The Son-in-law's Wealth System

Chapter 2

I goes straight to the hotel with a pounding heart in my chest. Every step I take feels heavy. I can also feel the confusion, anger, and fear crawling on my chest as if something had already been decided without my knowledge. When Danica gave me the room number over the phone, her tone was full of finality and felt like a slap to my face.

When I finally reaches the door and pushes it open, a surreal sight welcomes me in an instant. The room is too luxurious that I can only afford in my dreams. There's a lot of huge furniture everywhere, expensive paintings on the walls, and thick carpets covering the floor. It is a huge contrast to the frugal life I've been living until now.

Jannica is sitting on the plush sofa with her mother beside her. They are quietly sipping tea and completely at ease, as if they didn't just invited me here to watch the end of my marriage and my career. My eyes flickers to Jannica first, and then to Danica, who gives me a resentful glare that makes my blood boil.

“Jannica, explain all of this." I said in a voice tight with urgency. I ignore the look on Danica’s eyes towards me. My focus is on my wife's face. “This is just a misunderstanding, right?”

Jannica puts her teacup down on the coffee table and sighs softly.

"Well…" Jannica started. "I didn’t betray you... Oh, forget it."

I feel a chill run on my spine when I hear the sudden change in her voice.

"No, it’s not a misunderstanding." Jannica said with a smile. "I betrayed you. Simple as that. So let’s get a divorce today, okay?”

The words hit me like a physical blow. My legs nearly gives out as I try to process what she had just said. Divorce? Now? After everything? After all the years we’d been together? Is it really that easy for her to do this?

Before I can respond, the door swings open and someone enters the room. It was Manuel, my brother-in-law. Manuel glances at me with a mocking expression before moving to greet Jannica and Danica.

“What are you doing here?” I asked in a low voice to contain the anger in my heart.

Manuel smirks at me and crosses his arms. He stands arrogantly in front of me and speaks in a tone dripping with mockery.

"Me? I’m here to fetch my sister and mother. As for you… Heh. You’re nothing more than trash. My sister finally did the right thing of divorcing you. She deserves better than someone like you. Jannica will just waste her bright future if she continue staying with you."

"And that means she is going to be with Hansel Renver?"

"Exactly."

My blood boils more at those words. Hansel Renver is someone Jannica and I knew during our college years. The three of us goes to the same university but I only got a few short interactions with Hansel Renver. His family owns a lot of businesses in our city and Hansel will inherit all of it in the future.

I know the Zedd family is always looking down on me. Ever since I married Jannica, her family never spare any chances to treat me like an outsider. My background, my family, and my career truly pales in comparison to the wealth and status of the Zedd family.

"But why...?" I can't help but asked.

“You're really asking that?" Manuel sneered at me. "Jannica obvioulsly agreed to go with Mr. Wallace because has everything you don't have."

Danica doesn't wait for me to react and add more insulting words towards me.

"Mr. Renver is offering fifty million to invest with our family's new business venture. Unlike you who can’t even gather ten thousand dollars so quickly, Mr. Renver can provide everything my daughter wants."

Fifty million. It is an amount I cannot even imagine to have in my pocket. I am well-aware that Jannica's family is greedy. But today, I can now clearly see just how desperate they are for money. And for that, the Zedd family and my wife are willing to throw themselves to Hansel Renver because of his money.

“I can’t believe you will do this to me, Jannica!" I shouted in a voice filled with disbelief. “You’re really going to sleep with that man for money? Are you seriously going to sell yourself just like that?”

"Watch your mouth, you loser!" Manuel said as he tightly grips my collar.

"Shut up! This is about me and my wife!" I argued back while glaring at him.

"You—"

"Oh, please! Stop now, will you?"

Jannica quickly separates us and quickly stands in between me and her brother. After making sure Manuel is okay, she throws me a contemptious look.

“Jannica, why are you doing this?” I asked.

I clench my fists and feels my chest tighter with anger while waiting for her answer. But instead of showing any remorse or guilt, Jannica rolls her eyes at me as if she is starting to get irritated. Then with a huff, she looks at me from head to toe before shaking her head.

“You're asking me why? Because you can’t do anything!” Jannica shrieked.

"...What?"

