chapter:8 Worthless son in law Ethan

"Unbelievable!" Klein's voice thundered, his eyes ablaze with fury as they locked with Ms. Julia's in a narrow gaze. "You and your worthless son-in-law, how could you allow Alexander to be hurt? You owe me an explanation for this!"

The mention of Ms. Julia and her family were necessary because Ethan was their son-in-law, implicating them in the situation. The panic was evident in Ms. Julia and her husband's faces.

"All that troublemaker does is bring chaos into our lives. The next time I see him, I'll have him arrested!" Ms. Julia snarled with malice.

"Should we involve the police, Madam?" Samantha inquired tentatively.

"Silence your tongue, you person with cognitive disabilities!" snapped the old Ms. Mimi.

"This is a family affair, keep the authorities out of it! I'll ensure he faces the consequences he deserves," Old Ms. Mimi declared firmly before approaching Klein and whispering something in his ear.

"Klein, I know you have connections with the triads. Enlist their help to give that scoundrel a harsh lesson and bring him back to me," she instructed in a hushed tone.

"Understood, Mother," Klein replied quietly.

Surveying the injuries on his son's face, Klein harbored thoughts of brutal retribution against Ethan. With a sense of determination, he swiftly reached for his phone and dialed a contact who was a member of the triads.

****

In a local restaurant situated in a multi-story building without an elevator, Ethan was taking a break and heading back to work, utilizing the stairs.

Out of nowhere, two burly, tattooed men standing over 1.78 meters tall and weighing around 100 kilograms each materialized before him.

 

"You're Ethan, right? Come with us," one of the tattooed men demanded.

Recognizing that the Reynolds had sent them, Ethan stood his ground. "Today marks my final shift as a taxi driver. I'm not going anywhere," he asserted firmly.

Ethan was known for his commitment to seeing tasks through to completion. Despite being appointed as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, he respected all his past jobs, including his role as a driver for Prime taxis. Today symbolized the conclusion of that chapter, and he intended to finish it on his own terms.

"It appears you're opting for the hard way," one of the men remarked before they lunged at Ethan without hesitation.

In the narrow stairwell, Ethan found himself at a physical disadvantage due to his smaller stature compared to the brawny assailants. Nonetheless, he skillfully evaded their punches and swiftly maneuvered onto the staircase railing, launching a powerful kick at one of his attackers.

"Ouch, that kick really packs a punch!" the recipient of Ethan's blow grunted in pain.

The person who received Ethan's kick immediately began to bleed from his nose, prompting Ethan to flash a confident smile. "I'm a fourth-degree black belt," he declared.

His adversary, undeterred, boasted, "I'm a ninth-degree black belt!"

Ethan, now fueled by anger, launched into another attack, leaping down from the railing with a fierce punch aimed at his opponent. As the blows landed, Ethan shook his head in disbelief at the other party's claims. While Ethan was indeed a fourth-degree black belt, he was unaware of the significance of a ninth-degree black belt, typically held by martial artists aged 55 and above. However, thanks to a newfound ability granted by his family's legacy system, Ethan found himself wielding skills beyond his years of training.

With a resounding bang, Ethan unleashed a series of devastating punches reminiscent of Bruce Lee's style, incapacitating his opponents to the point of inducing nausea.

Then, with a powerful over-the-shoulder throw, Ethan slammed his adversary forcefully to the ground, decisively overpowering the two seasoned fighters with his unexpected prowess.

****

At Ms. Julia's birthday banquet held at the extravagant Freehand Hotel in Los Angeles, Klein approached Old Mimi with a sheepish expression. "Mom, the professional fighter I enlisted was defeated by Ethan," he confessed reluctantly.

"What?!" Old Mimi's eyes widened in disbelief.

The news sent shockwaves through the room. "Is this good-for-nothing also a professional fighter?" someone gasped incredulously.

