From Worthless Son-in-Law to Island King

Chapter 1: A Glass of “Fine Wine”

“Joseph Wilson!”

“What do you think you’re doing here?”

“Do you even understand what kind of place this is? If you broke so much as one of these glasses, could you afford to replace it?”

The ocean stretched endlessly beneath the open sky as a luxury liner worth billions cut through the waves.

Inside, everything spoke of wealth and excess—from the lavish décor to the impeccably dressed guests gathered throughout the ship. These were people of money, power, and influence, and they made no effort to hide it.

Among them, Joseph Wilson stood out for all the wrong reasons.

He had barely taken his seat when he reached for a glass, hoping a drink might settle his seasick stomach.

Before his fingers could touch it, a middle-aged woman in an ostentatious gown flung an entire glass of champagne into his face.

She was his mother-in-law, Brianna Rivera.

Her outburst immediately drew the attention of everyone nearby.

“You want a drink?”

A cruel smile spread across Brianna’s face.

“Take a good look at yourself first.”

“Everyone on this ship is either rich or powerful. Mr. Martin was generous enough to bring you along and give you a glimpse of a world you would never otherwise see.”

“And instead of staying where you belong, you crawl out here and try to steal a drink?”

“I wasn’t—”

Joseph had barely opened his mouth when Brianna’s shrill voice cut him off.

“I’ll never understand what that old fool was thinking.”

“It was bad enough that he brought home a worthless orphan like you. But then he went and married Alice to you.”

She looked him up and down with open disgust.

“Just look at yourself. Do you honestly think you deserve my daughter?”

“You’re nothing but a dog.”

Brianna gave a cold snort.

“As soon as we get back, you’re going to finalize the divorce.”

“I won’t let a useless man like you stand in the way of Alice marrying someone wealthy and respectable.”

“Mom, I really do love—”

“Who are you calling Mom?”

Brianna exploded before he could finish.

“Have you lost your mind?”

Then she turned toward the surrounding guests and raised her voice even louder.

“Everyone, come take a look at this shameless mongrel!”

“He’s been living off our family for years, and he still has the nerve to cling to Alice. An ungrateful parasite like him isn’t even worthy of being called a dog!”

Whispers spread through the crowd.

One by one, the nearby guests began looking at Joseph with undisguised contempt, as though he were a beggar who had somehow wandered into a banquet.

“See that?”

Brianna’s expression filled with satisfaction.

“That’s what you are—a dog.”

“You keep saying you love Alice, but have you ever stopped to consider whether she wants you?”

“Fortunately, she’s never let you touch her. At least you haven’t ruined the most valuable thing she has.”

“You will never be worthy of my daughter.”

Joseph said nothing.

Brianna’s hatred for him was nothing new.

She had opposed her husband’s decision to adopt Joseph from the very beginning. Her resentment had only deepened when he later arranged for Joseph to marry their daughter, Alice Jones.

Yet her husband had ignored every objection and gone through with it anyway.

Over the years, Brianna had seized every opportunity to exclude, insult, and humiliate Joseph.

If her late husband had not left Joseph half of his estate in his will, she would have thrown him out long ago.

“I’ll never understand what that old fool saw in you,” she muttered. “Always taking your side, always protecting you.”

She gave a dismissive snort.

“Well, he’s dead now. Good riddance.”

None of that mattered anymore.

If Alice married Charles Martin, the modest inheritance her husband had left behind would become insignificant.

There was only one problem.

Joseph had to go.

He was the only obstacle standing between Brianna and the life of wealth she had always dreamed of.

“Who’s upset my dear aunt this time?”

A man’s voice came from behind the crowd.

“Mr. Martin.”

The guests instinctively stepped aside.

A tall man in a crisp white suit walked toward them. Even among the lavishly dressed passengers, he drew every eye in the room.

“Mr. Martin, you’ve come at just the right time.”

Brianna’s expression changed in an instant. Her anger vanished, replaced by a warm and eager smile as she hurried toward Charles.

“I was just teaching this boy a lesson.”

“You were kind enough to bring him aboard so he could broaden his horizons. Instead of making himself useful, he slipped away to steal a drink.”

“Aunt Brianna, I’m afraid you’re mistaken.”

Brianna paused.

Charles continued with an easy smile.

“Since he’s aboard my ship, he’s my guest. I think I can afford to offer Joseph Wilson a drink or two.”

He picked up a glass and held it out.

“You’re Alice’s husband, aren’t you?”

Charles placed deliberate emphasis on the word husband.

“Nice to meet you.”

Joseph looked at the offered glass but did not immediately take it.

“What are you waiting for?” Brianna snapped. “Mr. Martin is being generous. Don’t be ungrateful.”

Joseph raised his eyes to Charles’s smiling face.

Something about that smile made him uneasy.

Even so, he reached for the glass.

“Thank you—”

Before he could finish, Charles let go.

The glass struck the floor with a sharp crack and shattered at Joseph’s feet.

“Mr. Wilson.”

Charles’s smile never wavered.

“How careless of you.”

Joseph stared at him.

The glass had never reached his hand. Charles had dropped it on purpose.

Brianna immediately sneered.

“You can’t even hold a glass properly. You really are hopeless.”

Joseph slowly clenched his fists.

Charles turned to one of the nearby attendants.

“What are you standing there for? Go to the restroom and bring Mr. Wilson another glass of fine wine.”

“The restroom?”

“A drink from the restroom?”

Confused murmurs rose around them.

Joseph stiffened, unable to understand what Charles intended.

A few minutes later, the attendant returned carrying a glass filled with yellow liquid.

He moved with exaggerated care, as though afraid to spill a single drop.

Then the smell reached the crowd.

Several guests immediately covered their noses.

A few elegantly dressed women turned away, gagging.

By the time the attendant stopped in front of Joseph, his expression had gone rigid.

The stench rising from the glass left no room for doubt.

It was urine.

“What the hell is this supposed to mean?”

No man, no matter how patient, could remain calm in the face of such deliberate humiliation.

Charles waved a hand in front of his nose, fanning away the odor.

“Drink it.”

A cruel smile tugged at his lips.

“If you refuse, you’ll be disrespecting me.”

“And if you make me angry, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

The crowd fell silent.

By now, even the slowest among them understood.

Charles had never intended to offer Joseph a drink. This had been his plan from the beginning.

Brianna finally understood as well.

She had assumed Charles was being unusually generous to her worthless son-in-law.

Now she realized the truth.

He wanted to humiliate Joseph.

And Brianna was delighted.

“Don’t go too far.”

Joseph gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

“You’ll drink it.”

Charles stepped closer, his smile darkening.

Before Joseph could respond, Charles lowered his voice.

“Don’t forget—Alice is in my hands now.”