Victor Damone's in-laws stole his life savings, convinced his beautiful wife he was a loser, and urged her to date a billionaire outside of marriage. When the bankrupt Victor fails to pay for his dying grandfather's treatment, he decides to return to his mysterious old life. One in which the entire world kneels before him. Victor will show his in-laws and everyone who underestimated him that he is a legendary, peerless man with a thousand gifts.
Victor Damone barged into his father-in-law's house, searching for his wife. "Where are you, Carol?"
Rushing into the living room, he saw her seated between her middle-aged parents, Ronald and Martha. Both in-laws made sour faces as soon as they saw him.
Carol looked gorgeous as always, with her chocolate-colored hair and dark-brown eyes. Her brother, Josh, a chubby guy in a sports jacket, relaxed on a couch sporting a smug expression.
The setup looked as if they were prepared to confront him. But he had had enough of their antics. This time they had crossed a line.
"Where is my money, Carol?" Victor asked, glaring at his wife.
"What is the meaning of this?" Ronald barked, getting to his feet. "How dare you come into my house without my permission?"
Ronald Atelier used to be a billionaire, heir to his father, Reginald's company. But he lost most of his inheritance through bad investments and mismanagement. Moreover, making his spendthrift son the CEO was the final nail in the coffin. Josh made fresh holes in the sinking boat.
The Atelier family was gradually fading into oblivion. Ronald had been desperately trying to squeeze money out of people and refinance his company. He had even tried to marry his beautiful daughter to billionaires in exchange for monetary help, but Reginald had insisted that she marry Victor.
"Have you lost your mind, tramp?" Josh raged at his brother-in-law. "Just because you are married to my sister doesn't mean you can stroll into our house as if it is a public park! You can't come and go as you please!"
Victor's fists clenched and unclenched, but he digested his in-laws' insults without lashing out. He was already acquainted with their hostile behavior after three months of marriage. They always had visceral reactions toward him, no matter how much he tried to make them happy.
The truth was that the Ateliers were facing financial trouble, having splurged most of their family fortune. They wished Carol were married to a billionaire who'd rescue them and bring back the family into the wealthy fold. Victor, who was middle-class and could barely give his wife any luxury, had disappointed them. Therefore, they nurtured this grudge and never shied away from publicly humiliating him.
Carol hung her head in silence and did not come to her husband's aid.
"I'm asking you again," Victor grimly said to his wife. "Tell me the truth. I had eight hundred thousand dollars in my account yesterday. They were savings accumulated over five years of hard work in my grandfather's company. However, when I checked the balance today, only two thousand were left!"
"Are you accusing my daughter of stealing, Victor?" Ronald spat back. "How dare you?"
Victor ignored him and pushed his wife further. "Where is the rest? What have you done with it?"
Carol bit her lip and spoke in a low voice. "I'm sorry, Victor, but I was left with no other choice. My brother needed the funds urgently to finance his new startup. Since you made me a joint account holder in your savings account, I took the liberty to withdraw and loan him the money. But I swear he'll pay you back."
Victor furrowed his brows. "Carol, did you forget grandfather Edgar's surgery is due tomorrow morning? I needed six hundred thousand to pay for the surgery. What am I going to do now?"
Ronald butted in. "Why are you bitching about the paltry amount of eight hundred thousand, Victor? I'm sure Josh will pay you back. Why don't you believe Carol? Didn't she just explain it was an urgent need?"
Victor eyed his father-in-law with suspicion. Most likely, it was Ronald who manipulated his daughter and withdrew the money. Both husband and wife were greedy hyenas, while their useless son was a spoiled jerk. Together they made Carol dance like a puppet.
Victor shut his eyes and massaged his temples, trying to think of a solution. "It's fine, Carol. I'll manage to pay my grandfather's surgery fee. I'll go to the bank right away and mortgage our new house. The bank can definitely give me a loan."
Carol raised her eyes to her husband for the first time. She was a natural beauty with beady brown eyes and high cheekbones. In fact, she had won several beauty contests growing up. However, right now, guilt was written across her face.
"I've mortgaged our house already, dear," she said solemnly. "The balance in your account was not enough to finance Josh's startup. I needed another five hundred thousand. And you're right-the bank was more than willing to finance us."
Victor took a step back in shock. He felt his head would explode. Half his savings had gone into purchasing a house in Carol's name the previous month. He had done it out of marital duty and to show his in-laws that he could provide for her.
However, the gesture had proved pointless. Carol had backstabbed him by taking his money and mortgaging the only precious asset born out of their marriage. The same house they lived in! And all that for her spoiled brother who never cared for her!
Did she even care about their marriage? What sort of self-serving family had he married into?
Chapter 1 Confrontation
16/03/2023
Chapter 2 Insult
16/03/2023
Chapter 3 The Setup
16/03/2023
Chapter 4 Last Resort
16/03/2023
Chapter 5 The Beginning
16/03/2023
Chapter 6 Special Guest
16/03/2023
Chapter 7 Cold Treatment
16/03/2023
Chapter 8 Doubt
16/03/2023
Chapter 9 Plan Foiled
16/03/2023
Chapter 10 Manipulation
16/03/2023
Chapter 11 Trouble
16/03/2023
Chapter 12 Loyalty Tested
16/03/2023
Chapter 13 Payback With Dividends
17/03/2023
Chapter 14 Payback With Dividends 2
17/03/2023
Chapter 15 Damsel in Distress
17/03/2023
Chapter 16 Damsel in Distress 2
18/03/2023
Chapter 17 He's Viral
18/03/2023
Chapter 18 Behind His Back
18/03/2023
Chapter 19 Answers
18/03/2023
Chapter 20 Let Me In
19/03/2023
Chapter 21 Class Upgraded
20/03/2023
Chapter 22 The Concert
20/03/2023
Chapter 23 Back Home
22/03/2023
Chapter 24 Another Conspiracy
23/03/2023
Chapter 25 Instant Retribution 1
23/03/2023
Chapter 26 Instant Retribution 2
23/03/2023
Chapter 27 A Friend In Need
24/03/2023
Chapter 28 The Reunion
24/03/2023
Chapter 29 Mayfair Lagoon
25/03/2023
Chapter 30 The Favor
26/03/2023
Chapter 31 The Billionaire Goddess
26/03/2023
Chapter 32 Private Talk
27/03/2023
Chapter 33 The Decent Proposal
28/03/2023
Chapter 34 The Indecent Proposal
28/03/2023
Chapter 35 Gangsters
29/03/2023
Chapter 36 Exploitation
30/03/2023
Chapter 37 Consolation and Credit
30/03/2023
Chapter 38 Dark History
01/04/2023
Chapter 39 Treachery Begins At Home
02/04/2023
Chapter 40 How Dare You!
03/04/2023
Other books by Noah Clementine
More