Chapter 2 An Unexpected Surprise

• Oscar glanced at Edmund and said coldly, "Edmund, I'm just a live-in son-in-law. I don't have the power to save the Daltons."
• The Daltons, the top-tier family in Ashenwick, were considered the pinnacle of society there.
• Three years ago, Oscar had been the Daltons' first heir, leading the struggling family back to the top. However, in doing so, he threatened the interests of the older generation, who eventually framed him for a crime he didn't commit. He was then kicked out of the family.
• Oscar had nothing when he was cast out by the Daltons. The shock from his fall from grace left him severely ill. That was when Aurelia took him in out of kindness and arranged for him to marry Mandy as a live-in son-in-law. Without her, he would've been dead on the streets.
• Though he'd been married to Mandy for three years, it was a marriage in name, without any real intimacy.
• Oscar thought he'd grown used to this life. After all, he was only Mandy's live-in husband.
• But over those three years, despite Mandy's cold attitude toward him, Oscar had fallen helplessly in love with her. She was simply too remarkable and beautiful.
• "Mr. Oscar, stop pretending! You're the only one who can save the Daltons!"
• Edmund's voice interrupted Oscar's thoughts.
• "The Daltons shorted crude oil futures internationally this year, but oil prices have been skyrocketing!
• "We're bleeding money. The company's on the brink of collapse. If we can't come up with 1.5 billion in cash to plug the hole, the Daltons will go bankrupt!
• "Mr. Oscar, you wouldn't just stand by and watch the Daltons go under, would you?"
• One and a half billion?
• Oscar was speechless when he heard the figure.
• He shrugged. "Edmund, if you managed to track me down, then you probably already know I'm just a live-in son-in-law of the Prestons.
• "My wife gives me an allowance of a hundred bucks per month. If you want, I can give you half of that.
• "But as for any other help, I'm afraid I can't do much."
• Edmund looked like he was about to cry. "Mr. Oscar, don't think I don't know ...
• "Three years ago, when crude oil prices plummeted, you bought an oil well in Athlondor.
• "That well later turned out to hold a massive reserve of oil, and the company was listed!
• "Now that oil prices are surging, the value of that oil company has skyrocketed to the billions and keeps rising!
• "We only found out about this because the bank couldn't contact you, so we reached out to the head of our family.
• "Mr. Oscar, 1.5 billion is just a drop in the bucket for you right now, but it's the lifeline of the Daltons!
• "You wouldn't just sit by and watch us fall, would you?"
• What?
• Oscar was stunned. He had indeed bought an oil well back then, but because it had seemed like a poor investment, he'd long since forgotten about it.
• The well had struck oil and the company had gone public. It's an unexpected surprise!
• Oscar suppressed his excitement and shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not part of the Daltons anymore. Your survival has nothing to do with me."
• With that, he turned to leave.
• "Mr. Oscar, I'm begging you!
• "The patriarch said if you're willing to lend us the 1.5 billion, we're willing to give you the Dalton Investment Company in Wavecrest as a trade!"
• Oscar paused for a second, but without another word, he kept walking away.
• ...
• By the time Oscar arrived home, Mandy was back.
• There were three women in the living room. Oscar's mother-in-law, Lillian Thompson, and Mandy's two close friends, Whitney Logan and Sienna Zephyr.
• Both of her friends were stunning, with beautiful faces and curvaceous figures.
• Especially Whitney. She had been the campus beauty back in college, where she and Oscar had been classmates. After graduating, she started working at Dalton Investment Company, and now, she was under Lawrence's management.
• None of the women acknowledged Oscar as he entered the room.
• Whitney, looking serious, spoke first. "Mandy, I heard your advertising company has hit a rough patch?"
• Mandy massaged her temples and sighed. "Yes, there's been a problem with the company's cash flow. We're short 750 thousand dollars. If I can't come up with the money soon, the company will ... "
• Whitney frowned. "That's a lot of money. There's no way to gather that kind of cash in such a short time. But maybe you could ask Mr. Davidson for help. He controls so many resources, helping you wouldn't be difficult for him."
• Sienna, who was sitting nearby, nodded in agreement.
• Mandy's head throbbed even more. She knew her friends were here as messengers from Lawrence. She couldn't help but feel frustrated.
• Her mother, Lillian, chimed in, "Mandy, I think Mr. Davidson is a good man. Let me set up a dinner for you two—something romantic, with candlelight ... "
• "Mom, Lawrence isn't a good guy. Mandy shouldn't be dining with him!" Oscar couldn't hold back anymore.
• Lillian slammed the table. "Since when do you get to speak in this house? Go clean the bathroom, and if you don't do a good job, you won't eat for three days!"
• Oscar didn't move. Instead, he looked at Mandy.
• "What? Are you defying my orders now? Being a live-in son-in-law for three years, and you're thinking you're somebody now?" Lillian sneered.
• Oscar took a breath. "Mom, actually, I do have the ability to help now ... "
• "Is that so?" Lillian mocked. "If you're so capable, why don't you help Mandy with the 750 thousand?"
• "That's no problem at all."
• The room went silent as everyone stared at Oscar like he'd lost his mind.
• A freeloading live-in son-in-law with a measly hundred dollar allowance per month—how could he claim 750 thousand was no problem?
• Is he out of his mind?
• Lillian was the first to laugh coldly. "Oscar, if 750 thousand is so easy for you, why don't you show me the money?"
• Whitney smirked. "Lillian, if this loser can't come up with the money, you should kick him out of the house."
• Sienna nodded. "He deserves a lesson for bragging."
• Even Mandy looked at Oscar with exasperation, thinking he was just bragging again.
• Oscar took a deep breath and met their gazes. "What if I come up with the 750 thousand Mandy needed?"
• Lillian chuckled. "If you do, you won't have to sleep in the study anymore. You can stay in Mandy's room tonight."
• Sienna added with a smirk, "If you come up with the money, I'll grovel at your feet and apologize to you!"
• Whitney laughed. "I'll flatter you by calling you 'Daddy'!"
• "Alright, remember what you said."
• Oscar didn't waste any time and pulled out his Centurion Card.
• He hadn't used this card in three years. It was a symbol of status recognized around the world. Anyone with this card could have any request granted, no matter where they were.
• Right in front of everyone, Oscar dialed the 24-hour customer service number on the back of the card.