Outside the mansion, Daniel was sitted in the yard decorated with lots and lots of ornaments. He sat on the long chair placed In the middle of the yard, and his eyes were fixed unto the moon. With the look on his face, you could tell that he was feeling so ashamed of himself, or was he? His life was gradually turning into hell, and the more he tries to bare the pains and humiliation, the more it came too him.

Daniel was just a delivery boy in Midtown-High, when he met Laura, and the two fell In love. He managed to save up a lot of cash for them to get married, but Laura insisted she handled everything, knowing that he was just earning a little. The both got married on 18th of April 2022 and they moved into their family house, and since that day up to this moment, all Daniel gets from his inlaws were nothing but humiliation and insults. When he first came, they treated him like family, but after some time, they began to show their true colors and now, he wished he never came into their family house.

"Daniel?" A lovely voice called him from behind and Daniel turned to see his wife, standing behind him.

"Am sorry I left without letting you know, I just couldn't bare the insults any longer." Daniel said, before turning back to his position, adjusting for Laura to sit down.

Laura sighed, then took some steps that brought her close to where Daniel was sitting, and instead of sitting on the chair, she sat on him and Daniel smiled staring deep into her eyes, while she brushed her hands through his thick manly hair.

"No matter what happens, I will always be with you. I didn't marry you for the money, nah, i married you because I love you." Laura smiled at him but Daniel couldn't even fake a smile. "Hey come on, still bothered?" She asked with a smile.

Daniel scoffed, "Your family hates me. Why? What have I done wrong? I go out everyday in search for a job, and yet you run a large company where I can just easily be employed, but no, your parent's said am not capable. And you just can't help?"

Laura stared at him, "Are you trying to put the blame on me right now?" She asked.

"No no no. Am not. Okay look, am sorry. Am just angry and sad, and ashamed at the same time. Am being hated for a reason I don't even know about. At least, you could help me apologize to your parents if I've ever wronged them in anyway, right?" Daniel said with both eyes opened.

"Umm, I don't think you have offended them in anyway you know." Laura said.

"Then why the hate?" Daniel asked.

"Daniel look, my parents are just concerned about my welfare, and its making them act that way. They mean no harm at all, well maybe a little." Laura said, while staring at Daniel.

Daniel smiled, "Am still thinking of what decision to make. Return to Midtown-High, in search of greener pastures, or remain here in East Alley, and face tons of humiliation from my in-laws." He scoffs.

"What, did I just hear you say, leave for Midtown-High? Like you are planing to leave me? Is that it?" Laura asked, eyes widely opened.

"No babe. It's not what you think. I have this feeling, that if I can travel back to Midtown-High, since it's my hometown, I might get a job there and who knows, I might become rich with lots of savings." He smiled at her.

"What about us? What about our child? Are you just gonna leave us that way?" Laura asked as tears formed in her eyes.

Daniel sighed "It's the best thing I need to do, I think. But don't worry am still thinking about it." Daniel tried to hold her closer to himself, but Laura was already out of joy. She got off him and quickly ran into the house in sadness.

"Laura!!" Daniel called out but she was already in. "Ohh damn!!. Shouldn't have said that too her." Daniel began blaming himself. He sighed, then dusted some dirt's off himself before he began staring at the moon again.

"I hear you grant wishes huh?" Daniel was taking to the moon. "Why can't you grant mine?" He let a tear out his eyes. "If you truly grant wishes, please am begging you. Get this humiliation of me. Please" He added in a soft tone, before he began crying like a child. 

**

**

Some hours later, it was now raining so heavily, and Laura was seen in the bedroom, standing close to the window staring outside and watching as the heavy wind blew the rain at all sides. She was worried and you could tell with the look on her face. 

The door screeched open and Laura's mom walked in without shutting the door. She was donned in one of her nighties and had a pair of bathroom slippers on her feets. Seeing her daughter close to the window and staring outside in such a time already sent a message to her. Laura's mom gently walked forward to where she was standing and slowly placed her both hands on her daughters shoulders.

"My daughter, what's wrong? You..you should be asleep by now, you know you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow." Her mom tried to remind her about the conference meeting tomorrow.

Laura sniffed in, "I know. And am not feeling sleepy. Am done sleeping for tonight." She said without even staring at her mother.

"What? Are you feeling alright? It's past 1' now, and you are not feeling sleepy." Her mom said and quickly raised a brow, "Ohh, now i know why you can't sleep. It's because of your good for nothing husband right?" 

"Mom!!, Mom please, please, please stop!! Am not in the mood for that." Laura warned.

"No don't tell me to stop please. As a husband. He is supposed to be here and support you, help you, assist you and calm you down. But where is he now? Huh?" Her mother said.

"Daniel is a caring husband mom. He is my choice and not yours. And beside why do you care? Huh? You have always insulted him and bullied him, why asking of him now? Huh?" Laura asked now staring at her mom In the eyes.

