Chapter 2: Live-In Son-In-Law

Words : 1848 Updated : Nov 6th, 2025

"Salvatore, hello. People are saying your granddaughter's engagement was you breaking up a couple and forcing the engagement through. Is that true?" "Mr. Santee, your daughter ran off for love. Do you support her decision?" "Mrs. Santee, some say you never backed this engagement. Now that your daughter ran off with someone, is this what you wanted?" A swarm of microphones closed in on the three of them, trapping the Santee family as they tried to leave. "People are saying A-list star Zander Smut and your daughter grew up together as childhood sweethearts. He went against the grain and risked his career to crash the engagement and steal the bride. Mr. Santee, would you accept him as your son-in-law?" "Netizens argue your granddaughter couldn't end up with Zander because of your feud with the Smut family. They're calling them a real-life Romeo and Juliet. Mr. Santee Sr., how do you respond?" At the mention of Zander Smut, the supposed leading man of this bride-snatching, the reporters doubled down, eager for every detail. A few younger women in the crowd, hearing his name, drifted closer without even realizing it. Jason grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from the table and munched quietly, taking in the gossip like it was someone else's business. The memories he'd inherited were patchy, blurry fragments. Still, the name Zander sounded familiar. He'd been Margaret's childhood sweetheart, and they'd actually loved each other. They were each other's first love. Plus, Zander was a blazing-hot idol, the kind of superstar whose face sold everything. If Salvatore hadn't stepped in, Jason figured none of this would have involved him at all. The Santee family didn't answer any questions. With security summoned by the butler, they hurried out of the venue. Jason kept happily cracking seeds, oblivious that every gaze in the room had now shifted to him. While Salvatore was there, no one dared say a word. Once the Santees were gone, the whispers grew louder. "So that's the pretty boy. I'll admit, he's good-looking. No wonder Mr. Santee Sr. took a liking to him." "Pfft. Looks aren't worth much. No pedigree, no connections. If he hadn't latched onto the Santee family, he probably couldn't even afford a place." "I heard Ms. Santee doesn't like him at all. He pestered her shamelessly." "You're just jealous. If he can suck up hard enough that even Mr. Santee Sr. approves, that's a skill in itself." "Hey, hey, did you see the guy who whisked Ms. Santee away just now?" "Who? He did look familiar." "You don't recognize Zander Smut? He's the hottest young star right now." "You only know half of it. Zander's not just a sensation; he's also the Smut family's third son." Many of the guests were big shots who worked with the Santees. The Smut Group's name needed no introduction. In assets and legacy, the Smut family outshone the Santees. In Anville, calling them number one wasn't an exaggeration. "He's one of the Smuts? That's a thousand times better than this pretty boy on stage, isn't it? If those two families joined by marriage, the Santees would soar. Why did Mr. Santee Sr. look so angry?" Plenty of guests were distant relatives who had no clue about the tangled history. "Speaking of the Smuts, their patriarch, Ethan Smut, is Mr. Santee Sr.'s old nemesis. He made Mr. Santee Sr.'s life hard when they were young, and their companies are still rivals." "No wonder Mr. Santee Sr. opposes those two." "Let's see if this pretty boy still has the nerve to move into the Santee household as a live-in son-in-law after today." No crowd loved a spectacle more than this one. A live-in son-in-law? Jason snorted. He'd been an Immortal Emperor, one who held life and death in his palm and kept the rabble across the eight realms in check. For anyone to think he'd become a live-in son-in-law-they must be blind. If his old fellow cultivators ever found out that, after reincarnating, an Immortal Emperor had gone off to be someone's live-in son-in-law, they'd laugh themselves to death. Have I no shame? "If it were me," someone said, chest out, "I'd spit at that kind of humiliation and blow up at the Santees right there. Forget the wedding." "Take a look in the mirror," someone else replied, "Even if you wanted to marry in, the Santees wouldn't have you. They're a big deal in Anville. Plenty of people dream of climbing their social ladder and never get the chance." "Exactly. I bet that pretty boy swallows his pride. Once you're in with the Santees, you won't have to worry about a thing. You'll have the best of everything from cars, trips, and the works. Do nothing and you're set. You and Ms. Santee each do your own thing, and hook up with whatever beauties you want. If it were me, I'd settle in and happily bum around." This drew laughter and cries of "vulgar," but more than a few people secretly agreed. Jason perked up. When he heard "happily bum around at the Santees," he straightened instantly. Hell, that's not a normal life; that's the life. He didn't know why, but just picturing a future where he did nothing, kicked back, and coasted forever, made the Immortal Emperor feel his back stopped aching and even his lower back felt fine. This wasn't selling out for money. His childhood dream had always been to be the man who moved in with his wife's family. In a way, he'd been chasing that dream all along. Thinking back on the original Jason's courtship, he realized the guy had just simped and barely spent a dime. The real kicker was, he actually simped his way into the Santee family. This wasn't some naïve, lovesick pushover; this was a genius investor pulling off a big win with pocket change. The old me would've sneered. The current me was reviewing every move. Truth was, Jason misjudged the original. He hadn't spent money because he was broke. But that was beside the point. The more Jason imagined the bliss ahead, the more hopeful he felt. Jason was thrilled. The emcee beside him, though, was on the verge of tears. What kind of nightmare was this? People said rich families were messy, but nobody said they were this messy. This was already the second crisis of his career. Last time had also been a rich family gig, at the son's wedding. The father-in-law got drunk and kissed the daughter-in-law in public. No matter how he tried to smooth things over, it didn't work. The emcee almost quit right then. He'd spent months recovering before deciding to return to work, only to walk into this disaster. He broke down inside, vowing to never take another rich family gig. He wanted to cry, but professionalism forced him to keep smiling. "Next, let's invite the groom to the stage to say a few words." His mind had gone blank; his body ran the ceremony on autopilot. As soon as he said it, he could've kicked himself. With things already blown up, calling the groom on stage was asking for trouble. The room went dead silent. Every eye turned toward Jason in the corner. Everyone waited to see him make a fool of himself, curious what this would-be Santee son-in-law, just jilted in public, would say.

Chapter 2: Live-In Son-In-Law

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