The Live‑In Son‑In‑Law Who Ruled The World

Chapter 4 — The Wish He Made Alone

The night air outside the Stellar Grand Hotel felt colder than before.

Alexander stepped out slowly, his right sleeve soaked with blood. The sharp scent of iron lingered faintly in the air, but he didn’t seem to notice.

His ankle throbbed with every step. Only now did he realize that when he rushed forward to shield Aurelia earlier, he had twisted his ankle. A faint, bitter smile appeared on his lips.

So even his body had instinctively chosen to protect her. Even now, even after everything, he limped forward, the golden lights of Stellar Grand Hotel gradually fading behind him.

As he walked, memories surfaced. Back in college, he once cut his finger while opening a package. It had only been a small cut, barely noticeable, but Aurelia panicked. She dragged him across half the campus to find a pharmacy.

She bought Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, and even waterproof tape. Her brows were tightly furrowed as she carefully wrapped his finger. "Don't let it touch water for three days," she had insisted seriously.

He had laughed at the time. "It's just a small cut."

She glared at him. "Small cuts can still get infected."

Her eyes were full of worry. Back then, even the smallest injury of his was important to her, but now His arm was bleeding, his ankle twisted, and yet it meant less than Nah Virel’s sprained ankle.

Alexander laughed softly. Self-mockery filled the sound. "At least the rack was stainless steel…"

Otherwise, there might even have been a risk of tetanus. The thought felt absurd. He shook his head slowly. He couldn’t understand. When had things changed?

When had the gentle, dependent girl become like this?

Was it because he was useless?

The thought lingered heavily. Lost, dispirited, he mounted his motorcycle and drove home. The house was quiet, silent, and empty. Alexander stepped inside slowly.

The candles still burned faintly. The steak had cooled. The wine remained untouched. Everything remained exactly as he left it. Completely different from the commanding presence he had shown at the hotel…

He now looked tired, quiet, almost fragile. He walked to the table and sat down. Then he lit the candles again. The soft glow illuminated his face. He closed his eyes and made a wish silently.

On their third anniversary, he wished that Alexander and Aurelia could stay together forever. Then he opened his eyes, blew out the candles, and alone he picked up the knife, cut the steak.

And began eating slowly. Every bite tasted bland. Yet he finished everything on the table. The small cake remained untouched. "Happy Anniversary, Aurelia"

The words were written in slightly uneven frosting. Beside it, a simple drawing. Two smiling faces, Him And her. He had made it himself. He had ruined multiple mixers.

Burned several ovens. Spent countless nights learning. Back then, he thought it was worth it. Once it was worth it. Now he stared at the cake silently. Then leaned back slowly. Was marriage really a grave?

Could it truly change someone so completely?

The gifts remained unopened. The contract was worth billions. The rare pink diamond lay quietly, gathering dust. 

Alexander sat there for a long time before finally standing up. His injuries were beginning to ache more intensely, and exhaustion crept into his body. 

Since Aurelia had not returned yet, he managed to walk to the bedroom, and he lay down on the bed. His arm still throbbed faintly, and his ankle hurt whenever he shifted position.

He tossed and turned for a long time, unable to find a comfortable posture. The pain and the chaotic emotions in his mind made sleep difficult. Eventually, exhaustion overcame him, and sometime later, he finally drifted into a shallow, uneasy sleep.

The clock struck 2:47 AM.

The door opened, and Aurelia stepped inside. She smelled faintly of alcohol. Her steps were slightly unsteady. She paused. Her eyes landed on the table, the cake, the candles, the dinner. Her expression froze. Then she remembered their third anniversary.

Guilt flickered across her face. She sat down slowly. Alexander had even taken a part-time job to prepare a surprise, yet she scolded him. It really was too much. She reached for the gifts. Open the black document folder first. It looked expensive. Professional, she opened it.

Her eyes widened. Harbor International Exclusive contract, no time limit, no restrictive clauses. Her heart skipped, impossible. She rushed to the bedroom. "Alexander!"

He had only just fallen asleep. It was already 3 AM.

She grabbed his shoulder and shook him roughly. "Alexander! Wake up!"

Alexander frowned, pain flashing across his injured arm as he was forcibly awakened, his ankle shifted awkwardly, sending another sharp wave of pain through his body. He slowly opened his eyes, still half-asleep. "What…?"

Aurelia held the contract in front of him, her tone sharp and cold. "Why did you give me a fake contract?"

She showed absolutely no concern for the blood on his sleeve or the strain on his face. Instead, her expression was filled with anger and suspicion. "Are you trying to make me look like a fool?"

