“Don’t kneel,” David said. He crouched down to help his wife up. Lily sobbed.
“I’m sorry, David,” said Lily. David knew Lily changed only because of the treasure he thought David still had. Though it will not completely be his anymore. David knew that, even if he was asked to return, he had a lot to face. Maybe even his life would be at stake. That was why David was still a little hesitant. But seeing the change in his wife, who seemed to have the opportunity to love him, David thought it didn’t matter.
“You must have hypnotized my daughter!” the mother-in-law did not accept what was happening in front of her.
“Mother,” Lily warned her mother.
But instead Lily was glared at by her own mother. “Are you stupid or what, Lily?! Don’t be so easy to believe! Could this poor husband of yours have a plan! You know, he just got the money. Or maybe what Mr and Mrs Aisley said is true that he stole. Then he used the money to hire these thugs! Admit it, David! They are not your subordinates! “ The mother-in-law is still trying to deny it.
“I didn’t expect Mother to think that far.” David shook his head. He really had to prove it now to his mother-in-law. David didn’t want this humiliation from his mother-in-law anymore. So, he turned his head to look at Bruno.
“Bruno,” he called.
“Yes, boss!” replied Bruno in a firm voice. Same with the tone his boss gave. There was a slight curve on his lips. It seemed his boss’s full of authority was returning little by little.
“Follow me!” said David, then without a word, he walked away. David ignored Lily, who was holding his arm. It seemed that Lily was still anxious that David would not forgive her. Especially because of what her mother said earlier. Even David could faintly hear Lily’s voice scolding her own mother.
“Mother, are you insane? He’s rich! I saw it with my own eyes. He even compensated every customer in the restaurant for not revealing what happened! There was chaos in the restaurant where Jack asked me out!” Then Lily’s voice got smaller. David didn’t know what they were talking about anymore. But David didn’t want to care about that.
David stopped his steps when he felt that no one else could hear his voice. “What’s the matter, boss? Looks like it’s very important?” asked Bruno.
David looked restless. It really didn’t feel good to say this to Bruno. But he felt like he wanted to silence the mouth of his mother-in-law, who was very rude.
“Just say it, boss. There’s no need to feel so awkward. I will always obey your words,” said Bruno, knowing what was on his boss’s mind.
David sighed. “If I may, I’d like to borrow your money first. I have a way of getting my mother-in-law to keep her mouth shut so she won’t insult me anymore,” David finally said.
“My money?” Bruno repeated with a nod of David. Bruno smiled at that.
“I told you our money is yours, too. You know I owe you a lot, boss. I leave my life for you. Which means my money is also all yours. You don’t have to feel so bad.” Ah, David understood what Bruno meant by that.
David nodded his head. “I’ll change it later when I have my access like I used to,” David replied.
“No need, boss. I told you it’s all yours. So, what plan did you mean, boss?”
David leaned closer to Bruno and whispered, “Listen...”
***
“Huh! What cunning plan have you been talking about with this thug you hired, huh?!” When David came, his mother-in-law talk nonsense to him again.
“If I can prove to you, Mother, that I’m actually a rich man. Can that make you no longer insult me?” asked David with a serious tone and face. It made Lily and her mother-in-law quite surprised by this drastic change. Although still with shabby clothes and hair and oily face.
“Huh! What did you say?” asked the mother-in-law in a condescending tone. If she doesn’t get concrete evidence, even Lily’s words can’t make her believed.
“Do you know, all this time, Jack always bought me expensive food and clothes? He was very diligent in giving me money for necessities here. See? He is more useful than you, Fat Pig. Jack is rich. He has an important position in the company where he works. If you really believe in yourself and want to prove it. Can you exceed what Jack gave me? If you can. Then I will believe if you are indeed a rich person.”
“I will prove it to you, mother. Tomorrow, we will go to a boutique or any store that you want. You can buy whatever you want. Any price. And if I can prove it, I want you to recognize me as your son-in-law and you can no longer look down on me,” said David confidently.
His mother-in-law snorted and smirked. “I’m waiting. I’m sure you’re just pretending to be brave now.”
Now it was David’s turn to grin. “We’ll see tomorrow, mother.”
***
“Boss, we can buy you new, more luxurious clothes. For you to wear tomorrow. With your fancy clothes, the shopkeeper won’t look you down upon.”
“No need, Bruno. I’ll just use what you have. There’s no need to be so extravagant,” David replied humbly.
“Sorry for my personal business. Our departure has been delayed. There is still much to be done, but this business is actually getting in the way.”
Bruno shook his head. “No, boss. Your personal matters are also very important.”
David nodded his head. “How’s father?” asked David at last. They were now in the attic discussing this serious conversation.
“Master is often sick. His condition has really worsened recently.” David was immediately saddened to hear that.
“Since you left, though, Master seems fine. I’m sure it has devastated him. That is why we really need you to come back, boss. So you can fix it. Because we know you are the only one who can fix it.”
