All Chapters of The Billionaire's Hidden Son-in-Law: Chapter 161
- Chapter 170
196 chapters
Chapter 161: A Door Finally Opens
The silence in Michael’s living room felt like a living thing that breathed between them. Clarissa sat quietly on the other end of the couch, her hands resting on her lap, her eyes fixed on him even though he barely shifted. Only the faint glow from a distant streetlight slipped through the curtains, casting a muted grey across the room.She had been there for almost twenty minutes, waiting. She didn’t speak. She didn’t try to force him to look at her. She simply stayed, because leaving him alone in that state felt like abandoning someone standing inside a sinking space with no handrail.Eventually, Michael let out a slow breath that trembled slightly, like someone exhaling for the first time after holding everything inside for too long. “I don’t know how to do this anymore,” he said quietly, his voice low and strained. “I don’t know how to move forward without causing damage. Everywhere I turn, I hurt someone. And the worst part is that I’m hurting myself too.”Clarissa didn’t in
Chapter 162: The Unwanted Address
Michael arrived at the office before most of the staff, stepping into the building with a calm that looked composed on the surface but carried a quiet heaviness beneath it. He moved through the halls with his usual firm posture, greeting no one, heading straight to his office as though routine alone could hold him together. The moment he sat behind his desk, however, the façade began to slip.He powered on his computer, opened the first file, and stared at it for almost a full minute without reading a single sentence. His mind kept drifting back to the message he received the night before.He had read it once, twice, a third time, until the words blurred and reformed, each repetition carving deeper into him.He placed the phone face-down on the desk, refusing to let it distract him.He told himself he needed to work.That he could handle this.He also told himself he would not drive to that address — not today, not tomorrow, not ever.He didn’t want to be that man.He didn’t want t
Chapter 163: A Visit From the Past
The morning began quietly, with the usual shuffle of staff settling into their routines. Michael was already in his office before most people arrived, preparing for the day with a calm focus that had slowly become his default. He maintained a steady posture as he reviewed files, his movements controlled and deliberate. Anyone observing him would have assumed he was fully centred but beneath that calm, something remained unsettled, a faint ripple he refused to acknowledge.By mid-morning, his assistant knocked carefully.“Sir, there’s someone here to see you. She says she was a close friend of your mother. And she… also knew Miss Sophia.”Michael paused.It was the first unexpected piece of news he’d received in days. He looked up slowly. “Did she give a name?”“Yes, sir. Mrs. Ihebom.”The name brought a flicker of recognition. She had been close to his mother years ago, present at several family events, always warm, always speaking fondly of the Donovan legacy. She had also visite
Chapter 164: Pressure at the Top
The atmosphere in the boardroom that morning felt strangely tightened, as if a quiet storm had settled above the heads of everyone seated around the glossy mahogany table. A major investor from the North had requested an emergency update meeting with almost no notice, a demand that sent ripples across Donovan Industries. They never called sudden meetings unless something felt off. And with the whispers about Michael’s recent withdrawn behaviour floating through certain circles, the board had been bracing themselves for an uncomfortable morning.Michael walked into the boardroom exactly on time, his steps measured, his posture upright, his expression calm. He greeted everyone with a polite nod before taking his seat at the head of the table. There was nothing sluggish or troubled in his presence today; instead, he carried the same collected authority he was known for before the whirlwind of recent weeks began. The room seemed to settle slightly in response, as though absorbing th
Chapter 165: The Visit He Finally Makes
Michael did not intend to drive anywhere in particular after work. He simply got into his car and allowed the road to take him wherever his mind wandered. The city lights shifted around him, fading from the busy glow of the business district into the quieter rhythm of residential streets. It was only when he reached a familiar intersection that he realised where his subconscious had led him. A single turn ahead would take him toward the part of town where Sophia now stayed.He slowed down, fingers tightening slightly around the steering wheel. He hadn’t planned to come here. He had told himself he wouldn’t… not yet. It had only been a few days since he paid someone discreetly to confirm the new address sent to him. A decision he justified at the time as something he needed to know for closure, although he had never actually admitted that truth out loud. Even now, the decision sat on his conscience like a weight, not wrong, but not entirely right either.Still, his car drifted for
