The Live-In Son-in-Law Is the Supreme Tycoon

Chapter 3: Part 1 Welcome to the Sterling Family

The black leather folder containing the signed contract rested quietly on Diana Sterling’s lap, its weight far heavier than the slim stack of paper it held.

Neither she nor Jack spoke during the drive.

Outside, the city pulsed with its usual afternoon rhythm. Luxury sedans glided past towering office buildings, pedestrians hurried across busy intersections, and massive digital billboards lit up the skyline with advertisements worth millions.

Inside the back seat of Diana’s Rolls-Royce, however, the atmosphere felt entirely different: tight, controlled, and quietly charged with unspoken tension.

Jack sat beside the window, watching the passing city with calm interest.

He had attended countless meetings in skyscrapers overlooking these very streets. He had negotiated mergers that reshaped entire industries and dined privately with presidents, royalty, and some of the most powerful investors in the world.

Yet somehow, the thought of meeting his contract fiancée’s parents stirred something unexpected within him. It wasn’t nervousness. It was curiosity.

Diana finally broke the silence. “There’s something we need to agree on before we get there.”

Jack turned from the window, his attention settling on her. “I’m listening.”

“My family,” she began, pausing briefly as she chose her words with care, “cares deeply about status. They’re going to ask questions.”

He responded, “They’re entitled to.”

She folded her arms, her posture tightening. “They’re also going to judge you.”

A faint smile touched Jack’s lips. “People usually do.”

Her irritation surfaced immediately. “Does nothing bother you?”

“Oh, many things do,” he replied evenly.

“Then why don’t you show it?” she asked, getting frustrated.

Jack looked ahead, his voice calm and unhurried. “Because not every opinion deserves a reaction.”

Diana fell quiet, her gaze drifting away.

That composure unsettled her more than she wanted to admit. It didn’t feel rehearsed or forced, nor did it carry the sharp edge of arrogance she was used to seeing in wealthy men. It felt natural and Effortless.

For a brief moment, she wondered what kind of life shaped someone into becoming like that. Before she could ask, her phone rang again.

She glanced at the screen. “Dad.”

This time, she answered immediately. “We’re almost there.”

Richard Sterling didn’t waste time on greetings. “Is he with you?”

“Yes.” The response came almost immediately.

“What does he do?”

Diana hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. “He’s employed.”

A heavy sigh came through the line. “I certainly hope so.”

The call ended.

Jack let out a chuckle. “He doesn’t sound convinced.”

“He won’t be,” Diana replied.

He looked at her face. “You’ve told him very little.”

“I told him enough,” she said as she looked out the window.

“Apparently not.”

She pressed her fingers against her forehead, tension beginning to show. “I’ve never seen him this tense. Then perhaps today matters more than I realized.”

“It does,” he said, still looking at her.

She wound the window up, her reflection faintly visible in the glass. “If this goes badly… I lose everything.”

Jack studied her expression carefully.

She hadn’t said it for effect. She meant every word.

For the first time since agreeing to the contract, he saw beyond her confidence and pride. Beneath the polished exterior was something heavier: pressure, responsibility, and a quiet, persistent fear.

She carried the expectations of an entire empire on her shoulders.

Perhaps that explained her sharp judgments. People raised under constant pressure often relied on appearances because they rarely had the time to uncover deeper truths.

The Rolls-Royce turned through towering wrought-iron gates, revealing one of the largest private estates in the city.

Stone fountains lined the entrance, their water catching the light in elegant arcs. Perfectly trimmed hedges surrounded sculptures imported from Europe, and luxury vehicles filled the circular driveway: Mercedes Bentleys, Ferraris, and a limited-edition Aston Martin.

Jack glanced at the lineup. “They’re expecting quite an audience.”

“My father’s board members,” Diana replied.

“I see,” he continued. “His board members must be doing a lot “

“They insisted on meeting my fiancé.”

“Convenient timing,” he said jokingly.

She let out a soft, humorless laugh. “Convenient?”

“If they were already planning to judge me,” Jack said, “it makes sense to do it all at once.”

She shook her head slightly. “I genuinely don’t understand you.”

The Rolls-Royce came to a smooth stop. Before either of them could step out, another vehicle rolled slowly through the gates: an old yellow taxi.

Its faded paint looked painfully out of place among the polished luxury cars, drawing immediate attention.

The chauffeur frowned. “I don’t recall another guest arriving.”