Rise of the Worthless Son in law

4

Damon barely noticed his surroundings as he stepped out of the courthouse.

A sharp pain hit his side, reminding him he’d left the hospital too soon. But he couldn’t miss the divorce appointment.

With nowhere to go, he thought about returning to the hospital for the night until he could get back on his feet.

He let out a heavy sigh, feeling lost. Just then, a sleek, luxury car pulled up in front of him. Damon frowned, eyeing the polished vehicle.

Who would drive a car like that around here? Before he could wonder further, the tinted window rolled down, and he blinked in surprise. Behind the glass was a woman who radiated confidence.

She looked at him with an amused smile, her gaze steady.

"Looking good, my friend…” she greeted him, her voice warm but oddly chilling.

Damon stared, confused. Who was she? And why was she talking to him like they were close? "Who are…?” he began, puzzled.

She placed a hand over her chest, acting hurt. "Ouch… You don’t remember me from last night?"

Damon squinted, realization dawning on him. No way. This classy, well-dressed woman was the same one who’d approached him last night, asking for directions—and a bit of cash. She had looked so different then, a little rough around the edges. But here she was now, the woman who’d saved him from Tyler’s men and got him to the hospital.

“You’re…” He pointed at her, words failing him.

She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Before you ask too many questions," she said smoothly, "get in. We have a lot to discuss."

Damon swallowed. A lot? And she wanted him to get into this fancy car? Hesitantly, he moved toward the passenger seat.

Just then, Lily and Tyler exited the courthouse, wrapped up in each other, ignoring Damon as if he didn’t exist. But the sight of the sleek car caught their attention. Before they could react, they noticed Damon sliding into the passenger seat.

Lily’s eyes narrowed, a spark of curiosity mixed with something sharper. “Who does Damon know who drives that kind of car?” she muttered, bitterness in her voice.

Tyler scoffed, glancing at Damon and the car with envy. "Trouble, I’m sure. Does he look like someone who’d know people of that status? He’s just getting himself into a bigger mess.” His voice dripped with contempt.

Lily smirked, folding her arms as they watched the car glide away. “I just hope it’s trouble he can’t escape from.”

Tyler chuckled. “He’ll get what’s coming, especially if he’s playing with people way out of his league.”

They walked off, convinced Damon was in deep trouble. But Tyler couldn’t shake a hint of jealousy.

Inside the car, Damon sat quietly, sneaking glances at the woman beside him.

She was impossible to ignore, elegant and powerful. The kind of person Damon had only ever seen from a distance. Who was she? And why had she come looking for him?

“You look like you have a million questions,” she said with a smile. The way she spoke made it sound like she was offering him a challenge, something to figure out.

Damon cleared his throat, unsure where to start. “You… look different from last night,” he finally managed, almost a whisper.

She chuckled, clearly entertained. “I don’t blame you for thinking that,” she replied easily. “Last night was… not my best.”

Damon watched her, intrigued. This felt surreal.

"My car broke down a few miles outside the city,” she explained. “The tow truck couldn’t reach me until morning, and my phone was dead. So there I was, in the middle of nowhere, no cash, no phone, and no idea where I was going.”

Damon raised an eyebrow. “Someone like you,” he said, gesturing at the luxurious car, “should have bodyguards, shouldn’t you? How’d you end up stranded alone?”

She smirked, a twinkle in her eyes. “Usually, yes,” she admitted, “but last night was different. I just wanted a quiet evening, alone.”

Damon still looked skeptical.

She shrugged. “Let’s just say I misjudged how much I’d miss them. Quiet turned to chaos pretty quickly.”

He chuckled, imagining her — so refined — stuck in a tough spot. But then he grew serious.

“How did you find me here?”

She smiled, her gaze cool. "Trust me, Damon. I did my homework.”

Damon swallowed. Right. A woman like her could find anything she wanted to know.

Soon, they arrived at a grand building. She looked him over, her gaze assessing. “You look like you’ve been through hell. I’ll get you a room here so you can rest and recover. I doubt your wounds are fully healed.”

Damon started to argue, but the pain reminded him he needed it. He nodded, accepting.

As they stepped out, several sleek black cars pulled up, and sharply dressed men got out, bowing to her. Damon glanced at her, realizing just how powerful she was.

Following her into the hotel, he froze, overwhelmed by the crystal chandeliers and marble floors. This was clearly a world he didn’t belong to.

Two hotel workers who had just exited the elevator looked him over with disdain. “Are you lost?” one sneered.

“Or maybe he needs directions to the exit?” the other smirked.

Damon’s cheeks burned, and he wished he could disappear.

“Do you have any idea who you’re speaking to?” Her voice was cold and commanding. “This man is my friend, and I’ll be speaking with your manager. If I don’t hear by the end of the day that you’re both dismissed, I’ll make sure this hotel faces legal action.” Her tone was final.

Damon stared, amazed by her authority. This woman was more powerful than he’d ever guessed. How had he ended up with someone like her?