"Isn't there anyone capable of handling this brute?!" Old Ms. Mimi thundered, slamming her hand on the table in frustration.

Amidst the commotion, Andrew McDonald, the general agent of the prime taxis, made his way over with a birthday gift for Ms. Julia. Upon catching sight of Andrew, Klein greeted him warmly with a handshake.

Andrew McDonald was a relatively unknown figure in Los Angeles. A few years prior, during a time when taxi driving was not a prestigious occupation, he had invested over $50,000 to secure the position of general agent within the prime taxis. Such an opportunity would likely be unattainable now, even if the price were increased tenfold. Since achieving financial success through his association with Prime taxis, Tony had been striving to integrate himself into the elite circles of Los Angeles society.

 

As it was the renowned woman's 50th birthday celebration, Andrew saw an opportunity to forge connections with the influential Reynolds family.

"Mr. McDonald, welcome! I hope you've been doing well," Klein greeted him warmly, embracing him before introducing him to the entire family.

"How was your journey here?" Maya inquired as she extended a firm hug.

"Thank you for your kind words, Ms. Reynolds. The journey was smooth," Andrew replied, reciprocating the huge. 

Andrew proceeded to approach the family respectfully, paying special regard to Old Mimi, the matriarch whose influence extended over the Reynolds' wealth.

He presented a bouquet of red roses to Ms. Julia.

"Ms. Julia, I've heard of your fondness for red roses. These are special ones cultivated by a renowned florist in Los Angeles. Wishing you a joyous birthday and many years ahead."

In appreciation, Ms. Julia rose from her seat and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Mr. McDonald. Your gesture is truly thoughtful."

Turning his attention to Old Ms. Mimi, Andrew inquired, "How have you been, Old Ms. Mimi?"

Old Ms. Mimi let out a weary sigh.

Upon seeing Ms. Mimi's sour expression, Andrew turned to Klein and remarked, "Looks like Old Ms. Mimi is not in the best of moods today." 

Klein let out a heavy sigh and replied, "I don't mind your teasing, but we've really hit a streak of bad luck. Remember my son-in-law, Ethan Sinclair?"

Andrew nodded. Three years ago, Maya, celebrated for her captivating charm in Los Angeles, tied the knot with an unremarkable man. The union created ripples throughout the city.

At that time, Andrew harbored a secret desire to switch places with Ethan!

Similar to Ethan, he was an ordinary person with modest beginnings. He, too, aspired to wed a woman of affluence!

Klein continued, his voice tinged with anger, "That scoundrel not only cheated but also laid a hand on my son. Did you see the state my boy was in after the beating?"

It was only then that Andrew noticed the bruises on Alexander's face. Yet, he found himself in a dilemma.

As a mere outsider, how could he possibly intervene in the family affairs of others?

Andrew hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's unfortunate that I don't have any connections in Los Angeles. If you can't resolve this matter, Mr. Reynolds, I fear I won't be of much help either. Otherwise, I would have gladly given that ungrateful wretch a piece of my mind!"

Klein patted Andrew's shoulder reassuringly and said, "Mr. McDonald, you're too modest. You can definitely help me with this."

"This guy works for you, Andrew. He's a driver in prime taxis!" Alexander chimed in, unable to hold back.

Upon hearing this revelation, Andrew's face lit up with determination. " Maybe I can help with this!" 

Andrew had no choice but to help the Reynolds because it was his dream to meet with them, and this was his only chance of getting to know the entire family.

With the power to terminate Ethan's employment and full knowledge of his whereabouts, Andrew wasted no time. He swiftly placed a phone call. "Hello, Kendra. Please look into Ethan Sinclair's employee details and his current location."

"Okay, sir!" 

"And instruct him to pick up a passenger at the Freehand Hotel!"

After ending the call, Andrew turned to Old Ms. Mimi with respect and assurance. "Old Ms. Mimi, that freeloader, will be here shortly. I will support you in handling this situation!"