The Son-in-law they never wanted

More than meets to the eye

Back at the hospital, everyone had left Grandma's side since she was better now, leaving only Mrs Bruce to take care of her. Now that she was better, they were asked by the doctor to give her space to recover. All but one person apart from Mrs Bruce left to let her recover. That person was Alex who followed the doctor out to chat with him.

"What was that in there?" he asked once they were out. "What was the meaning of the stupid stunt you pulled in there?" 

"What do you mean?" the doctor asked, genuinely confused. It's been hours since Grandma was treated by Ryan so he didn't think that was the problem.

"I mean letting that good-for-nothing treat Grandma?" he hissed. "Do you think I am a joke? What did you do that for?" 

"I didn't do anything," the doctor replied. "That man was better than me in this case and he was the only one who could have saved the old woman. What did you expect me to do?"

"Find a way yourself!" he hissed.

"I couldn't find any," the doctor replied. "I didn't even know what I did wrong."

"Then let it be."

"She was going to die in an hour, sir."

"Then let her die," Alex hissed through gritted teeth, making sure to keep his voice down to a whisper. "I would prefer that she dies instead of letting that bastard touch her."

"What?!" the doctor yelled, surprised by his words. "I'm sorry, sir, but it's against my profession to let a patient die when I can find a solution. Even if that solution has to come from the most unexpected place ever."

"Shut your trap, the damage has been done already," he sighed. "Just make sure this never happens again."

"Of course, sir," the doctor replied but stopped halfway. "Sir, do you happen to have that man's phone number?"

Alex glared at him with eyes that threatened to shoot lasers at any moment. The anger he felt was clearly expressed in his glare, causing a shiver to run down the doctor's spine. "What did you say?" 

"Nothing, sir" he replied as he hurriedly walked away. 

"Fool," Alex hissed as he watched the doctor walk away. "I would deal with you later."

He turned back to Grandma's ward as he changed the expression on his face into a smile. "It's time to make these old hags feel good about themselves."

He walked back into the ward flashing his signature smile as Mrs Bruce stood up to meet him.

"Alex, thank you for bringing that awesome doctor to help Grandma," she said as she hugged him. "You are a way better husband for my daughter than that stupid lazy man who only leeches off my family's wealth."

"Of course," he smiled. "But let's not speak too harshly of the poor man. He's just doing what paupers like him usually do. I don't think he means any harm."

"Oh, Alex," she scoffed. "You are too nice. He should be punished for deceiving Grandpa and marrying my daughter forcefully. I wish I could drag him out of her house. All he does is eat and lazy about in there."

"It's okay, ma'am," he calmed her down. "At least, Grandma is better now. That should be our focus for now."

"Yes," she sighed. "That should be all thanks to you and your doctor. I'm sorry for that fool's interference."

"It's okay," he smiled. "You put him in his place so that's good enough for me."

"Yeah," she replied. "So what are your plans?"

"What plans?" he asked puzzled. 

"Your plans for Alina," she said. "Don't tell me you've given up on her already. We both know she is bound to leave that lazy ass sooner or later."

"I know," he replied. "But Alina has been quite rigid to my advances. I've expressed my feelings to her many times and it always ends up the same way. She either ignores it or changes the subject."

"That's just the way girls do," she replied. "You should show her that you are a man and be persistent about it. Alina wants a man who knows how to take charge and assume control. Show her that you are the kind of man who knows how to seize control of his woman. Be a little more forceful."

"I think that would annoy her, ma'am," he replied nervously. "I don't want Alina to drift farther from me."

"That's why I'm here," she replied. "I'll make sure she doesn't. You just be a man and take her away from that lowlife. He gives our family a bad image."

"I'll try my best, ma'am," he said. "If I may ask, why isn't she filing for a divorce? Isn't it better to divorce him since she's so unhappy with the marriage?"

"That's unfortunately impossible," she sighed.."I don't know what spell that lowlife devil cast on her grandfather but he wanted her marriage to him as permanent as possible. He made my daughter agree to a marriage contract where the man reserves all rights to terminate the marriage. If she decides to do that herself, he leaves with everything she owns at the time of the divorce, sixty percent of the family's wealth and a monthly pay of fifty percent of anything she owns after the divorce. He also gets a monthly salary from the family's wealth too. That's why we are all powerless against him."

"What the hell!" Alex exclaimed. "Why would Grandpa make a contract like that? A divorce solely favours him."

"Exactly," she replied. "Even worse, if he is murdered by any chance, the whole family loses its wealth as it would be believed that one of us has a hand in his death. Even if the culprit is caught, he assumes we just covered our tracks perfectly."

"Why is he so invested in that guy?" Alex asked. He couldn't imagine why anyone would ever be so interested in someone that they literally went against their family. 

"Well," she let out a deep breath. "I don't know how true it is but he apparently saved Grandpa's life some time ago and Grandpa is eternally indebted to him. He almost worships him."

Alex pondered over this for a while as he tried to wrap his head around the newly acquired information. He believed Ryan's actions today were a fluke, a stroke of rare luck that seemed to have shone down on him.

"If he is actually so good that he was able to best one of the best doctors I know, then why hasn't he used that talent to make a name for himself?" he thought. "Why does he have to live such a humiliating life? He knew Alina's grandfather who is arguably one of the richest men in the city. Why did he use his influence to make a name for himself even after marrying the man's granddaughter? What is his aim?"

"Alex?" Mrs Bruce called, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes," he replied quickly. "I was just going through a few things in my head. You know how things can be sometimes when you have a lot to think about."

"Oh, my poor boy," she sighed. "You have a lot to do and yet you still created time to call a doctor for us and stayed with us until this time. Thank you very much, my boy. Every one of us in the family appreciates you. Thank you very much."

"Of course," Alex smiled. "You are all like family to me. Don't forget that you watched me grow up. It's only normal that I treat my family with the utmost priority. I would always love you guys even without Alina involved."

"Thank you, my son," she smiled. "Soon you will become a true part of the family when you finally marry Alina."

"Of course," he laughed and took a peek at Grandma. "It seems like Grandma is still sleeping peacefully."

"Yes," she smiled looking back at her. "She woke up a few times but she went back to sleep right after. The doctor said he gave her some mild sedatives to help her sleep better and get as much rest as possible."

"That's good," he said as he got ready to leave. "I'm sorry but I'll have to leave you alone with Grandma now. I have a few things to attend to tonight and I have to get some rest for the busy day ahead tomorrow."

"Of course," she smiled. "You've been a lot of help today. I don't think any of this would have been possible without your help."

"As I said, ma'am," he smiled. "It's my duty. I have to take care of you all. You are my family."

"Of course," she hugged him. "We are all one. Come and marry my daughter as soon as possible."

"Of course," he replied. "As soon as I can."

They separated and he left the ward with a new thought in his mind after that information. "I have to find out what that Ryan guy is truly up to."