Chapter 3

All around us were high-rise buildings. This area was the only remaining part of the old neighborhood that had remained untouched.

I never expected that it would finally be demolished at a moment like this.

I gulped and probed. “So… how much compensation are we talking about?”

The staff member tapped on a calculator and gave a number.

“According to the latest policy, it’ll be a combination of property and cash compensation.

“About two million in cash, plus two apartment units of around 1,200 square feet each as compensation.”

Two million.

Two apartments.

In a suburban city, that was an enormous amount, and enough to make someone rich overnight.

My emotions felt like a roller coaster.

First, the suffocating weight of being abandoned by Lisa struck me, and I felt bad seeing my mother-in-law in tears.

Now, I was overwhelmed with shock, followed by an indescribable surge of joy.

Lisa had just dumped the house onto her mother to avoid the so-called “debt.”

Right after that, this rundown place had suddenly turned into a goldmine.

If she found out, she would probably regret it so badly.

The staff member took out a letter of intent. “If the homeowner agrees to everything, she can sign here, and we’ll start the process.”

I looked at my mother-in-law.

She was the legal owner. The signature had to be hers, and the money would be hers too.

Even though Lisa had left the house to her, as her only daughter, the money would eventually go to her.

At that thought, disappointment stifled the joy deep down in me.

I was just an ex-son-in-law. What did any of this have to do with me?

At that moment, my mother-in-law slowly raised her thin, frail hand.

She pointed at me, her gaze unusually firm.

In a slurred but forceful voice, she said to the staff, “Give all… to… Ethan.”

The staff froze, pen hovering midair. “Ma’am, who did you say you want to give it to?”

I was stunned too. “Mom, what are you saying?”

With all her might, she reached beneath the wheelchair cushion with her trembling hand.

After fumbling for a while, she pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

On it were a few crooked lines of writing, stamped with a red fingerprint.

She handed it to the staff, breathing heavily.

“My… will… was written… long ago.

“He… will be my… son… from now on.”

…

The demolition office staff left, and silence returned to the room.

I held the letter of intent in one hand, and my mother-in-law’s shaky, handwritten will in the other.

It all felt like a dream.

My mother-in-law looked at me, her eyes full of kindness and a trace of relief.

“Ethan… you’ve endured…a lot…for the past…three years.

“I know… who’s been kind…to me.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I almost could not hold them back.

For three years, I had carried the title of a “freeloader”, enduring scorn from Lisa and her relatives.

Only my mother-in-law had never looked down on me.

I carried her back to bed and tucked her in.

My phone buzzed.

A notification from my pinned follower.

Kevin had posted again on Instagram.

The location tag displayed an overwater villa in Maldev. The photo was of Lisa in a revealing bikini, holding a glass of champagne.

Behind her, a turquoise sea and a blue sky stretched. It was a scene depicting pure luxury.

The caption was dripping with mockery.

[Some people spend their whole lives in rooms that smell like piss, while my woman deserves the stars and the ocean.]

The comments were full of flattery.

[What a generous man, Mr. Zauc.]

[Your girlfriend is gorgeous. She did the right thing, leaving that loser.]

Lisa replied with a “shy” emoji and added.

[Don’t mention that man. It ruins my mood. I want to enjoy life now.]

I looked at the screen and scoffed.

A room that smells like piss?

Very soon, that smell would be replaced by the scent of money.

I could not resist responding to Kevin’s post.