The Hidden Dragon Son-in-Law

Chapter 1: “You Married a Nobody?”

The Lin family dining table was grand, the food exquisite — but the atmosphere was thick with disdain.

"You call this a man?" Ivy Lin’s aunt slammed her chopsticks down, eyes flaring as they darted toward Jaxon. “Three years! No job, no business, not even a car. You're a disgrace, Jaxon!”

Jaxon Lin sat still, back straight, eyes calm. He didn't flinch. He had endured this many times.

Ivy Lin, his wife, gritted her teeth. “Aunt Mei, that’s enough—”

“Enough?” Aunt Mei laughed mockingly. “You could’ve married Ethan Xu, heir to Xu Corporations. Instead, you chose a stray dog?”

Laughter erupted around the table.

Jaxon didn’t speak. He picked up his cup of lukewarm tea, quietly sipping. The taste was bitter. Like the years he’d spent swallowing his pride.

Ivy clenched her fists under the table. She didn’t love Jaxon when they married — it had been arranged. But even now, seeing him insulted burned something inside her.

“Speak!” her uncle barked. “Are you mute, boy? Or just ashamed of being a loser?”

“I’m not ashamed,” Jaxon said, voice steady. “I just don’t see the point of barking back at dogs.”

The room fell silent.

Uncle’s face twisted. “What did you say?!”

“I said—”

SLAP!

The palm came fast and hard across Jaxon’s cheek. His head jerked sideways, but he didn't flinch. He slowly turned his head back, cheek reddened, expression unreadable.

Ivy gasped. “Dad!”

“Let that be a reminder,” her father snapped. “A man should know his place!”

Jaxon stood up slowly, looking directly at his father-in-law. “You're right. It’s time I remembered who I am.”

He reached into his pocket as his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. A message blinked:

🔒“Lin Ninth Pavilion reactivated. Ghost Monarch orders await.”🔒

His fingers trembled slightly. After three years, the seal was lifted.

He looked up. “I’ll be leaving now.”

“Oh? Finally going job hunting?” Ivy’s cousin sneered. “Or just going back to beg under a bridge?”

Jaxon didn’t answer. He walked past Ivy, paused only briefly to meet her eyes — and for the first time in a long time, his gaze was... different.

Calm. Sharp. Commanding.

She blinked.

Was that... fear?

The door slammed behind him. Seconds later, the rumble of a black car echoed from outside — sleek, low to the ground, bulletproof. Not his usual ride.

Ivy ran to the window, heart pounding.

Jaxon opened the rear door of the car and stepped in without a word. The driver bowed as the door closed behind him.

The Lin family stood frozen at the window.

“Who... whose car is that?” someone whispered.

Ivy’s phone buzzed next.

Unknown Number: “Young Madam Lin, we await your orders at the Ninth Pavilion.”

Her heart stopped.

What was the Ninth Pavilion?

Why did they call her that?

Who exactly had she married?

The Hidden Dragon has awakened... but is Ivy prepared to face the storm that follows?