The Tycoon Son-in-law

Ch 3

Drex felt like he had been punched square in the gut.

His eyes widened, breath catching halfway. “What… what are you talking about?” he stammered.

Janice’s chuckle sent shivers down Drex’s spine.

She folded her arms, cocked her hip to the side, and spoke casually, “I thought it was way too obvious. Annabelle looks nothing like you, Drex. Truly, you saw me pregnant, you were there when I gave birth to her, but she's not yours."

Drex stared at her, shock rooting him to the spot. His mind went blank, words refusing to form.

Unbothered, Janice continued while inspecting her manicure. "You see, Anna's father proposed to me a day after the death of my grandfather and we’ll be getting married very soon. Isn’t that wonderful? He’s ten times richer than you could ever be, even in your next life, plus he has a great body, too. Let's get a divorce and..."

"When?” Drex cut in, his voice sharp enough to make her pause.

Janice raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”

“When exactly did you cheat on me?” Drex asked, anger and disbelief braided tightly together.

His fists clenched at his sides, his entire body trembling as if holding back an earthquake.

Janice smiled, as though his pain were nothing more than light entertainment. “Don’t call it cheating. That would make me sound like a bad person.”

Drex ground his teeth, nails digging into his palms as he struggled to keep himself from exploding.

Janice’s gaze drifted, her tone turning distant. "Well, it was a month after we got married. Five years ago...I was with him." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "He came inside me that night, and I did hope I wouldn't get pregnant knowing it would complicate my life or bring me embarrassment."

Drex’s face contorted in anguish.

Janice’s expression shifted, a sly smile slowly spreading across her face. “But I did get pregnant. And when you told me to go to the hospital, I lied. I told you it was just stomach discomfort. In truth, I went there and found out I was pregnant. That’s when I knew I had to do something.”

Her tone remained disturbingly casual.

“At first, I wanted to get rid of Anna, but the doctor said my body was too weak for an abortion. So I decided to pin her on you. I had no choice but to seduce you that night so we could sleep together.”

She said it so casually like it was nothing.

Drex stared at the woman he had married, disbelief flooding his veins. She looked less like a wife now and more like a witch, brewing her potions out of people's pain.

But this wasn't the time to think about this. He had a bigger priority in mind and that was his father’s deteriorating health.

“If that’s the case,” Drex said, forcing his voice to stay steady, “then this guy you cheated on me with, why didn't you ask him for money? Why did you have to take mine?”

“Who’s my husband?” Janice replied flatly, as if he were slow. “You or him? You’re the one with responsibility. To me and to my family.”

“So your plan was to strip me of everything and leave me with nothing?” Drex asked quietly.

Janice lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug. “Interpret it however you want. That’s not my problem.”

“And that man,” Drex continued, his voice tight, “Anna’s biological father. Who the hell is he?”

Janice chuckled and shook her head. “You can’t be that stupid, Drex.”

Drex gritted her teeth upon realization. "Jordan Whitmore."

Janice laughed softly and nodded. "Yes. That's definitely him."

Jordan Whitmore came from one of the wealthiest families in Crestfall City, a family worth billions. He was the man the Ellingtons had wanted Janice to marry from the very beginning, everyone except her grandfather, simply because of his money.

Drex had never believed Janice would stoop so low as to have an affair while married. She always carried herself with pride and dignity.

How foolish he had been.

“This conversation is dragging on,” Steven cut in impatiently. “My sister already asked for a divorce, Drex. Just give it to her. Once she marries Jordan, life is going to be smooth sailing for my family and me.”

“So you can keep leeching off your sister?” Drex shot back, frowning.

It was painfully clear now. They had all known the truth. Yet they had played him like a fool under his own roof, probably laughing behind his back about how pathetic and stupid he was.

“Stop talking nonsense,” Steven snapped, rising to his feet.

Drex shook his head slowly. “I don’t care. Give me my money, Steven. You have no right to touch what I earned with my blood and sweat. You do nothing all day except gamble and mess around. You borrow money to rent flashy cars just to show off to girls. You’ve never worked a single day in your life, and yet you still want to get married?”

Enraged, Steven grabbed a wine bottle and hurled it at him. Drex caught it midair and flung it straight back.

The bottle struck Steven squarely on the forehead and shattered. He stumbled back, blood spilling as he cried out in pain.

“Drex, why did you hit him?” Janice screamed, her face twisted with fury. “Are you trying to kill my brother?!”

“Get out!” Tom roared. “How dare you cause trouble in my house!”

Martha shrieked, “Divorce him! Janice, you must divorce him! Jordan is a hundred times better than this trash! How dare you hit my son? Do you have a death wish?”

With that, she lunged forward and slapped Drex hard across the face.

Smack!

Drex’s head snapped to the side from the impact, his jaw tightening as he endured it.

“Get out, Drex! Leave!” Janice screamed, pointing at the door like she was casting him out. “Get out of my house!”

“I’ll kill you! I swear I’ll kill you!” Steven screamed, clutching his bleeding head. “Say goodbye to your money! I’m never giving you a single cent back!”

Suddenly, the sound of a car honking was heard and Janice jumped up, squealing like a little child who was just given candy, "Oh my, Jordan is here to take me out for wedding ring measurements.”

The rest of the family sprang to their feet, smoothing down clothes and straightening posture as if preparing for a royal entrance.

Janice took fast steps out of the living room. When she opened it, Jordan was already stepping out of his sleek black sedan, moving like a man used to having the world at his feet.

He wore a dark tailored suit and a silver Carate watch that could have bought a small house, and he seemed to be a few years older than Drex.

“That’s the kind of man my daughter should be with,” Martha said, her eyes sparkling with pride. “See a man like that, Drex? No matter how high you climb, you’ll never reach him.”

“Honey, Drex agreed to the divorce,” Janice said sweetly, leaning into Jordan’s right arm as if she had been waiting for this moment all her life.

Jordan was stunned.