Chapter 3

Garuda Estate was decorated like a modern-day royal palace. The huge mural in the main hall was that of a colorful phoenix spreading its wings and flying high amidst the flames. It was the perfect embodiment of revival and strength.

In the conference room on the fifth floor, many big shots had gathered dressed in their Sunday best. Elio was the only one wearing a cheap T-shirt and faded jeans. He looked a little out of place, almost proud in his own unique way.

He was quite famous in Cloudsea City. After all, he spent all day doing nothing and lounging around, but he still managed to marry Evelyn Jones, the woman of many men's dreams. She was the general manager of Skybound Advertising, and she was as beautiful as she was intelligent. Just like that, he lived off her coattails for three whole years.

Their wedding three years ago caused a huge stir, and countless young talents lamented Evelyn's fate. They all remembered Elio, the useless live-in son-in-law, and felt that Evelyn was cursed to have such a pathetic husband.

Everyone thought Elio was a poor and incompetent loser, but his true identity would shock the entire city of Cloudsea.

As the young and beautiful secretary opened the door, an elegant lady walked into the living room. Her features were exquisite. Although she was over forty years old, she looked ten years younger than her actual age. She had the aura of a queen.

Everyone in the room stood up and greeted her respectfully. "Good afternoon, Madam Rinz."

Only Elio was still sitting with his legs crossed, looking sloppy and lackadaisical. The woman was none other than his mother, Susanne Rinz, the CEO of the Auton Group.

Susanne nodded slightly, saying in a voice that was loud and clear, "Everyone, allow me to introduce you. The young man sitting here is my son, Lief Auton, the first heir of the Auton family. According to our family's rules, he had to hide his identity for ten years as training. Therefore, he now goes by the name Elio Rinz, taking after my last name."

The big shots here were all reputable figures in the surrounding area and successful people in their own rights. At the same time, they owed much of their success to the Auton family's formidable influence. All of them had a deep respect for the Autons.

"It's our honor to meet you, Master!"

The Autons were a towering tree, and they were the grass growing under its shade!

Elio smiled and nodded calmly, behaving just like an ordinary boy-next-door. "Nice to meet you, everyone. Please, there’s no need to be so formal with me."

He was used to hiding his identity and being looked down upon everywhere he went. Right now, he was not quite accustomed to all this pomp and ceremony.

"Now that the ten-year term is over and his restrictions have been lifted, Elio intends to stay in the country to develop his own business empire. His starting point will be Cloudsea City. Please lend him your support."

Once Susanne said that, the other CEOs understood what they should do from now on. They had to be at Elio's beck and call, assisting him with all their might. After all, he was the future leader of the Auton Group. They could not afford to make an enemy of him.

The meeting was short and to the point. Susanne just wanted to let everyone get to know Elio.

She waved her hand, and then the other CEOs left quietly and tactfully, leaving the mother and son in the room.

Once they were gone, Susanne snorted and said, "You forgot all about your mother after marrying your wife. What's so good about that Jones girl, anyway? Sure, she's beautiful, but so what? I hear that she has been terrible to you. Her entire family is wrong in the head! What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get a divorce already."

"Mom, you don't understand. I grew attached to her over time. I can't leave her now," Elio said with a grin.

"Whatever, you can decide for yourself. Here, this is the only obsidian card in the country. I set aside five billion dollars as your starting capital." Susanne casually handed her son a bank card.

"Thanks, Mom." Elio took it quickly, beaming. "Phew, I'll be able to live in luxury again."

"Just look at you!" Susanne said angrily, "Make no mistake, I'm only lending you money. Five years from now, you have to pay me back ten billion with interest. Do you understand?"

"Sure, no problem." Elio agreed readily. With so much capital and the Auton family's connections, it would be easy for him to make the money back.

Susanne sighed. "I'm not worried about anything else, but you were far too rash in getting married. The Joneses are not even worthy of being our servants, yet they dared to abuse you for so long."

Elio shrugged and feigned helplessness. "What choice did I have? In those ten years of hellish training, I worked as a miner abroad and even served as a mercenary at the border in order to survive. Being a live-in son-in-law was the easiest of my jobs. All I had to do was take a bit of verbal abuse."

"Sigh, forget it. You can do as you see fit. Still, love can't be forced. If Evelyn can't be bothered with you, you might as well choose someone else. There are so many beautiful women in the world. With your status, you can date whoever you want."