The Tycoon's Odyssey

[I apologize for messing up. I have marked the chapter number wrong.So, please forgive me.]

The atmosphere in the usually lively living room was tense, subdued by the gravity of Evan's words as he laid out the details of what was to come.

Claire, his mother, sat across from him, her hands clasped together tightly. Beside her, Amelia, his mother-in-law, seemed equally anxious, her eyes darting glances between Evan and her daughter, Suri.

Even though the information was heavy, Suri sat relaxed on the couch, her head resting against the backrest as though she hadn't a care in the world. In fact, she almost looked like she would rather be back in bed.

Amelia's brows furrowed as she watched her daughter, an expression of disbelief etched on her face. Evan was talking about the challenges, the power struggles, the potential for backlash from those who saw him as a threat, yet Suri barely seemed to notice, her gaze half-lidded, her mind perhaps miles away. Frustrated, Amelia leaned over, her whisper loud enough for only Suri to hear.

"Why are you turning into such a pig? Do you think any man will love you if you become a chubby pig, lounging around like this?"

Suri's eyes snapped open, narrowing dangerously as she turned her head to meet her mother's gaze. Her voice came out low but biting, "Mom, stop embarrassing me. I am not a pig, and I have a superhuman metabolism. I can digest everything I eat without an ounce of it showing up."

Amelia sniffed, unfazed by her daughter's pointed glare. "Metabolism or not, if you keep eating like that, it'll show up eventually. And what's more, people will start to notice how little attention you pay to the real world."

Catching the whispered exchange between the two, Evan held back a small smirk but kept his tone serious. "Suri may have a point, though. We're all handling this situation in our own ways. And besides, she should rest. Suri already had her fair share of struggles."

Claire glanced between her son and Suri for a moment before he spoke up, her voice filled with concern.

"But Evan, is all this really necessary? You're already up against forces that could… Is it okay to tear apart everything you've worked for? Is it worth putting your family in this kind of danger?"

Evan's gaze softened as he turned to his mother. "Mom, I understand the risk. But this isn't just about me—it's about these greedy mongrels wanting to chew everything to satisfy their greed."

Suri's gaze finally sharpened, her earlier drowsiness replaced by a glint of determination. "And we're not alone in this. You've got me, Dad, and all of us backing you up, Evan. We're not running from this fight."

Amelia sighed, her concern still lingering but softened by her daughter's shift in demeanor. "Just… don't take anything lightly. You may feel invincible, Suri, but even the strongest can fall."

Suri nodded, a rare seriousness settling over her. "I know, Mom. We all know. But that's exactly why we're going to see this through."

Evan's expression tightened at Amelia's words. Her words had hit a nerve, brushing the truths he had carefully buried. He respected her insight—and if he was being honest, he couldn't deny that a part of him agreed with her words. His ambitions and relentless drive for innovation often overshadowed his personal life, and he could see how his mother-in-law feared he might pull Suri into dangers that were beyond her control.

After a tense moment of silence, Amelia finally broke the stillness by turning to Evan with a calm but commanding tone. "Evan, let's take a walk."

Evan's heart skipped a beat. He met Suri's eyes, seeing her watching them with a furrowed brow, her unease clear. But Amelia ignored her daughter's concerned gaze, leading Evan out of the room with a purposeful stride. With a growing sense of dread, Evan followed her, bracing himself for whatever she was going to say.

Claire patted Evan on the back as he passed. She understood that Amelia's concern was simply a mother's worry for her child. "Go on. She is just being a mother."

They walked in silence for a few minutes, Amelia asking him about trivial things—the weather, his work schedule, some bits of recent family news. But Evan could tell that the real conversation was just beginning. Then, without warning, Amelia stopped and turned to him with an intensity that caught him off guard.

"The truth is, Evan, I don't like Suri being with you."

Evan's heart sank at her words, a surge of panic filling his chest. "Why?" he managed, his voice a bit strained. "What's the reason?"

Amelia didn't hesitate. "It's because you're too… outstanding," she replied, her tone heavy with concern. "You're a powerful man, Evan, and I fear that will bring dangers that Suri doesn't need in her life."

He was silent, absorbing her words as she continued. "I know my daughter very well. She's already endured her share of difficulties and pain. She deserves a peaceful life, but being with you, it's anything but calm. You're dragging her into battles and rivalries she never asked for."

Evan wanted to respond, to reassure her somehow, but Amelia wasn't done. She looked him squarely in the eyes, her expression growing darker.

"You're going to start a conflict with an entire country, Evan. And even if you get through that, others will come knocking, asking for the same things. You'll refuse, of course. And the cycle of conflict will only escalate. I don't want Suri to be caught in a war with the world, a war you might not even win. Humanity has an uncanny way of uniting against what it perceives as a common threat. And if that threat is you…"

Evan felt her words weigh heavily on him. She wasn't wrong. He'd thought of these possibilities before, but hearing them laid out like this, from someone who cared deeply about Suri's well-being, hit differently, they felt sharper, more immediate. He met her worried gaze and spoke with quiet conviction.

"I can only promise you one thing," he said. "Even if the whole world turns against me, Suri will always be safe. I'll protect her, no matter what it takes."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "And how exactly can you guarantee that?"

Evan's voice lowered as he continued, "Because we'll relocate to the Nicobar base if it ever comes to that. It's an unbreakable fortress. Even if several countries were to drop nukes, we'd survive."

Amelia's eyes widened in shock, a flicker of disbelief on her face. "Evan, don't joke about things like this."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" he replied, his tone solemn.

She hesitated, studying his face for a moment before finally sighing. "Fine. I believe you—for now." Her heartbeat quickened as she processed the revelation, her gaze shifting to the floor.

"But…" she continued after a moment. "That's not the only thing that worries me."

"What else?" Evan asked, curious yet cautious.

"You're a remarkable man, Evan," she said, her voice softer. "Too remarkable, in fact. It's hard to believe that a man like you would ever be content with just one woman."

Amelia then stared at Evan's face and had to say, it was quite bewitching enough to attract anyone.

Evan froze, caught off guard by the bluntness of her statement. He felt a surge of frustration but composed himself and met her gaze.

"I swear on everything I hold dear," he said, his voice ringing with sincerity, "that I only love Suri. No other woman has ever—and will ever—compare to her in my eyes."

"I have seen countless women but except Suri, I hardly found anyone beautiful," Evan spoke with a sigh.

Amelia's serious expression softened, but then her lips curled into a mischievous smile, her eyes twinkling with an almost sinister glint. Evan watched her warily as she leaned in with a smirk.

"Then, son-in-law," she murmured, "tell me something."

He raised an eyebrow, bracing himself. "What?"

Her grin widened as she asked. "Am I beautiful?"

"…"

Was he going to be fucked up?