Chapter 2: Showdown at Blue Lake

After hanging up, I stared at that photo, lost in thought for a long time. The arrival hall was emptying out, and families were reuniting in messy, joyful clumps all around me, but I felt like I was miles away from any of that warmth.

Recently, Natalie had changed completely—she no longer constantly complained about me. Instead, she was as considerate as she had been when we first started dating in college.

It was a subtle shift, but it stood out in sharp relief. The silences were longer, the smiles more distant. I kept trying to convince myself things would get better if I just worked harder.

Combined with Derek's comment about swapping brothers-in-law, Natalie's recent strange behavior finally made sense.

So Natalie had latched onto someone else.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but the evidence was right there, staring back at me from the screen. I felt the ache settle in my chest—a mix of regret and a strange kind of clarity.

Calling me over so openly, they were planning to intimidate me and force me to give up.

I sneered and drove straight to the country club they'd reserved.

As I pulled onto the wide, manicured drive of Blue Lake Country Club, the tires of my rental car crunched over the gravel, echoing like warning bells. An old Ford pickup rumbled by, country music leaking from the open window. The air was thick with the scent of fresh-cut grass and spring rain, but it didn’t do much to clear my head. A valet in a Cubs cap nodded at me as I pulled up.

I didn't expect Derek to already be waiting at the door.

A few brown-nosers surrounded him, fawning all over him.

"Derek really keeps a low profile. You never told us you were so close with Manager Lewis from Redwood Enterprises."

Their voices dripped with fake warmth. I recognized a few of them—small-time guys from Derek’s office, the kind who never missed a chance to latch onto someone on the rise.

"That's right, Redwood is the leading company in town, with unlimited prospects."

One of them was practically bouncing on his toes, his excitement a little too desperate. They all had that look, eyes flicking between Derek and the front doors like they were waiting for a golden ticket.

"Derek will be Manager Lewis's brother-in-law soon. If you make it big, don't forget us."

The guy elbowed Derek with a wink, his voice oily. The implication hung in the air, thick and suffocating.

Even his boss, who usually didn't get along with Derek, showed up.

"I always knew you were something special. I didn't expect you to have such connections."

The boss grinned, trying to sound casual but coming off as awkward. He was clearly hoping for a slice of whatever pie Derek had his eye on.

"If I could get to know Manager Lewis, once the project goes through, I'll definitely promote you."

Derek basked in their flattery, looking smug.

He soaked it up, chest puffed out like a rooster at dawn. For a moment, you’d think he was the mayor, the way he nodded and gave half-smiles to everyone fawning over him.

I closed the car door and frowned at the scene before me.

From their words, it was clear everyone knew Natalie and Caleb Lewis had an unusual relationship.

Did they not know that Caleb's Redwood Enterprises had already been acquired?

The thought made me want to laugh. They were all banking on a man whose days were numbered and didn’t even know it.

As for Caleb, he might not even be able to keep his own position.

As soon as Derek saw me, he hurried over. I thought he was feeling guilty and wanted to give me a heads-up.

But instead, he looked me up and down, then frowned.

"No wonder you agreed so quickly. Turns out you came prepared, wearing a bunch of fake designer brands?"

His eyes ran over my suit and shoes, face twisting into a sneer. I’d spent enough time around snobs to know the look—like he was sniffing expired milk.

"Nice suit, Mark. Too bad you can’t buy class at Macy’s."

The others chuckled, some even patting Derek on the back as if he’d just delivered a punchline worthy of late-night TV.

"Don't think you can steal the spotlight just because of your looks."

To be fair, Natalie married me back then for my looks.

At that time, I had fallen out with my family over an arranged marriage, ran away from home, and met Natalie.

Back then, I was just a broke kid from an old money family, drifting from city to city, trying to figure out who I was. Natalie saw something in me—at least, I thought she did. We shared midnight conversations over greasy diner fries and walked home under city lights. I always thought we were truly in love, so I tolerated some of Natalie's little tempers.

But over the years, her appetite grew bigger and bigger, and she became less and less satisfied.

It started small—little things, hints dropped about wanting to move uptown, about vacations we couldn’t quite afford. Then the complaints grew sharper, the silences heavier. It was like watching someone you love drift away, one inch at a time.

I wanted to give Natalie a better life, so I tried to return to the Harper family.

For months, I kept traveling for work to prove myself, finally easing relations with my family, and they agreed to come meet Natalie in person.

It was a delicate negotiation—countless phone calls, family dinners that felt like business meetings, all of it building up to this moment. I’d paved every path, and if all went well, Natalie would soon become the new matriarch of the Harper family.

My last important task was acquiring Redwood Enterprises. I had just returned from a meeting at headquarters, and the documents had already been signed with Redwood's CEO.

Logically, as general manager, Caleb Lewis should have already received the notice.

I didn't expect him to be so high-profile, hosting a banquet in Redwood's name.

What's even more ridiculous is that this group was making jokes about Natalie and another man right in front of me, her legal husband, without any restraint at all.

Before I could say anything, someone next to Derek pushed me.

"Derek's talking to you. Why are you pretending to be mute?"

The guy shoved my shoulder hard, like a middle school bully. I could smell the whiskey on his breath, and his words were loud enough for everyone to hear.

"You're about to get dumped, a kept man, and you still have an attitude?"

Instantly, my expression turned cold as I looked at Derek, the instigator.

"Derek, tell your friends to back off."

I kept my voice steady, trying not to let my anger spill over. But Derek sneered.

"What right do you have to order my friends around?"

He cocked his head, grinning as if daring me to fight back.

"To put it nicely, I call you brother-in-law. To put it bluntly, you're just a stray hanging around our family."

The words stung, but I held his gaze. My throat burned. I squeezed my fists behind my back, nails digging into my palm. I wasn't going to let him see me sweat.

"If you know what's good for you, just toast quietly later and don't speak. If things go well, you'll get your share of the leftovers."

What he said made me curious—what good thing was happening tonight, and what benefit could I possibly get?