THE DRAGON SON IN LAW RETURNS

Chapter 2- I guess it’s time

The Grand Hyatt Hotel stood like a gleaming tower of glass in the middle of the city. Ethan pulled the wheezing sedan to the main entrance before Sophia could bark another order about the service entrance.

"What are you doing?!" she hissed, her face flushing red. "I told you to use the back!"

"The back entrance is for deliveries. You're not a delivery," Ethan said calmly, putting the car in park.

A valet approached, his professional smile faltering when he saw the decrepit vehicle. Sophia practically leaped out, putting distance between herself and the car as quickly as possible.

"Don't wait for me. I'll get a ride back," she snapped, already walking toward the entrance.

"Sophia," Ethan called out.

She turned, irritation clear on her face.

"What?"

"Remember who you are. And remember who I am."

She laughed a cruel, mocking sound. "Oh, I know exactly who you are, Ethan. You're the man I settled for in a moment of weakness. Don't worry, I'm working on correcting that mistake."

She disappeared through the golden revolving doors, leaving Ethan standing beside

his pathetic car. The valet looked at him with pity.

"Sir, you can't park here. I'll need you to—"

Ethan handed him a fifty-dollar bill—one of the few he allowed himself to carry in this role. "Keep it here for ten minutes. Then move it wherever you want."

The valet's eyes widened at the unexpected tip. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Ethan walked away from the hotel, pulled out his encrypted phone, and made a call.

"Shadow Three."

A crisp, military voice answered immediately. "Commander. Your orders?"

"I'm activating contingency protocol Harrison-Alpha. Begin phase one. Subtle pressure only. Nothing traceable back to me yet."

"Understood, Commander. Should we also proceed with Wellington surveillance?"

"Already in motion. I want everything on Marcus Wellington. His business deals, and every skeleton in his designer closet. If he's planning something against the Harrisons, I want to know before they do."

"He is, sir. Intelligence suggests he's using Sophia Harrison as an entry point to destabilize Harrison Industries before a hostile takeover. He's already secured backdoor agreements with three of their major suppliers."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. So Marcus wasn't just romancing his wife—he was weaponizing her stupidity. How fitting.

"Let it play out. But make sure it doesn't go too far. I want them weakened, not destroyed. Yet."

"Yes, Commander. Sir, if I may... are you certain about this approach? We could end this in twenty-four hours. One word from you and—"

"And the lesson would be wasted," Ethan interrupted. "They need to understand the consequences of their choices. They need to feel the weight of their own arrogance crushing them. Only then will the revelation mean something."

"As you command, Supreme Commander."

Ethan ended the call and looked back at the hotel. Through the massive windows, he could see the restaurant on the second floor. There—a table by the window.

Sophia sat across from a man in an expensive suit. Marcus Wellington. Even from this distance, Ethan could read the body language. Marcus leaning forward, intense. Sophia leaning back, but smiling and Interested.

Three years of marriage, and she'd never looked at Ethan that way.

His phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: "Boss, your 3 PM with the Minister of Defense. Should I reschedule?"

Ethan typed back: "No. I'll be there. Current situation is... personal time."

"Understood. Also, the President called. He wants to discuss the Northern Border situation."

"Tell him I'll call tonight."

"Yes, boss. Oh, and your Forbes interview is tomorrow. They want to photograph you for the 'Most Powerful People Under 40' feature."

Ethan almost laughed. The Forbes people had been chasing "the mysterious Mr. Cole of Atlas Empire" for three years. They had no idea he spent his mornings taking out garbage and being insulted by people who weren't worthy to shine his shoes.

"Cancel it. Not yet."

"Understood, sir."

He pocketed the phone and started walking.

He had three hours before his meeting with the Minister of Defense. Plenty of time to return home and endure whatever new humiliation the Harrison family had planned.

The dragon was patient. But its patience had an expiration date.

And that date was approaching rapidly.

Back in the hotel restaurant, Sophia felt her heart racing as Marcus Wellington smiled at her.

He was everything Ethan wasn't—confident, powerful, successful. His watch alone probably cost more than her entire wardrobe.

"You look absolutely stunning, Sophia," Marcus said, his voice smooth . "I've thought about you often over the years. Wondered what might have been if I hadn't gone overseas."

"You never called," she said, trying to sound coy rather than accusatory.

"I was building an empire. Making myself worthy of you." He reached across the table and took her hand. "But now I'm back, and I find you've... married."

The way he said "married" made it sound like a disease.

"It was a mistake," Sophia said quickly. Too quickly. "My father was sick, the company was struggling, and Ethan... he was there. Persistent and I was weak."

"And now?"

"Now I realize what I truly want. What I deserve." She looked into Marcus's eyes. "Someone like you."

Marcus's smile widened, but there was something cold behind his eyes. Something Sophia was too dazzled to notice.

"Then perhaps we can help each other," he said. "I'm expanding Wellington Corporation's presence in this city. I'll need local partners. Harrison Industries could benefit significantly from an alliance with us."

"Really?" Sophia's eyes lit up. Her family would be thrilled. Her mother would finally stop looking at her with disappointment.

"Really. But Sophia..." He squeezed her hand. "For this to work, you need to be free and Unattached. The Wellington family has certain... standards."

"You mean I need to divorce Ethan."

"I mean you need to free yourself from dead weight. You're a butterfly, Sophia. Stop letting that caterpillar hold you back."

Sophia's mind raced. Divorce? She'd thought about it countless times but had never had the courage. But now, with Marcus offering everything she'd ever wanted...

"I'll do it," she said. "I'll divorce him. Today. Tomorrow. As soon as possible."

Marcus raised his wine glass. "To new beginnings."

"To new beginnings," Sophia echoed, clinking her glass against his.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing outside the hotel, watching them through the window. Neither of them saw the slight smile on his face—the smile of a hunter watching the prey walk into a trap.

Ethan turned and walked away.