King-In-Law, The Hidden God Of War!

008

Raymond sat up straight, his face cold, his voice calm to the point of indifference: “I will not divorce. For any reason.”

Mr. Dante frowned, curling his lip: “Not divorce? If you don’t divorce, where will you get the money to treat Anna? Or are you just going to sit there and watch the girl wither away?”

Raymond paused, for the first time his eyes clearly confused. He looked at each person in turn, his voice hoarse: “Who is Anna?”

Mrs. Kiera sneered, her voice dry and cold: “You’re really good at playing dumb. Anna is Sophia’s biological daughter, my granddaughter, currently in the hospital, on a ventilator every day, and the hospital bills are in the hundreds of millions with no idea how to pay.”

Laura stared at Raymond, her voice like rubbing salt in a wound: “You’ve been gone for four years, don’t even know your own child’s face, and now you’re still putting on a show. If you have any conscience, just sign the papers, stop making trouble.”

Raymond sat there in silence for a long time, both hands clenched on the table. His lips pressed tight, his eyes darkened, and for a moment, the cold mask on his face seemed to c***k. He looked at Sophia, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible: “You… Anna is my child?”

Sophia didn’t look up, only replied curtly: “Yes. But that doesn’t matter anymore. We need money for treatment, not you.”

Mr. Dante waved his hand, emphasizing: “Be realistic, Raymond. What face do you even have left to sit here? If you really loved your child, you should step aside, stop dragging Sophia down with you.”

Raymond tightened his fists, lowering his voice: “I’ll pay Anna’s hospital bills. No one else needs to bear this burden.”

Mrs. Kiera laughed, an unpleasant sound: “And what will you use to pay? Stop making things up. If you really had money, you wouldn’t have come back looking like this. Don’t waste your breath boasting, even this meal is only because the government happened to invite you.”

Laura added, unable to hide her contempt: “I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you in my life. If you had money, you wouldn’t be in this state. Don’t think you can fool my mother with your lies.”

Sophia could no longer keep up her indifferent façade. She looked at Raymond, eyes tired, and said briefly: “Stop making things worse. Don’t take on any more responsibility. If you truly cared, you wouldn’t have left me four years ago.”

“Hmph, now you come back pretending to be the good guy.” Mrs. Kiera pressed on: “Sign the divorce papers right now, that’s the best thing you can do for Sophia, and we’ll have money to treat Anna.”

Raymond sat still for a moment before finally speaking, his voice steady: “I won’t sign. And I’ll pay Anna’s hospital bills.”

The air in the room grew heavier and heavier. Mr. Dante tapped his fingers on the table, scowling: “Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone as useless as you. Can’t do anything for your wife or child, and you’ve dragged the whole family into this mess.”

Mrs. Kiera scooted closer to her husband, her tone harsh: “Don’t think you can avoid this forever. You’ll never ruin my daughter’s life again. I said it, I’ll force you to sign those divorce papers no matter what. Sophia deserves a different life, not to waste her youth on someone like you.”

“Truly shameless. Who lives in this world without even knowing what shame is, like you?” Laura leaned on the table, scanning Raymond from head to toe with a sneer: “You think you’ve got money? Think you can do anything for Anna? In this city, without the Grant family, we’re just nobodies.”

Mrs. Kiera turned to Sophia, her voice even sharper: “Tomorrow, go meet Young Master Grant for me. Apologize sincerely, beg him to let it go. Otherwise, our whole family is finished, and no one can save Anna.”

“I understand. There’s… there’s no other way.” Sophia bit her lip, eyes red, but still nodded, her voice full of exhaustion.

Raymond looked at each of them in turn, his voice icy, every word clear: “No one in this family has to fear the Grants. And you don’t have to beg anyone.”

Mr. Dante burst out laughing, full of contempt: “Who do you think you are to say that? You disappeared for years, couldn’t even provide for a child, now you come back acting like you can carry the whole world.”

“Don’t pretend to be some hero here.” Laura sneered, curling her lip: “No one believes a word you say. Tomorrow, Sophia still has to meet Young Master Grant, or don’t blame Mom and Dad for cutting you off.”

Mrs. Kiera concluded, her voice no longer holding back: “If you have any self-respect, sign the divorce papers right now. Don’t drag my daughter and Anna down with you anymore. I’ve said it, this family will never accept a useless man like you as our son-in-law.”

Raymond leaned back in his chair, his gaze icy, no longer bothering to reply. The room was thick with scorn, helplessness, and a determination to push him out of his own family. Even Sophia had yet to forgive and trust him.

Not long after, the dinner ended. The whole family quietly stood up and left the room, not one bothering to say a decent word to Raymond. The sound of their shoes on the cold stone echoed down the long hallway. It was late outside, the hotel corridor deserted.

Laura walked close to her mother, not bothering to hide her displeasure: “Still tagging along?”

Mrs. Kiera snapped: “How long do you plan to keep following us? Someone as useless as you…”

Mr. Dante walked silently in front, occasionally glancing back at Raymond with a strange look. He muttered, only loud enough for himself: “This life really is nothing but bad luck…”

Sophia clutched her handbag, not looking at anyone, not even glancing at Raymond, simply walking straight to the parking lot, getting in the car without a word. The car door closed, shutting her off completely from the gloom behind.

Laura stopped, speaking softly to her mother but deliberately loud enough for Raymond to hear: “Always hanging around, never knows shame.”

Mrs. Kiera added: “It’s best if you just disappear somewhere. Don’t hover around this family anymore. Whatever you and Sophia had ended the day you left!”

Raymond stood still, silent, watching Sophia. The whole family walked out, got in their car and sped away, leaving him standing alone under the yellow lights of the hotel parking lot.

The parking lot was nearly empty late at night, only a few scattered cars, everything quiet. Raymond slowly walked toward the gate. As he walked, he replayed the things he’d just heard, his face still indifferent, emotionless.

Raymond took out his phone and called Vera: “Have someone find out which hospital my daughter is currently in.”

As he reached the gate and turned down the side path where he’d parked his car, suddenly a black SUV sped up and braked hard across his path. The headlights flashed on, glaring straight into his face. The car doors opened, five or six tough-looking men got out, eyes cold. The one in the middle, his sleeves covered in tattoos, spat his gum onto the ground: “You Raymond Wang?”

Raymond stopped, showing no fear, his cold gaze sweeping over them, saying nothing, only curling his lip slightly.

The tattooed man pulled out a switchblade, growling: “Someone paid for you to get a lesson. Don’t blame us for being rough.”

The air grew colder, the yellow light casting long shadows on the wet pavement. Raymond shifted his foot forward, hand clenched, eyes never leaving his opponents.

The gang spread out, surrounding him, every face full of murderous intent. In the distance, a car horn sounded through the night, but here in this hidden corner, there was no one but Raymond and the thugs to witness what was about to happen.