Chapter 1

Tom wiped the sweat from his brow as he swept the kitchen floor. Sunlight pierced through the window, casting a warm glow on the worn wood. He had grown used to these quiet mornings. 

The door creaked open, and his mother-in-law walked in. She glanced at Tom with a look of disdain. "Still at it, I see," she said with her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess you missed a spot there. Typical."

Tom didn't respond. He had learned that silence was often the best way to deal with her. He kept his head down, focusing on the task at hand.

She moved closer, peering over his shoulder. "You call this cleaning? I don't know why Malia even bothers with you. She must be out of her mind, letting herself be tied to someone like you. Out of pity, no less."

Tom's jaw tightened, but he kept his focus on the broom. "I'm doing my best, Mother-in-law."

"Your best?" She laughed, "Your best was never good enough. After 2 years, you're still in the same pathetic state. You have refused to elevate, you have refused to progress in life."

Tom straightened up and looked at her. "I'm here because I promised to take care of your daughter."

She snorted. "A promise? That's rich. We both know the only reason you're here is because of that business deal gone wrong. My husband thought he could fix everything by marrying our daughter to your family but it turned out that your family didn’t have the power to save us,” 

“You can't even clean a floor properly, let alone manage a household or a business." She continued.

"I know I may not be the best son-in-law out there," Tom said quietly. "But I'm trying to be the  best husband Malia needs right now."

Tom’s Mother-in-law waved her hand dismissively. "Trying isn't enough, Tom. It never has been. Malia deserved someone strong, someone capable, someone with power. Not someone who needed to be pitied. She only agreed to remain in this marriage because she felt sorry for you. We all did."

Tom's grip on the broom tightened, but he said nothing. He knew any retort would only make things worse.

She shook her head. "It's been two years, Tom. Two long years of watching you fumble around, trying to play the role of a husband. You think you're doing us a favor by being here?”

Tom took a deep breath, willing himself to stay calm. "I love Malia. That's all that matters to me."

"Love?" She spat, "You think love is enough? Love didn't save our business. Love didn't make you a competent man. Malia needed stability, not empty promises and half-hearted efforts."

Tom glanced around him, the place that had become a prison. "I'm doing everything I can to make this work."

She scoffed. "Your best isn't good enough, Tom. It never will be. My daughter deserves better than this, better than you."

She turned on her heel and started to leave, but then paused at the doorway. "Remember this, Tom. You're only here because of a promise, a deal. If it weren't for that, you wouldn't even be a footnote in our lives."

With that, she walked out, leaving Tom alone in the quiet space, with the broom still in his hands. 

Footsteps echoed in the hall, and Paul, Malia’s brother, appeared, holding a glass of juice. Paul took a leisurely sip, his eyes locking onto Tom. 

“Hey, Tom,” he said with a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

“You know, it’s not that bad that you’re here. The maids get tired sometimes, and you’re just the right person for the job.”

Tom straightened as he met Paul’s gaze. “I’m just trying to help out.”

Paul chuckled, leaning against the counter. “Sure, sure. Helping out. But tell me, how much longer are you planning to keep spending my sister’s money? It’s been two years already, man. Don’t you think it’s time you contributed something?”

Tom’s grip tightened on the broom handle, “I do what I can, Paul.”

Paul snorted. “What can you do, huh? Clean floors? Pathetic.” He casually tilted his glass, letting the juice pour onto the floor. “Oops,” he said with fake innocence. 

“Looks like you’ve got more work to do.”

Tom calmly watched as Paul stepped in the puddle, leaving sticky footprints as he walked downstairs. 

Tom sighed, as he bent down to start cleaning the new mess, Aunt Margaret walked in with a sour expression. “Still scrubbing floors, Tom? It’s like you enjoy being on your knees.”

Tom took a deep breath. “Just doing my part, Aunt Margaret.”

She sniffed disdainfully. “Your part? Your part should be providing for my niece, getting her new bags and shoes, not acting like a housemaid. Malia deserves better than this.”

Tom’s hands shook with suppressed anger, but he kept his voice steady. “I’m trying my best.”

“Your best isn’t enough,” Aunt Margaret shot back.

“I’m not about to hear that same line over and over again today.” Tom mumbled as he continued scrubbing the floor.

“Huh!? What did you just say,” Aunt Margaret questioned.

Before Tom could respond, Malia’s junior sister, Riley, strolled in. She glanded around with a mocking grin. “Hey, Tom, how’s the cleaning going? Still pretending to be useful?”

Tom didn’t look up, he kept his focus on the task at hand. Riley moved over to the counter, where Tom had carefully arranged the dishes. She reached for the bread underneath the counter and took a bite.

“Uhm, that’s— my morning food,” Tom uttered.

“mmh, thank heavens you haven’t eaten off of it. It’s not contaminated by your trashiness yet,” Riley said.

“Looks like you missed a spot,” Riley said as she shook the bread in her hand, letting the bread crumbs scatter on the counter. Aunt Margaret passed by the large hallway facing the kitchen.

“Clean that up, would you?” She continued, laughing.

“Oh, Aunt Margaret, i thought you would be with uncle,” Riley noticed her and puts on a cute act,

“Well, I was on my way before I stumbled upon this trash of a Son-in-law,” Aunt Margaret said as she turned back to take a look at Tom.

She turned and made her way to the door, leaving Tom and Riley alone. Tom’s face was straight, with no sign of emotion.

Riley followed right after Aunt Margaret but stopped right in front of Tom.

“You’re a joke, Tom,” Riley said, stepping over the mess. “Everyone knows it. You’re just a charity case, here because of a promise. Don’t forget that.”

With that, Riley left the area. Tom remained on the floor. 

“Take it easy, Tom,” He took a deep breath.

The silence in the room pressed in on him as he resumed cleaning. Tom straightened his back, determined to continue, even as the mistreatment and insults continued to erode his spirit.

Tom was on his knees, mopping the juice Paul had deliberately spilled. The sticky mess was proving stubborn. 

The kitchen door swung open, and his Mother-in-law marched in, her eyes scanning the room critically. "What is this?" she snapped, her voice sharp. "You haven't even finished sweeping, and you're already mopping? Do you ever do anything right, Tom?"

“And why are there crumbs scattered on the counter? You were eating? when you haven’t finished cleaning!?” She continued

Tom looked up, with no emotion in his eyes, "Paul spilled his drink. I had to clean it up before it dried and got worse."

She shook her head with her expression full of contempt. "Excuses, always excuses. You can't even handle simple chores. How lazy can you be? Starting one job before finishing another. It’s always halfway with you."

Tom clenched his jaw, trying to keep his temper in check. "I’m just trying to keep up with everything, it’s not easy."

She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "Keep up? You can't even do that properly. You're a disgrace, Tom. My daughter deserves better than a man who can’t even finish sweeping."

“I don’t even know why you're still here, the only reason why my daughter married you was so she could claim her grandfather's wealth,” she smirked,

“But we were frogs in a well, who knew your family was just a drop in the ocean,” she laughed.

She took another step forward, and her foot landed on the wet patch of floor. In an instant, she slipped, her arms flailing as she tried to regain her balance. Tom reached out instinctively, but it was too late. She crashed to the ground with a thud, a gasp escaping her lips.

The sound of her screams alerted the mansion and everyone came out to see what was going on. 

As they all walked into the hallway, Malia rushed out to see her mom on the floor. “Mom!” She screamed, running to her helpless mom.

“What happened mom?” Malia asked, her eyes filled with worry.

Tom’s Mother-in-law slowly raised her right arm, she stretched a finger and pointed at Tom.

“It was him,” 

“He pushed me!” She screamed.