The Tycoon Son-in-law

Ch 6

A measly ten billion dollars.

The words echoed bitterly in his mind.

How ironic, considering his father had died because he could not come up with eight hundred thousand dollars.

Drex had already left the hotel, despite how hard Aric tried to stop him. He needed air. He needed space to think.

He wandered along the roadside like a lost soul. Cars sped past him, horns blaring, the streets crowded and noisy, yet none of it reached his ears. Everything felt distant, muted.

Ten billion dollars, and it came too late.

He still could not accept it.

Yet the ATM card clenched in his left hand felt solid and real. And as if fate were mocking him, an ATM machine stood just a few steps away. He hurried over, inserted the card, and entered the PIN.

The screen refreshed.

Balance: 10,000,000,000.

Drex stared at the long line of zeros, his jaw slowly dropping.

It looked real. Too real.

And yet he could barely believe his own eyes.

With a heavy sigh, he pulled out the card and leaned against the machine, his thoughts spiraling as the truth of his identity finally began to settle.

But there was something he had to do first.

He needed to go to the hospital and face his father.

At the hospital, a staff member led him to the room where his father’s body was kept. Drex stepped inside, his chest tightening at the sight of the white cloth draped over the bed.

He didn't move closer.

“I can’t look at you, Dad,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry.” His voice wavered. “I was useless. You died because I couldn’t protect you.” He swallowed hard. “I shouldn’t have ever gotten mixed up with the Ellingtons.”

His fists clenched.

“But don’t worry,” he continued, his voice lowering. “I know the truth now. About who I am. And I’m not letting this go.” He breathed out slowly. “I’ll make them pay. Every single one of them. I swear it.”

After arranging his father’s cremation and leaving the ashes at the crematorium, Drex returned home.

He knocked on the door and waited.

A few seconds passed before it opened.

Janice’s eyes widened. The cheerful smile on her face vanished the instant she saw him standing there.

“Huh? You…”

“Surprised?” Drex asked calmly. “Or were you expecting me to be dead?”

Janice blinked, stunned into silence, and she had no choice but to move aside as Drex walked in without an invitation.

Martha had just finished making breakfast for the family.

At the sight of Drex, Anna’s face lit up and she ran toward him.

“Daddy!”

The single word drew everyone’s attention.

Anna wrapped her small arms around him, and for a moment Drex just stared down at her. For five years, he believed the little girl was his, but in the end, she was not.

But then, he couldn't deny the bond, the first time she’d called him father, those memories.

Drex smiled and lifted her into his arms. “Yes,” he said softly. “I’m your daddy. No matter what.”

He glanced at Janice, and she stiffened, understanding the meaning behind his words.

“You’re alive?” Steven said as he strutted forward. “Wow. Even the trash wouldn’t take you. That’s embarrassing, man.”

“Steven, enough,” Janice snapped. She quickly took Anna from Drex’s arms. “Don’t say such things in front of the child.”

Steven scoffed, looking away.

Janice handed Anna to her father, then took a steadying breath before facing Drex again. “Since you’re back home, we have an unfinished discussion.”

Drex nodded, his face blank.

“The divorce,” Janice said. “We have to go through with it. I’ll return your money if you just let me go.”

Drex let out a deep breath and went to sit on a sofa, leaning against it. “Yeah, but it’s too late now.”

Janice frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“My dad’s dead,” he said, plain and heavy.

Janice’s eyes widened. “Oh… he's… dead. Wow. That’s… uh, I'm sorry for your loss.”