Episode 3

"It appears there is nothing left I can do here to defend myself," Dion paused momentarily, his gaze drifting indifferently over everyone in the room.

"If that is truly what you desire..." Dion unexpectedly cut off his sentence, inciting irritation among the attendees.

"Out with it! What do you mean, you scoundrel?" Vincent demanded brusquely.

"Hey... hey! Were manners not taught to you by your parents?" Dion responded dismissively.

"Dion, you cad. A worthless son-in-law you are. Get out of my sight!" Everly shouted angrily.

"If I leave, what becomes of the divorce agreement?

"If I don't sign the consent form, then that vile woman remains my lawful wife," Dion said with a laugh, though his heart was filled with spite.

"You're a loser! Who are you calling vile, you wretch?" Jasmine cried out with rage, advancing to slap Dion. But then...

Snap!

Jasmine's hand, primed to strike Dion's face, was effortlessly caught by him.

"I won't let your filthy hand touch my noble face again," Dion snapped back, flinging Jasmine's hand away so fiercely she stumbled backward, nearly falling over.

"How dare you, Dion. In my house, laying hands on a woman so casually," Grandmother Wolf bellowed in fury.

"Revered Grandmother Owl!" Dion mockingly mispronounced the family matriarch's name to taunt her.

"Who is striking whom? Surely, you saw for yourself that it was this vile woman who tried to slap me first," Dion argued in his defense.

"You're a villain, Dion! The nerve, to alter our grandmother's name to your liking!" Vincent raged in response.

"Ha... someone's angry."

"And what of it if I change names on a whim? Isn't it the case that all of you have done the same to me? So let's be fair," Dion taunted contentedly.

"You...!

"What about me? Want to hit me? Come on if you dare," Dion challenged with an intimidating air, stepping toward Vincent, who retreated behind Grandmother Wolf.

"The audacity of you, Dion! Call the guards! Beat this man down," Grandmother Wolf yelled, losing her composure.

Several family members rushed out to summon the ever-ready household guards.

Moments later, five brawny, menacing-looking guards appeared and encircled Dion without a command.

Their arrival didn't intimidate Dion, who instead burst into boisterous laughter.

"Ha..ha..ha. These are the 'guards'? Five runts like you?" Dion mocked disdainfully.

"Come at me if you wish to taste my fists," Dion goaded them.

Provoked, all five guards charged at him simultaneously.

Yet...

Thud!...thud!...Crash!...thud!...slap!

Suddenly, Dion moved. Before anyone fully grasped the situation, the guards were now scattered on the floor, some crashing into tables and walls, windows shattering. Four lay unconscious, while one howled in pain, his arm dislocated.

Everyone present was stunned. Dion, who had always been known as weak and submissive, was suddenly strong? Had he been concealing his strength all this time?

"Fools. Spit..." Dion expressed his disdain for the bested guards.

Glancing over each family member with a look that dared them to meet his eyes, all shrank from his gaze in fear.

"All this time, I've borne your oppression in silence, your insults, your disdain!"

"For the love I had for Jasmine, I endured your ridicule, your contempt as if I were a beast to be cursed at will."

"But no longer! Remember this," Dion declared furiously.

"Bring me that agreement. I'll sign it with pleasure," he demanded.

One family member hurriedly presented the divorce papers, trembling with fear.

Dion snatched the papers roughly, glancing over their contents and proclaiming...

"Remember this day. One day, I will repay your treatment of me a hundredfold."

"I will ruin your entire family. I'll bring you to beggary!" Dion shouted as he signed the document and flung it in Grandmother Wolf's face.

That treatment fueled rage among the family, though only inwardly; after witnessing Dion's proven strength, they dared not openly defy him, including Grandmother Wolf, who sat shaking with repressed anger in her grand chair.

After all, if five strong guards couldn't stand against Dion, what chance did they have?

No one dared to counter or insult Dion anymore as before. They fell silent, not even daring a whisper, including Grandmother Wolf.

Once Dion had vented the anger and indignation that had festered within, he confidently strode out of the Wolf family meeting room, grabbing the meager two sets of clothes he owned from a backroom, stuffing them into a worn bag.

As he left, no one impeded him, all quietly seething.

Once Dion had exited the gates, the family's discussions erupted.

"That defeatist thinks he's someone!" scoffed Grandmother Wolf, releasing pent-up fury.

"Vincent! Find someone strong to deal with that scoundrel, Dion!"

"Let him be crippled, or better yet, killed," Grandmother Wolf commanded, slamming her fist on the table.

"It's settled, Grandmother. Have no worries. I know some heavies who can handle that dirtbag," Vincent assured, full of confidence.

Hearing Grandmother Wolf's orders, the family was stunned but understood her wrath. Dion's son-in-law had dared to demean their family head.

Of course, they supported the decision to eradicate Dion through a third party, their anger matched by Jasmine's, incensed at being labeled a vile woman by her ex-husband.

Later, with evil intent, she fantasized about one day tearing the insolent words from Dion's lips.

Jasmine's parents, too, were outraged by Dion's conduct toward their daughter but felt powerless—capable yet cowed by Dion's overwhelming strength.

For now, action would come from Vincent, the family's principal heir.

"This meeting ends here; the outcome is determined, and that wretch is expelled from our family."

"Now let us rebuild the Wolf family business," declared Grandmother Wolf with vigor.

"And for you, Jasmine. Reconnect with Mr. Brian."

"Extend my regards. This Saturday, I invite him to dine with us, celebrating your divorce from that repugnant ex-son-in-law," Grandmother Wolf continued energetically.

No one dared contradict Grandmother Wolf; they all looked uneasily at Jasmine.

Their family business hung by a thread, dependent on Jasmine forming an alliance with Mr. Brian, a powerful HR manager within the colossal Birawa Group subsidiary.

Their ventures were struggling financially after Mr. Brian unilaterally canceled several of their contracts. That's why they were so desperate to match Jasmine with Mr. Brian, sacrificing the useless Dion: a parasite and blight upon the family.

They believed that if Jasmine had a special relationship with Mr. Brian, their contract bids would become effortless, at least according to their cunning minds.

Once the discussions were over, Grandmother Wolf rose, leaving behind her throne.

The family members dispersed, except for Jasmine and her parents.

"Now, free of that loser, I am content to see such a worthless man leave our lives," Everly remarked happily.

"I'm also relieved. I've endured, but Dion's actions towards our family have filled me with anger!" added Danish, heating the situation.

"I hope Vincent quickly finds someone to exact our retribution on that scumbag," Jasmine thought privately.

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