Dark Fate: The Useless Son-in-Law’s Vengeance

The Proposal

Adrian Cole frowned, studying her more intently now.

Something didn’t add up. Even though she was clearly exhausted, she still carried herself with an elegance that came from wealth. Her posture was too refined, her mannerisms too polished. This wasn’t someone who’d been living rough for long.

“Forgive me,” he said quietly, “but you don’t seem like someone without a home.”

She looked up at him, something bitter flickering across her face. A soft, humorless laugh escaped her lips.

“You are perceptive.” She drew a shaky breath. “I wasn’t always like this. My name is Sophia Laurent  and three months ago, I was the CEO of Stellar Dynamics. We were preparing for our IPO. Everything was ready…the investors were committed, and the underwriters were in place, the roadshow went perfectly.”

Her voice went hollow. “And then overnight, our application was rejected. There was no explanation as to why that happened.”

Adrian Cole went very still.

“The investors panicked and pulled out,” she continued, staring at nothing. “Without their backing, we couldn’t meet our obligations. Creditors called in loans. And partners terminated their contracts with us. Within two weeks, the company collapsed. The board voted to liquidate.” Her voice cracked. “I lost everything. The company, my savings, my reputation…eight years of work. Gone.”

A cold knot formed in Adrian Cole’s stomach. “When did this happen?”

“June fifteenth. The rejection came through on June fifteenth.”

His chest tightened. June fifteenth. The same day Victoria’s IPO was approved.

He’d asked Marcus  to expedite the process, to smooth Victoria’s path through the regulatory commission. If he remembered correctly, there had been several companies ahead of hers in the queue. Stellar Dynamics… that name sounded familiar. It had been directly in front of Victoria’s application.

But how could a simple delay destroy an entire company? Unless…

His gaze shifted to Marcus , who stood near the door. His assistant had gone noticeably pale, and sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool room. When their eyes met, Marcus  immediately looked away, his hand coming up to wipe nervously at his temple.

Realization hit Adrian Cole like a blow.

Of course.

Marcus  hadn’t just smoothed the path. He’d cleared it completely. In his overzealous attempt to serve, he’d kicked out every company standing ahead of Victoria, leaving disaster in his wake. Utter recklessness.

Adrian Cole shot to his feet, the movement so sudden that Marcus  flinched.

“Marcus .” His voice was quiet, but there was steel underneath his aura so imposing at that moment Lui felt his life was ending. “Come here.”

Marcus  hurried forward, his steps quick and anxious.

Adrian Cole leaned in close, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper, but the weight of his authority crashed down like a hammer. “Put everything back the way it was. Every application you touched, every company you pushed aside. Restore them. Now. I want it done immediately. Do you understand me?”

Marcus ’s face went white. “Sir, I…”

“Do you understand me?” Adrian Cole’s tone didn’t rise, but something in it made Marcus ’s throat work convulsively.

“Yes, sir. Right away.”

“And establish a compensation fund. Document every loss those companies suffered. Every single one.” His eyes bored into Marcus ’s. “Move.”

Marcus  practically fled from the room.

Adrian Cole's jaw clenched tight, forcing himself to breathe through the fury burning in his chest. Then he turned back to Sophia Laurent .

She was watching him with confusion and wariness, clearly having caught the tension even if she couldn’t hear what was said.

“Right now, you need rest and a safe place to recover. I have property sitting empty…a vacant apartment. You’re welcome to stay there until you’re back on your feet.”

Sophia Laurent  shook her head immediately. “I can’t accept that. We’re strangers. You’ve already saved my life…I can’t possibly take more from you.”

“The apartment is empty whether you’re in it or not,” Adrian Cole said, somewhat stiffly. “If it can shelter someone who needs it, then the space isn’t wasted.” He moved toward the door without waiting for her response. “I’ll take you there myself.”

He paused at the threshold, glancing back. “Unless you’d prefer to figure out where you’re sleeping tonight on your own?”

Sophia Laurent  sat frozen on the bed, clearly caught off guard by his directness.

Dr. Harrison  stepped forward with a kind smile. “Miss sophia , you should accept. Mr Cole doesn’t make offers like this lightly. And in your condition, you really shouldn’t be alone.”

Marcus , who had reappeared in the hallway, nodded vigorously despite his obvious distress. “The property is excellent, Miss sophia . Very safe, well-maintained. Please, you should go with Mr Cole.”

Sophia Laurent  looked between them, then down at herself…at the complete absence of any stability in her life right now.

“Alright,” she said quietly. “Thank you.”

 -----

Fifty floors above, Adrian stood with Sophia in the center of the penthouse suite.

Sunlight flooded the space, reflecting off polished marble floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the entire apartment, offering an unobstructed view of the city skyline.

Sophia turned slowly, taking it all in. “Adrian,” she said softly, “this is… I can’t accept this. This apartment must be worth…”

“It’s an investment,” Adrian said simply. “I’ve followed Stellar Dynamics for years. Your innovation was remarkable. I tried to invest multiple times, but I could never get a share.” Though it was a lie, he said it anyway—it would put her at ease.

Sophia’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. 

“Consider this penthouse part of my investment in your future. When Stellar Dynamics rises again…and it will…I want to be part of that success.”

“You really believe that?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“I’m counting on it.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. After the bankruptcy, she had lost everyone . Partners and friends disappeared leaving her to her demise. She never thought she would find someone who would trust her again.

He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and placed them in her palm. “These are yours. Marcus will check in periodically, but otherwise, this is your space.”

Sophia’s fingers closed around the keys. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Rebuild your empire,” Adrian said with a slight smile. “That’s all the thanks I need.”

They walked toward the private elevator. Adrian pressed the call button.The elevator chimed.The doors began to slide open.

Adrian glanced up casually,then froze.

Four familiar faces stared back at him from the elevator—Mrs. Stone—his mother-in-law, and her friends. Adrian’s expression darkened almost instantly. Running into them never meant anything good.

“Adrian?” his mother-in-law’s  voice came out sharp, cutting through the silence. “What are you doing here?”