The Son-in-Law's Rise to Supremacy

Chapter 4 - A Broken Promise

Three weeks passed in the blink of an eye. Life inside the Lawson mansion settled into a routine. Every morning before sunrise, Ethan was already awake. He swept the front yard, prepared breakfast, watered the flowers, and checked if anything in the house needed repairing.

The servants had begun relying on him. Whenever a light stopped working, they called Ethan. Whenever a pipe leaked, they called Ethan. Even when furniture became loose, Ethan quietly fixed it without expecting thanks. He never complained. To him, the Lawson mansion was his home now. If something was broken, he believed it was his responsibility to fix it.

One Saturday morning, Ethan was trimming the hedges in the garden when he heard Mrs. Lawson's voice. "Ethan!"

He immediately put down the gardening scissors. "Yes, Mother?"

She walked toward him with her usual serious expression. "The chandelier in the dining room is dusty. Clean it."

"I'll do it right away."

"And after that, mop the second floor."

"Alright."

Without another word, Ethan carried a ladder into the house.

Nearly an hour later, he carefully climbed down after cleaning the large crystal chandelier. The dining room sparkled under the sunlight.

Just as he stepped off the ladder, the front door opened. Sophia walked inside. She looked elegant in a cream-colored dress and carried a handbag Ethan had never seen before. She looked happier than usual.

Ethan smiled warmly. "You're home."

Sophia nodded. "I came back to change."

"Are you going somewhere?"

She hesitated for a moment. "Yes. With some old friends."

Ethan smiled. "That sounds nice. I hope you enjoy yourself."

Sophia looked at him. "You don't want to know who?"

Ethan laughed softly. "If you want to tell me, I'll listen."

Before Sophia could answer, Mrs. Lawson entered the room. "Ryan invited her." A smile spread across her face. "They're having coffee together."

Ethan's smile froze for only a second. Then he nodded. "Oh... I see."

Mrs. Lawson folded her arms. "You don't expect Sophia to spend all her time watching you clean windows, do you?"

Ethan remained calm. "Of course not."

Sophia looked uncomfortable. "Mom..."

Mrs. Lawson ignored her. "Ryan has excellent connections. He studied abroad. He owns shares in several companies. It's good for Sophia to keep friends like him."

Ethan forced a smile. "I agree."

Mrs. Lawson looked almost disappointed that he hadn't argued. She turned and walked away.

Sophia remained standing in silence. Finally, she spoke. "We're really just meeting for coffee."

"I know."

"You don't mind?"

Ethan shook his head. "I trust you."

Those three words caught Sophia off guard. She had expected questions, maybe even jealousy. Instead, Ethan simply trusted her.

She looked away. "I'll be back before dinner."

"I'll wait."

She nodded and quietly walked upstairs to change.

An hour later, Ethan stood outside wiping the windows facing the front gate. A white luxury sedan slowly stopped outside the mansion. Ryan stepped out wearing a light gray suit, carrying a small bouquet of fresh flowers.

The moment he saw Ethan holding a bucket and a cloth, he smiled politely. "Working hard?"

Ethan smiled back. "Just cleaning."

Ryan glanced at the mansion. "You really do everything around here."

"I don't mind."

Ryan nodded. "I admire your patience."

Ethan could tell Ryan meant it sincerely. At least, that's how it sounded.

A moment later, Sophia came outside. She had changed into a beautiful blue dress. Ryan's eyes lit up. "You look wonderful."

Sophia smiled. "Thank you."

Ryan opened the passenger door for her like a gentleman. Before getting into the car, Sophia looked toward Ethan. "I won't be late."

Ethan smiled. "Drive safely."

She nodded. Then the car slowly drove away. Ethan stood quietly, watching it disappear down the road. He wasn't angry. He wasn't suspicious. But he couldn't explain the strange feeling in his chest. It was the first weekend since their wedding. He had imagined they would spend it together. Instead, she had gone out with another man.

That afternoon, Ethan finished cleaning the second floor. He then repaired a loose cabinet door in the kitchen before helping Uncle Ben carry fertilizer into the garden.

"You should rest sometimes," Uncle Ben said.

Ethan smiled. "I'll rest after everything is finished."

The old gardener chuckled. "Young people today aren't usually this hardworking."

Ethan shrugged. "My mother at the orphanage used to say something."

"What was it?"

"If you're living under someone's roof... leave it better than you found it."

Uncle Ben smiled. "She raised you well."

Ethan's expression softened. "I owe her everything."

Just then, Mrs. Lawson stepped into the garden. "Ethan. The groceries haven't arrived. Go and buy them."

"Alright."

Ethan washed his hands and picked up the shopping list. As he reached the front gate, he glanced at the empty road. He wondered if Sophia was having a good time. Then he smiled at himself. "She's allowed to have friends. I'm overthinking." With that thought, he started walking toward the supermarket.

