The Son-in-Law Who Spent His Way to the Throne!

Chapter 5

Across the city, Emily sat in the passenger seat of Derrick's car with her arms crossed. She was still angry about the red Ferrari. Even though she had told everyone it was fake, the sight of it kept burning in her mind.

"Derrick, why don't you have a car like that?" she asked. "You are a Parker. You have money. You could buy ten of those."

Derrick smiled and rubbed her hand. "Do not worry, baby. I have good news. The company I work for was sold to a new owner last week. They told us there would be a big payment to cover all the late salaries."

"How big?" Emily's eyes lit up.

"Very big. Maybe millions." He laughed. "Once I get it, I will buy you any car you want. Maybe two."

Emily squealed with joy and threw her arms around his neck. She kissed him again and again, and Derrick laughed, enjoying every second. Neither of them knew that the new owner of that company was the same man they had just called a leech.

Meanwhile, the Ferrari was gliding down a quiet road. Hazel sat in the passenger seat, staring at the dashboard, the leather seats and the soft glowing lights. She had been quiet for too long.

"Carson," she finally said. "Where did you get this car?"

"I bought it."

"You bought it?" She turned in her seat. "This costs more than most people make in ten years. How did you get that kind of money?"

Carson smiled and kept his eyes on the road. "That is a long story."

"Then tell me the short version."

"Maybe later," he said, and he gave her a look that said he was not going to say more.

Hazel puffed out her cheeks. "You are very mysterious now. I do not know if I like it."

"I think you do," Carson said. She turned her face to the window to hide her smile.

He stopped in front of her building, and she did not get out right away. She dug inside her bag and pulled out a small paper ticket with gold letters. She held it out to him.

"What is this?"

"A ticket to my show. It is in two days." She pushed it into his hand. "Promise me you will come."

"Hazel, I..."

"Promise," she said, looking him straight in the eye. "I will not take no for an answer."

Carson laughed and took the ticket. "Okay. I promise."

She smiled brightly and got out. She waved at him from the entrance until the Ferrari turned the corner.

Ding!

The system screen flashed. "Task Four: Spend four million dollars within twenty-four hours. The funds have been placed in your account. Failure will bring punishment."

Carson grinned. This was getting easier already. He started thinking about what he could spend it on, but before he could decide, his phone rang. It was the hospital.

He answered. "Hello?"

"Mr. Roman, it is the nurse from ward three. Your sister is awake. She is asking for you."

His heart jumped. "I am on my way!"

He pushed the pedal down and flew through the streets. When he got to the hospital, he ran up the stairs two at a time. He burst into the room, and there she was, sitting up in bed with her hair messy and her eyes wide open.

"Stella!"

"Brother," she said in a weak voice, and then she smiled. It was the same silly smile she always had.

Carson rushed over and wrapped her in his arms. Tears poured down his face, and he could not stop them. For three years he had been afraid of losing her. Now she was awake, warm and breathing.

"I missed you so much," he said.

"I missed you too," she whispered. "I feel like I slept forever."

The doctors came in and checked her over. Her heart was strong, and her color was back. They said she could go home in a few days, but Carson did not want to wait. He thanked every one of them, shook their hands and signed the last papers.

An hour later, he helped her walk out of the hospital. She held on to his arm, smiling at the sun on her face. Then she saw the red Ferrari parked at the curb, and she stopped.

"Brother, what is that?"

"That is our ride."

"Did you borrow it?" Stella narrowed her eyes. "Or did you take a loan? Please tell me you did not sell a kidney. I have heard about people doing that."

Carson burst out laughing. "No, little sister. No kidney. I promise it is mine."

"Yours?" She stared at him, then at the car, then at him again. "Okay. What did you do? Rob a bank?"

"Get in the car, Stella."

She climbed in slowly and ran her hand over the leather seat. "Brother, this is crazy. We were poor yesterday."

"I know." He started the engine. "But things will be different from now on. I will tell you everything later. Just trust me."

She looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. "I trust you. But if the police come for us, I am blaming you."

They drove back to the old house. When Carson parked, the neighbors came out one by one. An old woman who always shook her head at them now waved with a smile. A man who had never said hello rushed over to shake Carson's hand.

