Chapter 1

The Astor family mansion was filled with people dressed all in black as if to show their sorrow for the passing of Daniel-the head of the Astor family who had just passed away due to illness. The atmosphere of sadness is extreme in the luxurious house until the arrival of a manmade one. The eyes of the guests and the Astor family focused on him.

The man looked sad, his face showing a deep sense of loss. Unfortunately, when his steps had just reached the entrance. A man in a black suit with a firm jaw stared at him sharply, he stood in the way so the other man could not enter.

"What did you come here for? Isn't your presence not expected, Clayton?" the man asked the modest figure in front of him.

"I wanted to participate in this funeral, after all, Mr. Daniel is my grandfather-in-law," he said, glaring back.

"How dare you say that! You were never considered in this family! Not even once, even though you were married to Ahren. In fact, your marriage is not even approved by this family."

His voice was so loud it drew the attention of everyone, even the family inside the house. They walked to the front to see what was going on.

"What do I think is the matter? Apparently an uninvited guest came to dirty the floor of this house. Clayton, what did you come here for? Aren't you satisfied with Daniel's death?!" The woman with the gaunt face crossed her arms and raised her head haughtily.

"Mother, I came to mourn, just like everyone else." Clayton went back to answering the questions people were asking.

"Are you deaf? I even forbade you to come here! You really are an ignorant man, you can't even digest my words properly. I don't know how Daniel could bring you into this family, Clayton. Poor, uneducated man."

Clayton was an outsider who entered the Astor Family by luck. The moment he met Daniel, Clayton saved him from a collapsed building. The construction of the Astor Family's new building almost took Daniel's life. However, Clayton came and kept him.

The incident made Daniel owe Clayton his life. However, Daniel's kindness was not only repaid by treating Clayton like his grandson. Daniel brought Clayton into the Astor Family and married him to Ahren - Daniel's granddaughter.

Clayton's body was pushed, staggered, and almost fell if he didn't immediately hold on to the door leaf.

"Go away! A lowly and stupid man like you only makes the atmosphere in this house bad! You are the misfortune of this family! You're also the one who made Ahren's life even more tragic."

That woman-Ella-was Daniel's late wife and Clayton' mother-in-law. It would always be wrong in her eyes whatever Clayton said or did. The man's inherent poverty made her a jinxed figure detrimental to everyone in the Astor Family.

"Aunt Ella, what's going on?" A well-built man stood behind Elle.

"Hugo. Look at him, Clayton. You must know what the difference between you two is. Just from your clothes alone, you're a man who doesn't belong in this house. In fact, all the people around you are dressed in suits so appropriate that they show off their wealth." Ella's face took on a look of disgust with her sharp eyes. She didn't like Clayton' arrival.

"Auntie is too complimentary." Hugo gave Clayton a suspicious glance from head to toe.

"It's a fact, Hugo. I praise with my consciousness. Of course, it's so he can see with his eyes your differences. In fact, even who deserves to be with Ahren is seen here." Ella glared at Clayton. She disliked Clayton because Clayton had no money, even coming to the Astor family without bringing anything. It made her upset and disgusted.

"Well... well, apparently there's this stupid guy. No wonder everyone is here so uncomfortable. Didn't... no one invite you or expect you to come, Clayton?" Austin - Ahren's cousin - was also making the atmosphere hot. He looked at Clayton with a condescending gaze. His lips pursed hatefully, regarding Clayton as an utter disgrace.

"I came here to offer my condolences. Grandfather was an influential person in my life. Of course I want to see him to his final resting place." Clayton still calmly answered all the insults.

"Hah, it seems like it would be useless, we're just wasting our energy telling a fool like him. His level won't reach the top and be on par with the rest of us. Wouldn't it be better for you to leave this house immediately before Hugo and I kick you out by force!"

The anger Austin showed made Ella support him. In fact, Ella grabbed the bouquet in Clayton' hand and almost threw it away if he didn't hold it back.

