The Outcast Son In Law's Wrath

The price

The penthouse was so silent Chloe could hear her own heartbeat. on her knees.

Chloe Carter the ice queen CEO of Dragon City, the woman who had never bowed to any man on her knees on cold black marble, in front of the husband she had called useless.

Liam didn't move. He just looked down at her. His grey eyes gave nothing away. No pity. No love. Only a cold, bottomless calm that was worse than anger.

"Get up," he said finally.

Chloe didn't. Her hands clenched the hem of her dress. Her voice was hoarse from crying.

"No... if I get up, you will say no. Liam... please."

For a second, Liam's jaw tightened. He remembered three years of coming home late, finding her asleep on the sofa waiting for him. He remembered her smile on their wedding day small, nervous, but real.

But he also remembered the divorce papers. The laughter.

"You want me to save Carter Group?" he asked, walking around her slowly, like a king circling a prisoner. "Fine. Name your price, Miss Carter."

Chloe looked up, tears streaking her perfect face. "Anything. I will give you anything."

"Anything?"

"Yes."

Liam stopped in front of her. He crouched, so they were eye to eye. So close she could see the scar on his eyebrow she had never noticed before.

"Then sell it to me," he whispered.

Chloe froze.

"Sell Carter Group to me. 100%.

Her mother would rather die. Her father built that company with his life. It was her soul.

"No..." Chloe breathed. "Liam, that's my father's life..."

"Your father's life?" Liam's voice turned to steel. "Where was your father's life when your mother made me clean toilets at your family parties? Where was it when you let Ethan Blackwood sit in my chair and drink from my cup?"

His words were quiet, but each one hit harder than a slap.

Chloe lowered her head. Her shoulders shook. The chaos in the office this morning, the red stock screen, the 300 employees who would lose everything all flashed in her mind.

And then she thought of Liam washing dishes at 2 AM while she worked, never complaining once.

She closed her eyes.

"...Okay."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"I... I agree. Sell it. To you. One dollar."

She still didn't say it loud. She couldn't. Saying it loud would make it real. Her lips trembled, holding the words back for as long as she could, her pride fighting her heart.

Liam stared at her kneeling, broken, beautiful, finally honest.

He reached out his hand — not to help her up, but to lift her chin. His fingers were warm.

"Say it clearly, Chloe. I want to hear you say it."

Chloe opened her mouth, tears falling, pride finally shattered. she wish all this should turn out to be a dream she was really at her limit right now.

DING-DONG.

The private elevator, the one that only Butler Chen's fingerprint could open — opened on its own.

Butler Chen's face went pale.

"Young Master... forgive me, I tried to stop her..."

A woman walked in.

Tall, breathtaking, in a white designer dress, long legs, silver heels, hair like liquid gold. A face so stunning it made even Chloe look ordinary. She carried a small red marriage certificate box.

She smiled at Liam like she owned him.

"Liam darling~ Grandfather said you finished your little game with the poor family, so I'm here. It's time for our engagement party tonight."

She turned her cold blue eyes to Chloe, still on her knees, still holding Liam's hand.

"Oh? Who is this maid?"

Chloe's blood ran cold.