***
David, Lily, and the mother-in-law were now in Bruno’s luxurious car. Bruno himself was in the driver’s seat. The mother-in-law looked at her son-in-law sarcastically. “Tch! You want to take me shopping for branded goods, but you look so tacky! I’m so embarrassed to shop with you. You might just be dumbfounded!”
David sighed. “What I’m wearing has nothing to do with that, mother. I’m will not run away. I’m not a coward,” replied David, who actually got laughter from his mother-in-law.
“Don’t remember, have you? For the past five years, you’ve been a coward? You don’t really know yourself.”
“Madame, you don’t have to worry. My boss has a lot of money. He won’t embarrass you.” Not wanting any more arguments and insults, Bruno immediately started his car to where his boss’s mother-in-law wanted them to go.
***
“You just stay here. Let me alone with my wife and my mother-in-law go inside,” said Bruno.
“You just stay here. Let me alone with my wife and my mother-in-law go inside,” said Bruno. “Alright, boss. Your command is my must.”
Lily and his mother-in-law had already entered the store. They are already at the crossroads where famous brand stores are located.
“This is your card, sir. You can shop without limit using that card. This isn’t you card you used to have because your card is still in their possession. So you can use that card first.”
David nodded his head in understanding. “It’s okay. It’s enough for now,” he said. Bruno told David the password. David got out of the car. He was just about to enter, but his steps suddenly stopped because apparently, the security guard in front of the store was one of his enemies.
It’s Onyx.
‘Oh shit.’ David cursed inwardly.
Onyx looked him up and down and smirked. “Oi, did you get a call to clean the store’s toilets?” he asked in a condescending tone.
David wanted to ignore it and rushed in. But Onyx held his arm. “Oh, come on, you poor David. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Wow, you’re lucky enough to be called in to clean a high-end store toilet. You will make a lot of money afterward.”
With a straight face, David answered. “I’m not here to work. I’m here to shop.”
“HAHAHAHAHAHA! Shopping you say?” Onyx laughed loudly. Onyx saw David’s wife and in-laws enter earlier. But he did not expect that they came with this poor David. Onyx thought they came together with Jack. He knew about Jack and Lily because Jack was also one of his friends. And it seemed it would make more sense if Lily and her mother came with Jack instead of this loser David.
“In those shabby clothes of yours? You come confidently and say you want to go shopping? Come on, David. You are very poor. You can’t even pay for your wife and in-laws’ daily meals. Then now you say you’re going shopping? Don’t be crazy!” David clenched his fists.
“I’m not kidding. Look! I have this card!” David showed the credit card with an infinite limit in front of Onyx’s face. It quite surprised Onyx to see that. But then he remembered something.
“Ah! So Mr and Mrs Aisley didn’t lie when they said you had stolen something! It must have been this card that was stolen!” Yes, Onyx heard the gossip.
“I didn’t steal! This is my card! I’ll prove it to you!” Full of confidence, David went inside. Ignoring Onyx, who tried to hold him back.
To be continued...
Creak.David could finally enter the store. The moment he entered, all the gazes of the people in the same room immediately turned to look at him. Including Lily, as well as his mother-in-law. But his mother-in-law looked at him like she didn’t know him at all. David knew for a fact that his mother-in-law would be very embarrassed if everyone thought she had come with David, whose appearance was so unseemly enough to come in here. With the naked eye, everyone could see from his appearance that he was not someone from the upper class who could shop in a luxurious place like this.“Excuse me sir, can I help you?” David looked at the saleswoman. From the look on her face, David could tell she was pretending to be friendly. The frown on her forehead, and the stare, as well as her smile that seemed very forced, showed that she didn’t like David’s presence here.Creak!“David!” An exclamation with a high enough tone stole everyone’s attention.“What’s wrong, Onyx?” the saleswoman asked Onyx
It shocked everyone in the shop to see that. Some even shouted because they were scared by the atmosphere here. The situation has become increasingly tense.“AAAAAAAAAA! HELP!”“Shut your guy’s fucking mouth!” Bruno immediately looked at the screaming and then gave threatening words with his sharp gaze so that those who were shouting at the same time immediately covered their mouths with their hands.“Who are you?!” asked the police officer. His face is no less fierce.“Get out your fucking hands from my boss!” said Bruno before he answered the question.“I was trying patiently to wait outside. I thought my boss was being treated well inside this store. But apparently, damn it! You guys treated him so badly! How dare you! All of you! Fucking jerk!”David sighed. He knew that eventually Bruno would enter the shop. But he didn’t expect things to get so heated up like this. Until Bruno and his subordinates brandished their guns.“Bruno. Stop it. There’s no need to do such a thing,” said