"Am not trying to show concern for Daniel, am trying to show concern for you." 

"Then I don't need it! I don't! Seriously I don't! You and Dad have proved too me, that you have no epitome of love or respect for my husband. And it's affecting me alot." Laura tried to express her feelings.

"Well. That shouldn't bother you Laura. Daniel is getting what he deserves." 

"Mom?" Laura was so shocked to hear this.

Her mom sighed, "Laura, can't you see? That boy is a good for nothing human being. He can never be useful for you, for Godsake we are damn rich. Do you think he would want to work? A man needs to work or don't you think?" She asked.

"But mom, all you and Dad have ever done was to humiliate and rain all sort of curses on my husband. You have never shown support too him." Laura said, sniffing in before she continued, "We have a producing company here in East Alley, an oil company in Yorkshire and a weapon industry in the Miami with dad being the highest shareholder there. At least, you guys should try considering on letting him handle any of them, that way, Daniel can be useful for us." Laura said but her mom chuckled.

"Oh please. Let him handle one? Spare me that. I can never let your dad do such a thing. If you don't wanna listen too your mother, then fine, am going to bed." Her mother said, but as she turned around, she saw Daniel standing at the doorstep and she scoffs. "Speaking of him." She walked close to where he was standing, and faced him, "And I meant every word I said. You don't deserve to be in this family." She spoke too Daniel, then glanced at her daughter who stood dumbfounded, "Goodnight!!" she said and hastily walked past Daniel.

Daniel was too tired emotionally to utter any word. He clenched his fist and kept staring at the marbled tiled floor, thinking of what to do next. But he was absolutely empty of thoughts and so, he remained fixed to his position.

"Baby.." Laura called out to him and Daniel raised his head to look at her, and when she saw his teary eyes, she walked forward and hugged him so tight and Daniel had no choice than to wrap his hands around her as he begins to sob on her shoulders while she kept brushing her hands through his soft hair.

"It's okay, it's fine. Everything's gonna be fine. I promise." Laura said to Daniel and he hugged her more.

**

**

In another room, the door pushed open and Laura's mom walked in, and instantly joined her husband in the bed. Mr Ayo, who was busy reading his newspapers, suddenly turned to look at his wife, knowing how happy her face was before she went out. But now, it was so moody and sad. So he asked.

"What's wrong honey?" Mr Ayo asked.

At first she was reluctant in answering him, but when she saw his persistence, she needed to speak out. 

"Umm, I have something that have been bothering me for days now, and I really want us to talk about it." She said.

"Is it urgent?" Me Ayo asked, changing his mood instantly.

"Yes, kind of, if we don't talk about it now, I might die in thoughts." She hesitated.

"Okay, okay. Am listening" Mr Ayo said, dropping his newspapers to pay full attention to his wife. "What's it about?" He asked.

"Umm, okay." She cleared her throat a bit, then drew closer to him and began touching his fingers. "You see honey, what I want us to discuss about, might sound stupid too you okay, but I just want you to understand me."

"Hmm, okay, fine. Go on Please." Mr Ayo said.

And when she heard this, she cleared her throat again with a cough. "It's about our Son in law, Daniel." She said and her husband quickly turned to stare at her.

"And what about him?" He asked with a frown.

"You see. I think we have been too harsh on him. Knowing fully well that it isn't supposed to be so. His our son in law. And our only daughter's choice of love. I think we need to reconsider our actions. Or don't you think?" She said.

Mr Ayo smiled at first, then he stared at her, "Do you have any other useless issues to discuss? Cause I need to finish my news today." 

His wife was shocked, "Useless issues? You can't say this issue is useless is it?"

"Of course it is. Ohh my God. You think am happy with the way our daughter is married to that poor wretched asshole?" 

"Honey we just have to help him that's all." 

"No. Haven't you heard the saying? Gift a child and he will care less about your gift, but make him work for it and he will never forget about it usefulness." Mr Ayo said in parables.

'huh? I have never heard of that. Is that new?" His wife said smiling.

"You haven't heard of it. But it's the fact. Once I give to Daniel, there's no doubt he is going to waste it. But when he earns it himself, he is gonna cherish and learn to use it." Mr Ayo said and his wife scoffed.

"You think thats the best way? Denying him his rights as our son in law?" She asked and he nodded.

"It's the best way honey. I know our daughter is hurt. But it's the only way. Besides, am giving her an edge over her husband, she should be grateful." He laughed shortly.

"Well. If you say so. Then, its fine by me. Yeah, you are right, he needs to work and earn his own Cash. He needs to stop being a lazy ass dude." The woman said and Mr Ayo smiled at her.

"Now you are taking. So..can I get my roasted duck now?" He asked.

"I will be right back. Give me a sec." Mrs Ayo said before she came down from the bed and walked out of the room.