The Worthless Son-in-law Is A Billionaire

Chapter 3

Ethan's POV 

Frosting smashed into my face with a wet, humiliating slap. The sweet cake exploded across my eyes, nose, and mouth, chunks sliding down my cheap suit. 

Laughter erupted from every corner of the ballroom. Cameras flashed like fireworks, while I stood frozen for a second, the cold cream dripping onto my shirt as the crowd roared with amusement.

Victoria’s cruel laugh rang out loudest of all. “That’s what you get, parasite! A taste of the nothing you are!”

I slowly wiped the frosting from my eyes with the back of my hand. 

The world came back into focus through my sticky lashes. Sophia sat there at the front table, face pale, staring at me with lips parted like she wanted to speak, but no words came. She finally lowered her gaze to the floor instead. The same silence that had hurt me for five years.

My chest tightened as I felt something break inside me. Not anger at first, but disappointment so deep it felt like pain. 

I had stood by her, protected her, loved her, and endured everything her world threw at me. Yet here she was, unable or unwilling to defend me in front of everyone.

Heartbroken, I reached for my left hand. The simple silver wedding ring felt heavy after all these years. I slipped it off slowly and held it out to Sophia. My voice came out quiet but steady through the murmurs and laughs still echoing around the room.

“Sophia." 

She finally looked up again, her eyes wide now, as if she could sense what I was about to do.

I stepped a little bit closer to her table. “I gave you everything I had, my time, my loyalty, my love. I stood by you when no one else did. But if this is what our marriage means to your family, then I will not keep pretending anymore.”

Sophia’s breath caught. Tears glistened in her eyes, but she still said nothing. Her fingers trembled as she reached out, but I placed the ring gently on the table in front of her instead. It sat there like a small, broken promise.

A few people in the crowd stopped laughing. Others leaned forward, sensing that something had changed. The mood in the room shifted, confusion replacing amusement.

Jason broke the silence with a loud laugh from the side of the room. “Finally,” he said, raising his glass. “Get lost, janitor. You were never meant to be here anyway.”

A few people laughed again, but it was weaker this time, and uncertain.

I turned away from the table without responding. My suit was still covered in frosting, dripping slowly onto the floor as I walked. Each step left faint sticky marks behind me on the polished marble. I could feel every eye still on me, but I did not look back.

Whispers followed me like shadows.

“Such a shame.”

“He really thought he belonged here.”

“Poor guy.”

“About time they ended it.”

I pushed through the tall doors leading out of the ballroom. The night air hit my face immediately, cool and sharp against the sticky frosting. I stopped at the top of the grand stairs outside, taking a breath for the first time since it happened.

I just needed distance. I just needed silence.

But then the sound came.

At first it was faint, deep and distant, like thunder rolling across the ground. Then it grew louder. The vibration filled the air, shaking the silence of the night.

I frowned and turned slightly. Inside the ballroom, guests began moving toward the windows, confused murmurs spreading quickly.

“What is that sound?”

“Is someone arriving?”

“More guests?”

I wiped more frosting from my cheek and turned fully toward the driveway. Bright headlights appeared through the darkness, cutting through the night like blades of light.

One car appeared first, then another, then more. They came in perfect formation, fifty black limousines moving slowly through the gates of the mansion. The entire line of vehicles rolled forward with precision, as if they were part of a planned operation.

The crowd outside and inside the ballroom went completely quiet.

The limousines stopped along the long driveway in a straight formation. Doors opened at the same time, and armed security personnel stepped out first—big men in dark suits with serious faces and earpieces. 

They scanned the area quickly. Then came lawyers in sharp suits carrying briefcases, followed by executives and world-famous business leaders I recognized from news headlines. The kind of people who ran countries and companies from the shadows.

The entire crowd fell silent. Victoria’s wine glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. Jason’s smug grin froze on his face. Sophia stood up fully now, staring outside in disbelief.

From the lead limousine, an elderly man with silver hair and a powerful, dignified presence stepped out. He wore an expensive tailored suit that screamed old money and real power. I knew exactly who he was—Alexander Black. My father. The head of Blackstone Global.

He walked straight past the stunned guests without a glance at them. His steps were measured and confident. Every eye followed him as he moved through the parting crowd, heading directly toward me.

My heart pounded hard in my chest. This was the moment I had waited for, but now that it was here, it felt surreal. I stood still, cake still smeared on my clothes, as he stopped in front of me.

For a moment, there was silence so deep it felt like the world itself was holding its breath.

Then Alexander pulled me into a deep hug, his voice breaking as he whispered, “Son… what is this?”

The entire ballroom gasped at once.

Victoria’s hand flew to her mouth. Jason stepped back as if he had been struck. Sophia stood completely frozen, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Alexander raised his head slowly and spoke in a clear voice that carried across the entire courtyard and into the silent ballroom.

“Young Master Ethan Black,” he said, steady and firm, “after years of searching, I have finally found you. The board of Blackstone Global awaits the return of its rightful heir.”