"Good to see you, young man! Is this your car?"

"Yes, sir," Carson said.

"Wonderful! Welcome home, little Stella!"

Stella waved back, confused. "Why is everyone so friendly now?"

"Money changes people," Carson said quietly. "Come on."

He opened the door, and Stella stopped in the doorway. The walls were bright and clean, with fresh paint everywhere. The floor was polished, the furniture was new and a vase of white flowers sat on the table.

"Brother," she whispered. "This is not our house."

"It is," he said. "Welcome home."

She walked from room to room with her hand over her mouth. Then she turned and hugged him so tight that he almost lost his breath. "Thank you," she said into his shirt. "Thank you, thank you."

The next morning, Carson woke up early. He still had four million dollars to spend, and the clock was running. But first, he wanted to give his sister the best day of her life.

He took her to the fanciest restaurant in the city. They sat at a table by the window, and the waiter brought dish after dish. There was steak, shrimp, soup, pasta, cake and ice cream, and Stella ate everything with big eyes.

"I have never had food like this," she said with her mouth full. "Is this what rich people eat every day?"

"I guess so."

She laughed, and then she suddenly started crying. Tears ran down her cheeks into her plate. "I am sorry. I do not know why I am crying. I am so happy."

Carson reached across the table and held her hand. "You do not need to be sorry. You were sick for three years. You deserve every good thing."

"I thought I would die in that bed."

"I would never let that happen," he said firmly. "From now on, I will take care of everything. I will put you back in school so you can finish your studies and have a normal life."

Stella wiped her face. "I want to study hard. I want to become someone who can help you one day. You have done so much for me."

"You do not have to repay me for anything."

"I want to," she said. Then she looked down at the table and spoke more quietly. "Brother, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Do you ever wonder about the orphanage? About our parents?"

Carson was quiet. It was a question he had asked himself a thousand times at night. "Sometimes."

"I think about them a lot," she said. "I wonder if they are still alive. I wonder why they left us."

"I do not know," he said honestly. "But one day, I will find out. I promise."

She nodded. "Can we go to the orphanage? I want to see the place again. I want to say thank you to everyone who raised us."

"Of course."

After lunch, they drove across town to New Dawn Orphanage. It was a small, tired old building with a faded sign, and the yard was full of kids playing with torn balls. Carson had not been back since he left. He parked the Ferrari at the gate and walked in with Stella at his side.

A kind-faced woman was sweeping the steps. She looked up, and the broom fell from her hands.

"Carson? Stella? Is that really you?"

"Hello, Matron," Stella said, and she ran forward. They hugged for a long time. Some of the older staff came out, and soon there was a small crowd around them, all laughing and crying and asking questions.

Carson spent an hour talking with the management in the small office at the back. He saw the leaking roof, the cracked walls and the old beds. He saw the children's worn shoes and thin arms.

His chest felt tight. He remembered being one of those children.

"How much do you need to fix this place?" he asked the head matron.

She smiled sadly. "More than we can ever raise, my son. But we try."

Carson pulled out his phone. He looked at the four million dollars still sitting in his account. The task said to spend it, and he had planned on a house or a company. But as he looked around at the little faces outside the window, he knew exactly where this money belonged.

"Please give me your bank details," he said.

She told him slowly, thinking he wanted to make a small donation. A minute later, her phone beeped, and she looked at the message. Her hands began to shake.

"Carson... what is this? There are too many zeros."

"It is four million dollars," he said gently. "Please use it to repair the building, buy food and clothes, and give the children a good life. All of it."

The matron burst into tears. She grabbed his hands and kissed them. Stella cried too, and even the old cook at the door had to wipe her eyes.

"God bless you, child," the matron said. "God bless you."

Ding!

The system screen lit up in his mind. "Task Four complete. Congratulations, host. Rewards: one mansion named Pearl Pavilion, valued at fifty million dollars, cultivation level four and ten SP points."

Carson almost choked. A mansion worth fifty million? He stood very still and let the words sink in. Giving away his money had paid him back many times over.

"Brother?" Stella tugged his sleeve. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"Nothing," he said, laughing. "Just thinking that we may need a bigger home."

She gave him a funny look, and he only winked at her.