Chapter 1 Outsiders and Dogs

"Fuck, what the hell's wrong with you? Would you have the money to pay me for the repairs if you'd scratched my car, you dumb delivery driver?"

A man spat in Marcus Coleman's direction while cursing. Then, he sped off in his blue Porsche.

Marcus gnashed his teeth silently and got to his feet while struggling to get his motorcycle upright. He'd landed in a puddle of dirty, smelly water, and his knee had a wound from being scraped against the road.

"Man, I don't know how much this is gonna cost me." He balled his fists as he looked at the spilled food on the road.

At this moment, his phone rang.

It was a call from Marcus' wife, the belle of Cromford City, Vivian Lorimer.

"Hey, honey," he began.

"How many times have I told you not to call me that? If you don't show up at the grand ballroom in half an hour, don't bother showing up forever!" Vivian hung up after leaving him with just that.

Marcus was a little taken aback by this abrupt call. The grand ballroom? Fuck, today was the day of the Lorimer family's gathering!

The Lorimer family was one of Cromford City's upper-middle-class families, and Marcus was its matrilocal son-in-law. The rest of the family already looked down upon him; if he were to be late …

At this thought, Marcus slapped himself on the head and jumped onto his motorcycle, revving the engine and speeding off at top speed.

…

The 2nd of February was the date of the Lorimer family's annual family gathering. On this day, all members of the main and branch families would gather at the family's grand ballroom. Many members of Cromford City's high society would also be in attendance.

It was the Lorimer family's grandest event in a year, after all.

At this moment, luxurious cars and people dressed in their Sunday best milled around outside the grand ballroom.

"Why isn't he here yet?" Vivian glared at her phone and gnashed her teeth.

"What? That useless piece of shit you call a husband? Man, who does he think he is? I'd like to see how you're gonna explain this to Grandma later!"

A man dressed in a sharp suit stood before her, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He was the eldest grandchild of the Lorimer family and Vivian's cousin, Luke Lorimer.

Luke and Vivian were the two most outstanding people in their generation, and therefore the most likely candidates to become the next head of the Lorimer family. Because of this, Luke had always viewed Vivian as his greatest nemesis.

"Shut up! My personal matters are none of your business!" Vivian glared at Luke.

He merely shrugged, looking contemptuous.

Just then, a figure zipped through the crowd and skidded to a stop before Vivian.

"Honey, I'm so sorry for being late! There was … there was some traffic!" Marcus quickly put his motorcycle aside and took his helmet off, looking sheepish.

"Who's this dude? And why is he wearing a DoorDash jacket?"

"Don't tell me someone from the Lorimer family has to rely on making food deliveries to make a living."

"Wait, you didn't know about this? He's one of the most infamous people in Cromford City—the Lorimer family's matrilocal son-in-law and a leech! You know the story about a frog turning into a prince after being kissed, right? Well, he's that frog!"

The whispers from the crowd humiliated Vivian. She wanted nothing more than to hide.

On the other hand, Luke's smile widened.

"What's wrong, honey?" Marcus asked anxiously. He reached out to comfort Vivian, but she slapped his hand away at once.

"Marcus, are you doing this on purpose?" Vivian's eyes were red. She felt even more aggrieved when she took in his dirty jacket and wounded knee. "Did you have to come here dressed like that? Does it please you to see me humiliated and mocked?"

She choked up toward the end, though she tried her best to hold back her tears.

"Honey, I …" Marcus wanted to explain what had happened but didn't know where to start.

"Oh, forget it. Let's just get this family gathering over with!" Vivian said weakly. She took a deep breath when she saw him hesitate.

"Hold on right there! Who said you could just enter?" Luke stepped forward and held out an arm to block Marcus. He looked down at Marcus contemptuously.

"What are you doing, Luke?" Vivian glared.

"What am I doing? Your good-for-nothing husband has no right to attend this event in that shabby outfit! Can you imagine how disgraceful this would be to the Lorimer family if we were to let a food delivery driver join us in there? Are you trying to make the Lorimer family the laughingstock of Cromford City?" Luke said disdainfully.

His goal was to insult Marcus as much as possible and humiliate Vivian.

"Luke, whatever problem you seem to have with me can be addressed after the gathering. Now, get lost and leave us alone. If you make us miss the start of the gathering, could you bear the consequences of Grandma's wrath?"

Vivian felt anxious. The mocking gazes that landed on her didn't help matters either. She only wanted to get away from here.

Luke snorted, refusing to back down.

"Grandma did say that every member of the Lorimer family has to be present, but don't you, for one second, forget that your useless husband's surname is Coleman. There's something important that you need to remember—he's not a Lorimer; all he is is a lowly matrilocal son-in-law. He's an outsider!"

Then, turning to look at Marcus arrogantly, he pointed at a plaque outside the grand ballroom. "Do you see that plaque? It says, 'Outsiders and dogs are not allowed'! Get that into your head and get the hell away from here!"