The Billionaire Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter Four

The silence after Liam’s words lasted exactly three seconds before the room erupted in laughter.

“Did he just say he disagrees?” Tara Carter wiped tears from her eyes, her laughter high and mocking. “The family cook thinks he has a vote?”

Margaret’s cane struck the floor as she chuckled. “In fifty years of business, I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous.”

“Liam, please,” Emma whispered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Don’t make this worse.”

Victoria’s face flushed an alarming shade of red. “How dare you speak when your betters are talking? You have no right—no right—to interfere in family business!”

Ethan’s polite smile never faltered, though amusement gleamed in his eyes. “Perhaps your… husband doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation.”

“He understands nothing,” Victoria snapped. “Three years of marriage and he’s learned nothing about his place.”

Liam stood calmly beside the kitchen counter, seemingly unbothered by the ridicule pouring over him. His coffee cup sat untouched in his hands.

“Nevertheless,” he said quietly, “I maintain that the family’s problems can be solved without Mr. Morgan’s… generous offer.”

The laughter grew louder.

“Oh, this is rich!” Tara clapped her hands. “Tell us, Liam—what’s your brilliant solution? Cook your way out of bankruptcy?”

“Maybe he’ll wash dishes until the debt disappears,” another family member jeered.

“Or perhaps,” Margaret added, her voice dripped with mockery, “he has fifty million dollars hidden under his apron?”

Emma’s shoulders sagged as the mockery continued. She looked at Ethan, whose patient smile never wavered despite the chaos.

“Ethan, I appreciate your offer, truly I do” she began softly, her voice barely audible over the continued laughter. “But I need time to think—”

“Think?” Victoria’s voice cracked like a whip. “What is there to think about? This man is offering to save our family!”

“And all he asks in return is marriage to a beautiful woman,” Margaret added approvingly. “Most men would demand much more for fifty million dollars.”

Ethan stepped closer to Emma, reaching for her hand. “There’s no pressure, of course. But time is a luxury your family doesn’t have.”

“She knows that,” Victoria said quickly. “Don’t you, darling? You understand this is the answer to all our problems?”

Emma opened her mouth to reply when Liam spoke again.

“The Enzo partnership will be restored within the hour.”

This time the laughter that followed was deafening. It was so loud it echoed off the marble walls.

“The Enzo partnership?” Tara gasped between fits of giggles. “The one that Derek Enzo personally destroyed? The one that cost us our biggest investor?”

“He’s completely lost his mind,” Margaret declared. “Victoria, you should have him committed.”

“Enough!” Victoria’s voice boomed through the house. “Liam, I’ve tolerated your presence for three years, but this is the final straw! You’re trying to sabotage Emma’s future!”

“You are wrong. I'm trying to protect it.”

“Protect it?” Victoria scoffed… a bitter and cruel laughter followed suit. “From what? From Success? From Security? From a man who can actually provide for her and make her time easier?”

Ethan’s smile tightened slightly. “Perhaps we should focus on realistic solutions.”

“Exactly!” Margaret pointed her cane at Liam. “This delusional fool is living in a fantasy world. Emma, accept Mr. Morgan’s proposal immediately before he changes his mind!”

“I—” Emma began, but the front door suddenly burst open with such force it slammed against the wall. Everyone turned toward the sound, their laughter dying instantly.

A figure stumbled through the entrance, and collective gasps filled the room.

Derek Enzo stood there—in the doorway, but he was barely recognizable. His once-perfect face was swollen and bruised; his tailored suit was wrinkled and stained. His left eye was completely swollen shut, and dried blood clung to his split lip.

“Jesus Christ,” someone whispered.

Derek’s good eye swept the room frantically until it found Emma. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees, the sound echoing through the marble hall which had suddenly gone silent.

“Mrs. Harper,” he rasped, voice thick with desperation. “Please forgive me.”

Nobody moved. Nobody breathed.

“I… I’ve made terrible mistakes,” Derek continued, his words tumbling out in a rush. “Ending the partnership between our families was wrong—completely wrong.”

Emma stared at him in shock. “Derek, what are you—”

“I’m restoring full cooperation immediately!” He pressed his forehead to the floor. “Better terms than before—sixty million in investment funds! Whatever you need!”

The silence was absolute.

“This is impossible,” Margaret whispered.

Tara’s mouth hung open like a fish gasping for air. Victoria blinked rapidly, as if trying to wake up from a dream.

“Please,” Derek begged, still prostrated on the floor. “Accept my apology. I’ll never interfere with your business again. I swear it on my family’s honor!”

Slowly, every head turned toward Liam, who calmly sipped his coffee as though nothing unusual had happened.

“How did you…” Ethan began, but his voice trailed off. Confusion clear on his face.

Derek suddenly lifted his head and looked directly at Liam. His remaining good eye widden, filled with terror and respect. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, he turned toward Liam and bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the floor again.

Then he scrambled to his feet and fled from the house, leaving the door wide open behind him.

The silence stretched on endlessly.

“Did he just…” Tara couldn’t finish.

“Bow to…” Margaret’s voice shook.

All eyes turned to where Derek had been looking. Liam stood behind Ethan, still holding his coffee cup. From their angle, it looked as if Derek had bowed to Ethan.

“Oh my God,” Victoria breathed. “He was bowing to Ethan.”

“That means…” Margaret’s cane trembled in her grip.

 “The Morgan family—”   

“They’re about to become B-tier,” Tara finished in awe.

The realization struck the room like lightning. Excited murmurs spread as everyone turned toward Ethan with newfound reverence.

“B-tier,” someone repeated reverently.

"That's why Derek apologized," another voice added. "He must have heard about the promotion."

Ethan basked in their admiration, confusion flickering behind his calm exterior. The timing was too perfect, too sudden. Something else was going on—but what?

Then inspiration struck.

“It was nothing,” Ethan said smoothly, straightening his tie with practiced confidence. “Titan Global Holdings—you may have heard of them—is opening a branch in this city.”

Gasps echoed through the room. Titan Global Holdings was legendary—an international top-tier conglomerate.

“We’ve been in preliminary discussions,” Ethan continued, his voice gaining strength as he built the lie. “They’re impressed with our family’s potential.”

“The Titan Global Holdings?” Margaret’s voice was barely a whisper, awed.

“Becoming B-tier is only a matter of time now,” Ethan said modestly. “Though I prefer not to count victories before they’re won.”

The room erupted in excited chatter. Family members who had been skeptical moments before now looked at Ethan as if he were a god.

“That explains everything,” Victoria said, beaming. “Derek must have found out!”

“Of course! That is why he had to come and make peace” Tara exclaimed. “No one dares cross a future B-tier family!”

Ethan smiled graciously, though unease gnawed at him. The timing was too perfect—but he couldn’t admit that.

His gaze fell on Emma, who was still silent amid the commotion.

“Well?” he asked softly, extending his hand towards her. “Now that your family’s immediate crisis is resolved, perhaps you can give me an answer?”

All eyes turned to Emma. The pressure was immense—her family’s problems seemingly gone, and a powerful man’s proposal hanging in the air.

“I…” Emma’s voice trembled. She looked around the room, then at Ethan’s expectant face“I still need time to consider.”

Ethan’s smile faltered for the briefest moment, a flicker of darkness shadowing his expression before his charming mask returned.

“Of course,” he said smoothly. “Such decisions deserve careful thought.” His voice carried the slightest edge.

“I will give you some time to consider, but don’t take too long—opportunities like this don’t wait forever.”