The Worthless Son-in-law: Hidden Legend

The Luxurious Spring Estate

Lauren grabbed the doctor’s collar harshly.

“Why would you do that? Why the hell would you release my daughter to Asper’s men? Don’t you have security to call on?”

“Calm down, Miss Lauren. We thought the man was her father,” the doctor replied, his voice shaking.

“Her father, my foot!”

Lauren turned swiftly toward Ethan, grabbing his hands. “You have soldiers with you, right? You have to save Maya—she’s probably somewhere in one of Asper’s houses. She has a pin stuck in her eyebrow and eyelashes together; she needs surgery as soon as possible!” Her voice trembled with panic.

Ethan took a deep breath and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. “Listen to me, Lauren. I’m Maya’s father, aren’t I? So… Maya is with me.” He pointed to his chest, his voice calm but firm.

“What? You… you…” Lauren faltered, speechless. The reality hit her hard. Ethan was the father the doctor had mentioned. But how did he know Maya was in the hospital?

“Where is she?” Lauren demanded, her voice tight.

“At my house,” Ethan replied, pausing before continuing, “She’s been oper....”

“Your house? Why is she in your house? She was supposed to be in the hospital!” Lauren’s voice rose. “What kind of father are you? Did you want to kill my child? Take me there now! She needs to go to the hospital, now!”

Behind them, the doctor sighed in relief. He had feared Maya had been kidnapped, but it turned out her father had taken her. Why did Lauren say she had no father? Wasn’t the man right behind her?

The doctor decided it was none of his concern. What mattered now was that Maya was in safe hands.

Lauren, however, couldn’t stop thinking about Maya. She had been gone for more than an hour, and her daughter had been in pain for at least two or three hours. She could only hope the pin hadn’t affected her sight.

Ethan didn’t try to explain himself further. He knew that right now, the only thing that mattered was taking Lauren to Maya. There would be time for the questions later.

As they entered the SUV, Lauren was stunned. The luxury of the car alone made her blink in surprise. She wondered whose car Ethan had rented for her, and why it had such an intimidating feel.

When she climbed into the car, instinct made her want to leave. The soldiers inside had hardened faces, darkened eyes. Fear crept down her spine, but she had no choice but to follow Ethan to her daughter.

Ethan considered telling the soldiers to leave the car to make Lauren more comfortable, but he knew the presence of their uniforms on the street would cause too much of a scene. He didn't want his return to be known right now.

Lauren’s mind raced as the SUV sped down the road. She was full of questions: Where had Ethan gone? Why was he in this car with soldiers? Why did they all call him "Captain"? Had he been in the military? If he was in the military, that would explain why he’d been missing. But why would he be a captain after just five years? Wouldn’t it take ten to fifteen years to reach such a rank?

Her thoughts tumbled over one another. Without realizing it, she had begun to relax a little. Her furrowed brow remained, but the soldiers’ quiet professionalism seemed to settle her nerves. They held their air of authority, but their expressions softened as she adjusted to the atmosphere.

Ethan noticed her deepening confusion and, without a word, he understood. She was piecing it all together, but he couldn’t explain it to her just yet. Maya was the priority.

As the SUV passed through the gates of Spring, Lauren gasped. The grand, crafted letters spelling “SPRING” were adorned with intricate flowers, a breathtaking sight she’d only ever heard about in hushed whispers. She’d heard talk of Spring from her time with the Walkers, but she’d never imagined it like this.

“Your place is in Spring?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Ethan nodded, confirming what she had just seen. Lauren was left speechless. His house was in Spring, a place so exclusive that even the Walkers could only dream of it. How could Ethan—who had vanished five years ago—be living here? She glanced at him, trying to reconcile the man before her with the one she once knew.

Lauren blinked in disbelief. Had Ethan truly hit it big? She knew the Mavericks were wealthy once, but weren’t they all killed, with their estates seized and divided between the Walker, Stanley, and Henry families?

As the SUV approached Ethan’s mansion, Lauren’s mind was a blur of thoughts and questions. The mansion loomed ahead, imposing and luxurious. She didn’t have time to think about it now, though. Her daughter’s safety was all that mattered.

When they arrived, Ethan quickly ushered Lauren inside, and she could barely take in the grandeur of the estate. The marble floors, the opulent furniture, the sprawling halls—it was all overwhelming. But her focus remained on one thing: Maya.

The interior was nothing short of stunning. The luxurious design, the opulent decor—it was all beyond her wildest expectations. She made a mental note to explore the house thoroughly once Maya was better.

“Where is she?” Lauren asked, her voice sharp.

Ethan led her down a corridor, his pace quickening. “She’s here. I’ll explain everything when she’s okay, Lauren. I promise.”

They reached a door at the end of the hallway, and Ethan paused. “She’s inside. But please, trust me. Maya’s safe now.”

Lauren didn’t hesitate. She opened the door and rushed inside, her heart pounding in her chest.

There, lying in a bed surrounded by medical equipment, was Maya. She looked pale, but she was breathing, alive. Lauren’s heart caught in her throat at the sight of her daughter’s injuries—the pin had been removed from her skin.