THE DESPISED SON-IN-LAW { RISE TO POWER}

Chapter one

The Quiet Struggle

Daniel was seated at his desk within the cramped office, gazing at the pile of papers before him. A soft, dim glow filled the room as the overhead fluorescent lights hummed quietly above. He was an uncomplicated individual, striving to work pass each day without causing any problems. He had been employed by the company for a duration of five years, and although he wasn't the top performer, he fulfilled his duties efficiently. However, he consistently felt overlooked by the most important people in his life.

He quickly looked at the clock. By 5:30 p.m., Most of his colleagues had gone home for the evening. Andrew's boss stayed inside his office. The man was always busy, always pushing to get more done. Daniel admired him for it, but also felt like he could never live up to it. He also worked diligently, yet regardless of the number of hours he invested, it never appeared sufficient to earn Andrew's admiration.

Daniel attempted to clear his mind of the thoughts. He had a task to accomplish and required concentration. There was no margin for error due to the tight deadlines. He meticulously organized the documents in front of him, ensuring they were all arranged correctly

While the office grew quieter and more empty, Daniel's mind turned to his house. Following a exhausting day, he was thrilled to see his wife, Sarah, again. Despite facing a lot of challenges, Daniel still believed they had a strong relationship after being married for three years. She had both beauty and intelligence, giving the impression of having everything under control. Nevertheless, there has been a recent alteration.

After marrying Sarah for the first time, Daniel felt like he had finally gotten what he wanted. He viewed her as the perfect woman he had always imagined - kind, supportive, and caring. Nevertheless, over time, the closeness in their bond began to decrease. At first, Daniel couldn't distinguish the difference. Sarah stayed beautiful, while remaining charming in her own special way. But she was awfully cold towards him sometimes.

He couldn't recall the last time she had smiled at him sincerely, without any frustration or coldness in her gaze. The simple acts of love, such as a peck on the cheek or intertwining fingers, had become infrequent. Every time he attempted to address the issue with her, she would brush off his worries by saying she was simply under a lot of stress or fatigue from work. However, Daniel couldn't rid himself of the feeling that there was something going on

Sarah was not lacking in her efforts to be a good wife, it was not because she wasn't trying. Recently, she had started to become more judgmental of him. She frequently mentioned how he could boost his ambition, increase his earnings with more effort. Daniel felt like no matter what he did, it was never sufficient, leading him to dedicate more time to satisfying her than focusing on his work.

He attempted to transform himself into the man she desired, yet it felt like his efforts were always not enough. His attempts went unnoticed, while she constantly searched for something more. At times, he questioned if she viewed him differently from the man she originally wed.

Was her love for him still the same?

He tried not to think too much on the haunting questions. He was hesitant to acknowledge that his marriage was deteriorating. He had worked hard to acquire all his possessions, and he was committed to not abandoning his wife without a struggle. Yet, it became increasingly challenging to ignore the big difference between them.

Daniel suddenly returned to the present moment when Andrew's voice interrupted his train of thought.

"Daniel, can you please step into my office for a brief moment?" Andrew shouted from a distance within the room.

Daniel quickly got to his feet and straightened his shirt before heading to his boss's office. Before entering, he tapped lightly once, trying to alleviate the uneasiness that had settled in his stomach. He always felt like he was on the verge of something important, as if the obvious tension was ready to turn into something bigger.

"Great work today," Andrew remarked to Daniel as he walked in, nodding in approval. I require your assistance with a different task. We have a client meeting scheduled for next week, and I believe you are the most suitable person for the task.

Daniel’s heart lifted slightly. A chance to prove himself. Perhaps this was the chance he had been anticipating. Perhaps, only perhaps, this could be his opportunity to finally grab attention, to demonstrate to Sarah that he is capable of offering more than just the basics.

"Sure, Andrew," Daniel responded calmly, even though he was feeling a surge of excitement. "I will begin working on it immediately."

After leaving the office, Daniel felt a slight flicker of optimism. This moment belonged to him. He intended to show everyone, particularly Sarah, that he had more value than they believed.

However, as time went on and he put in more effort than before, something unusual started to occur. Daniel couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but he began to observe small details. Sarah was becoming even more distant. She would often stay late at work, sometimes coming home late at night, barely speaking a word to him before heading straight to bed.

Daniel tried to ignore it, telling himself that she was just busy. She had a demanding job, after all. However, there was a sense of unease. Her gaze towards him was filled with chilliness; her words now held a newfound edge.

In the evening, Daniel was seated at the kitchen table, looking at his incomplete meal, when he noticed Sarah's car arriving in the driveway. Walking in, her expression tense with an emotion that eluded Daniel's comprehension“Dinner’s cold,” Daniel remarked quietly, trying to sound casual.

“I’m not hungry,” Sarah replied curtly, walking past him without another word.

Daniel watched her go, his heart sinking. It wasn’t just the late nights or the silence between them. It was the way she no longer seemed to care.

The next day, Daniel made a mistake by looking at Sarah's phone. On the kitchen counter was a illuminated screen showing an unread message from Andrew.

The short message was straightforward: "I will meet you tonight at the same time." "We must stop acting this way at work."

Daniel experienced nausea, with his thoughts racing. He had been having suspicions for some time, but they were validated when he saw the message. His boss was in a romantic relationship with his wife, the woman he had devoted himself to impressing.

His point of view changed. He went through a heartbreak. His efforts and successes were disintegrating before him, with no idea how to stop it.

He wanted to face Sarah, to yell at her, to ask for explanations. However, he remained motionless, gazing at the phone, pondering how the situation had escalated to this point. He had devoted all of himself to his marriage, and this was the outcome.

The indication of betrayal now became evident. Daniel's previously secure life was slowly slipping away from him. While standing with Sarah's phone in hand, he came to the understanding that things would never be as they were before between the both of them.

He gazes back towards the message with a heavy heart,not sure what to do.