The House Husband is a Secret Tycoon

Chapter Two

He sat on the cold steps outside Colette's house and told her everything, without missing any detail.

Antonia listened without interrupting.

When he finally stopped talking the line was very quiet.

Then she spoke.

"If you need to cry, then cry. I won't judge you for it."

Julian's breath caught. His throat closed up and his eyes burned hot. He covered his face with his hand and let out a sound he'd been holding back for hours. For years, maybe.

His mother stayed on the line, saying nothing.

When he finally stopped, she spoke again.

"I forgive you." She said, “But I will not pity you,”

Julian exhaled. His chest loosened slightly, “I'm not asking for pity,”

“Good. Because you do not deserve it,” She said, “I am aware of everything that has been happening to you over the past five years – including the events of this past month, and even what happened today.”

“As my son, I refuse to accept you being a coward—a useless person who gets bullied but lacks the courage to strike back.” she said, “I do not accept your apology. But, I will give you a chance to apologize through your actions,”

"While you were living under her roof and absorbing her family's contempt with a smile, I was ensuring her company didn't collapse."

Julian's eyes snapped open.

"Contracts steered in her direction. Investors nudged toward her door. Competitors quietly redirected. have lost a great deal to support them. As a businesswoman, I do not make losing trades.”

His stomach dropped.

Julian closed his eyes. There was nothing to say.

"I'm transferring full ownership of Meridian Holdings to you. Effective immediately."

His eyes flew open.

Everyone in the city knew that name. The corporation that controlled half the metropolitan real estate market. The company that had made Antonia one of the most powerful figures in the country.

"Every advantage that woman has enjoyed because of this family's invisible hand ends today," Antonia said. "Every resource. Every connection. Every door that opened for her because I allowed it. I want it all dismantled, methodically and completely."

Her voice went colder.

"And everything this family lost, I expect it returned within one year. Every last piece of it."

He heard the faint sound of papers on her end.

"This company is not a gift. It is an expectation. Do not come back to me until you have met it."

Julian's jaw tightened. Something hard settled in his chest – Determination.

"I understand," he said. His voice was steady now.

"Don't make me wait long," she said.

The line went dead.

***

The front door burst open at half past one in the morning.

Colette swept in still riding the high of the evening, Sebastian's hand resting at her waist like it belonged there.

They were deep in conversation, replaying the best moments of the night, the signed contracts, the impressed faces, the way the whole room had bent toward them.

Then she saw Julian sitting on the sofa and faltered for just a fraction of a second.

Why is he still up?

She hadn't thought about him once all evening, not once. And now here he was, sitting in the dark like an inconvenience she didn't have the energy for tonight.

Sebastian's eyes moved over Julian briefly, catching sight of his dark expression and his hand slid smoothly away from Colette's waist.

"You know what," Sebastian said casually, glancing at his watch, "it's getting late. Probably not the best time for me to linger. I should head out."

Colette's face changed instantly. She now has a desperate look on her face, "Wait—no, Sebastian, don't go." Her hand shot out and grabbed his arm, her fingers clutching at his sleeve. "Please. You don't have to leave. It's fine, really. Stay."

Sebastian hesitated, his eyes flicking toward Julian again with thinly veiled discomfort.

"Sebastian, please," Colette said again, her voice taking on a pleading edge that Julian had never heard directed at him. Not once in three years.

Sebastian sighed, like he was doing her a favor by considering it.

Colette turned to Julian then, and the desperation evaporated completely. Her expression went flat, dismissive, like he was an inconvenience she'd just remembered existed.

"Since you're still awake anyway," she said coolly, shrugging out of her coat and holding it out toward him without even looking at him properly, "here. Take our coats.”

Julian stayed exactly where he was, hands in his pockets, and said nothing, giving them a cold glare as if they were nothing but air.

Colette finally glanced over and irritation flashed across her face when she saw he hadn't moved. "Are you deaf? I said, Take the coats."

She tossed them carelessly in his direction and they fell to the floor between them. "And once you're done with that, prepare hangover remedies for both of us. We'll need breakfast too, something light. Make sure it's ready in twenty minutes.”

"No," Julian said flatly, his voice hard.

Her perfectly shaped eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me? What did you just say?"

