Me! The Most Extravagant Son-In-Law

“Ethan Cole, if you’d been any later, I’d have thought you died on the way here.” Logan Bennett’s mocking voice cut through the noise at the entrance of The Mirage, one of Los Angeles’s most exclusive clubs. When Logan turned around, he noticed the waitstaff moving politely around the VIP area—smiling, joking with him—but keeping a careful distance of at least a few feet from Ethan, as if his mere presence tainted the air. Ethan stayed calm. He was used to it. He was Logan’s brother-in-law, and his relationship with his wife’s family had always been tense. Years of cold looks and whispered insults had made him immune. Soon, the two of them reached a table surrounded by a group of drunk, privileged twenty-somethings. A waiter approached with a respectful bow and handed Ethan a receipt. “Hey, isn’t this Logan’s useless brother-in-law?” The group looked up, eyes gleaming with mischief. Ethan frowned but said nothing. Logan immediately snapped, “Speak up! God, you’re pathetic. I still don’t know why my sister ever married a loser like you.” “Easy, Logan.” One of the guys grinned. “Come on, man, don’t be so harsh. Your brother-in-law probably hasn’t been to a place like The Mirage before. But Ethan, this isn’t exactly cheap. You sure you can handle this bill?” Normally, Logan’s spending money came from his sister, Chloe Bennett. But lately, his taste for luxury had gotten out of hand. His allowance had long run dry, and he didn’t dare tell Chloe. So, he dragged Ethan along—to foot the bill. Ethan took the receipt. His expression changed instantly. $1,800 USD? Just for a few bottles of imported liquor? These spoiled brats didn’t even realize they were being scammed by the club. A heavily made-up girl with a short haircut sneered. “What, you can’t even afford that?” Her voice was loud enough to draw attention from the nearby tables. Ethan hesitated, then pulled a credit card from his wallet and handed it to the waiter. He didn’t have enough cash on hand for something this ridiculous. “Oh, it’s a credit card,” the girl said mockingly. “Wow. Big spender. Don’t cry when the bill comes next month.” After paying, Ethan quietly pocketed his card. A faint smile tugged at his lips. Cry? You won’t get the chance to see that. No one here knew the truth—that Ethan Cole came from one of the wealthiest families in the country. Because of an arranged engagement to Chloe Bennett, his parents had chosen to disguise their wealth, forcing Ethan to live modestly for five years to test her loyalty. If Chloe stayed faithful even when he was “broke,” the Cole family would return everything to him—along with their massive fortune. So Ethan endured five long years of humiliation as a “poor” son-in-law in the Bennett family. They all treated him like trash. Even Chloe, though polite, acted distant—more like a stranger than a wife. But those days were almost over. Tonight marked the final day of the five-year test. “Stop embarrassing yourself and drive me home,” Logan said sharply, snapping Ethan out of his thoughts. Ethan didn’t reply. He simply nodded and followed him out of the club. During the drive, Logan kept silent, the window rolled down as though even sharing air with Ethan disgusted him. But Ethan didn’t care. He was waiting for one thing only—the end of his family’s imposed exile. When they finally pulled up to the Bennetts’ Beverly Hills mansion, Logan’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Hey, that’s Ryan Chase’s car!” he exclaimed, spotting a sleek red Ferrari parked out front. Ethan’s hand tightened slightly on the steering wheel. Ryan Chase, heir to the Chase Group, was far richer than the Bennetts—and rumor had it that Chloe’s mother had been trying to pair her daughter with him. Everyone in their social circle knew Chloe’s marriage to Ethan was more of a formality, never consummated, never affectionate. As soon as the car stopped, Logan jumped out eagerly. A sudden crack followed—the sound of something catching. Ethan got out and realized Logan had flung the car door open too fast, tearing the side of his designer dress pants. The sharp rip exposed a strip of pale skin, and for a moment, it drew every eye nearby. Even in his irritation, Ethan glanced only once before looking away, uninterested. Logan caught him. “What the hell are you staring at?!” he snapped, red-faced. “I’ll knock your teeth out!” He tried to cover the tear, but it was hopeless. Panic flickered across his face—Ryan Chase was inside. How could he show up like this? Without a word, Ethan pulled off his shirt and handed it to him. “Tie it around your waist.” Logan hesitated, disgusted, but when he looked up, his irritation faltered. Ethan’s upper body was lean but muscular, every line of definition a testament to years of disciplined training. His wheat-colored skin glistened faintly under the mansion’s soft lighting. He looked more like a movie star than a down-on-his-luck husband. Logan blushed involuntarily. “Wh—what are you doing?” he stammered, clutching the shirt awkwardly. Ethan didn’t respond. He turned, grabbed the metal drainpipe along the side of the villa, and climbed up with effortless precision. In one smooth motion, he pushed open the second-floor window and slipped inside. The sequence was so swift and fluid that Logan just stood there, stunned—his heart pounding, cheeks still burning. Inside, Ethan pulled out his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. For the first time in five years, he smiled. “Son, your five-year ban is officially lifted. All family assets have been transferred to your name. Your accounts have been reactivated over the past month. I hope these five years have shown you Chloe’s true character. Whether you stay married is your decision.” He’d waited half a decade for that message. Finally, the clouds had cleared. His real life was about to begin. As for Chloe and her family… Ethan had already made his choice. No matter how this marriage ended, he would make the Bennetts—and the Chase family—remember every ounce of humiliation they’d ever made him endure. And he’d start with the gold-digging mother downstairs and Ryan Chase himself.