Ridiculed into Wealth

The Making of a Phantom

Three months.

That’s how long they gave him.

Three months to shed the name Liam Carter — the doormat son-in-law, the nobody husband — and become someone the world wouldn’t dare look down on.

At first, it felt like dying.

Every morning, he woke up before sunrise in the private Hawthorne estate overlooking the Hudson. A different world. One of silent staff, private chefs, biometric security, and rooms filled with books he couldn’t even pronounce the titles of.

There were no distractions. No calls. No visits. Just work.

And Voss. Always Voss.

“You have to unlearn the man you were,” Voss had said. “If you want to survive the war you’re about to start.”

They began with the basics: etiquette, speech, posture. He had lessons on public speaking, negotiation, corporate law. Military-grade fitness training followed — boxing, krav maga, cold swims before breakfast.

He bled. He bruised. He broke.

But he never quit.

It was very hard but he persevered.

Because every time his fists hit the heavy bag, he saw Charles Montgomery’s smirk.

And his words, "There’s a valet ticket in the kitchen for you. My father asked me to tell you—he doesn’t want you here when the press arrives.”

And

“You were a charity case. You still are. Just sign the divorce papers when they come.”

Every time the weights shook in his hands, he remembered being laughed out of the mansion like a pest, an embarrassment, his resolve grew stronger.

And above it all, Natalie’s cold eyes haunted him. He could feel that she also saw him as an embarrassment. Someone who could never gain the love and approval of her family, friends and acquaintances.

She could even be planning on divorcing him. After all, he was just a man she married on a whim, in rebellion against her father because she didn't want to marry the man they arranged for her to marry.

Perhaps she was considering marrying her arranged suitor now.

They had been like strangers living under the same roof for some time now. It made sense to believe she was planning on jolting, divorcing him.

None of that seemed to matter now.

One Night, Near Midnight

They had just finished a training session.

“You’ve changed,” Voss said, standing across the rooftop terrace. The skyline glimmered behind him.

Liam wiped sweat from his brow. He’d just finished running eight miles on the estate’s upper track. “I needed to.”

“No,” Voss said, stepping closer. “You chose to. That matters more.”

He handed Liam a file.

Liam opened it.

Inside were photographs. Names. Bank accounts. Business ties. All linked to one familiar name.

Charles Montgomery.

“Your brother-in-law,” Voss said. “He’s been using Montgomery Group to launder bribe money through a shell corporation in Dubai. The Security and Exchange Comission (Sec) is already sniffing around.”

Liam closed the file.

He kept his face expressionless but thought to himself that the file in his hands was enough to put Charles away for a very long time.

Didn't his father just praise him at the birthday party they held recently to celebrate his 60 years of life?

What had Mr. Montgomery Sr. said, oh, yes..

"And a special thanks to my children. To Charles, my eldest — whose business acumen has already tripled the Montgomery Group’s quarterly gains…”

He could still hear the applause.

He had applauded Charles as well but now Liam could see he had been engaged in shady deals.

So this was what he was doing behind his father's back? Or perhaps his father was not only aware of it but was supporting him behind the scenes.

If he were exposed, the golden boy image he had painted fort himself would comer off like a shell.

“Why are you giving me this now?” he asked.

Voss’s expression was unreadable. “Because next week is the Montgomery Gala. Their hundred-year company anniversary. Full press coverage. Political guests. Global investors.”

Liam’s eyes darkened. “And?” he asked, his thoughts racing.

“And your invitation is already waiting,” Voss said. “As Mr. Liam Hawthorne.”

That sounded distinguished and he smiled. But he had to have the image that went with the distinguished name.

He recalled how all the men were always dressed, elegant in their tailor made suits or tuxedo and how he had always appeared like that pauper he was. Never again.

These three months away from the Montgomerys had been an eye opener. His trainings might have been death itself but at least he had peace and was surrounded by those who knew his worth and appreciated him.

As though reading his thoughts, "Voss said," Rest assured, everything to make sure you make an appearance worthy of the Hawthorne sole heir is already in place.

Liam nodded.

This was getting interesting.

He wondered what their reaction would be once he came before them again.

They may have thought that they had got rid of him for good and he was not going to make it out there on his own but would soon come crawling back to them, his tail between his legs but they were going to find out that it was farther than the truth of his situation.

He could not wait to see the look on their faces when they saw him.

He had them to thank because now, his wealth was his alone and they were now going to be under his mercy.

Natalie, his so called loving wife had not once called him since he left their father's birthday party three months ago. That goes to show how mmuchhh she cared what happened to him.

The thought hurt mire than he cared to admit and he brushed an angry tear from his eyes. He had grown to love her but it had been one sided.

He had hoped it would change. That she would grow to love him back. Maybe not as much as he did but at least just a tiny bit but it was clear that she hadn't and that was okay because now, he knew those who love hi and those who didn't and how he was going to treat everyone.

"Let's continue with the training", he told Viss, who nodded in approval, the sides of his cheek lifted in a little smile of admiration.