"I said no." His eyes settled on Sebastian, then back on Colette, his voice almost gentle. "You have a man standing right next to you who apparently can give you everything I never could." He smiled, just slightly. "Start with the coats.”

He kept his eyes locked on hers, letting her see it clearly. Something had changed. He was done pretending otherwise.

Colette's mouth fell open, genuinely thrown, like a woman who had reached for something that had always been there and found empty air instead.

Sebastian's smug expression faltered. His eyebrows drew together slightly, confusion flickering across his face.

This wasn't how the obedient little husband was supposed to act.

He recovered quickly and stepped forward, placing himself between them.

Sebastian immediately turned to Colette, his expression shifting to concern. He placed a gentle hand on her arm.

"Hey, it's okay," he said softly. "Don't let him upset you."

Then he turned back to Julian, and his voice went cold.

"She just came home after a long night. She's exhausted. And instead of thinking about how to take care of your wife, you're standing here jealous and bitter." He shook his head in disgust. "If I were her husband, I'd be getting her water right now. Making sure she's comfortable. That's what a real man does."

Julian let out a short, harsh laugh.

"Well then," he said flatly. "Feel free to take care of her tonight. I'll even leave the house so you two can have some privacy."

Colette's face flushed red. "Are you serious right now? You're disgusting, Julian. Absolutely disgusting. Your mind is filthy."

"Colette, hey, look at me," Sebastian said, turning her face toward him with both hands.

"Don't listen to him. He's just lashing out because he knows he's losing you."

She exhaled shakily. "I'm so glad you're here."

Sebastian smiled at her, then glanced over his shoulder at Julian, giving him a smug, triumphant look.

Then, right there in front of Julian, Sebastian's hand slid down and squeezed Colette's thigh possessively.

"Now," Sebastian said, still looking at Julian. "Apologize to her."

Julian's vision went red.

He crossed the distance in two steps, grabbed Sebastian by his designer collar, and slammed his fist into his face.

Before Sebastian could fully understand what was going on, he slammed his fist into Sebastian's face.

The impact sent Sebastian stumbling backward and Colette shrieked, "Julian, what the hell!"

But he didn't stop, couldn't stop, three years of rage and humiliation poured into every punch. He grabbed Sebastian again and threw him against the wall, the drywall cracking from the impact. Sebastian tried to fight back, swinging wildly, but Julian was faster, angrier, stronger.

Another punch split Sebastian's lip and blood sprayed across his expensive shirt. Another broke his nose with a sickening crunch that Julian felt through his knuckles. Sebastian went down hard, hitting the marble floor and groaning as blood pooled beneath his face.

"Stop it right now!" Colette screamed, grabbing at Julian's arm and digging her nails in, but he shook her off so hard she stumbled backward. "Have you lost your mind? Look what you've done!"

Julian stood over Sebastian's bleeding, pathetic form, chest heaving, his entire body vibrating with barely controlled fury. Sebastian groaned and tried to push himself up but his arms gave out and he collapsed back down, whimpering.

"You're insane," Colette hissed, her face twisted with disgust as she knelt beside Sebastian. "You've always been worthless but now you're violent too? Get out. Get out of my house right now before I call the police."

"Gladly," Julian spat, turning on his heel and heading for the door.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" Colette's voice rose to a screech. "You think you can just assault someone in my home and leave? You're nothing, Julian. Nothing! You'll come crawling back here begging for forgiveness because you have nowhere else to go, no one else who'd want you!"

He didn't answer or look back. He just kept walking, slamming the door behind him hard enough that the windows rattled.

The cool evening air hit his face but it did nothing to cool the rage still burning through him. His knuckles throbbed and he looked down to see them split and bleeding, Sebastian's blood mixed with his own.

Good. The bastard deserved worse.

He walked down the driveway toward the street, his jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

The low purr of an engine made him turn.

A sleek black supercar pulled up to the curb, the kind of vehicle that cost more than most people made in a year. The door opened and a woman stepped out, tall and elegant in a perfectly tailored suit, her dark hair pulled back in a way that screamed power and precision.

She looked directly at him, her expression unreadable, and for a moment Julian just stared back, his chest still heaving with leftover adrenaline.

Then she spoke, "Young Master.”