The Supreme Son in Law

Chapter 3

Julian yelled in pain.

Ethan didn't say a word. He gave Julian’s ankle a sharp twist.

Julian lost his balance completely. His legs flew out, and he slammed hard against Table Twelve. Plates clattered, and a pot of hot tea tipped over, soaking his navy trousers.

The entire banquet hall was silent. Nobody spoke.

Julian scrambled back on the floor, clutching his ankle. His face was pale, and his hands were shaking with pure rage.

"You f*****g animal. You're dead!" Julian choked out, his voice cracked with shock. "I swear to God, you're a f*****g dead man!"

His two bodyguards stepped forward, reaching inside their jackets.

Ethan stood up straight. For three years, his back had been bent from pain. Now, he stood at his full height. His eyes were cold and focused. He didn't even look at the guards.

He turned to Clara, reached down, and took her cold hand.

"Let's go," Ethan said.

Clara was terrified. She stared at Ethan like she had never seen him before in her life.

"Ethan..." Clara whispered. "What did you just do?"

"You animal!" Beatrice screamed from Table One.

She ran over, her face red with fury. She tried to push Ethan, but Ethan didn't move an inch. It was like shoving a brick wall.

"You dare hit Young Master Mercer?!" Beatrice shrieked. "You want to ruin us! Old Madam, look at what this beggar did!"

Old Madam slammed her wooden cane against the floor so hard the wood echoed.

"Get out!" the old woman barked, glaring at Clara. "Take your stray dog and get out of my sight! You have until noon tomorrow to pay Julian's five million dollars! If you don't pay, Derek takes your company, and you are kicked out of this family forever!"

Julian pushed himself up against a chair, glaring at Ethan with pure hatred.

"Run while you can, beggar," Julian hissed. "By noon tomorrow, I'll take your wife, take your home, and have my men beat the s**t outta you!" Then he turned to face Derek, "Can you believe this f*****g guy? He thinks he's a macho man or something?"

Ethan didn't answer. He held Clara's hand tight and walked toward the double doors.

Nobody dared to step in front of him.

Outside, cold rain hit the pavement.

Ethan raised his hand and stopped a yellow taxi by the curb. He opened the back door and helped Clara inside.

Clara looked up at him through the open door, tears running down her cheeks.

"Ethan, where are you going?" Clara cried softly. "Julian owns our debt now, and the bank is taking everything tomorrow. Why did you touch him? What are we going to do now?"

Ethan reached out and gently wiped the rain and tears from her cheek. His voice was soft and steady.

"Go home, Clara. Lock the door and go to sleep."

"How can I sleep?" she sobbed.

"Trust me," Ethan said. "Just go home. Everything will be fine. We'll be fine."

Ethan handed the taxi driver a twenty-dollar bill and shut the door.

The car pulled away into the rainy night.

Ethan stood alone on the wet sidewalk. He waited until the red taillights turned the corner and vanished.

Then, he turned and walked into the dark alley behind the hotel.

His burner phone buzzed against his hip.

Ethan pulled it out and tapped the screen.

"Master Vance," a deep voice said.

"Dominic," Ethan said.

"Are you healed now sir?," Dominic Cross replied. "I am in Riverdale right now."

Through the heavy rain, two bright white headlights appeared at the end of the alley.

A long black sedan rolled slowly over the wet pavement and stopped two feet in front of Ethan.

The back door opened.

A tall man in a tailored dark coat stepped out, holding a large umbrella over Ethan's head. Dominic Cross bowed his head.

"Welcome back, Master Vance."

Dominic opened the car door for him. "Riverdale Municipal Bank is already ours. We bought sixty-five percent of the shares twenty minutes ago. Director Harris is waiting for your call."

Ethan sat inside the warm leather seat. He looked out the rain-streaked window.

"Did Julian Mercer pay cash for Clara's debt?" Ethan asked.

"No, sir," Dominic said, pulling up a tablet. "Julian didn't have five million dollars in cash. He borrowed it against Mercer Group's credit line at Riverdale Municipal Bank."

Ethan’s eyes turned cold.

"Pfttt," Ethan exclaimed, " this f*****g guy. So he used our bank's money to buy my wife's debt?"

"Yes, sir," Dominic nodded.

Ethan leaned back against the seat, his jaw tight.

"Call Director Harris right now," Ethan said quietly. "Cancel Mercer Group's credit line. Freeze every account they have in this city. Demand full payment of thirty-five million dollars in cash by nine tomorrow morning."

Dominic looked up, his eyes sharp.

"And if Donald Mercer can't pay by nine?"

Ethan looked at the dark city through the glass.

"Then the Mercer family will lose everything."