"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."How dare you talk back at me!" Judith screamed and before Mark could open his mouth to speak, a reckoning force landed on his cheeks, disrupting his stance and without anything to hold on to, he fell to the ground with a loud thud. He groaned in pain as he held his unhealed leg that was badly bruised, Bruce stared at him with a smile on his face, he knew Elena's mother wouldn't stand and watch her pathetic Son-in-law challenge him "Now get up and clean up this mess before I rain down hell on your pathetic body, but first, you must apologize to Mr Bruce," Judith ordered Mark stared at Bruce who still had a mischievous smile on his face, his heart raced with anger but what could he do?. Bruce had obviously won the heart of Mrs Judith in minutes and she had once again turned against the Son-in-law who she once respected and loved. He bit his lower lips in anger and struggled to stand but breathed heavily as he was losing strength. "I'm sorry, Mr Bruce," Mark struggled to say
Mark watched as they zoomed off, leaving him with nothing but a bag full of insults, he cursed the day he woke up from the hospital bed and kicked his working equipment to the ground but soon regretted it due to the intense pain he felt. He got dressed and stepped out with his crutches, the only thing on his mind was to get a gift for his cruel mother-in-law because he loved his wife and never wished for her to get upset. On arriving at the gift mall, he stared at some expensive gifts he obviously couldn't afford, Judith stripped him of any cash he could lay his hands on, she considered him a worthless servant that deserved no penny to his name. "What are you looking for sir?, are you here to steal?" a beautiful lady in uniform asked. She obviously was one of the security personnel in the mall "No, I'm simply here to get a gift for someone, perhaps some beautiful flowers, I can barely afford any of these exotic gifts I see" he revealed she stared scornfully at him, his old fad
At that very point, Mark realized that his faded suit had given up his identity as a wretched man, he gnashed his teeth in anger and without a second thought, he raised his crutches and pushed his way into the hall. One of the bouncers tried to hold him down but Mark bite his hands, causing pain to the bouncer who groaned angrily, forcing his way into the hall was the easy part but he was totally unprepared for the glares he got. The music stopped at once, and everyone stared scornfully at the lunatic who forced his way into a sacred occasion. "Who's this bastard?" an elderly man with a glass of wine called out harshly "Throw him out at once!" hate comments flew about and Mark frowned, Elena bought him the suit to make him blend well, but his stubbornness had placed him in a seat of disrespect. Elena saw Mark from a distance and bit her lower lip in utter anger, she didn't believe her husband had the guts to dress poorly to an occasion of mighty millionaires and billionaires, s
Mark felt ashamed of himself, his confidence sunk underneath his soul, and all he wanted at that point was to leave the Grand Hall but how could he?. "It's a shame to have such a man as my brother-in-law, my sister has truly suffered, your presence alone disgusts me!" Alice, a beautiful woman who happens to be the second daughter of Judith, spoke with confidence Judith sneered and walked to her chair, all eyes were on her and she was adored like a goddess, "Tonight, I will know those who truly love me, your gifts will prove your loyalty and love for me" she said Everyone made a toast to her except Mark, the only reason he was at the event was to satisfy his wife, he didn't want to get her upset. "Mrs Judith, on the occasion of your belated birthday, I humbly present you with this rare diamond chain worth $3,000,000" A man dressed in black Italian suit stepped out to present his gift in a box. "This is beautiful, thank you Mr George" Judith said and admired the chain with
Everyone gasped with shock, they couldn't understand what happened and they all stared mindlessly, Mark was thrilled to see how the other billionaires felt helpless and without a second thought, he rushed to the lady. "it's going to be fine," he whispered into her ears as she fought hard to breathe "I can't breathe, my inhaler," she managed to say "she needs her inhaler, someone get it!" Mark screamed and the bodyguards rushed to her bag but found nothing, she obviously came to the party without it It was only a matter of time before she ran out of oxygen, her eyes showed fear and as Mark glared at her hazel eyes, he knew he had to do whatever it takes to save her life. And in the blink of an eye, he brought his lips close to hers for a mouth to mouth resuscitation, pumping loads of oxygen down her throat. Everyone stared with their hearts in their mouths, the elderly lady who collapsed was the wife of a ruthless military General in the country, if anything should happen to h
Mark looked away and slowly walked out, but to his surprise, Bruce chased after him and held his hand tightly, he looked back with shock and anger and yanked his hand off Bruce's grip. "I need your help, Mark, this is really urgent!" Bruce said with fear in his eyes "And why would I ever help a man like you?, after ridiculing me in front of all those people. I thought you said you were a doctor, tend to your patient, Mr Bruce" Mark replied and tried to walk away but Bruce held him back "Let go off me or I will call the security guards, are you trying to force me to do what I don't intend to do?" Mark asked Trouble settled on the face of Bruce and sweat gathered on his forehead. he was under a lot of pressure from Elena's mother and everyone at the party, how could he run from such an ugly situation? "look, I fucking need your help right now because that lady in there is a military General's wife and the nearest hospital is miles away and the medical team in there, lacks a d
Mark knew he couldn't look away this time or else his wife would suffer for it and as he stared at them, his heart raced with fear and his hatred for Bruce had increased by a thousand. He kept shaking as he held on to his crutches, the security guards came close to him but he kept his gaze on Elena who had no clue on what was happening, she seemed too happy to notice the evil mastermind she had befriended. "Should we escort you out sir?" the chief security officer asked. "No, I can't leave, not now" Mark replied and walked as fast as his wounded legs could carry him. Everyone scoffed when he entered the hall but of course, he had grown used to their hate speeches and disgusted look, all he had in mind was to save his wife from Bruce, the deceiver everyone had grown to love. "What is this brat doing here, I thought he said he was leaving" one of the guests asked. Everyone soon noticed his presence but he wasn't moved, he kept moving towards his wife who was still deeply engul
Mark was thrown in jail and he remained there for days while his wife had the beautiful moments of her life and on the sixth day, he was granted bail. Stepping out of the prison yard with his crutches felt so new to him, he had never experienced such a situation in his entire life. "you have been granted bail, you're a free man now" The inspection revealed Outside the police station, Mark stared mindlessly at the clean streets, unsure of what to do or where to go. He knew trouble awaited him and he couldn't run from it. He stopped a taxi and gave the driver his address and on getting to the gate, he begged the gatekeeper to pay for his fare because he had no money on him. Mark limped inside the house with mixed feelings, he had grudges against his wife and everyone who supported Bruce in his evil act, and all he wanted at that point was revenge but how on earth would he get it?. "Come here, you fool!" he heard his mother-in-law scream It wasn't a new thing to him, he turned