"Where have you been?" Alina asked as Ryan walked in. She had changed from her earlier outfit into pink bunny-decorated pyjamas and was now sitting cross-legged in an armchair in the living room. 

"Had to go somewhere," he replied. "Do you need anything?"

"Isn't it too late to ask that question?" she cocked an eyebrow. "I've been home for almost an hour now. Don't you think I would have gotten anything I needed by myself?"

"Sorry," he said and walked towards the room slowly as if expecting an order or anything from her.

"You haven't answered my question?" she said. "Where have you been?" 

"Someone took me to meet someone else and I was delayed there," he replied. From his reply, Alina already deduced that he doesn't want to reveal information about where he has been, and although she had an irk to prove further, she decided to let it go. Knowing him, she was sure it wasn't anything productive. He might have just been out drinking because of the way he was treated earlier.

"Go freshen up," she said after staring at him for a while. He was looking at the ground instead of her. "Come back here when you are done. I have a few things to discuss with you.

"Okay," he said and turned around, walking to the bedroom like a zombie.

"Argh," she groaned. "What did you get me into, Grandpa?" 

Ryan made quick work of his shower and changed into his pyjamas also, strolling out to meet her.

"I'm here," he said once he was back in the living room.

"Have a seat, Ryan," she sighed. He did as he was told and sat down on the opposite chair, staring at her with an expressionless face. The same one he's always had around her or any member of her family ever since they got married. For as long as she remembered, she has never seen her husband smile.

"Ryan," she asked, looking him straight in the eye. "Did the words of my family hurt you today?" 

Ryan stared at her for a few seconds before replying. "No, their words did not affect me. I've gotten used to it by now."

"What about my mother slapping you?" 

"No," he shook his head. "That was the first time she's slapped me and I know it won't be the last."

"Then are you comfortable with the way my family treats you?" she asked, hoping to get the answer or reaction she wanted from him.

"I don't care," he replied calmly. "It doesn't matter how anyone treats me. I don't care either way."

"Don't you want to change it?" she asked. "Doesn't it make your blood boil when your wife is being asked to marry another man right in front of you? Don't you get angry when the said man even dares to treat you condescendingly in front of your wife and her family, and you are too powerless to do anything?"

"No, it doesn't," he replied, his voice still calm and his face still expressionless. "It's annoying, but that's all that it is."

"Why?" she asked, already getting annoyed. "Why don't you get mad when your wife is being claimed to be another man's?"

"You don't love me anyway, do you?" he asked as she stared at him with annoyance but his expression still didn't change. "You are only married to me because your grandfather forced you to and you regret agreeing to his decision every day. I've seen the way you look at me most times. There's only disgust and annoyance in your eyes even now. The same way your family sees me. You only defend me in front of them to protect your pride."

"That's...."

"And I'm not powerless against Alex," he continued. "I could beat him up if I wanted to, but there's no need to fight for a woman who wants me out of her life in the first place. That would be a waste of time."

"You....."

"I'm sorry that I haven't granted you a divorce yet," he added. "I'm also sorry that I won't be granting you one anytime soon."

"Work!!" she yelled, unable to take anymore. "Work and prove yourself as a man. Work for your money and make a name and an identity for yourself in my family. If you want a wife who loves you then work to win her heart!! Don't just sit there and apologize, saying everything is pointless over and over again! Make an effort at least!"

There was silence in the room as Ryan let her recover from her outburst. His expression didn't change as he somewhat knew that this was where the conversation was headed. 

"Don't you have anything to say?" she asked once she has composed herself.

"I'm sorry but I can't do that either," he said quietly, almost apologetically. "I have my reasons which I can't say for now. I'm sorry but I can't work for now. I can do all the chores and help around the house."

"Liar!" she hissed as she stood up. "You are a disgusting liar. You don't have any reasons. Your plan was to get married into a rich family and leech off them for the rest of your life while your wife works. Any man with even a little bit of dignity would be out there working for his family, especially after the humiliation of today."

Ryan kept mute as he didn't see a reason to say anything anymore. It wasn't like she was gonna listen. 

"Do you know why you weren't recognized for your work today?" she asked. "Why the doctor was acknowledged for saving my grandmother when you were the one who did?"

"I kn-"

"It's because unlike you the doctor had a good reputation!" she yelled, interrupting him before he could finish his statement. "You don't have anything! You bested one of the best doctors today and not even the people there acknowledged you for it! You will never amount to anything if you keep living like this!"

"I know," he replied calmly. "I have my reasons and I would not compromise them for any reason. I'm sorry aga-"

"Save it," she hissed. "Just do what you want and get out of my sight. I don't want you in the room tonight. Use the guest room."

"Of course," he replied. "I will do as you say. Call me if you need anything."

"I don't need anything from you," she replied as she walked towards her bedroom. "Keep your distance away from me. If you want to be a lazy, good-for-nothing, stay home husband, then do as you wish. Just stay far away from me and my stuff. I don't need anything from you. I've got my hands and legs to do the job for me."

Ryan said nothing as she stood there glaring at him for a while. She was expecting him to say something, anything except that he was sorry. She wanted to see if there was hope for him later if not now, but he gave no reaction whatsoever this time. His face remained expressionless as usual as he just stared back at her without saying a word.

She got tired of waiting and angrily stormed towards the bedroom, but stopped just at the entrance of the hallway. "Shave those stupid beards. They look so unkempt. If you wanna have beards then the least you could do is take care of them."

Ryan still said nothing as he felt that there was nothing to say since it seems like she has said everything there was to say. In his opinion, the conversation was over.

She went inside her room, leaving him alone in the living room with nothing to do or think about. 

He let out a deep breath as he relaxed into his seat. "I'm sorry but I can't heed your request," he mumbled. "I must train and become even stronger in order to take my revenge on the bastards who hurt my family. I will make them pay in a million folds."

He stood up and made his way to the guest room as he was told. He laid on the bed on his back as he stared at the ceiling. Watching the fan complete each cycle as he tried to track the single blade with his eyes. His master has trained him to hone his body and sensory organs to the point that it's almost superhuman. As such, he could see the blade move almost in slow motion as he focused, enabling him to track the fan which was at its highest speed perfectly. He continued with this for a while longer as he let the hours go by slowly until it was almost time for him to sleep. 

He stood up from his bed and did a few mandatory bedtime exercises before getting back in bed to sleep.

Repeating his bedtime mantra, he said, "It would be any day now. I will get my revenge on those bastards. Until then, I will never rest."