"The flowers you're carrying will pollute this place. Don't you see the bouquets in this house? They're from an expensive florist that the family patronizes. All the flowers here are handpicked. Not flowers picked from someone's flower garden! Don't joke with me, Clayton!"

That is. Hugo tries everything to get Ahren, even though Ahren doesn't like Hugo and always rejects him. But as if never desperate, Hugo always came back in another way to win Ahren's heart.

"Isn't a real son-in-law a responsible man who can make his wife and family happy? Unfortunately, you don't provide any of that, do you? Look at Hugo, he's a responsible man. His wealth can make Ahren happy by spoiling her using whatever he has. You, on the other hand, are a useless man. A husband who's poor and can't give his wife anything can't be called a husband." Austin put Clayton down even more.

The hurt Clayton got from the insults of the people from the family did not make his temper explode. Clayton was quite aware of his position, but he believed happiness did not only come from wealth.

"Austin, never mind. Don't waste your energy explaining to him what a husband means in a family. He won't understand. In fact, if he did, he wouldn't even show up in front of all of us. Tell you what, I'll try to tell that guy to be someone useful." Hugo grinned as he folded his arms across his chest. He looked smug, as if he was the most fantastic man alive.

"Ah, you're right Hugo. Show him."

"Hey, damn it! I'll explain very slowly. Do you want to be a useful man?" Hugo chuckled as he said it. He looked down at Clayton, he even touched his shoulder.

"Why are you asking in that tone as if I'm an idiot?" Clayton pushed Hugo's hand away.

"Oh, gosh. I didn't want to say it, but why did you confess? Apparently, you're more of an idiot than I thought, Mr. Clayton. Well, get on with it. You could do yourself a favor by signing the divorce papers and ending your marriage to Ahren." Hugo raised one eyebrow in a tone of voice that sounded haughty.

"Are you crazy? You're telling me to separate from Ahren? I'm not going to do it!"

"Hey! How rude of you to say that! Hugo was kind enough to explain it slowly. Are you such an idiot that you can't take anyone's word for it?" Austin looked annoyed with Clayton' answer to Hugo. Of course, it was because Austin and Hugo were close friends. Hugo was always friendly to him and could even give him gifts or money. When he needed help, Hugo always tried to help him. And that would be beneficial to him.

"Auntie, Clayton won't understand what you're saying. His stupidity can't be helped. So, it's best to get the garbage man to drag him away. It's more appropriate than us getting our hands dirty."

"Good idea, Austin. He needs to be given an understanding of his position."

"Do you think, with my father gone, you can take control of his property? After getting Ahren, are you still not satisfied? My father leaving doesn't mean you can have it all, Clayton. If that's what you think, you'd better stop. The Astor family will thrive under the leadership of the nuclear family. Not from an outsider who knows nothing."

The assertion of Clayton' position continued. In fact, the man standing still did not understand the train of thought of the people from the Astor Family who were accusing him. Controlling the family's wealth and assets was not the primary purpose of Clayton' visit. He was there to honor the passing of the man who had meant so much in his life and had been one of his most excellent helpers.

Daniel always spoke respectfully, a man of high position and great wealth. Clayton thought of him as wise, able to think well, and deal with things calmly.

"You seem to be thinking too far ahead. Really, I only came to mourn, not as you accuse." Clayton tried to defend himself.

"It's good that you don't have such thoughts. Still, you need to get out of this house as soon as possible because Ahren is getting married to Hugo. This family considers your marriage unofficial and just a consolation for grandpa during his lifetime. Now that grandpa is gone, you can leave this house and your job is done."

Clayton looked sarcastically at Hugo, an arrogant and haughty wealthy man. Clayton didn't like men. 

"It's okay, Austin. I'm sure he didn't mean it, he just can't control his stupidity."

Austin laughed at Hugo's remark towards Clayton. Meanwhile, between them, Ella seemed to be getting increasingly annoyed that Clayton had not left his presence.