The Poor Son In Law Is A Billionaire

Please forgive our impertinence, sir

The attendant immediately approached. “How may I help you, sir?” she asked, bowing respectfully to Julian.

Julian pointed straight at Adrian. After taking in Adrian's modest clothing, he put on a stern expression.

“I'm sorry, sir, but all guests are required to present a valid membership card for verification.”

“You heard him. Show your card!” Julian ordered, acting as though he owned the hotel.

Adrian frowned. He hadn't been directly involved in his family's businesses for years. During that time, many things had changed, including the access procedures at hotels under the Blackthorn Group. He had never expected an attendant to treat a VIP card as the sole measure of whether a guest deserved to enter.

“See?” Julian laughed triumphantly. “He doesn't even have a card!”

Chloe looked at Adrian with disgust. “Stop embarrassing yourself here!”

Adrian held his wife's gaze for several seconds. Something hurt even more than Julian's insults, the fact that his own wife wouldn't even give him a chance to explain.

He quickly pushed the feeling aside. He needed to learn to accept the fact that Chloe would always look down on him.

Besides, it was only a matter of time before their marriage ended. He no longer needed her trust.

Selena hurriedly took out her Platinum card. “It's fine. We can use mine.”

Adrian stopped her hand before she could hand the card to the attendant.

“There's no need. Use this instead.”

He slipped a simple silver ring off his ring finger and handed it to the attendant.

The ring was no ordinary piece of jewelry. His grandfather had given it to him shortly before his death as a symbol of the highest authority across all their family businesses. Its owner was entitled to preferential treatment without having to comply with the ordinary membership tiers.

Adrian had never imagined he'd have to use it to prove his own right to enter his family's hotel.

Julian burst into laughter.

“Oh, my God! What are you doing? You don't have a VIP card, so now you're using a broken ring to fool people? Chloe, you really need to see how embarrassing your husband is!”

Chloe clenched her fists, her anger growing by the second.

“Adrian, you never consider my feelings! You embarrass me at home, and now you're humiliating me in public!”

Adrian didn't respond. He simply watched the attendant examine the ring.

The attendant placed it on the scanner. Nothing happened. She tried again, but the result remained the same.

“It can't be read,” she said curtly. “Official VIP cards have integrated chips. This item isn't registered in our system. Are you trying to scam us?!”

Adrian let out a quiet breath. Even the attendant was looking down on him. Ordinary scanners weren't designed to recognize the symbol of authority held by his family, a symbol that was rarely used in the first place.

“Call the hotel manager,” he ordered.

The attendant scoffed. “Every respectable guest uses an official card. You're the only one who shows up dressed like this, carrying a ring that can't be verified, and demanding to see the manager. She's busy serving an important guest. Don't waste our time.”

She returned the ring roughly. “If you can't even afford a bottle of mineral water here, you'd better leave!”

Julian was delighted to hear that.

“Exactly! Throw that beggar out!”

Adrian took back his ring. His gaze turned cold as he looked at Julian.

“Then let's make a bet.”

Julian raised his eyebrows. “You're challenging me to a bet? You've got some nerve.”

“Let's see which one of us can dine on the eighth floor today. If you win, I'll accept the consequences. If I win, you'll have to keep your promise.”

Julian lifted his chin, certain victory was already his.

“Fine. Deal.”

“Whoever loses must kneel in front of the hotel's main entrance and bow ten times as an apology.”

Julian's smile widened. There was no way he would pass up such a perfect opportunity to humiliate Adrian.

“Agreed!”

Chloe immediately grabbed Adrian's arm roughly.

“What kind of nonsense is this, Adrian?! Do you really think you can compete with Julian? He's a CEO who owns two companies. He's no ordinary man you can challenge to a bet!”

Adrian pulled his arm free.

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

“You...” Chloe gritted her teeth, unable to believe her husband had grown bold enough to talk back to her.

Adrian took out his phone and called the dedicated line for the executive management of the Sovereign Hotel.

As soon as the call connected, he spoke briefly.

“Your staff have stopped me at the entrance of the Grand Sovereign Hotel.”

The attendant sneered again.

“He's still pretending to make a call!”

Julian shook his head, clearly dismissing Adrian's actions.

“Unbelievable! Even with disaster staring him in the face, he still can't stop acting! Adrian, Adrian... You're really making your wife lose face!”

Chloe glared coldly at Adrian. Julian's words only fueled her anger. He certainly knew how to provoke people.

“Listen to me. Kneel down and apologize to Julian right now. If you do, I'll let you off the hook for having to kneel later.”

Adrian stared at Chloe strangely, as though she were an alien who had crash-landed on Earth.

“What did you say?”

Chloe clicked her tongue in irritation.

“Apologize to Julian. You're clearly not deaf.”

“And you know I would never do that, Chloe. You should be the one to stop asking me to humiliate myself like that!”

Suddenly, the rapid clicking of high heels echoed from inside the hotel. A middle-aged woman hurried toward the entrance, her face tense and her breathing ragged.

The attendant immediately rushed to greet her, wearing an aggrieved expression.

“Manager! This man is causing trouble at the entrance. He's using a fake ring and demanding access to the eighth floor. We need to call security and have him removed!”

The manager didn't even look at him. The moment she saw Adrian, she quickened her pace.

“See, Manager? This is the man!”

Before the attendant could understand what was happening, a sharp slap landed across his cheek.

She staggered, clutching his face with wide eyes.

“Manager, why did you...?”

“Shut up!!” The manager's voice thundered through the lobby. “You'd better keep your mouth!”

The manager wasted no time explaining herself. In front of Julian, Chloe, Selena, and the guests who had begun watching the commotion, she stopped directly before Adrian and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

“Please forgive our impertinence, sir. I apologize for not being here to welcome you sooner.”