The Rise of the Humiliated Son-in-Law

Suspicious

“Did you know, I’ve been looking for you everywhere?”

Gaston gulped, his face going pale in an instant. He had been so focused on helping Damian Wagner that he lost track of time.

“I told you not to wander off!” Vivian continued, her voice rising. “What if you got lost? My mom’s issues aren’t resolved yet, do you want to add to the problems?”

Gaston hung his head, feeling incredibly guilty.

“I’m sorry, Vivi,” Gaston said softly, his voice hoarse. He felt like a child caught in a mistake. Slowly, he picked up the pot lid that had fallen to the floor and handed it back to Vivian, as if that could fix everything.

Vivian remained frowning, her gaze sharp. “Where have you been?” she asked, trying to hold back her anger.

Gaston scratched his head, his eyes sparkling. “I was playing, having fun chasing a kitten,” he replied cheerfully.

Vivian sighed heavily. If only Gaston were normal, he would be charming her romantically right now instead of acting like a little kid. She looked at her husband, who seemed so childlike, and her heart softened slightly, though she still felt annoyed.

“Alright,” Vivian finally said, her tone softer. “Before lunch, wash your hands. You must have picked up a lot of germs.”

Gaston nodded and quickly ran to the sink. He washed his hands enthusiastically, with soapy bubbles sticking to his palms. Quietly, Gaston wiped the sweat from his temples. It turned out that hiding his identity from his own wife was no easy task. Anxiety and fear crept into his mind, but he tried not to dwell on it too deeply.

After washing his hands, Gaston returned to the dining table. Vivian had prepared a simple yet delicious European dish: al dente pasta with fresh tomato sauce, a vegetable salad with olive dressing, and crispy baguette slices. The aroma of the food filled the room, making Gaston’s stomach growl. He sat down in his chair with a cheerful expression, trying to distract himself from the weight on his mind.

Vivian patiently took care of her clueless husband. She served the food with great attention, making sure Gaston had enough on his plate. “Let’s eat before it gets cold,” she said gently, though there was a hint of fatigue in her voice.

Gaston grabbed his fork and began devouring the pasta eagerly. He couldn’t help but let out satisfied noises every time he chewed. Vivian just shook her head with a smile, watching him eat with such enthusiasm despite the sometimes tense atmosphere around them.

“How was the kitten you were chasing earlier?” Vivian asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

“Kitten?” Gaston suddenly forgot his own lie.

“Didn’t you say you were having fun chasing a kitten?” Vivian raised an eyebrow, suspicious.

Gaston nearly choked. “Oh, that, the cat ran away. I couldn’t catch it.”

Vivian shook her head. “Next time, you can’t wander off like that. Or I’ll lock you up!”

“I’ll listen to you, Vivi!” Gaston grinned.

Later that night, Gaston was in their room. He sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes drifting to the slightly open window. The soft moonlight illuminated the room, and the calm sounds of the night made his mind wander. He thought about the job offer Damian had mentioned. The offer was tempting but also full of risks.

As he sank deeper into his thoughts, the bedroom door slowly opened, and Vivian walked in. She was wearing soft pajamas that made her look even more enchanting. “Gaston, it’s time for bed,” she said.

Gaston smiled, trying to push away his doubts. “Yeah, I’ll go to sleep in a bit,” he replied.

Vivian climbed into bed, pulling up the covers and fluffing the pillows beside her.

Eventually, Gaston lay down next to Vivian. He felt comfortable, even though thoughts about the job were still swirling in his head.

He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. However, not long after, Vivian wrapped her arms around him from behind, holding him warmly.

Gaston felt Vivian’s warmth against his back. He felt a little aroused by her gentle touch, even though he tried not to think about it too deeply.

Before long, Vivian fell into a deep sleep. She felt comfortable and safe next to Gaston, unaware that her husband was no longer the naive man he once was. Gaston turned to look at Vivian’s peaceful face. In the soft moonlight, she looked so beautiful, with her hair cascading down and her expression serene.

Gaston couldn’t help but gently stroke her soft hair. His touch was tender, as if he wanted to preserve all this beauty forever. However, as he caressed her hair, Vivian suddenly woke up slightly.

“Gaston?” Vivian’s voice came out half-asleep, her eyes still closed. Gaston quickly shut his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

If only Gaston weren’t such an idiot, they could’ve made love tonight. For now, though, he felt content just being close to Vivian, feeling her warmth and affection.

After a moment, Vivian drifted back to sleep, leaving Gaston awake.

Time passed, and Gaston remained comfortably holding Vivian as she slept, until the sound of a ringing phone shattered the morning silence.

Vivian woke up and reached for her vibrating phone on the nightstand. She saw her sister’s name on the screen and quickly answered.

“Hello?” Her voice was still hoarse from sleep.

Gaston, still lying beside her, sensed the tension in Vivian’s voice. He opened his eyes slowly, noticing her expression suddenly turn serious.

“What’s wrong?”

From the other end, Jonas said, “Mom’s in the hospital; it’s serious!”

“In the hospital?” Vivian gasped, her eyes widening. She sat up in bed, her face pale. “What happened?”

“It’s all your fault!” Jonas blamed Vivian. “If you hadn’t argued with Mom, she wouldn’t be sick!”

“Tell me where she’s being treated!” Vivian insisted; she needed to see her mother for herself.

After Jonas told her, Vivian hung up, looking confused and worried.

“Vivi, what’s wrong?” Gaston asked, feeling uneasy seeing his wife so distressed.

“Mom’s in the hospital. Jonas said it’s serious,” Vivian replied, her voice trembling.

Gaston felt a sinking feeling hearing the bad news about his mother-in-law.

“Get ready quickly!” Vivian commanded. “We have to go visit Mom at the hospital!”