“You are proven useless to me to all those years that we've been married, Chandler. To be fair, I truly married you for love. But can you blame me? I keep seeing the man I used to love getting useless as the time goes by. You cannot even buy me a good gift on our last anniversary!"

Jannica exhales again before she continues.

"Unlike you, Hansel Renver can provide everything I need. Hansel just need to make a call and he can instantly bring me anything I want. Tell me. Can you do that, Chandler? Can you give me anything I want?"

"I—"

"No, you can't! You cannot even buy yourself a new suit. So how am I expecting you to buy me a new bag or jewelry during special occassions? You’ve done nothing for me, Chandler!”

Her words hit me hard. I always give the best of my ability to provide for our family. I always believe that I am not a failure and the right time for me to be lucky in life will come to me soon. But right now, I cannot ignore the truth anymore.

Jannica had given up to our marriage. This hurts me to admit it, but it's true that I cannot give anything that she asked from me. Although Jannica grew up as a rich lady, I thought she would understand our new life when she said yes to my proposal. But now, she is choosing a man for his wealth and power. Jannica is choosing someone who is not me.

"Back in university, I was so in love with you because I thought you are different. You were ambitious and full of ideas. You were the most capable man I knew. I chose you because you promised me a better life! But now? Just look at you!"

Jannica viciously points her fingers at me.

"You are now a loser. I tried to help you, Chandler. I asked my dad to get you a better job in one of our company but you refused. You just want to be an ordinary employee who works in a dull office from nine to five everyday! I asked you to think about our future but all you did was telling me for the right time. But when will it happen?! I am getting impatient, Chandler!"

The words I want to say is now stuck in my throat. I want to tell her the truth. Despite her beliefs, I want to say I’m not a real failure. I just have a little situation that stops me for showing my full potentials. But since it is not yet the right time, that means I can't show her that side of me yet.

"But Jannica, listen to me. I—"

“You don’t get it, Chandler!” Jannica shouted angrily. "You are just a nobody for me. You can’t even stand up for yourself! Gosh... You will never become someone who is worthy to be respected!”

My hands trembles in mixed emotion right now. I want to scream at her. I really want to tell her who I really was. I am now weighing wether I can give her a hint or just let everything I built with my own strength falls right in front of me.

“I’m so done with you, Chandler! I will have our family lawyer to prepare our divorce papers today." Jannica said coldly. “But don't worry. Since I'm the one who wants this divorce, then I will compensate you with money. Is five million enough for you? Knowing how frugal you are, I'm pretty sure that amount is enough for you."

Five million? I can feel my blood running cold in my veins. All of This wasn’t just about the money. It was about my pride, my dignity. I couldn’t let her go like this. Not now.

“I... I'll give you a luxurious life." I said before swallowing the lump in my throat. “I will find a way to make it happen. I’ll give you everything. So please... Don't divorce me.”

The room becomes silent for a moment. But Danica's mocking huff interrupts it followed by Manuel's laughter.

“You?" Manuel scoffs. “You will give my sister a luxurious life? You cannot even buy yourself a car! So pathetic!"

“Are you crazy now?” Danica added while shaking her head.

“I can do it. I have a way to make it happen. I can give my wife the things she wants. I—"

"Oh, please. Chandler, I know you. You will never give me the things I want to have."

"Jannica—"

"We're over, Chandler."

I look at Jannica straight to her eyes. I cannot see the love she used to have in it for me. Right now, her eyes are full of ridicule and mockery while staring at me. And those are breaking me slowly from the inside.

But before I can say another word, something strange is happening again. There is a sudden faint blue glowing light like a hologram flickering in front of me. When I blink my eyes, the time around us seems to become slow. And then, a female robotic voice echoes in my mind.

[Update: Wealthy System Activated.]

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[ | Character Profile |

Name: Chandler Logan

Real Name: Chandler Johanson

Level: 2

Class: Hidden Heir

Health: 70/100

Mana: 20/50

Reputation: -150 points

Wealth: 20 (Loan Limit: 10,000)

| Special Abilities |

Hidden Potential (Passive): Increases strength, intellect, and charisma by 7% each year of survival.

Family Legacy (Inactive): Once activated, it can unlock hidden wealth from the Johanson estate.

Resilience (Active): Reduces mental and physical damage by 20%]

I blink my eyes several times but the blue hologram light in front of me is still there. What is happening now?