The Greedy Son-In-Law

tching his parents scrape by. His father worked double shifts at a factory that barely paid minimum wage, and his mother cleaned houses for wealthy families who treated her

mbition could be dangerous when it wasn't balanced by integrity. The first meeting between Richard and Ryan was civil but tense. Ryan wore his best suit and plastered on his most disarming smile, but Richard wasn't easily impressed. "I've heard a lot about you," Richard said as they sat in the sprawling Carter living room. Ryan chuckled nervously. "All good things, I hope." "Mostly," Richard replied, his tone neutral. "Tell me, Ryan, what are your long-term goals?" Ryan launched into a rehearsed speech about entrepreneurship and building a legacy, but Richard's sharp eyes never wavered. He saw the small tells: the slight hesitation when Ryan mentioned finances, the overly polished phrasing. Richard didn't trust him, but he decided to stay silent, letting Ryan dig his own grave in time. Claire's Growing Doubts Back at university, Claire Benton wasn't about to let her best friend fall for someone she didn't trust. She made it her mission to dig into Ryan's background, asking pointed questions whenever he was around and paying attention to his answers. "So, Ryan," Claire asked one evening as they sat in Ava's apartment, "what's Clearwater like?" Ryan hesitated for a fraction of a second before responding. "It's small. Quiet. Not much happens there." "Funny," Claire replied, leaning back in her chair. "I've been through Clearwater a few times. It's not exactly quiet-it's full of drama. You ever get caught up in any of that?" Ryan forced a laugh. "Not really. I kept my head down and focused on my goals." Claire smirked but didn't press further. She had already decided to do her own research. The First Cracks The first major crack in Ryan's facade appeared during Ava's birthday party. She had invited a small group of friends to a trendy restaurant downtown, wanting to keep things low-key. Richard and Eleanor Carter made a surprise appearance, much to Ava's delight. Throughout the evening, Ryan made every effort to charm the Carters.