A Rude Guest

"Where's that fool that calls himself my Son-in-law?, where is he?" Elena's mother, Judith asked the maids with fury in her eyes.

She was feared in the house as her actions were cruel and painful, no one dared to disobey her orders no matter how hard it was.

"He's sleeping peacefully ma'am" the maid answered with fear as Judith glared at her face with anger.

She rushed to Mark's room with a bowl of warm water she grabbed from the kitchen and without hesitation, she poured it at Mike who slept innocently.

"Wake up, you pathetic fool!" she screamed and threw the bowl at his face in anger.

Mark choked aggressively as the water got into his nostrils, he fell off the bed with a loud thud and coughed heavily with water dripping from his nose.

"Why haven't you started your chores?, the cars are yet to be washed and the living room is dirty, the plates are unwashed and you sleep here like a corpse while the maids are doing their duties!" she screamed.

Mark tried to speak but choked again, he took a deep breath to regain himself, he stared at his cruel mother-in-law with pain in his heart. He had never done anything wrong to deserve the cruel treatment he got from her daily and just when he thought everything would get better, she would come up with new ways to torment his life.

"Mother, I'm very sick and I ran short of strength yesterday, I could finish my duties before going to bed, I need to see a doctor immediately" Mark revealed with a low tone as his head banged hard like drums of war.

Judith scoffed and stared at the helpless fool that sat before her, fighting to breathe and speak at the same time.

"Don't ever in your useless life call me your mother or I will have your tongue cut off and fed to the dogs, who cares if you're sick?, you must finish your duties and I care less if you die fulfilling them!" she said with hatred in her eyes.

Mark was once loved and adored by his mother-in-law, he was her favorite Son-in-law and she cared for him with all her heart but everything changed after he got an accident. Life became a living hell and everyone who loved him all turned into demons in human clothing, they treated him with hatred like their minds had been poisoned.

"Get up now and go clean the living room or I will have the bodyguards flog you for your laziness" she threatened.

Mark knew far better than anyone that she was heartless and he dared not to disobey her orders, she ruled the house and the Brooks family business. He struggled to stand as his body had lost more strength than before, the warm water caused his scars to hurt more and he groaned silently in pain, he limped as his legs weren't fully healed from the crash.

Judith watched as he walked pathetically out of her sight, she clenched her fist silently, the hatred she had for him consumed her and her daughter wouldn't just listen to her. She wanted Mark out of the house and away from her daughter but Elena proved too stubborn to take her orders, she was the only one who could challenge Judith.

Mark grabbed the cleaning equipment and got to work, he struggled to retain his stance on the ground, he had eaten well for days but was forced to work as a slave, the maids glared at him with pity because they could do nothing. They would be greatly punished if they dared to help Mark with some of his chores, the look on their faces showed sympathy for the young man who struggled not to fall as his breath ran short.

The living room door flung open and he turned quickly and smiled on seeing the woman who brought joy to his heart amid the pain he faced, but his joy soon vanished when he sighted her holding hands with a handsome man who was twice the size of Mark. They walked close to him and stared with smiles on their faces while Mark watched with disappointment.

"Who is he?" he asked quickly

Elena frowned at his question and scoffed, her love and respect for Mark was slowly dying and he couldn't do anything about it.

"It seems you have forgotten how to greet, Mark, well he's my business partner and we have important matters to discuss, so could you please set the dinner table" she ordered

"That's fine, I'm Mark Williams by the way, I'm really glad you wish to partner with my wife and take her career forward," Mark said with a smile as he stretched his hand forward for a formal greeting.

"Bruce, meet my husband..." she struggled to say as Mark's hands were still hanging in the air.

"Aren't you the wretched husband she told me about, look at you, how can I shake a pathetic fellow like you?. I'm deeply disappointed by your looks, keep that poor hand to yourself" Bruce said with disgust.

Mark felt his heart being stabbed by his harsh words but maintained his composure, he couldn't afford to show his fragile emotions before the rude guest.

"I wonder how a poor and wretched soul like you has Mrs Elena over here as a wife, you must have charmed her with some diabolical powers to make her fall for your wretchedness" Bruce added

Mark watched as Bruce lambasted his personality and looks with his words as sharp as a sword while his wife watched without cautioning her so-called business partner.

"Oh my good lord, he's here," Judith said with surprise as she made her way to meet Bruce who suddenly grew a smile on his face.

He kissed Judith's hands and she blushed at his romantic gestures.

"Now I know why Elena is so beautiful, she stole her alluring features from the goddess of beauty herself" he flattered.

Mark swallowed hard as they exchanged pleasantries, he was deeply hurt but what could he do about it?

"You must be thirsty, Mark go serve our esteemed guest some wine" Judith ordered as she scornfully stared at Mark

He returned with three glass cups and a bottle of champagne, he poured the wine into the cups and served them but as Bruce took his, he stared at Mark and intentionally let go of his cup and it shattered to pieces.

"Oh well, I must be quite tired from the day's work, Mark, you wouldn't mind cleaning this mess up, it's the only useful thing you can do right?" he mocked

"you dropped the cup on purpose, why would I ever clean such a mess?" Mark asked angrily as he secretly clenched his fist.

"Mark, get the mop and clean that mess up now or I will make you regret it!" Judith threatened as Mark's heart raced with anger.

"And what if I don't?" Mark asked with boldness as he gnashed his teeth angrily.