The Son-in-Law's Rise to Supremacy

Chapter 5 - Kyle Return

The weekend passed quietly. On Monday morning, Ethan woke up before the alarm, just as he always did. He washed his face, tied an apron around his waist, and headed downstairs. The mansion was still dark, and the silence gave him a few peaceful moments before another busy day began.

He prepared breakfast carefully. Fresh toast. Scrambled eggs. Black coffee for Mr. Lawson. Warm lemon tea for Mrs. Lawson. Orange juice for Sophia. When everything was ready, Ethan placed the dishes on the dining table.

A few minutes later, Mr. Lawson came downstairs. He glanced at the table and nodded. "The coffee smells good."

"Thank you, Father."

Mrs. Lawson entered next. She looked at the breakfast before saying coldly, "The flowers in the dining room have started to wilt. Replace them after breakfast."

"I will."

Sophia quietly took her seat. She looked tired. Ethan noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes. "You didn't sleep well?"

She forced a small smile. "I stayed up late reading."

Ethan poured her a glass of juice. "You should take care of yourself."

Before Sophia could reply, the doorbell rang.

Mrs. Lawson frowned. "Who comes this early?"

A maid hurried to answer the door. Seconds later, she returned with a surprised expression. "Madam... a guest is here."

Before Mrs. Lawson could ask who it was, a cheerful voice echoed through the entrance. "Aunt Linda!"

The whole family turned toward the door. A young man in a tailored black suit walked inside with confident steps. He looked to be around twenty-eight years old. His expensive watch, polished leather shoes, and confident smile immediately revealed that he came from wealth. Behind him, two bodyguards carried several luxury gift boxes.

Mrs. Lawson's face instantly lit up. "Kyle!" She hurried over and hugged him. "When did you come back from London?"

Kyle smiled. "Last night. I wanted to surprise everyone."

Mr. Lawson stood up and shook his hand warmly. "It's good to see you again."

Kyle greeted him politely before his eyes landed on Sophia. For a brief second, he couldn't hide the admiration in his eyes. "Sophia. It's been too long."

Sophia smiled politely. "Welcome back."

Kyle looked at her wedding ring. The smile on his face faded slightly. "So... you really got married."

Sophia nodded. "Yes."

Kyle let out a quiet sigh. "I guess I came back too late."

The room became awkwardly silent. Mrs. Lawson quickly changed the subject. "Sit down. Have breakfast with us."

Kyle smiled. "I'd love to." As he sat down, his eyes slowly moved toward Ethan. He studied him from head to toe. Then he asked calmly, "And this must be your husband."

Sophia nodded. "This is Ethan."

Ethan stood up and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Kyle looked at Ethan's hand for a moment before shaking it lightly. "So... you're the famous Ethan Carter."

Ethan smiled politely. "I don't know about famous."

Kyle chuckled. "I've heard plenty about you."

Ethan remained silent.

Kyle leaned back in his chair. "I was expecting someone..." He paused deliberately. "...different."

Mrs. Lawson laughed. "So were we."

Sophia lowered her head. "Kyle..."

He smiled. "I'm only joking." But everyone knew he wasn't.

Breakfast continued. Kyle talked about his years abroad. He spoke about luxury hotels, expensive cars, and business meetings with successful entrepreneurs. Mrs. Lawson listened with sparkling eyes. "You've accomplished so much at such a young age."

Kyle shrugged modestly. "I've still got a long way to go." Then he looked at Ethan. "What about you? What do you do?"

Ethan answered honestly. "I'm still looking for a stable opportunity."

Kyle nodded slowly. "I see. So you're unemployed."

Before Ethan could explain, Mrs. Lawson interrupted. "He helps around the house."

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "You mean... he does the chores?"

Mrs. Lawson laughed. "He's actually quite useful."

Kyle smiled. "I noticed." His eyes drifted toward Ethan's rough hands, marked with small cuts from constant work. Kyle compared them to his own smooth hands and couldn't help smiling. The difference between them couldn't have been clearer.

Just then, Ethan stood up. "I'll clean the table." Without waiting for anyone else, he began collecting the empty plates. Kyle watched him quietly.

After Ethan disappeared into the kitchen, Kyle leaned closer to Mrs. Lawson. "So... does he always do housework?"

Mrs. Lawson nodded. "Every single day."

Kyle laughed softly. "I've never seen a son-in-law become a full-time servant." Even Mr. Lawson smiled faintly.

Only Sophia remained silent. As she looked toward the kitchen, she could hear Ethan washing the dishes alone. For reasons she couldn't explain, Kyle's words didn't make her happy. Instead, they made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

Just then, Ethan returned with a tray of fresh fruit. He placed it on the table with his usual smile. "Please enjoy."

Kyle looked at him for a long moment. Then a faint smirk appeared on his face. He had already reached one conclusion: Ethan Carter wasn't worthy of standing beside Sophia Lawson. And if Ethan was too weak to fight for his marriage, Kyle wouldn't hesitate to take his place.