Alexander frowned, a trace of irritation surfacing in his tired eyes. He looked at Aurelia and spoke in a restrained tone, trying to remain patient despite being abruptly awakened.

"Aurelia… what are you making a fuss about now? This contract is real. I put in a lot of effort to get it."

However, Aurelia clearly did not believe him; her expression hardened as she lifted the contract and threw it back at him without hesitation. "Who are you trying to fool?" she demanded coldly.

"Who could get an unlimited contract from Harbor International? Do you think you're the CEO?"

Alexander bent down, picked up the contract, and straightened it carefully, as if trying to preserve the last shred of dignity left in the situation. "It's real," he repeated quietly. "If you don't believe me… You can contact their CEO directly."

Aurelia hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering across her face. Then she quickly took out her phone and dialed Nah Virel. Nah had once mentioned that he had a relative working as a manager at Harbor International, and she trusted that connection more than Alexander's words.

After the call connected, Aurelia briefly explained the situation. "Give me ten minutes," Nah said calmly before hanging up.

The room fell into a tense silence as they waited. Neither of them spoke. The air felt heavy, as though even breathing had become difficult. Ten minutes later, Aurelia's phone rang.

She answered immediately.

"I contacted my uncle, Marcus," Nah said from the other end of the line. His voice remained calm and matter-of-fact. "He told me there's no such contract. Senior management hasn't even been around recently, so nothing like this can be approved. You've probably been scammed."

Aurelia's expression darkened instantly, and the anger she had been suppressing exploded without restraint.

"I even asked a manager!" she snapped as she glared at Alexander. "This is fake. I'm really disappointed in you, Alexander."

Her words grew harsher with every sentence, each one heavier than the last.

"You just need to take care of the house. Why would you trick me with fake contracts like this? Do you even realize how embarrassing this is? I'm meeting the CEO next Wednesday. If I show him this… I'll become a complete joke."

Before Alexander could say anything, Aurelia suddenly tore the contract apart. The sound of ripping paper echoed sharply through the room as she shredded it into pieces and tossed them into the air.

The fragments scattered across the floor, drifting down slowly like falling snow.

The unopened box beside her was also thrown aside carelessly, sliding across the floor until it hit the wall.

Alexander slowly crouched down and began picking up the torn pieces one by one. His movements were calm, but there was a faint heaviness in his expression. Each fragment of paper felt like a piece of his heart that had been torn apart and scattered without mercy.

Aurelia walked toward the door, then stopped briefly without turning back. "Tomorrow morning, you'll apologize," she said coldly. "You were rude today, and I'm very disappointed in you."

Alexander slowly tightened his grip on the torn pieces in his hands, the crumpled fragments cut into his palm, but he seemed not to notice; his voice was low, yet carried a trace of suppressed emotion. "Why should I apologize?"

Aurelia paused, clearly not expecting him to question her. Before she could respond, Alexander lifted his head and looked at her steadily. "Aurelia… do you still remember whose wife you are?"

His tone remained calm, but there was a faint chill beneath his words. "You hugged him in the banquet hall in front of everyone," Alexander continued, his gaze unwavering. "If that had happened in private… would things have gone even further? Would you have ended up in bed together?"

"Alexander!"

Aurelia's voice rose sharply as anger flashed across her face. She glared at him, her expression filled with disbelief and indignation. "We're just colleagues," she said firmly. "Don't say something like that again."

Her tone grew colder, and her words became increasingly harsh. "Otherwise… I won't give you any money."

The moment those words left her mouth, Aurelia herself froze slightly. After all, she had never actually given Alexander any money. The threat sounded hollow even to her own ears. She quickly corrected herself, her voice turning colder. "...Otherwise, you can move out."

She paused, then added indifferently, "This is my house."

Alexander stood stunned, the words striking him harder than he expected. He stared at her, unable to hide the disbelief in his eyes. "Aurelia… have you been bewitched?" he asked quietly. "Haven't I always treated you well?"

Aurelia let out a faint scoff, her expression indifferent. "What's the use of that?" she replied dismissively. "He has power, and he can help me. That's something you can't give me."

Her voice softened slightly, but the determination in her tone remained firm. "Tomorrow… apologize."

After saying that, Aurelia turned and walked out without another glance. The door closed behind her with a dull sound, leaving the room completely silent.

Alexander remained standing where he was, the torn fragments still clenched in his hands. The silence stretched endlessly, and the night passed slowly.

He did not sleep at all, remaining awake until dawn as countless thoughts ran through his mind.