A thin mist drifted through the tall trees on the outskirts of Elmridge. Deep in the untouched forest, stood an old, modest grave.No fence. No flowers. Just a gray headstone with rough carvings:"Zion Kallius – The Sky Ruler Who Never Bowed."Kael stood before it, hands in his pockets, his expression a mix of weariness and mild disgust."Gramps, let’s be real here…" he muttered, nudging a few pebbles near his feet. "If you were still alive, I would've dragged you to the Laurent house and made you feel what it’s like being their son-in-law!"He sighed, then dropped himself onto the roots of a nearby tree, leaning back casually against the tombstone."Three years, Gramps. Three years. I kept my head down. I swallowed my pride. I played the full-time jobless loser they called ‘trash’, ‘burden’, ‘worthless son-in-law’. Even that thick-eyebrowed aunt said yesterday I was lower than their pet dog. Isn’t it impressive I held back this long?"He chuckled softly. Not bitter, but not exactly a

Kael looked calmly at the old lady and said, “No, Grandma. It’s not a toy… that’s a Soul Bell. It was used by monks during the Transcendent Era to calm the mind, purify spaces, and deepen meditation.”Several people immediately stopped laughing.Kael continued, his tone still casual but with a hidden sharpness, “I noticed you meditate a lot and take yoga classes. I thought—if everyone’s giving jewelry and flashy gifts, that’s too predictable. I wanted to give something that could actually bring peace to the soul.”“But if you’d rather call it a toy… maybe it’s just because you can’t understand the value of peace.”Agatha’s face flushed red with anger.How dare this bastard insult her while telling such an obvious lie?!Did he really expect her to believe it was a Soul Bell?It must’ve been some piece of junk he found at a secondhand store.She doubted it was even worth a hundred dollars.Furious, she grabbed the bell and raised it in the air, ready to smash it on the ground. Trash lik

At this point, a middle-aged woman with thick eyebrows—thicker than they should be, like someone had drawn them with a black marker—Mariana Laurent, was fuming.Even with a handsome, wealthy man standing right there—an heir to a powerful family far above the Laurents—Evelyne still chose to stand by that useless piece of trash?She truly had no idea what was going through Evelyne’s head.Was it filled with garbage? Had she lost her mind completely?All because of her grandfather’s will? What a joke. To hell with that! A dead man’s will meant nothing to her.And so, unable to contain her rage, she shouted, “Kael! You’re absolutely disgusting! I can’t take it anymore!”Her voice echoed throughout the lavish dining hall.“Are you proud of making Evelyne look like a fool just because of this ridiculous marriage?!”Everyone turned to look. Some of the elite guests began whispering.Kael remained still. Calm. His gaze was soft—but sharp, like a knife tucked behind a gentle smile.That expres

The next morning, around ten o’clock, Kael had just finished hanging the laundry when Evelyne appeared with an unusual look on her face.“There’s a lunch invitation today,” she said curtly. “From Damian and a few major investors. The topic is a clean energy project in the Eastern region. It’s a big deal. Important people will be there.”Kael raised an eyebrow, rolling up the sleeves of his still-damp shirt. “And why are you bothering to tell me?”Evelyne hesitated. “Because you’re invited too... But to be honest, your presence isn’t exactly necessary. It’s better if you stay home. I’ll just say you’re sick.”Kael smiled. “Oh… how sweet. Are you worried your husband will get embarrassed again? I didn’t know you cared so much.”“Don’t joke around, Kael. This is about protecting the family’s reputation. I don’t want your presence ruining the Laurent name.”Kael kept smiling. He wasn’t angry or offended—he knew Evelyne didn’t want to see him humiliated, she just didn’t want to admit it ou

Hearing that, Kael let out a soft laugh—not mocking, but genuinely amused.Did he really look like the type of guy who’d be considered a “good man”?Honestly, if it hadn’t been for his grandfather’s request, he wouldn’t have gotten married. He would’ve rather spent his days training or mixing herbal remedies than listening to a woman nag.But after marrying Evelyne, Kael realized… it wasn’t all that bad.Over time, he started to care about Evelyne—no, love her. And he just wanted to be with her.So, Kael glanced casually at Gerard before replying, “Sorry, old man. I already have a wife. And even though her family treats me like trash... I’m not the kind of guy who runs to a better roof just because it looks nicer.”As he said that, he glanced briefly at Evelyne and gave her a small smile. A smile that seemed to say, “You’re the only one I want.”Evelyne’s face flushed instantly. She didn’t even know why—was it embarrassment? Was she touched? Or just confused by the storm of emotions s