The Rise of the Disparaged Son-in-law

Chapter Three

After his hurried bath, Liam dressed in a black hoodie and sweatpants, doing his best to conceal the visible bruises. He winced at the slightest movement, praying the Thompson family wouldn't notice his battered state.

As the Thompsons arrived, Liam stood nervously in the Wilson living room, trying to appear presentable. The pain was etched across his face, but he maintained a respectful behavior.

Mr. Wilson, with a forced smile, greeted, "Welcome, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, and the lovely Miss Olivia. We are honored to have you in our humble abode."

Mrs. Wilson, suppressing her excitement, added, "Indeed, we've been looking forward to this meeting. It's a pleasure to finally have you here."

Olivia, studying Liam briefly with a condescending glance, joined in, "Thank you for accepting our invitation. We believe this connection will bring prosperity to both families."

Liam, keeping his eyes lowered, mumbled a greeting, "Welcome, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, Miss Olivia. It's an honor to have you here."

Mr. Thompson, inspecting the room, accepted, "Thank you for having us. We appreciate your hospitality."

As the families engaged in polite conversation, Liam discreetly wished he could leave, he was conscious of the physical injury on his body not being revealed.

Mrs. Wilson, seizing the opportunity, said, "We are truly excited about what you discussed on the phone, the prospect of our families coming together. It would be an honor to be associated with the prestigious Thompson family."

Olivia, feigning interest, replied, "The feeling is mutual. We believe in the strength of this alliance."

Meanwhile, Liam stood at the far end of the room observing what was going on and the reason for the Thompson’s visit. He hoped that he hadn't done anything wrong at the party.

Mr. Thompson, sitting comfortably in the lavish Wilson living room, leaned back in his chair, observing Liam with an intimidating look, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Ah, you must be Liam. I've heard about you. Quite an interesting humble young man."

Liam, nervously fidgeting, replied, "Yes, sir. I'm Liam."

Mr Thompson nodded and asked. "Liam, tell us more about yourself. What are your aspirations, your interests?"

Liam, still feeling the aches from the previous night's beating, hesitated before answering, "Well, sir, I... I work for the Cubana luxury hotel, and I'm also committed to the Wilson family. My life revolves around providing what our clients need and managing family affairs."

Mrs. Thompson, sipping her tea elegantly, chimed in, "Interesting. So, you're quite familiar with the ins and outs of the Cubana luxury hotel. That's interesting."

Liam, finding it hard to meet their eyes, responded, "Yes, ma'am. I do my best to serve my clients and my family."

Olivia, smirking, added, "And what about personal accomplishments? What makes you worthy of being connected with the Thompsons?"

Liam swallowed hard, "I haven't had many opportunities for personal accomplishments, Miss Olivia. My focus has always been on fulfilling my duties."

Mr. Thompson intrigued, leaned forward, "Wealth and connections come with their own set of expectations, Liam. You'll need to adapt. Are you up for the challenge?"

Liam, realizing he had little say in the matter, nodded, "I'll do my best, sir. I understand the importance of this union."

As the Thompson family discussed the terms of the potential alliance, Liam's thoughts dashed. The Wilson family hadn't said anything about this marriage to him until now, on the other hand, looked hopeful, eager to conclude this arrangement. Liam didn't want to mess things up for them, it would only mean death.

Mrs. Wilson, attempting to hide her excitement, spoke up, "Mr. Thompson, we've always admired the success and influence of the Thompson family. A connection like this would be a great honor for us."

Olivia, sipping her tea with a playful grin, added, "Indeed, Mrs. Wilson. We believe this partnership can be mutually beneficial."

Mr. Thompson, following the negotiation, replied, "We have accepted Liam of the Wilson family as the soon-to-be son-in-law of the Thompson family. We appreciate your willingness. We’ll go into marriage details immediately. However, we must discuss the terms of this arrangement."

Mrs. Thompson chimed in "Indeed, we want to ensure that this marriage serves the interests of our daughter and the Thompson family. Can you promise that Liam will respect us and be a good son-in-law? Mr Wilson."

"Of course, Mrs. Thompson. Liam here is a young fine man with potential. He obeys instructions and has respect for the Thompson family. He will treat Miss Olivia well."

Miss Olivia added, "Our family holds so much respect in the business world, we’ve worked so hard to earn our respect. Liam, you must obey and respect our family values."

Mr. Wilson, nervously: "Liam is adaptable, and he will learn to fulfill his responsibilities as a husband, respect and obey Thompson’s family values.”

Mr. Thompson, examining Liam, "And what does Liam think about all this? You don't have to speak for him. We have to know if he's willing to comply and not embarrass our family."

Liam spoke hesitatingly "I... I understand the situation, Mr. Thompson. I will do my best to support Miss Olivia and contribute to the success of this union."

Mrs. Thompson, with an understanding look, "It's crucial that Liam understands how important our family is. We need total cooperation and obedience.”

The room fell into a brief silence as Mr. Thompson outlined the terms of the marriage.

Mr. Thompson began, "Liam, you will not share a bed with Miss Olivia. Show her respect, refrain from questioning her decisions, and answer promptly when called. Loyalty and faithfulness are non-negotiable. While she contributes to the family's success, you'll handle domestic chores. Remember, she can divorce you at any time, and you won't have rights to our money or properties."

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson exchanged skeptical glances, admitting the agreement was too extreme. Despite their reservations, their desire to rebuild their dead family overwhelmed their reasoning. With the conclusion that Liam is useless to them.

The Wilsons reluctantly agreed, "Yes, Mr. Thompson, Liam will abide by these rules, won't you, Liam?" Liam hesitated before responding, "Yes, Master Wilson."

Mr. Wilson, satisfied, turned back to Mr. Thompson, declaring, "My boy is ready."

Mr. Thompson smiled and said, "Very well, sign these papers, and our family will take care of the wedding."

The papers were given to Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wilson signed, and then Liam sealed the agreement.

Mr. Thompson concluded, "We have a wedding to plan."