The Poor Son In Law Is A Billionaire

Regret?

“Where's Chloe? Why hasn't she come?”

Those were the first words Belinda uttered when she regained consciousness.

The middle-aged woman still looked weak. Her thin, pale fingers groped around until they found Adrian's hand, which she clasped tightly as though she were afraid of losing something.

Adrian immediately returned her grip.

“Chloe is taking care of an urgent project at the office. A major investor showed up unexpectedly. She apologizes for not being able to stay with you.”

The lie tasted bitter on his tongue. He had no choice but to tell it because he couldn't bear to burden Belinda, who had only just regained consciousness, with more distress.

Belinda sighed and shook her head.

“You're always defending your wife.” Her gaze was filled with affection and disappointment. “I know my daughter's temperament. She's probably busy with something she considers more important.”

“She works hard for the future of the company, too,” Adrian replied softly.

Belinda gently patted the back of his hand.

“You don't have to keep covering for her behavior. I know what Chloe is like.” The woman offered a faint smile. “You always try so hard to please everyone.”

She sighed, as though she could sense how exhausting it was to be Adrian.

“Have I ever told you how happy I am to have a son-in-law like you?”

Adrian fell silent for a moment.

Son-in-law.

The word now sounded repulsive to him. How was he supposed to explain to Belinda that there was nothing left to salvage between him and Chloe?

He regretted having to shatter the kind woman's hopes. However, he no longer had any desire to play the role of a husband who was never appreciated.

Adrian lowered his head, concealing the turmoil in his eyes. He carefully straightened Belinda's blanket.

“You should get some rest. I've arranged your therapy schedule and hired a private nurse to look after you around the clock. If you need anything, just let them know.”

“You need to take care of your health, too, Adrian. Don't make yourself sick from being too busy looking after me.”

Adrian nodded with a smile.

“Don't worry. I'm fine. Your only job now is to get better as quickly as possible.”

Belinda finally smiled.

“All right, you bossy son-in-law.”

After making sure his mother-in-law's condition was stable, Adrian left the hospital room. The moment the door closed behind him, the smile vanished from his face.

He walked down the hospital corridor. He needed to settle things with Chloe as soon as possible. Taking out his phone, he typed a brief message without hesitation.

You've signed the divorce agreement. In three days, we'll finalize the divorce at the civil registry office. I expect you to be on time.

Adrian read the message once before pressing send.

His decision was final. Three years of always being the one to sacrifice everything had been enough.

He would not spend another day trying to save a marriage that mattered only to him.

Before he could slip his phone back into his pocket, an incoming call appeared on the screen. The name of his most trusted aide flashed before him.

Adrian answered immediately.

“Young Master, all the support you ordered us to discontinue has now been officially withdrawn,” the middle-aged man on the other end reported. “The effects are already becoming apparent. Your wife's company is facing serious turmoil today. Several major clients have withdrawn their investments simultaneously.”

Adrian stopped near the hospital's main glass entrance. A gust of wind brushed against his face as the automatic doors slid open. He gazed at the street before him, his eyes gradually hardening.

So the consequences were already beginning to show.

All this time, Chloe had believed that her company's success was entirely the result of her own abilities. She had never known how many problems Adrian had quietly resolved, how many opportunities he had opened up for her, or how much support he had provided without her knowledge.

Adrian had no intention of taking back what he had already given her. However, he would no longer prop up someone who didn't even consider him worth anything.

“Prepare a car for tomorrow morning. I'll be going to the company.”

“Understood, Young Master.” The man sounded relieved. “Your car and personal security detail will be ready to pick you up as instructed.”

“Good.”

Adrian ended the call. It was time to return to his own life.

He walked to the side of the road, reached into his shirt pocket, and pulled out a cigarette.

Smoke filled his lungs, leaving a bitter taste in his throat.

It had been three years since he had last touched a cigarette. He had given up the habit back then because Chloe disliked it. Even something as insignificant as that had been a sacrifice he was willing to make to keep his wife happy.

Now, the memory only made him feel foolish.

Adrian exhaled the last of the smoke and dropped the cigarette butt to the ground. Before he could walk away, a shrill voice suddenly called out to him.

“Hey! You're Chloe's husband, aren't you?”

Adrian slowly turned around. A woman stood directly in front of him, blocking his path as though the entire world were expected to make way for her.

She was certainly beautiful, radiating the aura of a career woman accustomed to being in control.

If Chloe looked like an innocent college girl, this woman looked like a boardroom queen who had never been told no.

Unfortunately, that sophisticated impression crumbled the moment she opened her mouth.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Selena.”

Selena suddenly lunged toward him, spreading her arms as though she intended to hug him.

Adrian immediately stepped aside. Selena managed to embrace nothing but empty air.

He frowned at her. They hadn't even been introduced before, yet she was already behaving as though they shared some special relationship.

Adrian turned around and started to leave.

“Wait!” Selena shouted, hurrying to block his path again. Her beautiful face flushed with irritation. “Why are you just walking away?”

“I have no reason to stay here,” Adrian replied curtly.

“Don't you know who I am, huh? I'm the most beautiful and influential woman in this city. You should feel honored that I'm interested in you.” She raised her chin confidently. “And now, I want you to be my husband!”

“Are you proposing to me?” Adrian asked, hoping he had misheard her. His problems with Chloe weren't even settled yet, and he had no interest in adding another bizarre woman to his list of troubles.

“And I don't want to hear you say no.”

“The hospital is right there. You should go get yourself checked out.” Adrian jerked his chin toward the hospital building.

The woman's face flushed with anger.

“How dare you?! Even compared with your holier-than-thou wife, I'm every bit as good as she is. What right do you have to look down on me? You're nothing but a poor son-in-law freeloading in your wife's house!”

Adrian stared at her without blinking before letting out a humorless laugh.

“A poor son-in-law you were proposing to just a few seconds ago.”

“Oh, come on. Stop playing hard to get. I know you've had enough of your wife's behavior.” Selena crossed her arms over her chest. “Divorce her, and then you can marry me. I'm willing to give you a chance!”

Adrian could hardly believe what he was hearing. Give him a chance?

The woman spoke as though she were offering him a prize he should gratefully accept.

He straightened his collar, then glanced at the cigarette butt lying near his shoe.

“I have no intention of repeating the same mistake.”

Selena's confident smile froze.

“What do you mean? Are you comparing me to Chloe?”

“I'm not comparing anyone.” Adrian looked her straight in the eye. “I'm simply not interested in you.”

With that, Adrian turned and walked away, leaving Selena behind.

Selena's face turned red all the way to her ears. Adrian didn't care whether she was angry or felt insulted. He had wasted far too much of his life trying to please other people.

“You'll regret saying that!” she shouted after him.

Adrian smiled faintly without looking back. “Regret it? Yes. I regret only realizing my mistake after wasting three years of my life.”