The Absolute Son-in-law And The Ten Rings Of Power

Pressure

"Craig... I'm sorry. But I can't marry you," Mei said.

A brief silence stretched between Craig and Mei.

"I don't think you realize the position you're in, Mei," Craig said, his smile gone. "I have what you need to save your family's company. And yet you'd rather be with that church rat you call a husband?"

"It's complicated," Mei responded, her eyes restless. "Zeke and I have been married for three years. Our marriage was arranged by my mother before she died. I can't divorce him. If I did, I would be betraying my mother's final wish."

Craig clenched his jaws. "No offense to your mother, but face it, Mei. She's long dead. What good is holding on to a man who'll only draw you back? Be my wife, Mei. And I'll give you the world."

Mei bite her lips bitterly. She didn't know what to do or say but her mind was already made up.

"Zeke might be a pauper," She said at last. "But he's a good man. It took everything in me to be here tonight. Your offer is generous... but it's just isn't for me."

This made Craig angry. He didn't put together this dinner, just to be turned down like that.

Well, if she won't succumb to him the easy way, then he'll try a different strategy.

"Perhaps I can change your mind," Craig murmured. He rose to his feet and lifted his glass, tapping it with his fork.

The chatter in the hall faded into silence as all eyes were locked on him.

Craig cleared his throat. "I thank you all for honoring my invitation tonight. It's been a brutal day due to the stock crash, but should we allow it to weigh us down? Of course not. We'll eat, drink and make merry."

The guests on the table applauded him.

Craig gestured towards Mei. "My guest, Mei, here was devastated by the crash. All her family's money was lost. Out of kindness, I want to help her. She needs investors. As my friends, surely you could all Invest in Zhao Dynasty. $80 million is what is required."

A man seated across the table raised his hand. "I'll commit $20 million."

Mei's eyes widened in shock.

A grey haired man whom Mei recognized as Mr. Desmond, a business tycoon, added. "Because Craig is a dear friend, I'll invest $40 million."

Two other people quickly followed. They each offered to invest $10 million.

Mei couldn't believe her eyes.

In just a matter of minutes, she had gotten four investors who were willing to invest in Zhao Dynasty.

She could barely contain her joy.

Craig clasped Mei's hand, pulling her to her feet. "You see, Mei? All I did was say a few words, and all your troubles are already over."

"It's unbelievable," Mei muttered. "It's only been nine hours and I've achieved my goal,"

"Yes indeed, but there's a price to pay, Mei," Craig said, drawing her close. "All you have to do is divorce Zeke and become mine."

Mei opened her mouth to say something but the words wouldn't come out.

Craig cupped her cheeks, his thumb brushing against her skin. "Of course if you reject me, Zhao Dynasty won't get a single dime. You can either choose me or that man. The choice is yours."

By now, Mei's thought was a complete mess. She was torn between her pride and her desperation.

Just when she was about to respond, the door slammed open like a gunshot.

Every head turned.

Zeke strode inside the dinning room, his eyes as cold as ice.

"Craig," he snarled the moment he saw Mei in Craig's arms. "Take your filthy hands off my wife!"

* * * *

Mei froze, her breath caught in her throat as though she had seen a ghost.

"Z-Zeke..." She stammered, her lips trembling. "Wha... What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same question," Zeke strode forward, seizing her by the wrist. "You promised me you wouldn't see Craig again. Imagine my surprise when I woke up and round my wife missing. Turns out she's with another man."

The guest's began to murmurs among themselves.

"Zeke, I can explain," Mei said, her voice shaking.

"You can explain drugging me to sleep so you could snuck out to dine with this creep?" Zeke glared at her. "You betrayed me, Mei. How could you?"

"I had no choice," Mei yanked her wrist free from his grip. "The future of Zhao Dynasty is at stake. If I don't take risks, how can I save my family's company?"

"By listening to me," Zeke said sharply. "I told you to have a little faith in me. But you didn't. Instead you chose to seek help from Craig."

By now Craig had recovered from his initial shock.

He faced Mei, his eyes narrowing. "You brought Zeke here? I thought I told you to come alone?"

Even Mei had no answer to that. She was sure Zeke was deep in sleep when she left.

Craig went on after a pause. "Perhaps you should ask your husband to get out of my villa. This dinner meeting doesn't concern him."

"I think it's best you leave, Zeke," Mei said, turning to her husband. "I'll explain everything when I get back."

Zeke could not believe she just said that. "Are you out of your mind, Mei? I am your husband. You can't just dismiss me like that. Come on, let's go home!"

"Don't talk to her like that," Craig said sharply, standing between them. "You are in no position to exercise your authority here. Allow Mei to decide who she wants to be with forever."

Zeke reared his head back, his eyebrows drawn into a deep frown. "What the hell does that mean, Craig?"

Craig grinned. "Before you barged in, Mei was about making up her mind. I gave her a generous offer. $80 million to save her family's business and in exchange, she'll serve you the divorce papers and marry me."

Zeke turned sharply to Mei, his chest tightening. "No, you wouldn't."

"I still haven't given him an answer yet," Mei protested.

"Does that mean you're considering it?" Zeke stepped closer, as he gripped her shoulders tightly. "Are you willing to trade our marriage for a measly $80 million?"

Craig laughed, turning to his guests at the table. "Did you hear that, ladies and gentlemen? A pauper like Zeke thinks $80 million is a measly sum."

The guests laughed in amusement.

But Zeke ignored their mockery. His gaze was locked on his wife.

"What's your answer, Mei?" He asked, stepping a few steps back. "Are you going to stand with me or will you walk away with Craig?"

"Let me phrase that properly," Craig interjected, his voice audible for his guests to hear. "Mei, will you pick a useless pauper with zero dollars in his account or will you choose $80 million to secure your family's future?"