Chapter 166: Unexpected Meeting
The charity event was held at one of the most prestigious hotels in the city, the kind of place where the chandeliers hung low in warm golden light and conversations drifted through the hall like gentle waves. Donovan Industries had been invited as one of the supportive partners, and Michael arrived dressed in a deep navy suit that matched the calm, calculated expression he had been wearing all week. His presence garnered attention immediately, not only because of his role, but also because his recent silence in the business sphere had left many curious to see him again.Clarissa walked beside him, elegant as always, though her steps carried a slight tension she tried carefully to conceal. She had no idea what the evening would hold, but she hoped it would pass quietly.For the first hour, everything remained predictable. They greeted familiar faces, exchanged polite smiles, and took part in casual conversations with different business associates. Michael handled himself with the
Chapter 167: Confessions Over Coffee
The café Victoria chose was small, tucked neatly between a bookstore and a florist shop. It wasn’t the usual type of place Michael frequented, but that was part of the reason she picked it. Neutral ground. Somewhere that didn’t hold memories or obligations. Somewhere with gentle music, warm lights, and quiet corners where a person could speak without feeling watched.Michael arrived a few minutes early, settling into a seat by the window. He looked calmer than he had looked in weeks. Not healed, not entirely steady, but composed in a way that suggested he was trying to rebuild himself layer by layer.Victoria walked in shortly after, greeted him with a smile that carried more understanding than warmth, and sat across from him. They ordered coffee, exchanged light comments about work, and discussed the community initiative she wanted him to sponsor. For the first several minutes, the conversation stayed on the surface, polite and tidy.But Victoria hadn’t asked him here for paperw
Chapter 168: A Crack in the Shell
Michael arrived at the office earlier than usual, stepping out of his car with a pace that immediately caught the attention of the security team. His movements were precise, his expression unreadable, and there was a firm energy around him that hadn’t been there for weeks. This was something sharper, more focused, the kind of clarity that comes when a person reaches the end of one phase of struggle and shifts into another.He walked into the building without lingering for any greetings, heading straight for the executive floor. Within minutes of settling behind his desk, he began sifting through reports with an almost relentless speed. His assistants barely had time to adjust before he started restructuring deadlines, moving projects forward, and cleaning up backlogged tasks that had been piling since his emotional retreat.“Move the procurement review to this afternoon,” he instructed one of the secretaries. “And bring me the quarterly projections again. I want to adjust three fi
Chapter 169: A Guardian’s Concern
The elderly lawyer arrived without announcing his visit, something he had the privilege to do because he had, together with the previous lawyer, served the Donovan family long before the company ever expanded into what it had become. His name was Mr. Obidenwe, a man with a slow, thoughtful way of speaking and eyes that seemed to observe more than anyone realised. He had handled Sophia’s father’s estate years ago, and though he had retired from most active practice, he still took his role as a guardian of the family’s history seriously.Michael had not seen him in months and was surprised when his secretary walked into his office saying, “Sir, Mr. Obidenwe is here to see you.”He rose immediately, straightening his tie out of respect, and opened the door himself.“Sir,” Michael greeted warmly, “you should have called. I would have—”“There are conversations that are better had in person,” the old man said, stepping inside with the dignity of someone who had never rushed anything in h
Chapter 170
The quarterly staff assembly filled the main auditorium more than usual. Employees from every department streamed in, marketing, finance, legal, HR, operations, all curious to hear the CEO’s address. Michael stood backstage for a few minutes before stepping out. His posture was straight, his expression calm, and his suit neat without a wrinkle. Everything about him appeared controlled and dignified.But the heaviness around him was unmistakable.When he finally walked to the podium, the murmurs softened. The lights overhead washed his face in a warm glow that made him look steadier than he had felt in weeks. He adjusted the microphone, offered a small nod to the hall, and began speaking.“Good morning, everyone.”The greeting landed gently. His voice was strong, smooth, and clear, the voice of a leader who always knew how to command a room. But those who were used to his speeches felt something different this time. He didn’t carry the usual warmth. Or tease the younger staff wit