After breakfast, Ethan carried the dirty plates into the kitchen. The sound of laughter from the dining room echoed through the house. Kyle had quickly become the center of attention. Mrs. Lawson couldn't stop asking him questions. "So, Kyle, how is your company doing?"

Kyle smiled confidently. "We're expanding into three more cities next month."

"Really?" Mr. Lawson asked with interest.

Kyle nodded. "The board approved the project before I came back to the country."

Mrs. Lawson clapped her hands happily. "I always knew you would become successful. You've made your family proud."

Kyle smiled modestly. "I'm only doing my best."

As Ethan finished washing the dishes, he quietly walked back into the dining room. Mrs. Lawson immediately noticed him. "Ethan."

"Yes, Mother?"

"The guest rooms need cleaning. And after that, wash the cars."

"I'll start now."

Kyle watched Ethan leave with a faint smile. He leaned back comfortably. "Does he ever get a day off?"

Mrs. Lawson laughed. "If he isn't working, he's sleeping."

Kyle shook his head. "What an interesting life."

Sophia frowned slightly. "Kyle..."

"What? I'm only asking."

She didn't reply. For some reason, hearing Ethan discussed like that made her uncomfortable.

Outside, Ethan carried a bucket of water toward the garage. The Lawson family owned two luxury cars. He carefully washed the first one before moving on to the second. The afternoon sun was hot. Sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking his shirt.

Just then, Uncle Ben walked over carrying a bottle of water. "You've been working since morning. Take a break."

Ethan accepted the bottle with a grateful smile. "Thank you."

The old gardener sat beside him. "I've watched many people come and go in this house. But you're different."

Ethan chuckled. "Different how?"

"You never complain."

Ethan looked at the shining car in front of him. "My mother at the orphanage always said something."

"What did she say?"

"'Life becomes heavier when you carry hatred.' So I try not to hate anyone."

Uncle Ben smiled warmly. "She was a wise woman."

Ethan nodded. "She was."

Inside the mansion, Kyle and Sophia were talking alone in the living room.

"I still can't believe you married him," Kyle admitted.

Sophia sighed. "It wasn't completely my choice."

"I know about your grandfather's promise." Kyle looked at her seriously. "But promises don't create happiness."

Sophia remained silent.

Kyle continued. "Tell me honestly. Are you happy?"

She looked down at her wedding ring. After several seconds, she quietly answered, "I... don't know."

Kyle's eyes softened. "You deserve someone who can stand beside you. Someone who can protect you. Someone who understands your dreams."

Sophia didn't answer. Before either of them could continue, Ethan entered with a tray of tea. He placed a cup in front of Kyle. "Please."

Kyle accepted it politely. "Thank you."

As Ethan turned to leave, Kyle suddenly asked, "Ethan."

He stopped. "Yes?"

"I heard you're good at fixing things."

"I know a little."

"My sports car has been making a strange noise. Would you mind taking a look later?"

Ethan smiled. "Of course. No problem."

Mrs. Lawson looked pleased. "See? I told you he was useful."

Kyle smiled faintly. "Yes... very useful."

An hour later, Kyle opened the hood of his sports car. Ethan carefully examined the engine. Within minutes, he found the problem. "A belt has become loose. It isn't serious."

Kyle folded his arms. "You can fix it?"

Ethan nodded. "If you have a wrench."

One of Kyle's bodyguards handed him a toolbox. Ethan tightened the belt, checked the engine, and closed the hood. "You can try it now."

Kyle started the engine. The strange noise had disappeared. His eyebrows rose slightly. "You actually know what you're doing."

Ethan smiled. "I've repaired a lot of old cars."

Kyle looked at him thoughtfully. For the first time that day, he realized Ethan wasn't completely useless. Still, fixing cars didn't change anything. In Kyle's eyes, a poor man was still a poor man.

---

As evening approached, Kyle prepared to leave. Before getting into his car, he looked at Sophia. "I'm hosting a small dinner tomorrow night. I'd like you to come."

Mrs. Lawson answered before Sophia could speak. "She'll be there."

Kyle smiled. "I'll send someone with the invitation." He then looked at Ethan. "I'm sorry. The event is by invitation only." His words sounded polite, but everyone understood what he meant.

Ethan simply smiled. "I hope you all enjoy yourselves."

Kyle nodded before getting into his car. The sports car roared to life and drove out of the Lawson mansion. Mrs. Lawson watched it disappear with admiration. "What an outstanding young man." She turned to Ethan. "If only you had half of Kyle's ability." Without waiting for a response, she walked back into the house.

Ethan stood quietly in the driveway. He looked down at his rough hands. Then he smiled faintly. He wasn't jealous of Kyle's wealth. He only wished that one day, he could earn enough respect so people would judge him by his character instead of his bank account.

Little did he know, Kyle had already made a decision. He wasn't just going to become a guest at the Lawson mansion. He was going to make Ethan's life there a living nightmare.