The Vicious Son-in-law

Chapter 1

The Williams Villa was filled with business elites from all over Manhattan, New York. The Walton company, an influential business which was owned by the Williams family, was hosting a grand party to seal a business contract with the Russel Corporation, one of the most profitable companies in the heart of New York. 

They had for long been trying to sign a contract deal with the Russell Corporation and now that it had happened, they had every reason to celebrate elaborately, inviting famous and respected elites all over Manhattan and New York to share in their success.

The head of the Walton company, Lady Flora Williams stood at the podium in a stunning silver gown, with a look of triumph on her face. Lady Flora Williams took over the Walton company after her husband passed away three years ago. 

With a signal from her, the excitement from the guests quieted down and she raised her glass in a toast. 

“Ladies and distinguished guests, join us today as we celebrate a business deal. To Russell Corporation, thank you for sharing our vision.”

There was a loud applause in the hall as the guests cheered in support. 

Warren, the son-in-law of Lady Williams, watched the crowd from a distance across the hall with a slight smile. Being married to Devan, one of the granddaughters of Lady Williams, he was accustomed to being the odd one out. His lack of business connections and unknown background made him a subject of mockery in the Williams family for years. When Master Williams, the founder of the Walton Company, brought him to Manhattan, he had hoped that he would get along with every member of the Williams Company but they turned out to be exactly what the public had said. They looked down on people that weren’t of their status and they made it clear to him that he wasn’t a part of their world and would never be.

Unknown to the members of the Williams family. Warren and Master Williams met in Brooklyn during one of the Late Veteran businessmen’s meetings with another company. Master Williams knew of his true identity before he passed away. 

Warren moved to Manhattan because he got tired of the way his father was being controlled by his mistress constantly. His father’s mistress was able to manipulate him into making her a co-owner of the family company and was secretly divulging money from the company’s finances, but his father refused to believe him and sent him out of the family house. Warren’s father also owned a highly influential and wealthy company in Brooklyn, The Sterling Heights Company.

Taking Warren with him to Manhattan with Warren’s consent, Master Williams decided not to reveal Warren’s identity to his family until an appointed time, teaching him more things about running a business and owning a corporation. Two years after Warren was brought into the Williams family, on the instruction of Master Williams, he married Devan Williams to the dismay of her parents and her cousins who thought of Warren as a nobody and felt he was only here to take shares from the company. Master Williams passed away without telling his family about Warren’s true identity, leaving them to think of Warren as someone of a low social class. 

Warren on the other hand, made up his mind that he was no longer a part of his father’s family as long as his father’s mistress was still co-owner of Sterling Heights company and since his father made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

Warren’s thoughts are interrupted by the mock clap of someone approaching him. Troy and Laurel Williams are Devan’s cousins. He clenched his hands and tried so hard not to go off in another direction.

“Well, well, well. Look who we have here. The famous son-in-law of the Williams family,” Troy said with a mocking tone. Warren decided to ignore him. This wasn’t the first time Troy was talking down on him. Everyone in the Williams family, including his wife, looked down on him because they all thought he was a nobody. Well, he was; after all, he had no family. He dropped the wine glass and tried to walk away but Laurel stopped him.

“Are you leaving already, brother-in-law? The party just begun,” Laurel said with a sick, sweetening smile, and Troy snorted.

“How does it feel to be amid New York elite businessmen? I’m pretty sure you never thought it would happen, right?” She asked again.

“Of course, I am happy to be here,” Warren replied, his smile tight. Among all family members of the Williams family, Troy, Laurel and Kara made it obvious that what they had for him was seething hatred. He had no idea why. He tried his best to stay out of their way but it seemed to make matters worse even.

“I still don’t know what Devan sees in you; there are so many elites in Manhattan. I don’t know why she had to settle for you,” Troy mused, his eyes filled with disdain and Laurel laughed.

“Come on, let’s head back to the party. Our guests and friends are waiting for us” Laurel said and dragged Troy's hand slowly for him to follow her.

Warren gritted his teeth, he was furious. He didn’t want to attend the party in the first place but Devan asked him to. He scanned the hall, trying to spot Devan and he finally saw her walking towards his direction, dressed in a red designer gown.

“What were my cousins saying to you this time?” She asked with an expression on her face that Warren couldn’t decipher. Was it a concern or worry? She had never been concerned about him; she didn’t talk down on him, but she didn’t say anything when the others did either. Warren tried to take his mind off the short conversation he had with her cousins and gave her what he hoped was a genuine smile.

“Nothing you should worry about. I’m a bit tired and I will head back to the house now,” he replied her, grabbing his jacket and bidding her goodbye.