My Wife's Company Influencer Beat My Father-in-Law to Death

"I didn't steal it."

I kept my voice level, eyes on the watch.

"Caught red-handed and still lying?!"

Victoria snatched the watch from Jason's hand.

"Ethan, you've completely lost it! A piece like this—you've probably never even seen one in real life. What, you were gonna pawn it? Or wear it around and pretend to be somebody?"

She walked right up to me and started slapping the watch face against my cheek.

"Look at you. You think you even deserve to touch this? Do you have any idea what it costs? I could sell you and that dead old man of yours together and not afford the strap!"

"Stealing. Cursing my father out in public. Ethan, you are rotten to the core."

The whispers around me got uglier. Filthier words drifted through the crowd.

Jason leaned in close, dropping his voice so only I could hear.

"Going up against me? Listen up, you broke piece of shit. This is what happens. Victoria's mine. The company's mine. And you and that dying old man of yours can rot in the gutter where you belong."

I ignored him and looked Victoria dead in the eye, her face still flushed with fury.

"Then call the police."

Victoria laughed like I'd told her the world's funniest joke.

"Ethan, you really think the cops are gonna believe the watch just walked into your pocket on its own?"

"Let me tell you—I don't care if God himself shows up today. You are not getting out of this!"

"Today is my IPO. You are not ruining this for me! Get him out of my sight!"

"I'm hiring the best lawyers money can buy, Ethan. A stolen watch worth millions, dozens of witnesses, evidence everywhere—plus the way you've been cursing my father in front of the whole company. You're going to prison. And you'll have all the time in the world to think about that pathetic little life of yours."

Jason chimed in immediately.

"Yeah, Victoria, we can't let him off! Scum like this needs a lesson, or he'll think we're a pushover. Call the cops! Throw the book at him!"