Rise Of The Invincible Son-in-law

004

"What do you mean?" Ethan’s voice cracked. He was still lost, trying to make sense of the reality before him.

Nobody had ever called him master. Not once in his life. He had been born into an ordinary family, his father and mother had worked really hard to send him to business school. 

And then, they lost their lives right after his first year, leaving Ethan alone with his sister in the brutish world.

Ethan had carried that burden ever since, protecting her, working night and day to make sure that they were fed properly.

And after his graduation, he started a tech business, found the love of his life and everything seemed to be going just fine until his sister came down with cancer, the medical bills became too heavy, his debts stumbling on each other and eventually, everything collapsed.

Now this woman, Eva, stood before him, bowing as though he were someone powerful. Definitely, he had been mistaken for someone else. There was no way in the world that he could be someone powerful.

"Just trust me," Eva said softly. Her voice carried a strange assurance.

"If you can give me just a little of your time, I will make sure that I explain everything to you and you will understand."

For a while, Ethan only stared blankly. Multiple possibilities running through his mind at the instant.

His life was already in ruins. What worse could come from following her?

And with a shallow breath, he nodded.

Eva gestured, and the car door opened for him, treated like royalty as he stepped in.

For the first time in his life, the city unfolded before him from the window of a machine that cost more than he had ever seen in his bank account. 

This was the newest SUV edition on the planet. Only three had been released. One belonged to the world’s greatest footballer. Another, to a president in the East. And the third, to Eva.

As the convoy rolled passed through the streets, heads turned in total awe at the sight of the beauty.

The pedestrians brought their cell phones from their pockets to take shots and videos of the phenomenon, their jaws were totally slacked.

Some tiktokers were already going live and the internet was running wild with several comments, especially from ladies who had eyes on money.

"Even if it’s a gorilla inside that car," one young woman, Natasha, whispered breathlessly, "I’d marry him in a heartbeat!"

Thousands ran into millions of views. Captions that read boldly: Billionaires hiding in the city? Mystery convoy spotted!

But Ethan wasn’t laughing. His stomach churned. Every bump of the road made him question whether he had just agreed to walk into a trap.

The ride ended before he could steady himself.

They stopped before a residence so grand, Ethan thought for a wild moment that he had died and woken up in a myth. He could barely breathe at the sight.

The estate towered, every brick cut with care, every arch carved with dignity. It was as though several artists poured their lifeline into the buildings.

Ethan’s throat tightened.

Eva swiped a card as the entrance door opened and they walked right into the building.

Ethan walked closely behind Eva until eventually, they got into an office that didn't seem to have been used in a long while, portraits of a gray haired man littered the walls and trophies line the table like water bottles.

"Do you know him?" Eva inquired of Ethan.

Ethan stared at the image, but his mind came up blank. There wasn't even the slightest bit of recognition.

"I don’t think I do." he admitted carefully.

He expected her face to fall. Instead, her eyes brightened. However it didn't, she only nodded slightly, her face with an almost unreadable expression as always.

"Maybe a little memory jog," Eva said. Her smile was gentle, yet it seemed to brighten the entire hall.

She stepped closer. "A few months back, you stopped on the roadside to help a man whose car had broken down. You fixed it yourself, even while his repair team was on their way. He offered you money. But you refused. You told him not every act of kindness needs a price."

The memory came back to Ethan in an instant. His oil-stained hands and the old man's grateful firm. It was the same man as in the portrait in the office, just a little bit younger and less stressed than the version he met.

Eva’s voice grew softer. "That man was Mr. Lawrence, the owner of the largest consortium in the city. The Hilton Consortium. With three large companies, Hi Tech, Ton Manufactures, and Hilton beauty. And minor companies like Tenent and Press on to name but a few."

Ethan’s heart skipped. He had heard the name countless times. Everyone had. Lawrence’s consortium touched everything. real estate, oil, shipping, finance. His fame spread throughout the city like an odd blanket yet most people had barely seen the face of such an influential man, even on the internet.

Eva continued. "Mr. Lawrence had no children. He hated him and wanted his hard work for themselves, waiting to tear apart his empire the moment he was gone. But from the day you helped him, he never forgot you. Your refusal of money proved something to him, that you were different."

Ethan blinked, suddenly rising in temperature even though the AC was fully in operation.

She went on, each word like a blow. "He decided you were the one to inherit his empire. He willed all his shares, all his companies, everything, to you."

Ethan’s knees weakened. This was madness.

He pinched his arm, hard. Pain echoed through his body. He expected to wake up from this wild dream. However he was still there. It was reality.

His lips parted, but no words came.

Eva bowed deeply. "I am Mr. Lawrence’s humble assistant. Now that he is gone, I belong to you. I will assist you in everything you need, young master."

Young master. The words felt like fire against his ears.

"But," she continued, "Mr. Lawrence left one test. To prove you are worthy. You will take charge of one of his companies for one month. If its shares grow under your leadership, the consortium will be yours in full. The contract will be transferred soon."

Ethan could only nod, though his body screamed in disbelief.

Eva reached into a drawer, withdrawing a diamond-plated card, linting in her hand.

"This was Mr. Lawrence’s gift to you," she said. "It holds one billion dollars."

Ethan staggered back a step, his eyes widened with shock "One… billion?"

Inheriting such a large consortium as she claimed was already something unbelievable. Now ten billion dollars. 

Eva smiled faintly. "Just the beginning."

His breath caught. He forced a question past trembling lips. "And the company… how much is it worth?"

"Roughly one trillion dollars," Eva replied casually, as though she were discussing groceries.

Ethan nearly collapsed. His chest felt too small to contain his heartbeat.

He had arrived at this mansion as a man broken, desperate, nearly penniless. Now, the weight of a trillion-dollar empire loomed before him.