“Now you!” Bruno pointed at the manager.“How dare you make a false arrest! Did you know that it’s also a crime?! You look so elegant, lady. All the women here look so beautiful and graceful! But all of you have rotten hearts! How can you just believe a man’s bullshit just now? Tch!” Bruno looked at all the women who were shopping. They all look so embarrassed.“I’m very sure no one is defending my boss earlier. What a waste of your beautiful faces! Your beautiful appearance and abundant treasures are meaningless because of your rotten heart!” Bruno’s words managed to make all the women who were there hurt. Lily is no exception. Her heart ached. She also didn’t even help her husband when he was so insulted. Lily actually acted as if she didn’t know her own husband.‘I am his wife. What have I done? What kind of wife am I?’ Suddenly Lily’s tears fell. She cried in a low, sobbing voice. This suddenly made her husband look at her and then startled.“Lily? What’s wrong? Why are you crying
David and Bruno were talking one-on-one. David looks seriously looking at Bruno’s iPad screen. To be more precise, he focused on seeing photos of a person on the screen. Not just one person, but several people. Don’t forget that David also saw some CCTV footage that was sent specifically to Bruno’s E-mail account in secret. Everything Bruno had arranged so carefully. There are already trusted people in the mansion to regularly provide information about the master and his wife, also their children.“They’re not that different from the last time I saw them,” said David at last. Bruno nodded his head.“The only thing that has changed is dad. He looks so thin and fragile,” there was a sad tone when he said it. David’s grip on the iPad even strengthened. There was a burning feeling that hurt him when he saw his father-in-law in such a state. Back then, when he was still there, his father-in-law still looked so fit. In fact, they often exercise together. Golf, riding, shooting and other thi
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!“Who’s knocking so loudly this morning? Just disturbing our peace.” Lily was annoyed.David shook his head. “Let me see.” He stood up to see who was coming, and Lily and his mother-in-law followed closely behind curiously.Creak.He opened the door. Turn out that was a cop. David frowned. “Yes, Officer? Is there something wrong?" Why suddenly the police come to his house? A few seconds later, three cars came. It was Bruno’s car and his subordinates. Bruno and the others came over near him.“What’s the matter, boss?” asked Bruno to the point. He saw the appearance of this police officer from top to bottom.“Don’t tell me you’re a cop hired by people who envy my boss?” Like what happened yesterday. Maybe there are still people who hate his boss.“If it’s true. I’ll make you regret it too. So before doing that, you’d better just give up.” it touched David that Bruno had always been his number one shield to protect him.The police officer shook his head. “No sir. I ca
Because of the irritation that Bruno had, he already grabbed his boss’s arm and prepared to pull him. But after only a few steps, Mr. Aisley restrained them.“S-Sir, my wife didn’t mean to offend the two of you.”“Let me apologize to you.” Mr. Aisley stepped closer to David, then suddenly...THUD!He prostrated himself before David. His knees even hit the floor hard. Of course that made David very surprised. Mr. Aisley, who was no less arrogant than his wife, did something like this in front of David who they often called the unemployed fat pig.“Mr. David, I-I beg you. Please forgive what my wife and I have done. Our entire mistreatment. We sincerely apologize.” From the hoarse voice with sobs that sounded, it could be found out that Mr. Aisley was crying right now.David’s body was still frozen. Mrs. Aisley who saw her husband prostrate in front of David also her body froze. In all his life, her husband had never done anything like this. She looked at David, their eyes met. And for
Onyx opened the door.Creak.When the door opened, they stared at each other. “Are you healed?” Jack asked pleasantly with this friend.“Hm,” Onyx’s response was brief of the question.“What are you doing here at this time of night? Disrupting other people’s rest.” Onyx was very upset.“At least let me go inside first, you idiot!” Onyx snorted. He stepped aside from the doorway to give his friend room to enter his apartment.Onyx sat right in front of his friend. “What is it?” asked Onyx again, without further ado.“I didn’t see you because I only found out yesterday that you had been in the hospital for a few days,” Jack replied.“Just get to the point, Jack. I want to rest. My body still feels sore.”Okay, it turns out there’s no point Jack making small talk. “I heard that asshole David’s men beat you. Not only that, you were humiliated and lost your job. You broke up with your manager lover. You screwed up. Is that true?” Jack really said what he knew. This news spread quite quickl
Since that first day, David regularly trains at the GYM. The first day that was so hard felt a little easier day by day. Now David is no longer vomiting when doing weight lifting. His strength is getting stronger day by day. Bruno could already see a significant change in his boss.His distended stomach has shrunk. Excess fat in the thighs, arms, and other parts has also been reduced. The muscles have formed. Physical David looks more fit than before.“Arrgh!”THUD!David threw the barbell after his last successful session. The man sat with his legs straight. His whole body was flushed. Sweat dripped all over his body. Not much different from Bruno.Bruno chuckled at his boss, who seemed to be out of breath.“You still have a task to do after this, boss,” said Bruno reminded.“Haahhhh....” David tilted his head up.“Damn it!” he cursed softly, but Bruno could still hear him clearly.David still has shooting practice after this. Well, maybe after the boss rested first because this GYM s