After Divorce, I Ruled Their World

Chapter 1

Mother-in-hatred

“You're such a useless man!” 

The words echoed in his head like a broken record he couldn't shut off, no matter how hard he tries. His mother-in-law, Helena Holt had spat them at him just an hour ago when he had mistakenly brought her the wrong brand of tea.

 “You'll never be good at anything apart from being a burden!” 

He scrubbed at the wooden table harshly with the rag, the rag making a squeaking sound against the glass. The lemon-scented polish did little to mask the bitterness he felt in his heart in the air. 

This was his life now. A cycle of insults and chores, everyday of his life since he got into this house. He was the ghost in his own home, a man everyone saw but no one truly looked at.

 “You're nothing but a disaster!” His knuckles were white where he gripped the rag. 

Nothing. 

The word was like a stain he couldn't scrub away no matter how hard he wanted to forget them. He was tired. So tired of the constant reminders of his worthlessness. He focused on the wood grain, trying to lose himself in the simple, mindless task. It was better than thinking. Thinking led to remembering, and remembering led to a cold, growing anger he had to keep locked tight inside.

The vibration in his pocket was so sudden that he flinched, but he was grateful that at least, it would take his mind off the disturbance in his mind. He pulled out the phone, his movements slow and calm. The screen showed Nathan Knight. For a moment, Julian just stared at it, the connection to his other life feeling distant and surreal. He quietly accepted the call.

 “Sir.”  

Nathan’s voice was a clean, sharp and clear from the other side of the phone. “It’s done. Crestwave’s listing is approved. She rings the Nasdaq bell tomorrow. The press conference is live on TV right now.” 

A quiet satisfaction,the first genuine feeling other than sadness he had had all day, settled in Julian’s chest. The final piece of his plan was in place. The plan, years in the making, was finally bearing fruit. He smiled weakly and answered.

“You’ve done well,” he said, his own voice sounding rough from not talking for a while now. He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. The polished table shined as he stared back at it.

From the living room downstairs, he could hear the sharp, tinkling laughter of his mother-in-law and her friends. The sound was like needles against his skin. It got on his nerves, but on the same time, he wanted her approval. He already knew his role. He was the supporting character in their lavish play. Taking a deep breath, he assembled a tray of fresh tea and sandwiches the cook had prepared. He had set them in the specific way that his mother in law loved to have it. The weight of the tray was familiar in his hands because of course, he had done it a thousand times this morning.

He pushed the door open and entered. The three women were seated around the low coffee table, wearing expensive silk materials. Their conversation died the moment he stepped into the room. Three pairs of eyes swept over him, assessing and dismissing him in a single glance. 

“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” said Beatrice, one of Helena’s friends. Her smile was just her, flashing her teeth. 

 “Come to refill our cups, dear?” 

“At least he makes himself useful,”the other woman, Cynthia, added with a condescending tilt of her head. “My husband wouldn’t know a teapot from a golf club.” 

Helena’s face turned red almost instantly. The humiliation was a physical force in the room. Her friends’ children had married lawyers, heirs, investors. She had gotten…Julian. A nobody. A man who carried trays to serve his wife's parents instead of getting real money. 

 “What are you doing in here?”she snapped, her voice cutting through the fake pleasantries. “I told you not to bother us. Can’t you see we’re talking? Go finish the dusting.” 

Julian set the tray down on a small side table. He kept his posture relaxed, and his face carefully blank. “I’m sorry for interrupting,” he said, his tone even. “But I have news about Vivian.” 

Helena's anger vanished, replaced by interest. Her daughter was her favorite subject, her greatest trophy. Or maybe she was suddenly worried. Had something happened to her dear Vivian? 

“Vivian? What is it? Is she okay?”

 “She’s more than okay,”Julian said, letting the words hang. “Her company is going public. It’s been approved for the Nasdaq.” For a moment, there was only stunned silence. Then, Helena scrambled for the TV remote, her perfectly manicured hands shaking with excitement. She fumbled with the buttons until the large screen on the wall lit up.

And there she was. Vivian. She stood at a podium, glowing under the bright studio lights. She looked beautiful, powerful, and like a woman who gave command. The news banner at the bottom of the screen confirmed it all: Vivian Holt Leads Crestwave to Historic Public Listing. 

“Oh, Helena!” Beatrice gasped, her feigned sweetness now genuine shock. “Your daughter! A Nasdaq CEO?” 

“She’s incredible!”Cynthia chimed in, her voice pitched high with awe. 

“You must be so proud!” Helena's head swelled with pride, her eyes glued to the screen. She drank in their compliments like fine wine. This was her legacy, her reflection in the world. All the parties, the connections, the relentless social climbing that she had worked for all these while, it had all been for this moment. But as the praise continued, her eyes, almost against her will, drifted back to Julian. She glared at the innocent man standing by the side. He was just standing there by the door quietly, unaware of the way his mother in law was glaring at him. As she glared at him, all she saw was a living, breathing reminder that her perfect daughter’s life was not so perfect. 

He was the flaw in the diamond, the crack in the beautiful facade. He didn't belong in this moment of joy. He was a burden! His very presence spoiled the perfectness of her home. The pride changed into pure irritation. He had delivered the news, and now he was just… lingering. Like a stain on her happiness. “Why are you still standing there?”she said, her voice dropping to a cold, dismissive tone. “You heard the news. We all heard it. Your job here is done.” 

She waved a hand toward the door, shooing him away like a fly. “Now get out.

The garage is a mess. Go and clean it, you useless man