“Dad’s nursing home costs a hundred thousand dollars a quarter. Emily’s been paying it all.
And I’m getting married soon—she even said this mansion would be my wedding gift…”
“So it’s all about money.” Something pressed hard against my chest, but I straightened my back.
“You don’t have to worry about money. I’ll cover Dad’s nursing home fees. And Kevin’s wedding house—I’ll handle it too.”
“You?” Richard sneered, his eyes full of contempt.
“I know your limits. You’ve spent the past two years overseas in recovery, earning nothing. Emily is this family’s lifeline! She hasn’t even demanded divorce, so why are you stirring trouble? Get back to her and live like a husband should!”
“Live like a husband?” My voice rose sharply, my body trembling with anger.
“She’s been cuddling other men, staying out all night. And you expect me to look the other way? You think I can live like that?”
“So what if you turn a blind eye? A man should know when to bend and when to stretch!” Richard’s face flushed red.
“If it weren’t for Emily these past two years, Kevin and I would’ve starved!”
“Helping you?” My eyes locked on his, and a thought struck me.
“My annual dividends from her company amount to at least two million. She didn’t give you any of that?”
Richard’s eyes flickered, but his voice hardened even more:
“I saved it for your brother! He’s in debt from his start-up and not married yet—of course we need to put money aside!”
“In debt from a start-up?” I snapped my gaze to Kevin. He’d once racked up debt from gambling.
“Tell me the truth—are you gambling again?”
Kevin’s face turned crimson, spreading down his neck. He waved his hands frantically:
“No, bro, don’t twist this! Dad and I are just telling you—don’t divorce! Otherwise our whole family will suffer!”
“Our family?” I looked at the two men before me, realizing how utterly foreign they’d become.
So during my two years abroad, Emily had already bought them off with money. For their own benefit, they had trampled on my dignity without hesitation.
When Kevin tried to grab my arm, I shoved him off coldly:
“Don’t call her your sister-in-law anymore. And don’t call me your brother—because I, Will Johnson, refuse to be disgraced like this.”
With that, I dragged my suitcase away and hailed a passing cab.
As the car door closed, I could still hear Richard cursing “unfilial bastard,” with Kevin sneering behind him, “doesn’t know what’s good for him.”
The taxi slowly pulled away from the mansion. Leaning against the window, I watched the streets recede, my eyes suddenly burning.
I had thought family would be my strongest support. But in my darkest hour, they sided with outsiders, delivering the cruelest cut.
The cab stopped at the Hilton Grand Hotel as dusk spread over its gleaming glass facade.
Dragging my suitcase inside, I was greeted by the smiling front desk clerk, who handed me my reservation slip:
“Mr. Johnson, your executive suite is ready. Would you like to check in now?”
I nodded, pulling a black card from my wallet.
“Charge the deposit to this.”
After processing, the clerk returned the card and room key. Just then, my personal phone buzzed three times.
Three text invitations to a banquet, all from the Lewis Pharmaceuticals Administration Office.
At the end, one line read: “A private car is waiting at the hotel entrance. Robert Lewis Sr. wishes to meet you.”
Holding the room key, I chuckled softly.
The Lewis family was the leader of the local pharmaceutical industry. They had tried to connect with me during my overseas expansion.
I didn’t expect them to reach out the moment I returned.
It would both ease my mind and open doors to new resources—saving me considerable effort.
