Project Overclock : The Revenge of the Rejected Son in Law

"You should have learned to knock, Stefano. But I suppose a loser like you lacks any sense of manners." Julian's deep voice shattered the silence of the bedroom that was supposed to be Stefano and Vivianne’s private sanctuary. Stefano stood frozen at the threshold. His hand still gripped the cold doorknob, while his eyes took in the scene before him with a pain that pierced through to his bones. On the large bed with its disheveled silk sheets, Vivianne leaned back casually against Julian’s chest. His wife wore only a thin bathrobe, while Julian was shirtless, smirking as if he had just won the lottery. "Vivianne?" Stefano’s voice was hoarse. "What is the meaning of this?" Vivianne let out a long sigh, her face clouded with boredom. She didn't even bother to get up or cover herself. "Don't act so shocked, Stefano. You’ve known our relationship has been dead for a long time. Your sudden arrival is just ruining the mood." "Ruining the mood?" Stefano stepped inside, his legs feeling heavy, his knees weak and trembling. "I came home early because I wanted to apologize for what happened this afternoon! I bought you a gift; I wanted us to talk things through!" Julian burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the luxurious room. "Talk things through? With what? With money you earned from picking up trash? Or the monthly allowance your mother-in-law gives you?" "Shut your mouth, Julian!" Stefano shouted, his eyes flashing with a red glint. "Don't you yell at him!" Vivianne snapped, her eyes burning with anger. "Julian is right. You have nothing to give me. You’re nothing but a burden, Stefano. Saving my life years ago doesn't mean you get to cling to me like a leech for the rest of your life." Stefano’s chest felt tight. Every word coming out of Vivianne’s mouth felt like a blade carving into his heart. He stared at his wife in disbelief. "I loved you, Vivianne. I devoted myself to you for these past two years. I did everything for you!" "And it wasn't enough!" Vivianne stood up, walking toward Stefano with a look of pure contempt. "Love can't buy designer bags. Love can't give me social standing. You’re just a poor man with no future. Look at Julian, he’s a successful businessman, a peer. And you? You aren't even worthy of washing his shoes." The bedroom door suddenly swung wide open. Elara, Vivianne’s mother, walked in with a stiff expression, followed by Vivianne’s two younger sisters, Clara and Cindy. Behind them, several guests from the small party downstairs peeked in with curious faces. "What is all this commotion?" Elara asked coldly, her gaze immediately locking onto Stefano with deep-seated hatred. "Madam Elara, look at this man," Julian said as he got up from the bed, casually putting on his shirt. "He barged in here and started shouting nonsense. And worse, my limited-edition gold watch went missing right after he passed by my study earlier." Stefano’s eyes widened. "What? What are you talking about? I just got home!" Elara narrowed her eyes. "A thief? So, besides being useless, you’ve started stealing in this house, too?" "I didn’t steal anything!" Stefano cried out, his voice rising in frustration. "He’s lying! They’re having an affair right here, and now you’re accusing me of stealing?" He pointed his finger directly at Julian. Clara, Vivianne’s youngest sister, gave a cynical laugh. "Affair? Vivianne is simply choosing a man who is worthy of her. And you, Stefano, look at your filthy jacket pocket. There’s something bulging out of it." Stefano reached into his pocket in a panic, and his heart nearly stopped when his fingers touched cold metal. He pulled it out, and a shimmering gold watch fell to the floor. A collective gasp of shock rose from the crowd of guests at the door. "That’s my watch!" Julian shouted, his face reflexively putting on a perfect act of outrage. "You bastard! You really did steal it!" "I don't know how this got in there! Julian, you framed me!" Stefano tried to approach Julian, his chest heaving with rage, but two large men, the family’s security guards, immediately grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back. Stefano let out a heartbreaking groan of pain. "Enough!" Elara stepped forward and, without warning, landed a sharp slap across Stefano’s cheek. Crack! Stefano’s head snapped to the side. A stinging heat spread across his cheek, but the shame he felt burned far worse. "You have brought enough disgrace to our family, Stefano," Elara said in a cold voice. "Not only are you poor and useless, but you are also a criminal. Do you want me to call the police and let you rot in prison?" Stefano looked at Vivianne, searching for a single shred of defense. However, she simply crossed her arms over her chest, looking at him as if he were a disgusting insect. "Forget it, Mother. No need for the police. I just want him out of my life forever." Julian grabbed a folder from the vanity and threw it at the feet of Stefano, who was kneeling under the pressure of the guards. "Sign these divorce papers right now. If you do, we’ll consider this theft matter settled. But if you don't, I’ll make sure you’re rotting in the darkest cell tonight." "Vivianne..." Stefano looked at her with bloodshot eyes. "You know I didn't do it. You know how sincere I’ve been with you." Vivianne crouched in front of Stefano, grabbing his chin to force him to look at her. "Your sincerity is worthless, Stefano. You are a stain on my life. Sign it quickly, then get out of here before I change my mind and let Julian break your bones." Stefano looked around. Clara and Cindy were watching him with triumphant smiles. The guests were whispering, laughing at his misfortune. Julian stood behind Vivianne, wearing a mocking smirk. "Why? Why is the world so cruel to me?" Stefano asked himself. He had given everything, humbling himself for two years for a love that turned out to be nothing but an illusion. "Give me the pen," Stefano said in a low voice. One of the guards released one of his hands and handed him a pen. With a hand trembling violently from the rage boiling in his chest, Stefano signed the document. Every stroke of the pen felt like the end of his dignity as a human being. Once he finished, Julian snatched the paper away. "Good. Now, hand over the house keys and the phone Vivianne bought for you. You are forbidden from taking anything that belongs to this family." "But it’s late, and it’s pouring rain outside," Stefano tried to protest. "That is not our concern," Elara interrupted. "You entered this house as a vagabond, and you will leave as a vagabond. Drag him out!" The guards dragged Stefano through the halls of the mansion he had once considered his home. Along the way, Julian’s friends intentionally spilled drinks on him, laughing as the sticky liquid soaked into Stefano’s already tattered clothes. "Don't come back, trash!" Cindy shouted with a laugh. Stefano was thrown out of the massive gates of the family estate. His body hit the hard, wet pavement. The heavy rain immediately drenched him, washing away the tears that continued to flow. He heard the iron gates slam shut, followed by the sound of fading laughter from behind the high walls.