The supermarket was only fifteen minutes from the Lawson mansion. Ethan walked there instead of taking a taxi — he preferred saving money whenever he could. After buying everything on Mrs. Lawson's list, he carried two heavy shopping bags out of the store.

Just as he stepped onto the sidewalk, he heard laughter. A familiar laugh. He turned instinctively. Across the street was a cozy café with large glass windows. Inside, Ryan and Sophia sat by the window. Ryan was smiling as he told a story. Sophia laughed. It wasn't a polite smile. It wasn't the smile she gave guests at home. It was genuine.

Ethan stood still for a few seconds. Then he smiled to himself. "They're just old friends," he whispered. He adjusted the shopping bags and continued walking. There was no reason to disturb them.

Inside the café, Ryan noticed Ethan through the window. "Isn't that your husband?"

Sophia turned her head. She saw Ethan walking away with two heavy bags in his hands. For a moment, she felt guilty. "I should go and help him."

Ryan gently stopped her. "He'll be fine. You've barely had time to relax since the wedding."

Sophia hesitated, then slowly sat back down. "...You're right."

Ryan changed the subject. "So... do you still remember our graduation trip?"

Sophia smiled. "Of course."

The conversation continued. Neither of them noticed that Ethan had disappeared around the corner.

Back at the Lawson mansion, Ethan carried the groceries into the kitchen. Mrs. Lawson immediately checked every item. "You bought the wrong brand of cooking oil."

Ethan looked surprised. "It was the only one available."

"Then you should have gone to another supermarket."

"I'm sorry."

Mrs. Lawson sighed in disappointment. "You always find a way to make simple things difficult."

Without another word, Ethan quietly put the groceries away.

Just then, Mr. Lawson entered the kitchen. "The study room is a mess. My business partners are visiting tomorrow. I want everything spotless."

"I'll clean it tonight."

Mr. Lawson nodded. "I expect it to be perfect."

That evening, the mansion was unusually quiet. Ethan spent nearly three hours cleaning the study. He dusted every bookshelf. He organized hundreds of documents. He polished the wooden desk until it reflected the light. By the time he finished, it was already after nine o'clock.

His stomach growled. He realized he had skipped dinner again. He walked into the kitchen. Only a small plate of leftovers remained. He heated the food in the microwave and quietly sat down to eat.

Just as he lifted the first spoonful, the front door opened. Sophia had returned. She stepped into the kitchen and saw Ethan eating alone. "You haven't had dinner yet?"

Ethan smiled. "I was busy cleaning."

Sophia looked at the clock. "It's almost ten."

"I lost track of time."

She looked at the small plate in front of him. "Is that all that's left?"

Ethan nodded. "It's enough."

Sophia opened the refrigerator. There were fresh ingredients inside. Without saying anything, she took out a few vegetables and eggs.

Ethan looked surprised. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making noodles."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

Twenty minutes later, she placed a bowl of hot noodles in front of him. "Eat while it's hot."

Ethan looked at the steaming bowl. For the first time since their marriage, Sophia had cooked something for him. A warm smile appeared on his face. "Thank you."

She sat across from him quietly. "How was your day?"

Ethan took a bite before answering. "It was good."

"You look tired."

He laughed softly. "I'll recover after a good night's sleep."

Sophia lowered her eyes. "I saw you this afternoon. At the café."

Ethan nodded. "I happened to pass by."

"You could have come inside."

He smiled. "You were enjoying yourself. I didn't want to interrupt."

Sophia remained silent. After a while, she finally spoke. "Ryan and I... we're really just friends."

Ethan looked into her eyes. "I believe you."

Those words should have made her feel relieved. Instead, they made her feel even more guilty. She couldn't explain why.

After finishing the meal, Ethan washed the dishes before heading upstairs. Sophia watched him leave. She slowly looked at the empty bowl. For the first time, she realized something. Ethan had never asked her for expensive gifts. He had never complained about the chores. He had never raised his voice at her. He only wanted a chance to be her husband. Yet she had spent more time laughing with another man than talking to him.

The next morning, Ethan woke up before dawn as usual. As he stepped outside to collect the newspaper, he noticed a sleek black sports car parked across the street. Leaning against it was Ryan. He looked toward the mansion with a confident smile. When he saw Ethan, he waved. "Morning."

Ethan smiled politely. "Good morning."

Ryan straightened his jacket. "I'm here to take Sophia out again."

Before Ethan could respond, the front door opened. Mrs. Lawson walked out with a bright smile. "Ryan! You're early."

Ryan laughed. "I wanted to surprise Sophia."

Mrs. Lawson nodded approvingly. "I'm sure she'll be happy."

Ethan stood quietly beside the gate. For some reason, he suddenly remembered the promise Sophia had made on their wedding day. "I'll try to make this marriage work."

He looked toward the mansion, then at Ryan. A faint uneasiness settled in his heart. He didn't know it yet, but that promise was beginning to break.