Chapter 2 I Am Her Husband

• Everyone instinctively looked in the direction of Christopher's voice to see who was it who dared to utter such absurdity.
• However, when everyone saw Christopher, they were all stunned. They hadn't noticed when a young man in a worn-out camouflage uniform had casually walked into the living room, and now, he even dared speak up against them.
• “What the hell? Who's this peasant that came into our house? Get out of here!” the Murrays immediately roared at him.
• “Mr. Murray, you need to improve on your house's security. I'll assign two security guards from my company tomorrow,” Jared joked when he saw Christopher's outfit. He was not taking Christopher seriously.
• Julianna instinctively looked at Christopher as well. Initially, she felt a glimmer of hope, but it soon vanished when she realized it was just a random stranger speaking up for her out of pity.
• However, Julianna suddenly shuddered, and tears began to run down her cheeks when she recognized that the man in the raggedy camouflage uniform was Christopher, the man who had abandoned her at the altar and gone missing for three years.
• Julianna would never have imagined that Christopher would show up this way.
• She faltered toward Christopher and slapped him. “I'm surprised you even bothered to come back. Grandpa has been gone for a year. Did you know how many times he called out your name moments before he died? Where were you then?”
• At that moment, Christopher felt extremely guilty.
• Julianna's words shocked everyone in the living room. They scrutinized Christopher and realized that it was actually him.
• Fabian's eldest son, Fabio, had constantly been ridiculed by people because of Christopher and Julianna's marriage, and he had long had enough.
• Right as the Murrays were about to get the Cordringtons as their backer, Christopher unexpectedly returned.
• Fabio suddenly stood up and shouted at Christopher, “Christopher! You don't belong in this family. Get lost!”
• Despite her resentment toward Christopher for disappearing and causing her three years of shame, Julianna felt a burst of rage when Fabio humiliated him in front of everyone. After all, Christopher was her husband, and insulting her husband was equivalent to insulting her. “Fabio, how dare you?” she shouted angrily.
• As Fabio was about to refute, Jared said disdainfully, “So you're the Christopher who left on his big wedding day. Tell me, why do you disagree?”
• To Jared, Christopher's outfit was no different from that of an immigrant worker at his construction site with no money and power. Hence, Jared regarded Christopher as someone insignificant because the latter wasn't worthy of his time.
• “Why? Because I, Christopher Yaeger, am Julianna's husband!” Christopher's voice echoed in the living room.
• Julianna couldn't help but glance at Christopher. The agony she felt in her heart grew stronger. She would never have imagined that she would one day need the protection of her husband, whom she had resented for three years.
• “Hahaha! You stopped being her husband when you abandoned Julianna at your wedding three years ago.”
• Jared couldn't help but laugh and speak disdainfully.
• “Three years ago, I received an urgent mission from the military, and I had to leave. I didn't mean to abandon Julianna. Now that I'm back, I want to start things over. Did you know it's illegal to disrupt a military marriage?”
• A cold glint flashed across Christopher's eyes as he glared at Jared. After all, Christopher was the Underlord, the nightmare of enemies by the border.
• Jared immediately felt an overwhelming pressure, and his scalp tingled for a split second.
• However, Jared immediately regained his composure. After all, he was the eldest son of the chairman of Cordrington Corporation. In his opinion, Christopher was just a veteran and was no match for him.
• Cordrington Corporation recruited many veterans like him as security guards every year.
• “Pfft! Hahaha! Hey, brat. Have you lost your mind? This is Jadeborough! It's my turf! Who would dare to sentence me for breaking the law?”
• Jared shot Christopher an arrogant look, taking the latter as someone he could ruin effortlessly.
• “Christopher, since you're back, let me tell you something. We will not accept you into the Murray family!” Fabian naturally knew what benefits Jared could bring to the family. So what if Christopher is a veteran? Thousands of veterans are discharged from the military every year in Jadeborough. Even though they get a subsidy, there's no way that paltry amount is enough for the Murrays.
• The Murrays would stop forcing Julianna to marry Jared if Christopher had been of a high military rank. However, looking at Christopher's clothes, he looked like a foot soldier at best!
• “That's not up to you!” Christopher said coldly.
• He initially decided that if Julianna wanted to dissolve the engagement, he would fulfill her wishes. At the end of the day, he was the one who had let her down. However, her being forced to marry someone else had crossed his bottom line.
• Never mind the eldest son of the Cordringtons; he would kill the other man even if he were a god!
• “Hahaha! I get it now. You must not have enough retirement funds. You must be worried that you won't be able to survive with that small amount of money, right? Don't worry. I'll give you two hundred thousand as compensation!” Jared suddenly burst out in laughter.
• After all, he had met a lot of security guards who were veterans. At first, they were stubborn. However, they would always end up begging rich people like him when they realized they had no money.
• “Hahaha! In the end, he just wanted money! Don't worry. If you divorce Julianna, the Murrays will hire you as the head of security. We won't let you starve.” Fabio broke out in laughter as well.
• Everyone in the room began to laugh. They thought Christopher was causing a scene just for some money. In their minds, a veteran was just a retired soldier without a future.
• Just when everyone thought Christopher would take up their offer, Christopher smiled and said, “Jared, if your family is so wealthy, why did you fool the Murrays with a fake Titian painting?”
• Everyone froze for a moment when they heard Christopher's words before bursting into laughter immediately afterward. Fabian pointed at Christopher's nose and shouted angrily, “What does a soldier like you know about antiques? How dare you say that Jared's painting is fake! Get out!”
