The Original Son-in-law

Chapter 2: Henry Becomes Stunned

Chapter 2

Henry turned and was dumbstruck to see the figure standing right there. He was wearing an expensive suit and a Rolex wristwatch.

In fact, his appearance alone screamed wealth.

He blinked, as if trying to recall where he had seen this face. Because of course, he had!

Suddenly….

“You're Steve Housel?" He mumbled, still not completely sure.

The man, seeming to be in his late sixties, nodded with a smile. He strode forward and bowed. “You still remember me, young master!"

“Of course, I do!" Henry answered. “Aren't you the man who arrived after I helped that ... Mr. Potter Jones that fateful day?"

Steve's smile grew wider. “Not just benevolent, but retentive," he remarked, tilting. Subsequently, Steve said, “I am. Late Mr. Potter Jones's subordinate."

“Late Mr. Potter Jones?" Henry frowned, confused.

Mr. Potter Jones was the old man Henry had met swaying on the street, probably looking drunk. When everyone was avoiding him, Henry quickly helped him, pulling him aside before retrieving the latter's phone and calling his people.

Within five minutes, dozens of plush cars arrived. Steve Housel was among the people who came, and he seemed to be the leader. He ordered other men in black suits to put Potter Jones inside the car before staring at Henry, who stood there in a daze.

“What's your name, boy?" Steve had asked him after a short moment that day.

“Henry Daniel," Henry had stammered.

Without another word, the people entered the cars and drove off.

It was all strange.

“Yes, Mr. Potter Jones is dead," Steve said with a bitter smile. “He died a few months ago."

He halted, letting the emotional moment move away slowly.

Then, he continued. “However, Mr. Potter Jones left something behind for you as a way of saying ‘thank you' for saving him from humiliation."

He snapped his fingers.

A bodyguard rushed in, bowing his head as he handed two objects to Steve and bowed again before hurrying away.

“Here….”

Steve pulled out a premium black card and handed it to Henry. “That's a premium black card, one rarely found and will never be found elsewhere. In it, Mr. Potter Jones left over a billion dollars in it. Please, take it; it's yours."

Henry gaped in astonishment.

One billion dollars?

For me?

Impossible!

He rubbed his eyes as if he was daydreaming. However, everything was real. Happening right in front of him.

Henry could barely snap himself out of the trance when Steve pulled out a document from the file that had been handed to him a minute ago, and extended it.

"Also, this is the document to Eminence Group—”

Steve could hardly finish his statement when Henry interjected, his voice barely above a whisper.

"The multi-billion dollar company?” He whispered.

Steve tilted with a growing smirk. "You know it!” He said, then continued. "Mr. Potter Jones is giving them—the premium black card and the company—to you as compensation for saving him from humiliation. You're just a signature away from making it yours.”

Henry's eyes swung wide open.

He was in total daze. How could this possibly be true? A premium black card loaded with one billion dollars and also a company worth billions just for saving someone from humiliation?

This can't be true!

"Are you freaking kidding me?” Henry glared at Steve. Nothing seems to be making any sense to him. "A premium black card with a billion dollars in it and a multi-billion dollar company just for me? Aren't those cheap jokes? I mean, he has children, don't he? Why give all of this to me instead of them?”

Henry was spot on. Anybody would think that way.

It was logical thinking, wasn't it?

However, Steve shook his head. “He has no children. When he was still poor, his wife left him for a wealthy man, so after he acquired wealth himself, he decided not to get married, concluding that all women are the same.”

Steve continued. "This is the reason why he said you should be given all of this as his heir. Please, don't decline them. They are rewards for your kindness. Besides, Mr. Potter Jones doesn't want what he had suffered to build for years vanish just like that, and he found you worthy."

Henry couldn't believe what was actually happening.

Could this be God answering his prayers? He's poor. Always been mocked by everyone in the family.

And now, he's going to be a billionaire just like that?

He couldn't wrap his head around everything.

Henry stared at Steve, who was busy nodding his head, still pleading silently with him not to reject the offers.

After much hesitation, Henry decided to grab a pen and sign the document before taking the card.

When done, Steve congratulated him before handing his business card to him. "Call me anytime you need anything.”

With that, he turned and left.

Henry stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the premium black card in his hand.

This must be surreal!

Has he suddenly become a billionaire?

****

After leaving the hospital that night, Henry got home, still entranced.

The more he tried to think about what had happened back then in the hospital, the more he thought it was a dream.

But they weren't. They really did happen.

As Henry entered his room, he caught sight of Margaret. She was already dressed up in her sleeping gown. As always, she was looking breathtaking, which made him gulp.

The birthday party had ended a few hours ago.

As Margaret sighted him too.

“I'm sorry, Henry, I couldn't help. Can't kick against Grandma's command or I'll have nowhere to stay,” she lamented. “But don't worry, we'll secretly go there tomorrow."

Henry sighed. "No need.”

"Why?” Margaret raised an eyebrow.

"Someone already paid for it,” Henry responded.

"Really?” Margaret was surprised, so she asked curiously. "Who?”

"Don't know the person,” Henry lied. "But he claimed my mum has helped him in the past, so he decided to pay her back.”

“Wow! That's good to hear!" Margaret exclaimed, excited. “God bless the anonymous giver!"

As she prepared to go to bed, Henry reluctantly asked. “Is there anything you need help with? Financially. Mentally. I can help if you wish."

Margaret didn't really take that ‘financial’ part seriously. Henry was a nobody, so he must be joking. Therefore, Margaret replied. “Not really. However, our company is slowly shrinking, and we are considering collaborating with Eminence Group."

"Eminence Group?” Henry narrowed his eyes.

Henry was only expressing his shock, but Margaret thought Henry was saying that it was an impossible mission to collaborate with the Eminence Group. However, what she didn't know was that her husband was now the Chairman of the same company they were seeking to partner with.

As a result, she smiled faintly. “Yes, but it won't work. However, Maxwell's family is going to help us. They have much more influence than us so we'll go through them once they succeed tomorrow.”

Henry swallowed. "You mean Mario Caleb's family?”

Margaret nodded. "Yes.”

Henry's face tightened almost immediately. That bastard who had always been humiliating him is seeking to collaborate with Eminence Group?

He gritted his teeth. “It won't happen,” he whispered.

Margaret looked at him. "You said something?”

"Oh, no, no.”

Henry lied, shaking his head. But in his heart, he vowed to make nothing happen.