Rise Of The Forgotten Son-in-law

CHAPTER 1

"What? You actually say you can't come up with the money!"

"Aren't you the son-in-law of the Thompson family? How could you possibly not have fifty thousand dollars?"

"I gave birth to you, and you can't even repay me with fifty thousand? You ungrateful wretch!" On a street, a middle-aged couple glared at a young man in his mid-twenties, shouting angrily at him.

The young man, Ethan Blackwood, had a handsome face but wore a pair of faded jeans and a plain shirt-no, it was barely even plain, as there were several noticeable holes in it.

"He looked extremely shabby." At that moment, he clenched his fists tightly, staring at the two people in front of him, his eyes filled with rage.

He wanted to speak, but no words came out. Ethan was an orphan who had been taken in by the Thompson family in Panama City three years ago.

The two people before him were his biological parents, who had abandoned him without hesitation when they discovered he was born deaf and mute, leaving him to grow up in an orphanage.

Afterward, he was chosen by the Thompson family to be their son-in-law. Just a few days ago, when they heard about his new status, they came looking for him, making a big fuss about it.

The news spread everywhere, claiming they had searched for Ethan for over ten years, their faces lined with wrinkles from worry. Ethan Blackwood felt a surge of joy, believing he had finally found his long-lost family.

No one could understand what it felt like for an orphan to discover their blood relatives!

But then, when he arrived, he realized it wasn't what he had hoped for. These two people were only interested because they had heard he became the son-in-law of the Thompson family and had money. So, right from the start, they were asking for cash!

When Ethan said he didn't have any money, their expressions changed, revealing a disgusting contempt.

"Roar..." Ethan wanted to speak, but no words came out.

He was mute!

This only fueled the couple's disdain. “A disabled child is still a disabled child. You can't even speak! Thank goodness we abandoned you back then."

"Exactly! Otherwise, we'd be stuck taking care of you now!"

"By the way, disabled child, we are still your parents. You have a younger brother now, and he got into trouble. He hit someone, and the other party is demanding fifty thousand dollars.

If we don't pay, our Son will go to jail. You have two choices: give us fifty thousand, or take the blame for him. Choose!" These words ignited a fire of anger within Ethan.

Take the blame? You abandoned me, and now you come back just to squeeze money out of me for your other son? Fifty thousand dollars, or I take the fall?

What am I?

Just a tool?

"No." Maybe I'm not even a tool!

Ethan Blackwood said nothing more and turned to leave. The couple's faces changed dramatically as they shouted, "That deaf-mute guy! If you don't pay up, we'll spread the word everywhere. You, Ethan Blackwood, are a heartless person who doesn't care about your family, your parents, or your brother's life. We'll make sure your name is dragged through the mud in Panama City, and you won't be able to stay here any longer!" With each step, Ethan walked heavily, the weight of their words pressing down on him.

Deaf-mute!

Isn't that what you brought upon me? After becoming an adult, Ethan had done some digging. He discovered that the reason he became deaf-mute was because, before he was born, his mother, Ava the same Woman who had called him deaf-mute in front of him had thrown a party at home and accidentally hit her head on a table corner, causing him to be born prematurely.

His eardrums hadn't fully developed. As a result, he was born deaf-mute, and after his birth, he was abandoned, with the justification that he was destined to be deaf-mute for life.

And now, these two had the audacity to come to him. They wanted him to take the blame for a brother he had never even met.

Ethan Blackwood scratched his throat, feeling a slight itch. But this sensation transformed the anger in his eyes into pure joy.

Because it meant he was about to speak. Yes, he was born mute. But years ago, when he was just an orphan in the shelter, he encountered an old man lying on the ground, his chest covered in blood.

Ethan saved him. For three whole days, he took care of the man with utmost devotion. He even shared his meager ration of steamed buns, mixing it with water to feed the old man.

Three days later, the old man woke up. Upon realizing that Ethan had saved him and learning that he was mute, he decided to take Ethan as his disciple and teach him a unique technique.

He said, "Disciple, this technique is a secret art of our lineage. It requires you to cultivate your energy at the Spirit Gate, and this process will take ten years. After ten years, you will be able to break through the first layer and simultaneously heal your throat, allowing you to speak normally."

Ten years!

A full decade!

For those ten years, Ethan practiced this technique day and night, all for the chance to find his voice. And now, he was just one step away!

Ethan Blackwood returned to the Thompson family home. This grand villa in Panama City belonged to the prominent Thompson family, known for their wealth and influence.

However, as soon as he arrived, he spotted a young woman sitting at the entrance. Dressed in a long purple dress, she was cracking sunflower seeds and carelessly tossing the shells onto the ground.

The ground was littered with seed shells. This was Ethan's mother-in-law, Salome. Upon seeing him, a look of disgust crossed her face. After spitting out a shell onto the ground, she said, "Hey, mute! Clean this mess up. She gestured toward the pile of shells on the floor.

She knew Ethan couldn't hear her. With a face full of disdain, she expected him to pick up the shells by hand, slowly collecting them and then using his clothes to wipe the floor.

That's how she had always made him do it before. But today, Ethan simply walked straight upstairs. This left Salome momentarily stunned.

Normally, whatever she ordered this "mute" to do, he was would comply without question. But today, Ethan with a swift motion, she stood up and glared at Ethan Blackwood, shouting, "Ethan, have you lost your mind? How dare you ignore me!"