• “That's right. You must be illiterate to not even recognize the characters in the painting. Someone like you wouldn't appreciate the beauty of this work of art,” Fabio joined in the fun and teased Christopher.
• Meanwhile, Julianna shook her head and sighed. Her uncle truly did know a little about antiques, while Christopher had only just returned from the military. How could he possibly know that the painting was a fake?
• At that moment, Jared began to tremble and became anxious because he knew the painting was indeed a fake. However, although it was a fake, it was a high-quality counterfeit forged by a master in the early twentieth century, and he had bought it for a hundred thousand. A soldier like Christopher shouldn't be able to discern its authenticity.
• Besides, Christopher was standing far from the painting, further convincing Jared that he was just spouting nonsense.
• Jared smirked and said casually, “Well, since Christopher won't give up, how about this? I know an antique connoisseur who goes by the name of Henry Berbrooke. Mr. Murray should know who he is. Let's invite him over!”
• “Oh, Mr. Berbrooke! I've met him a few times. He's an expert! However, I don't think there's a need for Mr. Berbrooke in this matter. I mean, what does an uncultured man know about antiques? We don't have to take him seriously. If this spreads out to the public, it will humiliate the Murrays!”
• When Jared mentioned inviting Henry, Fabian was also convinced that Christopher was simply spouting nonsense. After all, he was just an ignorant soldier.
• “It's okay. Let's invite Mr. Berbrooke over. I don't want him to see me as a bully.” Jared chuckled and immediately called Henry and asked him to come over.
• Fabio immediately said flatteringly, “Mr. Cordrington, your kindness knows no bounds. Who else in Jadeborough is as benevolent as you? Julianna, please be grateful.”
• Julianna snorted coldly. She knew very well what kind of person Jared was.
• As a man who had risen above tens of thousands and became a general, Christopher wouldn't fall for Jared's little games.
• He sneered secretly, The Cordringtons are just an insignificant family in Jadeborough. You're not even relevant in Jadeborough, and you think you can go up against me? Dream on! You're not even qualified to challenge me!
• Christopher took the opportunity to send a text to Lupine, asking him to send someone authoritative enough in Jadeborough to overwhelm the Cordringtons to deliver the original Titian painting.
• Soon, Lupine responded: Understood, General!
• Christopher smirked as he couldn't wait to see Jared humiliated.
• Within fifteen minutes, a scrawny middle-aged man rushed over. He first greeted Jared, then the Murrays. At that moment, Jared said, “Mr. Berbrooke, take a look at this. Is it authentic?”
• As Jared spoke, he signaled Henry with a smile, and Henry hurriedly responded, “Understood, Mr. Cordrington!”
• Then, Henry put on his glasses and thoroughly examined the painting. After five minutes, Henry took off his glasses and said with admiration, “Mr. Cordrington, thanks to you, I was finally able to see an original work of Titian in my lifetime. I no longer have any regrets!”
• As Henry finished, the Murrays breathed a sigh of relief, and Fabian and Fabio were filled with excitement. After all, Henry was prominent in the antique industry.
• Fabio quickly smiled and said, “Christopher, do you have anything else to say?”
• Christopher knew it was one of Jared's tricks and immediately said, “Mr. Berbrooke, I think Mr. Cordrington bribed you! I need someone authoritative to appraise the painting!”
• “Hey, brat. Don't slander me. Everyone knows that I, Henry Berbrooke, am reputable in this industry. I'll make you pay for destroying my reputation!” Henry shouted angrily.
• “You said that it's genuine despite knowing that it's a fake. If I wanted to destroy your reputation, you would be doing me a favor.” Christopher snorted and spoke in a loud voice.
• “Enough! Who do you think you are? What do you know about antique paintings? You brought shame to the Murrays three years ago and now dare to cause a scene in our house? Someone, get this lunatic out of my sight!” Fabian immediately rebuked.
• “Hold on. I have a few words for Christopher.”
• Suddenly, Jared smiled, ambled toward Christopher, and said haughtily, “As long as I say the word, countless people in the entire Jadeborough would tell me that this painting is genuine.
• “So, no matter who you look for, as long as I say it's authentic, it will be authentic. If you still want to challenge me, it won't end well for you!”
• Jared ended his sentence with an arrogant smile on his face, like an emperor scorning a pitiful little ant. He was sure Christopher had nothing he could use against him.
• The Murrays followed suit and agreed with Jared.
• “Are you sure you can do that?” Christopher suddenly asked mockingly.
• “Hahaha! If I can't do it, can you? You are nothing but a veteran. You're in no place to speak to me like that.” Jared couldn't figure out the source of Christopher's confidence.
• Are soldiers these days that arrogant?
• “Take him away! Hurry up!” Fabian could no longer stand the sight of Christopher for even a second more.
• Christopher couldn't help but burst into laughter. He had already received a text from Lupine. General, the painting has arrived.
• “Mr. Murray! Mr. Murray! Someone from Hubbard Artifacts is here!” At that moment, a trembling voice came from outside the house.
• Everyone in the room was stunned. Hubbard Artifacts was the number one antique store in Jadeborough and was very prestigious in the antique industry.
• The chairman of Hubbard Artifacts, Dennis Hubbard, was the wealthiest man in Jadeborough.
• Dennis was rumored to be worth tens of billions and powerful. Even the mayor of Jadeborough had to treat him with the utmost respect. Cordrington Corporation was nothing compared to Hubbard Group.
• Everyone in the room couldn't help but wonder why someone from Hubbard Artifacts would suddenly visit the insignificant Murray family.