I was sitting on the dinning table when my mother in law carried a cooler to the table and hit my head with it.

I looked at her expecting a sorry but she just walked past like nothing happened. I should have gotten used to this but there was this hope,hope I was clinging on thinking she'll like me someday but that day would never come if things kept going this way.

She served herself and didn't serve mine. I dropped my phone and stretched to serve myself. She hit the back of my hand with her spoon and I winced in pain.

"Ouch!" I rubbed the back of my palm.

"How dare you touch my plate? How dare you,you lowlife?" She yelled.

"I just want some caserole." I answered.

"Did you contribute to buying foodstuffs in this house? Have you ever gotten me anything before?" She yelled again and I was quiet.

A year ago,I met Rosaline Parks. She was a beautiful damsel every man would love to have. She had the perfect hazel eyes with long blonde hair which she curled most of the time and straightened depending on her mood. Her pink plump lips and her pencil nose made her attractive. I wasn't that bad either. My hair was brown and my beard was always trimmed. I had a chiseled chin and I was muscular enough.  I would have been every girls ideal type only if I was a rich man.

She was dating the CEO of Burberry Chocolates but they broke up some months into the relationship. Rumors had it that Rosa was a materialistic woman. Staring at Rosa,one would know she was materialistic. From wearing expensive clothing's and shoes to travelling to different countries just for fun.

I decided to walk up to her and share my feelings. I was her personal driver then. After lots of pestering and assurance to my greatest surprise she agreed.

We started dating against her parents wish. After some months we decided to get married. Her parents were against it so we ran away to another country and got married.

We came back and this made her parents hate me more. They despised me and made sure to embarrass and humiliate me at any event.

I was laying on my bed when I heard my mother in law's footstep. Surprisingly,I always knew whenever she was coming upstairs because she was always nagging and complaining about something.

I jumped off the bed and stood up. If I hadn't done that,I would be punished greatly.

She opened the door without knocking and glared. 

"There are some plates and cups in the living room." She yelled.

I knew immediately I was to go pack them and wash them. I jogged downstairs and saw some of my wife's co workers in her family's company. They were part of the board members and they were beneath her.

"Isn't that Rosa's husband?" An old woman cladded in blue suit asked.

"He is." An average man with black curly hair chuckled.

"He looks so pitiable. That's what gold diggers like him should get." Another woman said and I was literally hearing them. They didn't even whisper.

"I would never allow my daughter marry a loser like him." Another commented.

I was about to leave when the other woman yelled.

"Hey." 

"What do you want?" I asked and I got a slap at the back of my neck. I staggered a little but I balanced.

"Do you know who she is? She is above your status so you should address her as ma." My mother in law yelled behind me.

I tried to hide the ocean of tears that was threatening to fall but I wasn't performing well at that. A tear fell and I sniffed.

"Little boy is crying. Bastard!" My mother in law commented and the others who were seated bursted into laughter.

I moved all the dirty cups to the kitchen and started washing.

Paulo,one of our kitchen staffs wanted to help out but I declined.

"Sir let me help you with this." He moved closer to where I was standing by the sink.

"It's okay." I pursed my lips and cleaned the tears dropping from my eyes.

"Are you okay sir?" Paulo asked but I just bopped my head.

He left and I heard a soft chuckled from him.

"Was I really pitiful? Was I that horrible that everyone including the servant derive joy in embarrassing me?" I asked myself and I rinsed the cup.

I finished and went upstairs without making eye contact with my mother inlaw who fixed her gaze on me.

At least there was one person to comfort and console me. To always be there for me,to protect and defend me but she was not always home. She was always busy in the office and whenever she came back home,she always brought more files and document to fill.

I sat down in the room waiting for her patiently and praying diligently and hoping my mother in law doesn't come back to make life hell for me.

I heard a car drive into the compund and I jumped out of bed. I went to check from the balcony located in my room and it was my father in law. Another problem.

I ran downstairs to collect his briefcase. He eyed me and grunted.

"What took you so long?" He said when I opened the front door of the house for him.

"I'm sorry sir." I apologized.

"Take that upstairs and come back for my shoes." He said and sat on the couch taking off his blazers. 

I had not noticed my mother in law was no longer in the living room. I heard her squeaked as she walked down the stairs.

I had to wait for her to come down or I would have gotten another mind blowing slap.

She came down after walking majestically like Cinderella and eyed me. I walked upstairs and dropped his briefcase in his room.

"Roberto!" I heard my father in laws voice and I rushed back downstairs. I knew I had to pick his shoes and collect his blazers. I went upstairs and he followed me up.

He went inside the bathroom and I laid on the  bed drowning in my own sadness and grief.

I finished and was about to leave again when I heard my father in laws voice.

"What's this?" He yelled and I got scared.

I turned to look at what he was angry about.

He used his slippers to push a piece of wet tissue paper outside the bathroom.

"You are done for." My subconscious added.

"Didn't I ask you to clean this toilet this morning?" He yelled,then he coughed.

"I'm sorry sir. I did,I didn't notice this when I finished." I bowed.

"Sorry? Sorry?" He moved closer and I took two steps back. I didn't want another slap.

"Just go clean it up." He yelled and sat on his bed.

I hurried into the bathroom and scrubbed till it was squeaky clean.

I was tired of this kind of life I was living. I thought they would accept me when I get married to their daughter but reverse was the case. Even her cousins and distant aunties hated my guts. I finished cleaning and went to my room.

I opened the door and found my wife taking off her clothes.

I hugged her from behind.

"Hey baby." I kissed her checks 

"Hi."She said and turned to face me.

"How was work?" I asked.

"Stressful as usual." She sighed.

"And now we have a party tomorrow. I've been planning and I had lots of appointments." She announced.

"Party?" I asked trying to remember if we ever had such discussion.

"Yes. Remember tomorrow is my dad's birthday." She said and I sighed.

"Why won't I forget when they are always mean?" My subconscious added 

"So all your family members would be here tomorrow?" I asked as if I didn't know the answer to the question.

"Yes sir. Don't worry. I'll be by your side so they won't do anything crazy to you." She said and kissed my lips then went into the bathroom.

I sat on the bed and my phone rang.