Chapter 1

"Is the laundry done yet? Is the meal ready? All you do is laze around at home every day! I truly don't understand why my daughter ended up marrying someone like you!"

Hearing Margaret Jensen's scornful voice, Victor Quinn remained silent.

Yes. He was married.

He had married into the Jensen family, becoming a live-in son-in-law to the most stunning CEO in Northlake City.

Their wedding had been a shock to many in Northlake City. No one could comprehend how someone as wealthy and beautiful as Sophie Jensen could marry a penniless nobody with no background—someone who couldn't even afford the wedding expenses.

On the day of the wedding, not a single member of the Jensen family had attended except his future mother-in-law, Margaret. She had brought along a group of gossips who had criticized him the entire day. Even after the marriage, Margaret never saw him as worthy. She bossed him around daily.

Perhaps in her eyes, her daughter could have married a rich man and elevated the family's status. Instead, they were stuck in this situation, with Sophie's company struggling and no capable son-in-law to step in and help.

"Mom, my feelings for Sophie are true, and she's gradually warming up to me," Victor replied.

On their wedding night, Sophie had made it clear. She didn't need a rich husband. She just needed someone who could take care of everything at home while she focused on her career.

She had also made it clear that she had no intention of truly becoming his wife or having children with him. She felt nothing for a stranger.

At the time, Sophie had even said, "I'll try to be won over by you. The day you succeed, I'll hand the company over to you. I'll cook for you and raise our children at home."

For the sake of that promise, Victor had endured three years of hardship in the Jensen family. But a man who stayed at home all day, doing housework like a woman, was bound to be looked down upon.

At his reply, Margaret's temper flared.

She jabbed a finger right in his face and scolded, "True feelings? You're just a stray mutt chasing after a pedigree show dog!

"All right. Sophie needs three million for emergency funding. If you can come up with it in three days, I won't meddle in your business anymore. But if you can't, you and Sophie must divorce! This is my final compromise!"

"So, the crisis has finally come." Victor sighed.

Over the years, he had secretly modified the documents Sophie brought home, which had helped her company thrive. But recently, Victor had noticed Sophie making increasingly risky investments. He had warned her before, but she hadn't taken it seriously.

"Three million?"

For a broke, live-in son-in-law, this was an impossible sum of money to acquire. But three years ago, this amount was nothing more than pocket change to him.

As the most outstanding young CEO in Clearwater City, Victor had once turned five million into twenty billion in just three years. His talent was so exceptional that the elders in the family had unanimously recommended him as the next head of the Quinn family.

However, Victor wasn't truly a Quinn by blood. His uncle Liam's son had fabricated evidence, accusing him of embezzling family funds. In a series of carefully orchestrated schemes, Victor had been cast out of the family.

Thinking of this, Victor reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. The twenty billion that once proved his financial prowess was still in that account. But since the card belonged to the Quinn family, it had been frozen due to financial disputes. He couldn't touch a single cent.

At that moment, Sophie walked in. Her friend Lena Sullivan followed behind.

Sophie was breathtakingly beautiful. She had the face of a celebrity. At just twenty four years old, she was already a famous CEO.

Seeing her slightly haggard expression, Victor felt a pang of sorrow.

Back when he was homeless, Sophie had been the one to save him. She had given him food, shelter, and even cared for him. When he had asked her why, she had simply said, "You remind me of someone I once admired. I don't know his name."

Just because of that, Sophie had chosen Victor as her husband. He was to handle everything at home while she fought for her career.

After three years together, Victor had long since fallen for this hardworking, determined woman.

"Sophie, have you secured the funding?" Margaret asked.

"Don't worry, Mom," Sophie said. "I'll figure something out. Haven't we always managed before? This time will be no different."

Sophie herself found the situation strange. Her company had faced multiple crises, yet every time, some mysterious force seemed to help her pull through.

"If you can't, then just divorce this loser, Sophie," Margaret said disparagingly. "Ethan seems interested in you. With his family's wealth, he could assist you effortlessly!"

Sophie frowned. She knew her mother despised Victor, partly because she had expected him to handle household affairs properly. As a result, Victor had endured endless ridicule and was labeled a useless freeloader.

But Sophie had a gut feeling that Victor was more capable than he seemed. Whenever she faced tough decisions at work, his casual remarks always gave her unexpected insights.

"Mom, I won't divorce him."

"Sophie, be reasonable. I know you're kind and soft-hearted, but this is about your future! Do you know how many times our family has been laughed at because of him? I don't care anymore. Whoever can bring you three million dollars, that's who you'll marry!"

Victor saw how serious Margaret was. He also saw the concern on Sophie's face. If she wasn't truly desperate, she wouldn't have mentioned the problem at all.

Stepping forward, Victor said firmly, "I'll find a way to get the three million dollars."

"Do you expect me to believe you can land three million dollars? If you manage to pull it off, I'll give you my clothes and run naked down the street," Lena scoffed, seething with anger. If this useless man had money, he wouldn't have become the laughingstock of the city, bringing shame upon Sophie at every social event.

Even Sophie didn't believe him. "Victor, don't say things you can't back up."

If Victor really had three million dollars, he wouldn't have ended up on the streets years ago.

'Is he planning to borrow the money?' Sophie thought.

In three years, she had never seen Victor with a single friend.

"A friend of mine called recently," Victor said. "He's rich. A while ago, he even invited me to dinner and offered me money to start a business. I'll borrow the money from him."

With that, Victor walked out.

"I can't believe this loser actually has a wealthy friend," Margaret sneered. "If you're lying, you'd better not step foot into this house again!"

But Sophie had noticed something.

After three years together, she knew Victor well. When he had declared he could get three million dollars, his expression was resolute. It was almost as if he was about to do something he had sworn never to do.

Even when he had been humiliated at family gatherings, he had never shown that look before.

"Is he planning to beg someone he never wanted to ask for help?" Sophie murmured. She felt an ache in her heart.

-

Meanwhile, Victor rode off on his second-hand electric scooter. Stopping on a deserted roadside, he clenched his jaw and dialed a number.

The call was quickly answered.

"Why are you calling me? Let me guess. You need money." A middle-aged man's mocking voice came through.

"Liam, I need three million dollars."

"And why would I give money to an outsider like you?"