family already finalized their cooperation with The Anderson Family of the Sterling City. If we manage to hitch ourselves to their wagon, the Wright family may even get a taste of that success!"
"This involves the future of the entire clan. Do you honestly think some old man can go against it?" Megan's voice dripped with contempt.
"And as for his talk about good luck? Clearly just outdated superstitions," Megan scoffed.
I didn't say another word.
*The cold indifference of everyone in the Wright family shattered my spirit.*
I wiped my lips clean, striding out of their home with large, determined steps.
The pain coursing through my body, combined with the heartbreak tearing at my soul, was agony I could no longer endure.
At last, I collapsed onto the street in exhaustion.
----
Just then,
a Maybach with Sterling City plates came to a smooth halt before Tyler.
The car window rolled down slowly, revealing a long-haired, elegantly poised girl scrutinizing Tyler's limp figure with a frown.
"So he's the fiancé Grandpa chose for me?" The girl blinked her wide eyes, carefully studying Tyler.
Seeing his sorry state, her expression soured into visible distaste.
"Miss, could there be... some mistake? Didn't the old master say he wouldn't be an ordinary man?" A man dressed as a bodyguard questioned, furrowing his brows.
Sarah Anderson didn't reply. Instead, she waved her hand and said, "Bring him into the car."
"Yes, miss." A few bodyguards swiftly stepped out and hauled Tyler into the vehicle.
Gazing at the pitiful man before her, Sarah's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Does Grandpa really mean for me to marry this kind of loser?" Sarah sighed, her mind drifting to the solemn words her grandfather had left her before passing:
"Sarah, we Anderson family owe him a great debt! If not for Tyler's father, we would never have achieved what we have today!"
"Tyler's father left behind a token for him. I promised to hand it over once Tyler turned thirty."
"Mr. Thomas was a man of extraordinary power, and I trust his son will be the same. Sarah, you must treat Tyler well."
*Grandpa's repeated reminders echoed through Sarah's thoughts, her exquisite face breaking into a faint, resigned smile.*
"If he turns out to be someone with potential, then I'll honor Grandpa's wishes." Sarah muttered internally.
"But... if he's truly a waste, then I can't bring myself to comply." Sarah sighed heavily.
She began tracing her fingers along a piece of jade-green pendant—the very keepsake her grandfather had entrusted for Tyler.
With deliberate care, Sarah slipped the pendant around Tyler's neck before coldly turning away.
"The token has been passed on; the Anderson family has fulfilled its agreement." Sarah thought to herself.
But she failed to notice that, as the bloodstained pendant brushed against Tyler, a soft glow emanated from it before rapidly merging into his body.