“Don’t kneel,” David said. He crouched down to help his wife up. Lily sobbed.

“I’m sorry, David,” said Lily. David knew Lily changed only because of the treasure he thought David still had. Though it will not completely be his anymore. David knew that, even if he was asked to return, he had a lot to face. Maybe even his life would be at stake. That was why David was still a little hesitant. But seeing the change in his wife, who seemed to have the opportunity to love him, David thought it didn’t matter.

“You must have hypnotized my daughter!” the mother-in-law did not accept what was happening in front of her.

“Mother,” Lily warned her mother.

But instead Lily was glared at by her own mother. “Are you stupid or what, Lily?! Don’t be so easy to believe! Could this poor husband of yours have a plan! You know, he just got the money. Or maybe what Mr and Mrs Aisley said is true that he stole. Then he used the money to hire these thugs! Admit it, David! They are not your subordinates! “ The mother-in-law is still trying to deny it.

“I didn’t expect Mother to think that far.” David shook his head. He really had to prove it now to his mother-in-law. David didn’t want this humiliation from his mother-in-law anymore. So, he turned his head to look at Bruno.

“Bruno,” he called.

“Yes, boss!” replied Bruno in a firm voice. Same with the tone his boss gave. There was a slight curve on his lips. It seemed his boss’s full of authority was returning little by little.

“Follow me!” said David, then without a word, he walked away. David ignored Lily, who was holding his arm. It seemed that Lily was still anxious that David would not forgive her. Especially because of what her mother said earlier. Even David could faintly hear Lily’s voice scolding her own mother.

“Mother, are you insane? He’s rich! I saw it with my own eyes. He even compensated every customer in the restaurant for not revealing what happened! There was chaos in the restaurant where Jack asked me out!” Then Lily’s voice got smaller. David didn’t know what they were talking about anymore. But David didn’t want to care about that.

David stopped his steps when he felt that no one else could hear his voice. “What’s the matter, boss? Looks like it’s very important?” asked Bruno.

David looked restless. It really didn’t feel good to say this to Bruno. But he felt like he wanted to silence the mouth of his mother-in-law, who was very rude.

“Just say it, boss. There’s no need to feel so awkward. I will always obey your words,” said Bruno, knowing what was on his boss’s mind.

David sighed. “If I may, I’d like to borrow your money first. I have a way of getting my mother-in-law to keep her mouth shut so she won’t insult me ​​anymore,” David finally said.

“My money?” Bruno repeated with a nod of David. Bruno smiled at that.

“I told you our money is yours, too. You know I owe you a lot, boss. I leave my life for you. Which means my money is also all yours. You don’t have to feel so bad.” Ah, David understood what Bruno meant by that.

David nodded his head. “I’ll change it later when I have my access like I used to,” David replied.

“No need, boss. I told you it’s all yours. So, what plan did you mean, boss?”

David leaned closer to Bruno and whispered, “Listen...”

***

“Huh! What cunning plan have you been talking about with this thug you hired, huh?!” When David came, his mother-in-law talk nonsense to him again.

“If I can prove to you, Mother, that I’m actually a rich man. Can that make you no longer insult me?” asked David with a serious tone and face. It made Lily and her mother-in-law quite surprised by this drastic change. Although still with shabby clothes and hair and oily face.

“Huh! What did you say?” asked the mother-in-law in a condescending tone. If she doesn’t get concrete evidence, even Lily’s words can’t make her believed.

“Do you know, all this time, Jack always bought me expensive food and clothes? He was very diligent in giving me money for necessities here. See? He is more useful than you, Fat Pig. Jack is rich. He has an important position in the company where he works. If you really believe in yourself and want to prove it. Can you exceed what Jack gave me? If you can. Then I will believe if you are indeed a rich person.”

“I will prove it to you, mother. Tomorrow, we will go to a boutique or any store that you want. You can buy whatever you want. Any price. And if I can prove it, I want you to recognize me as your son-in-law and you can no longer look down on me,” said David confidently.

