My In-Laws Wanted My Billion-Dollar Empire Chapter 01

My In-Laws Wanted My Billion-Dollar Empire Chapter 01

At my brother-in-law’s wedding reception, his new wife suddenly called me out in front of everyone.

“Natalie, not only have you been living in you in-laws’ retirement estate since you married Ethan, but you’ve also been driving their Maybach like it belongs to you. Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”

“Since everyone is here today, why don’t we officially split the family assets? That way, you won’t be able to rely on my in-laws anymore.”

The guests immediately broke into whispers.

Ethan’s parents looked deeply uncomfortable.

I calmly took a sip of my wine, then smiled and nodded.

“Split the assets? I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Apparently, this self-proclaimed justice seeker still had no idea who had actually kept this family afloat.

The luxurious estate.

The Maybach.

Even the publicly listed tech company admired by countless people.

I was the true owner of all of it.

The once-lively wedding reception fell completely silent.

On stage, Madison Blake didn’t get the reaction she wanted.

Instead of watching me lose my temper, she saw me stay completely calm.

Her expression hardened.

Ignoring Ryan Hayes’s attempts to stop her, she gripped the microphone tighter and continued attacking me.

“Natalie, I honestly have to admire how shameless you are.”

“We’re both women who married into the Hayes Family. Do you really think no one can see through your little act? Don’t think you can brush this off by fooling me with a few words.”

She turned toward the guests below the stage, her face filled with anger.

“Everyone here has no idea what Natalie is really like. She lives in her husband’s parents’ house, takes over the master bedroom, and expects everyone to wait on her.”

“Last time, Linda kindly went into her home office to help clean up. Instead of appreciating it, Natalie yelled at her until she was in tears!”

“And last month, when Richard fell at home and injured his leg, what did she do? She didn’t care at all. She just drove away in the family Maybach and left Richard lying there IN PAIN!”

“Tensei Tech? That company clearly belongs to the Hayes Family, but she shamelessly holds the position of Vice President.”

“She’s late or leaves early every day. When she’s in the office, MAKEUP, SNACKS, NETFLIX, and order Ethan’s sister around!”

Madison glared at me.

Then she turned to Ethan Hayes, who was standing beside me.

“Ethan, SAY something!”

“Your wife has been acting like she owns this whole family. Are you really going to keep letting her do whatever she wants?”

In an instant.

Everyone in the reception hall turned their eyes toward Ethan.

Even I was curious to see how he would answer.

When I married into the Hayes Family, they had nothing.

And I mean nothing.

The only person in their family who had graduated from a top university was Ethan.

His younger brother, Ryan Hayes, and younger sister, Chloe Hayes, had both entered the manufacturing industry without even finishing high school.

His parents were ordinary construction workers.

Their entire family’s combined yearly income wouldn’t have been enough to buy even one of my cheapest pairs of shoes.

After we got married, I bought the Hayes Family their luxury estate and Maybach.

I founded Tensei Tech with my own money and personally taught them how to run the company. I used my resources to help them expand their business connections.

No one outside the family knew the truth.

But every single member of the Hayes Family knew exactly what I had done for them.

Under everyone’s heated stares, Ethan’s expression slowly darkened.

His fingers tightened around his wine glass.

His knuckles turned white.

After a few seconds.

As if he had finally made up his mind.

He turned to me.

“Natalie, Madison wasn’t wrong.”

“Those things really were your fault.”

“Today, in front of everyone, stand up and apologize to Mom, Dad, and Chloe.”

“Have a drink with them and admit your mistake. Then this matter will be over.”

The smile on my face disappeared.

His words sounded like he was offering me a way out.

But in reality, he had accepted every accusation Madison threw at me.

He had publicly made me the guilty one.

He wanted me to admit to things I had never done.

But Ethan seemed to have forgotten something.

On our wedding night, he had knelt in front of me and cried.

He told me I was the one who had saved his entire family.

He promised that no matter what happened, he would never let me suffer even the slightest injustice.

Those words still echoed in my ears.

Yet the man standing in front of me now felt completely unfamiliar.

I slowly turned my eyes toward Ethan’s parents.

Then Chloe.

Then Ryan, who stood beside Madison on the stage.

The incident Madison called “making Linda cry” happened because Linda Hayes had ignored my warnings over and over again.

No one was allowed to enter my home office without my permission.

But while I was away, she went inside anyway.

And she threw away original copies of international business contracts worth billions of dollars, treating them like worthless trash.

I only scolded her.

As for the time Richard Hayes injured his leg.

I immediately canceled an important client meeting and called my private hospital’s emergency line.

I didn’t leave until I watched Richard being taken away by ambulance.

Only then did I go meet my client.

And Chloe…

If I hadn’t stopped them back then, Ethan’s parents would have forced her into a marriage she never wanted just for money.

I had always treated her like my own younger sister.

I paid for her to study at a top university overseas.

After she started working, I personally guided her and taught her everything I knew about running a company.

Including Ryan.

Every luxury car and piece of racing equipment he owned.

The home he and Madison moved into after marriage.

The wedding expenses.

Every single related cost.

I paid for all of it.

But now.

When I was labeled the villain in front of everyone…

They all avoided my eyes.

Not a single person defended me.

At that moment.

I only felt disappointed and amused.

Facing Ethan’s silent demand that I apologize, I lightly curled my lips.

“Apologize?”

“Keep dreaming.”

“I did nothing wrong. I have nothing to apologize for.”