The Unwanted Son-in-law

Chapter 5

Adrian’s eyes locked on Dorian Mercer, and for a moment the world around him blurred.

It was no secret the man had once carried a torch for Victoria—bragging openly, flaunting it to anyone foolish enough to listen. Adrian had crossed paths with him twice before, back when his own voice had been trapped in silence, and both times he had wished he could silence Dorian forever.

And yet, despite everything, Victoria had been the only constant in his life. The only person he truly knew. That had been why jealousy had once burned through him whenever Dorian’s name was mentioned.

But no one idolized Dorian Mercer more than Margaret. She worshipped him like a golden statue, whispering poison into Victoria’s ears, urging her to leave the “silent burden” Adrian had been. Not once, not twice—but countless times she had pushed Victoria toward Dorian.

And still… Victoria hadn’t yielded.

“I don’t like Dorian,” Victoria would say, her voice firm but weary. “Stop pushing me, Mother. We are not meant for each other.”

Those words had silenced Adrian in private, though he never let them show. They meant more than he had dared admit.

But now… now, as Adrian’s gaze bored into Dorian, there was nothing left of that jealousy. Only cold, unfeeling indifference remained. If Victoria wanted Dorian, she could have him. Soon enough, Adrian would find the right way out of this marriage anyway.

The tension cracked when Margaret’s sharp voice cut through the air.

“What are you doing here, Adrian?” she snapped, her eyes narrowing like blades. “This is business. You have no reason to be here.”

Dorian leaned back, arrogance radiating from him.

“So this is allowed?” he sneered. “Victoria, is your lazy husband now free to barge in whenever he wants? Put him on a leash, or your empire crumbles.”

Adrian’s fist twitched.

But before he could respond, Victoria’s voice rang out, steady and commanding.

“Enough, Dorian. Stay out of this.” She turned to Adrian, her eyes a mix of concern and authority. “We’ll talk at home, Adrian. Right now, this is business. Please… wait for me there.”

Her words weren’t harsh, but they carried weight. Victoria hated—truly hated—seeing her husband disrespected in her presence. Despite the coldness she often showed, their marriage still bound them together.

The moment shattered when Chloe’s voice cut across the room like glass breaking.

“You heard her!” she screamed, eyes flashing. “Leave, Adrian. Now!”

Mia’s voice followed, sharp as lightning.

“What is the meaning of this?!” she snapped, slamming her palm against the polished table so hard that glasses rattled. “Are we having a family showdown, or are we trying to run a business here?”

Lila flinched. “No—no, Miss Mia, that’s not it.” Her hands fluttered helplessly at her sides before she forced them to rest lightly over Mia’s trembling ones. “I’m telling you, we’ve never had issues like this before. Yours is the first… the only case.”

Mia’s lip curled in scorn. “So you’re saying you don’t even know how to handle this?” She jabbed a finger at her own face, pushing her hair back to reveal angry red blotches spreading across her skin. Acne. Swollen, raw, lumpy marks that ruined the perfection she had always flaunted. “Look at me! I’ve never looked like this in my life. And this—this is your fault, Lila Harper!” she spat the name like venom. “Mark my words—I’m going to bring this company down so hard you’ll never recover.”

Gasps rippled through the room.

Dorian Mercer raised both hands, a thin, practiced smile tugging at his lips. “If Miss Mia would allow me,” he drawled, voice smooth as silk, “I might have a solution for this situation.”

The family turned toward him, hope sparking in their eyes. But Mia only crossed her arms, eyes blazing with cold disdain. “Say it, then,” she snapped.

Dorian leaned back lazily, his posture effortless. “There’s a guaranteed cosmetic procedure—handled by a trusted colleague of mine. Discreet, flawless, and effective. Everglow Aesthetics will cover the cost entirely. You’ll be restored in no time.”

The words barely left his lips when Mia slammed her chair back with a screech, pounding both palms on the table. Her voice trembled with fury. “How dare you?” she hissed, her face flushing hotter than her blemishes.

Ethan observed her—pure, unfiltered rage radiating off her in waves.

“You think I’m some fool?” Mia roared, pointing at Dorian as though she could shred him with her glare. “You think I’d let some technician carve into me, inject toxins, and call it beauty? Am I that cheap? That desperate?!” Her words snapped like whips, each one sharp with hatred for the very idea of artificial perfection.

Lila moved instantly, stepping between them. “Miss Mia, please forgive him. If Dorian misspoke, I am sincerely sorry. I promise we will find another solution.”

But Mia’s impatience was a storm. Her foot tapped the marble floor like a metronome of fury. “And how exactly will you do that?” she demanded. “Tell me, Lila, how will you fix this?”

Lila faltered. “It may require a full evaluation from our team, testing the products, and then—”

“Evaluation? Testing?” Mia laughed sharply, head thrown back. “Weeks? Do you expect me to wait while my reputation is destroyed? No. I want results now. Immediately! You’ve ruined me, Lila Harper. You’ve stained my image. And very soon… my lawyer will be contacting you.”

Adrian stood at the edge of the hallway, his bare feet silent against the polished marble. The house seemed alive—every whisper of air, every distant footstep, carried straight to him. The maid paused mid-step, her tray trembling in her hands as she glimpsed him from the corner of her eye. She thought him still the quiet, harmless man she had known—but she was wrong.

His mind stretched, sensing the currents of the house, the pulse of its energy like a faint heartbeat beneath the floorboards. With the smallest tilt of his head, he could feel where every person stood, every breath they drew, every heartbeat they tried to hide.

“Adrian?” Victoria’s voice called softly from the stairs. She emerged, elegant and composed, but her eyes flickered with worry. “You’ve been gone all morning… are you feeling well?”

Adrian’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “I feel… better than I have in years,” he said, voice low, calm, but carrying weight that made the air around him still. He stepped forward, the light catching the edges of his face, sharp and unreadable.

Chloe Hale appeared behind Victoria, crossing her arms with a skeptical tilt of her head. “Better? You mean… you’re finally going to say something useful?” she teased, though there was caution in her tone.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, Adrian extended a hand toward the maid, who had frozen completely. With a subtle motion, he lifted her tray with the force of thought alone, just an inch or two, not enough to spill—but enough to make her gasp.

“Do you… see this?” he asked quietly, testing himself, watching her wide eyes. “I’ve… changed.”

Margaret Hale’s sharp voice cut across the room. “Changed? Adrian, what are you doing?” Her tone was clipped, commanding, the way she always controlled the house. But even she hesitated, sensing something beneath the surface, something she hadn’t seen before.

Adrian lowered the tray gently. “Testing limits,” he said, almost to himself, though every word pressed into the room like a quiet thunder. “I need to know what I’m capable of… before the world demands it from me.”

Victoria stepped closer, placing a hand lightly on his arm. “Adrian… you’re scaring everyone. Please—don’t push yourself too far.”

His gaze softened at her touch, just for a heartbeat. Then it hardened again, the intensity returning like a tide. “I will control it,” he said. “I will master it. But no one gets to underestimate me anymore.”

Chloe snorted, but it was nervous, and even Margaret took a cautious step back, her arms folded tightly. The maid remained frozen, eyes darting between Adrian and the tray. Adrian’s aura—subtle but unmistakable—filled the space. Every thought, every motion, every breath was under his command now, even in this quiet household moment.

He closed his eyes for a brief second, letting the surge of power flow through him. When he opened them again, the calm authority he exuded was absolute. The air seemed heavier, charged, and every person in the room felt it.

Adrian spoke again, voice a whisper that carried. “This… is just the beginning.”