Chapter 3 Hopeless Case

• "Get out of here!"
• With little regard, Charles shoved Kennedy aside as if he were nothing more than refuse.
• Kennedy tumbled to the ground, rolling several times before awkwardly regaining his feet.
• He glared at Charles, who had donned an apron and was beginning to prepare a meal. Kennedy couldn't fathom why he had allowed this loser to intimidate him. His initial fear morphed into resentment, quickly escalating into rage.
• "J-just you wait! How dare you treat me this way! You're finished!"
• With a decisive bang, Charles slammed the door shut behind him.
• Inside, Whitney was in the middle of ladling chicken soup into a bowl. Just as she was about to take a sip, she witnessed Charles's unexpected display of strength, leaving her momentarily speechless. Is this truly the same Charles I know? When did he become so capable?
• "U-uh ... "
• Henry stood frozen, momentarily at a loss for words. However, once he regained his composure, his frustration erupted.
• "You fool! Mr. Ziegler was my guest! How could you lay a finger on him? You tossed him out as if he were nothing! This is absolutely absurd! Don't you have any manners?
• "You're driving me crazy! With a useless bum like you around, Whitney will only suffer. Mr. Ziegler was here to help, and you sent him packing—you're really something else!"
• Charles shook his head in disbelief. "Dad, do you really think he was here to assist with a business deal? The way he looks at Whitney shows he's only interested in taking advantage of her."
• "You know nothing! You're talking nonsense!" Henry shouted, jabbing a finger at Charles. "The Zieglers are a powerful family; even the Chadwicks have to tread lightly around them. One word from Mr. Ziegler could revive Whitney's company. Can you do that?"
• As Henry's insults escalated, Whitney could no longer tolerate the scene. Charles was still a Chadwick by marriage, after all. While she had grown used to Henry's disdain, this felt different; he was now introducing other men to her and defending outsiders in front of her husband.
• "Dad, you can't blame Charles for this! That guy attacked him first, and I told Charles to kick him out. I really don't want to deal with someone like that. Please, stop pushing me!"
• Whitney frowned, disappointment clearly visible on her face. Why can't Dad try to understand me? Why does he insist on treating me like a pawn in his plans?
• "Oh! Whitney, I'm doing this for your own good!" Henry sighed heavily, glancing at his "uncomprehending" daughter. He felt that life was incredibly unfair. His beloved wife had died far too young, and now his daughter was stuck with a useless husband. Soon, they would sever all ties with the Chadwicks.
• "That's enough. Let's just eat. After that, I need to swing by the office. And we can't be late for your mom's birthday party tonight!"
• As Whitney spoke, she brought a spoonful of fragrant chicken soup to her lips, relishing its rich flavor. Surprisingly, Charles's improved recipe tasted significantly better.
• ...
• That evening, the opulent cruise ship glimmered with lights and buzzed with excitement, celebrating the 60th birthday of Old Mrs. Chadwick, otherwise known as Samantha.
• Prominent figures from Lyndale stepped forward, presenting their gifts.
• "The chairman of Ocean Sea Group presents a pair of diamond earrings, wishing Old Mrs. Chadwick to continue shining bright like a diamond!"
• "Mr. Vincent Gardner presents a fine Cloudwick tea, wishing Old Mrs. Chadwick ... "
• Samantha leaned on her cane, her face lighting up with joy as she watched the steady stream of gifts. The value of these presents must have amounted to several million dollars.
• But then, one gift left her utterly stunned and even a bit furious.
• "The Chadwicks' son-in-law, Charles Draco, presents—a chunk of black stone!"
• As the guests stared at the large, dark rock nestled in its exquisite packaging, whispers filled the room, their expressions twisted with disdain.
• "Charles? Isn't he the worthless bum who married into the Chadwicks three years ago?"
• "Seriously! I can't believe Old Mr. Chadwick arranged for Whitney to marry someone so broke and powerless. I mean, Henry's branch isn't taken seriously, but Whitney is still a Chadwick!"
• "Ha! I heard Whitney and Charles have already moved out. It seems Old Mrs. Chadwick isn't pleased with her grandson-in-law. Still, a younger member shouldn't show such disrespect at a birthday. A stone as a gift? That's just cruel!"
• Samantha's expression darkened, nearly matching the color of the stone. Slamming her cane onto the floor, she shouted, "Henry, get out here! Look at what your son-in-law has done!"
• No sooner had she finished speaking than a middle-aged man with a sizable belly squeezed through the crowd. It was Henry, Whitney's father and Charles's father-in-law.
• "Mom, let me explain! I gave him 50 thousand bucks to buy a gift this morning, but I didn't expect he would bring back a rock."
• Henry wiped the sweat from his brow, mentally cursing himself. "I should never have trusted this useless bum with such an important task! Three years, and he hasn't accomplished a single thing of worth—he barely manages to cook and clean. He doesn't even have a real job and relies on Whitney to support him. He's a hopeless case."