His mother-in-law snorted and smirked. “I’m waiting. I’m sure you’re just pretending to be brave now.”

Now it was David’s turn to grin. “We’ll see tomorrow, mother.”

***

“Boss, we can buy you new, more luxurious clothes. For you to wear tomorrow. With your fancy clothes, the shopkeeper won’t look you down upon.”

“No need, Bruno. I’ll just use what you have. There’s no need to be so extravagant,” David replied humbly.

“Sorry for my personal business. Our departure has been delayed. There is still much to be done, but this business is actually getting in the way.”

Bruno shook his head. “No, boss. Your personal matters are also very important.”

David nodded his head. “How’s father?” asked David at last. They were now in the attic discussing this serious conversation.

“Master is often sick. His condition has really worsened recently.” David was immediately saddened to hear that.

“Since you left, though, Master seems fine. I’m sure it has devastated him. That is why we really need you to come back, boss. So you can fix it. Because we know you are the only one who can fix it.”

***

David, Lily, and the mother-in-law were now in Bruno’s luxurious car. Bruno himself was in the driver’s seat. The mother-in-law looked at her son-in-law sarcastically. “Tch! You want to take me shopping for branded goods, but you look so tacky! I’m so embarrassed to shop with you. You might just be dumbfounded!”

David sighed. “What I’m wearing has nothing to do with that, mother. I’m will not run away. I’m not a coward,” replied David, who actually got laughter from his mother-in-law.

“Don’t remember, have you? For the past five years, you’ve been a coward? You don’t really know yourself.”

“Madame, you don’t have to worry. My boss has a lot of money. He won’t embarrass you.” Not wanting any more arguments and insults, Bruno immediately started his car to where his boss’s mother-in-law wanted them to go.

***

“You just stay here. Let me alone with my wife and my mother-in-law go inside,” said Bruno.

“You just stay here. Let me alone with my wife and my mother-in-law go inside,” said Bruno. “Alright, boss. Your command is my must.”

Lily and his mother-in-law had already entered the store. They are already at the crossroads where famous brand stores are located.

“This is your card, sir. You can shop without limit using that card. This isn’t you card you used to have because your card is still in their possession. So you can use that card first.”

David nodded his head in understanding. “It’s okay. It’s enough for now,” he said. Bruno told David the password. David got out of the car. He was just about to enter, but his steps suddenly stopped because apparently, the security guard in front of the store was one of his enemies.

It’s Onyx.

‘Oh shit.’ David cursed inwardly.

Onyx looked him up and down and smirked. “Oi, did you get a call to clean the store’s toilets?” he asked in a condescending tone.

David wanted to ignore it and rushed in. But Onyx held his arm. “Oh, come on, you poor David. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Wow, you’re lucky enough to be called in to clean a high-end store toilet. You will make a lot of money afterward.”

With a straight face, David answered. “I’m not here to work. I’m here to shop.”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA! Shopping you say?” Onyx laughed loudly. Onyx saw David’s wife and in-laws enter earlier. But he did not expect that they came with this poor David. Onyx thought they came together with Jack. He knew about Jack and Lily because Jack was also one of his friends. And it seemed it would make more sense if Lily and her mother came with Jack instead of this loser David.

“In those shabby clothes of yours? You come confidently and say you want to go shopping? Come on, David. You are very poor. You can’t even pay for your wife and in-laws’ daily meals. Then now you say you’re going shopping? Don’t be crazy!” David clenched his fists.

“I’m not kidding. Look! I have this card!” David showed the credit card with an infinite limit in front of Onyx’s face. It quite surprised Onyx to see that. But then he remembered something.

“Ah! So Mr and Mrs Aisley didn’t lie when they said you had stolen something! It must have been this card that was stolen!” Yes, Onyx heard the gossip.

“I didn’t steal! This is my card! I’ll prove it to you!” Full of confidence, David went inside. Ignoring Onyx, who tried to hold him back.

To be continued...