Dark Fate: The Useless Son-in-Law’s Vengeance
For three years, Adrian Cole endured humiliation as a live-in husband…mocked, belittled, and treated like a servant by his wife Victoria and her venomous mother. But the night Victoria’s company goes public, everything changes.
When Victoria betrays him with another man and demands a divorce, she has no idea who Adrian really is: the mysterious Mr. X, the invisible billionaire who controls Meridian Industries…one of the world’s largest conglomerates. The penthouse she thinks belongs to her new lover? Adrian owns it. The IPO approval that launched her career? Adrian gave it to her. Every success she’s claimed as her own was built on his hidden power.
But Adrian doesn’t want revenge. He just wants to disappear.
Then he meets Sophia Laurent…a brilliant CEO whose company was destroyed in the chaos of Victoria’s rise. When Adrian saves Sophia from a brutal attack and helps resurrect her ruined business, something unexpected happens: he starts to feel again.
As Victoria’s new relationship crumbles under the weight of lies and gambling debts, and as Sophia’s toxic family tries to control her future, Adrian must decide: Will he remain in the shadows, or step into the light for the woman who sees him as more than his wealth?
A story of hidden power, second chances, and the difference between being valued for what you have versus who you are.
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Chapter: The Pretend BoyfriendAdrian sat in his home office, reviewing financial reports on his tablet when his phone buzzed with an incoming message.Marcus: Transaction complete. Vincent Lu purchased the penthouse for 45 million yuan. Funds have been transferred to your account.Adrian’s lips curved into a cold smile. Vincent had walked directly into the trap, just as expected. The man was so desperate to maintain his lies that he’d bankrupted himself to buy property he’d claimed to already own.Marcus: Preliminary investigation shows Lu borrowed the funds from his primary creditor…a loan shark named Zhao Wei. Total debt now exceeds 53 million yuan with interest. Repayment deadline: two weeks.Adrian let out a cold snort. It’s truly over for him this time. When he fails to pay, he’s finished.A leopard couldn’t change its spots. Vincent was a gambling addict, a liar, and a fraud. Once the two-week deadline passed and he couldn’t extract enough money from Victoria, everything would collapse. The creditors would c
Last Updated: 2025-12-30
Chapter: The Borrowed FortuneVincent stood in the parking lot for a long time after the property manager left, staring at the business card in his trembling hand. Forty-five million yuan. The number kept echoing in his head like a death sentence.He had twenty-four hours.The next morning, Vincent sat in his apartment…the small, cramped one-bedroom he actually rented, not the luxury penthouse he’d claimed to own…with his laptop open and his phone pressed to his ear.“Mr. Lu, I’m sorry, but without collateral, we simply cannot approve a loan of that size.” The voice on the other end was polite but firm. “Perhaps if you had property in your name, or stocks, or…”“I have stocks,” Vincent interrupted desperately. “I have investments, I have…”“According to our records, your investment portfolio is valued at approximately eight million yuan. That’s nowhere near sufficient collateral for a forty-five million yuan loan. I’m sorry, but…”Vincent ended the call and immediately dialed the next number on his list.The conve
Last Updated: 2025-12-30
Chapter: Vincent's TrapAdrian leaned against his car and pulled out a cigarette. He didn't smoke often…only when he needed to think, or when his carefully maintained control had been tested in ways he hadn't anticipated.Like having Sophia Laurent in his lap, her lips on his neck, her body warm and soft and willing against his.He lit the cigarette and took a long drag, watching the smoke curl up toward the streetlights. His body was still humming with tension, with want he'd ruthlessly suppressed. A low, mocking whistle cut through his thoughts.Adrian turned to see Vincent leaning against a nearby lamppost, his suit jacket slung over one shoulder, his expression dripping with mockery."Well, well," Vincent drawled, his voice sharp with disdain. "Adrian Cole. Really stealing the spotlight today, aren't you?" He pushed off the lamppost and sauntered closer, gesturing at the luxury high-rise behind them. "What are you even doing here? This clearly isn't a place someone like you could afford to live in."Adr
Last Updated: 2025-12-30
Chapter: The MisunderstandingThe city lights blurred past the car windows as they drove in comfortable silence. Sophia kept stealing glances at Adrian's profile. The evening had been a whirlwind…humiliating for others, vindicating for her, and thoroughly confusing in terms of understanding who this man really was."I'm sorry," Sophia said finally, breaking the silence.Adrian glanced at her. "For what?""For everything that happened back there. I invited you to dinner to thank you, and instead you ended up being insulted and humiliated by those awful people." She twisted her hands in her lap. "Derek has always been terrible, but I never imagined he'd stoop that low. And Alexander..." She shuddered. "I can't believe I ever considered even having a meal with that man.""You didn't know what he was really like," Adrian said evenly, his eyes back on the road. "People like him are experts at hiding their true nature until they think they have power over you.""Still, you shouldn't have had to deal with that. Being moc
Last Updated: 2025-12-30
Chapter: The BlacklistDerek's eyes lit up like he'd just discovered gold. He rushed forward, practically shoving the woman in red out of the way to position himself next to Alexander."Mr. Chen, you're absolutely right!" Derek gushed, his voice dripping with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Someone of your stature, your accomplishments…it's truly inspiring! And honestly, when I look at you and Sophia together, I can't help but think how perfectly matched you are. Both successful, both driven, both from good families..."Alexander preened under the attention, his earlier humiliation from Adrian's grip already fading as his ego inflated. "Well, I wouldn't say perfectly matched yet. Sophia still needs to work on her judgment." He shot a pointed look at Adrian. "But with the right guidance, I'm sure she'll come around.""Oh, absolutely!" Derek nodded so vigorously his head looked like it might fall off. "Sophia's always been stubborn, but she's a smart girl deep down. She'll realize soon enough that aligning herself w
Last Updated: 2025-12-30
Chapter: The Vice President's HumiliationAlexander Chen's face went from red to purple. He yanked at his wrist, trying to free himself from Adrian's grip, his entire body twisting with the effort.Nothing happened.Adrian's hand remained exactly where it was, steady as iron, his expression unchanged."Let go of me!" Alexander snarled, his voice rising. "Who the hell do you think you are? You're making a scene!""I'm the one who has an appointment with Sophia," Adrian said calmly. Then, without warning, he released his grip.Alexander staggered backward, his arms windmilling as he tried to catch his balance. He would have fallen completely if Derek hadn't suddenly appeared at his side."Mr. Chen! Are you alright?" Derek grabbed Alexander's arm, shooting venomous looks at both Adrian and Sophia. "This is unacceptable! Sophia, how dare you let your... your gigolo assault Mr. Chen! Do you have any idea who he is? What he could do for our family?"Sophia's face flushed with fury. "Get out of my way, Derek.""Sophia, you need to a
Last Updated: 2025-12-30
