The Billionaire Son-in-law

8. A Dare.

Lucas purposely played dumb in front of his family in law, but told his wife how to place the bid. He told her to trust him, announcing to her that he found a job at the same company her brother had been talking about, and that he has inner information. 

That Monday morning, he had hurried straight to work, and entrusted his wife to place the bid. Of course she didn't understand anything, but she would have to trust her husband. She trusted Lucas with her life. 

She was not sure about Lucas's instruction, but having decided to trust him at last, she placed the bid for her family without noticing the others. 

✩★✩

Thirty minutes later after Lucas had left work, he was already home. To his surprise, his wife hadn't been the only one at home. 

"Blanche? What is my mother in law doing here now?" The word shockingly emitted from his lips as a soft whisper as soon as he opened the door to catch her view. She was scolding Ivy, as usual. And her bodyguard—and son!—Peter, had been standing beside her. Milo hadn't come with them. At least that was some good news. 

Ivy's eyes were meeting with the floor, as she listened to all her mother was saying, then she heard her husband step in. 

"You're back." Her forlorn liked face suddenly shone to a more brightened one as she walked over to assist her husband by taking his bag off his shoulder. 

Lucas leaned in to offer a kiss on her cheeks, then used the opportunity to ask what the strange guestsp were doing at their house. 

"They know already," was the only thing Ivy could manage before Blanche strode forward and snatched her hands from Lucas's. 

"How long do you think you can hide it from us, huh?" She pulled her daughter away from her side, just to be able to stand face to face with her incompetent son in law, her head tilted up to meet his eyes. He was tall, many inches higher from her, so he didn't have to stress much. He only observed, eyes meeting hers. 

"How dare you fool, try to do such a thing behind our backs? That's so stupid!" Blanche smiled to herself, completely surprised that her son in law could manage to pull such an act with so much boldness and confidence. "Do you even think you can win? How dare you, Lucas Williams, try something like that huh!" 

"Mother, the annoying part of all of this is that this loser feels no sort of remorse for his actions!" Peter stepped forward, siding with his mother. 

"I know right! Oh my daughter has married a beast. A fake son in law. Peter, I have a fake son in law!" The woman faked a tear, pretending to be sobbing and really loud. 

Lucas watched them yell insults and he only watched, quietly and calmly. When his wife couldn't take it again, she stepped forward to break off their comments. 

"Why don't we sit like the well mannered humans we are, mother?" She wasn't really asking, because instantly, she grabbed her husband by the hand and dragged him down to the sofa in the living room. "You came here to our house, the least you can do is show us some respect. Besides, Lucas has been out all day. He deserves rest," 

Blanche frowned, not believing her eyes, but she went ahead to take a seat. So did her son. 

"I'll go get us some tea and snacks, huh?" Ivy said, getting up from the chair, but a menacing gaze so frightening stopped her. 

"We're not here for tea and biscuit, my dear." Said Blanche. "We found out about what you've done, Ivy. How dare you waste such effort on the bidding? And money too!" 

"Mother, calm down will you?" Peter frowned, but it hardly stayed two seconds before it disappeared again. "You placed a bid didn't you, Sister Ivy?" He asked, his tone was rather gentle and calm. 

"I did." Ivy replied instantly. 

Blanche scoffed. "Why didn't you tell anyone about it? Not even your own mother!" 

Lucas heaved in a deep sigh, "because I asked her not to." Both his mother-in-law and brother-in-law turned to exchange perplexed glances. Ivy sat with her husband, and her brother with their mother. The two sofas facing each other in the medium sized living room, so all eyes were able to glare at each other all they wanted. 

Blanche's whole face hardened, "I don't think I hear you well," she said, squinting her eyes in disbelief. "You told my sweet innocent to place the bid?" 

Her son in law nodded. 

"How dare this son of a bitch!" Yelled Blanche, unable to contain her anger. Then the pithy insults continued raining down on him, and she spewed out a lot of things she shouldn't have. The episode of crazy Blanche continued for a long while, with no one daring to say anything until Lucas couldn't take it any longer. 

"Will you just hear me out, Blanche?" 

There was a loud gasp, and it wasn't from only Blanche. 

"How dare you call your mother in law by her name?" Peter spat out with a simmering rage. 

"She clearly said not to call her 'mother', what would he have said?" Ivy stood up for her husband, though she too was slightly surprised to hear him call her by her name. There was something about his manner of tone that hinted at anger. Sure, Blanche had said a lot of frustrating things that she shouldn't have, but it wasn't the first time she spoke to him with such disdain. Lucas had never spoken to her in that manner before. 

"How dare you speak to your own mother like that--" 

"Peter, you should listen too." If he ever felt regret in his tone of manner that evening, he didn't show it. Alas, there was silence. "I have a bet, and you will have to adhere to it because I promise you all," he paused, enjoying the awkwardness in the air. Even his wife stopped to listen, probably wondering where the tone of confidence had suddenly come from. "It is quite an interesting one." 

All ears patiently listened quietly, waiting for Lucas's interesting dare. And he was glad for the attention. 

He finally said blankly, staring at the two faces opposite him, "mother, Peter," then brought his face to meet his wife's, "and my lovely wife, Ivy," 

"We don't have all day," added Peter, impatiently. Though he'd been entirely curious to what Lucas had to say. 

"I have decided to say this, and I will completely respect your decisions in the end. No matter what happens. And you all should respect mine as well." He chose his words carefully. True, Lucas hated Blanche for everything she and her family—his wife excluded—had put him through, but he wasn't going to show it. At least not now. He had to be careful now.