From Useless Son-in-Law to Hacker King

The Bet

Morning came with the sound of shouting. Lucas woke to voices drifting up through the floorboards. Angry voices. Desperate voices. The family was already awake, already fighting about what to do next.

He checked his phone. 9:47 AM. He'd only slept three hours after staying up until dawn working on Victor's encryption.

But it had been worth it. He had what he needed now.

Lucas got dressed and went downstairs. The voices got louder as he approached the living room.

"—absolutely insane if you think I'm going to just sit here and wait!" Clara's voice, shrill and panicked.

"What other choice do we have?" William sounded exhausted. "We gave Naomi until tonight to decide."

"Tonight? We have twenty-four hours left! Twenty-four hours!"

Lucas stepped into the doorway. The whole family was there. William looked worse than yesterday. Clara's eyes were red and puffy. Uncle Thomas stood in the corner. Robert sat scrolling through his phone.

Naomi sat on the sofa, arms crossed, jaw set. She looked like she hadn't slept at all.

Nobody acknowledged Lucas when he entered.

"I've made my decision," Naomi said quietly.

Everyone stopped and looked at her.

"I'll meet with Marcus," she continued. Her voice was flat, emotionless. "If that's what it takes to save the company."

Clara's face lit up. "Thank God—"

"But I'm not divorcing Lucas. Not yet. Not until we've exhausted every other option."

"What other option?" Robert asked. "We've been over this."

"Then let me be clear. I'll meet Marcus. I'll listen. But I need twelve hours to find another way first."

"Twelve hours?" Clara stood up. "To do what?"

"To try."

William leaned forward. "Sweetheart, what are you going to do in twelve hours that CyberShield couldn't do in six?"

"I don't know," Naomi admitted. "But I have to try."

Robert shook his head. "This is a waste of time. Marcus is ready. We need to commit now."

"Then tell them we're seriously interested," Naomi said. "But I need twelve hours."

"Naomi—"

"Twelve hours!" Her voice cracked. "Is that too much to ask? Before I agree to spend time with another man while I'm still married?"

The room went quiet.

William nodded slowly. "Twelve hours. Until 10 PM tonight."

"Dad!" Robert protested.

"It's decided."

Clara threw up her hands. "Fine. But when nothing changes, I don't want to hear any more arguments."

Naomi stood up. "I'm going to the office."

"There's nothing there," Robert said.

"Then I'll look again." She grabbed her purse and walked toward the door, passing Lucas without looking at him.

Lucas watched her go, then turned back to the room.

He cleared his throat. "What if I could get the ransom money?"

The room went completely still.

Slowly, everyone turned to look at him.

"What did you just say?" Robert's voice was sharp.

Lucas stepped forward. "What if I could get ten million dollars by tonight?"

Nobody spoke. Then Robert burst out laughing. "You? You're going to get ten million dollars?"

"Yes."

Robert laughed harder. "You don't even have ten dollars. How are you going to get ten million?"

"That's not your concern. I'm asking a hypothetical. If I could provide the ransom money by tonight, would you reject Marcus's offer?"

William was studying Lucas carefully now. "Are you serious?"

"Completely serious."

"This is ridiculous," Clara said. "You cannot possibly be entertaining this."

But William didn't look away from Lucas. "How would you get it?"

"I have resources. Investments from before I met Naomi."

"What kind of investments?" Robert asked.

"That's my business."

"Bullshit. If you had money, you wouldn't have been living here like a parasite for three years."

Lucas met his eyes. "I had my reasons for keeping it separate. This is an emergency. I'm willing to use it."

"This is a scam," Clara said.

"Then let's make it a bet," Lucas said, looking at Robert. "Give me until 6 PM. If I deliver ten million dollars, you reject Marcus's offer. If I fail, I'll step aside. I'll agree to the divorce."

The room exploded.

"Lucas, no!" Naomi's voice came from the doorway. She'd stopped, apparently hearing everything. "You can't—"

"I can," Lucas said quietly. "And I will."

Robert stared at him. "You're serious? You'll divorce Naomi if you fail?"

"Yes."

"Why would you do that?" Naomi demanded.

"Because I'm tired of being useless," Lucas said, looking at her. "You wanted another way? This is it."

Robert crossed his arms. "Okay. I'll take that bet. But until 6 PM. That gives you eight hours."

"Robert, that's not enough—" William started.

"It's plenty if he actually has the money," Robert said. "6 PM, Lucas. Bring me ten million dollars, or start packing."

Lucas nodded. "Deal."

"This is insane," Clara said.

"Let him try," William said quietly. "What do we have to lose?"

Robert was already on his phone. "I'll call Marcus now, tell him we're interested but need a few hours." He looked at Lucas. "But at 6:01, if you haven't delivered, I'm setting up dinner for tonight."

"Understood."

"Lucas, please," Naomi said. "Don't promise something you can't deliver."

Lucas met her eyes. "What if I can?"

She stared at him, searching. "Can you?"

"I guess we'll find out at 6 PM."

Robert walked out, phone to his ear. "Hey Marcus..."

Lucas turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Clara demanded.

"To get the money."

"You'll need a computer," William said. "Use the study."

Lucas stopped, looked at his father-in-law. William was watching him with an expression Lucas had never seen before. Not quite belief, but maybe hope.

"Thank you."

He went to the study and closed the door.

Eight hours to turn his discovery into ten million dollars in clean assets.

The problem wasn't getting the money. Lucas had plenty from his Zero days. The problem was getting it without raising questions.

He pulled out a burner phone and started making calls to old contacts. People who could move money quickly and quietly.

An hour later, he had it arranged. Bearer bonds he'd stashed years ago, offshore accounts he'd never touched, cryptocurrency he'd forgotten about. All being converted, laundered through legitimate channels.

It would cost him nearly everything.

But it would save Naomi.