THE MOST HEROIC SON IN LAW

Chapter 2. Young Master

"Young master..."

"What were you doing here?" Jack snorted, looking so unhappy when a man had suddenly bowed to him as soon as he had exited the airport area.

"Great Lord Hawthorne sent me to fetch you. The family missed your presence at home very much."

"Missed my presence?" Jack chuckled.

Jack's eyes narrowed, and flashes of bitter memories from years ago flashed through his mind. He clearly remembered when his mother had been dying and they had had nothing. Jack had been like a beggar on his knees with his pride stripped away, hoping that the Hawthorn family would help pay for his mother's treatment. Kneeling down to beg for mercy, only to be beaten and driven away like nothing more than a beggar.

"Five years had gone by and you expected me to forget all the humiliation and pain they had given us?" Jack leaned closer, his voice low and menacing. "My mother had been a serac. When she was dying, you all had just laughed at her suffering. Now they came looking for me? They wanted me back after all they had done?" Jack's teeth chattered as he spoke. His jaw hardened.

Now Jack had become the highest general. With all the struggles he had gone through. All the pain, the blurred hope, and the never-ending passion. Jack had gone through it alone with no support from anyone. After all the storms that had ravaged his life, the Hawthorne family couldn't seem to stand the smell of power in Jack's hands.

The butler had visibly stammered but still tried to maintain his calm demeanor. "Sir, I understand that the pastー"

"No, you understand nothing," Jack had cut in sharply. "Tell the Hawthorne family I'm not coming back. I'm done with them."

The butler had taken a deep breath, trying to hold on amidst the tension. Jack had stood proudly, full of authority with his sturdiness from the five years he had sweated out in his crazy training and fighting.

"Young master, I must tell you that the Zenith Group, the company owned by your mother's family, should be handed over to you. That isー"

"Handed over to me?" Jack laughed sarcastically. "Zenith had belonged to my mother from the beginning. The Hawthorne family had seized it after her death. This is not a ‘handed over.’ It's a ‘return’ of the rights you stole. Don't take me for a fool!"

"Sorry for my words, next time I'll be more careful in my speech."

"There is no next time," Jack had insisted. "Get out of my face because I don't want to deal with the Hawthorne family anymore."

Jack had given the butler a hateful look, then turned around without another word, leaving the airport at a brisk pace. The butler could only watch him go, his eyes full of worry. It didn't take long before he had pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and dialed.

"Samuel, I need your help. The Hawthorne family can't lose Jack again. Help him at all costs!"

***

In a taxi driving slowly through the city, Jack sat silently, lost in thought. Memories from five years ago began to take over his mind, bringing back the pain he had been trying to suppress. As his mother had lain dying, his family had refused to provide any help. The Hawthorne family had refused to provide any money or medical support.

In his complicated life, Jack had unexpectedly been reunited with the beautiful daughter of the Fontaine family. A relationship that had started because of rumors and a one-night stand that neither of them had wanted. While in their eyes he was a worthless bum, Jack had to throw away his pride and borrow $500,000 from his father-in-law to pay for treatment, thinking the money would save his mother's life. However, when he had arrived at the hospital with bated breath, he had found only his mother's lifeless body. He had been too late.

The memories had shaken Jack, making the anger and sadness he had bottled up for years bubble back to the surface. His heart still ached every time he recalled how his mother's life had ended without honor, without compassion from anyone, including his own family.

"Sir, should I take care of this matter for you?" Tyler asked. He glanced at Jack who had been silent since leaving the airport. It was obvious that his mood had fallen apart since meeting with the Hawthorne family butler.

"For now, leave it alone. I want to see what they'll do next," Jack had instructed. "If they tried to harass me, I wouldn't stay silent. They thought I was still the same stupid Jack Knight from five years ago."

Jack had finally had the old Fontaine family home standing majestically in front of him. He had gotten out of the taxi and looked at the huge door with mixed feelings. After five years of marriage to Sarah Fontaine, he had been back in this place, with a higher rank. With the pride he had put on his shoulders.

However, before he had knocked on the door, a voice from inside the house had caught his attention. He had stood by the door, listening carefully to the conversation going on inside. A familiar voice that he would never forget even if time rolled around.

"Had the death certificate been prepared?" asked the heavy voice that Jack had recognized as that of his father-in-law. "Once we had the deed, Sarah could go back to being single and marry Victor Jenkins."

"Yes, that would be best. Sarah shouldn't be stuck in this marriage any longer. Victor is a better choice for her future." Another voice, softer and smoother, had responded. "Compared to the useless bum Jack."

Jack had held his breath, his heart feeling like it had been stabbed. Forgery of the death certificate? They wanted to erase him from Sarah's life as if he had never existed. All this so that Sarah could marry Victor, the man they had chosen for her.

Jack's hands had been clenched tightly into fists. With seething anger, Jack had opened the door of the house without knocking. The people in the room had been surprised to see him standing in the doorway, his face full of disappointment and anger.

"Are you talking about me?" His voice had been low but threatening.