From Pathetic Loser To A Potent Legend

Chapter 002: Not My Blood

As Gilbert watched her walk away, a growing unease settled in his chest. He tried to understand why she was acting this way, but he quickly pushed the thought aside and hurried after her. When he finally caught up with her in their private accommodation in the mansion, his words came before he could think. "Viv, please, wait."

Vivienne turned to look at Gilbert more intently, her impatience now getting the best of her. "Listen, Gilbert! What do you even have to say this time? Is it that same lame-ass story about finding a better job? You’ve been repeating that for months, and here we are—two years in, and you’re still stuck in that dead-end job."

Disappointed, Gilbert sighed as he tried to explain. "Honey, I know you're upset, but… uh, I’m doing the best I can. I thought you saw that too…"

Before he could finish, Vivienne, looking even more infuriated, cut him off. "You heard me, Gilbert! I’m not interested in that, okay?"

Gilbert exhaled deeply, his frustration rising. The silence in the room afterward felt more suffocating. Trying to compose himself, he moved to the couch, sat down, and ran a hand over his face.

The fact that he had a pressing issue to share with Vivienne left him devastated. With the tension between them, he feared she wouldn’t even listen to him now.

After an hour, Gilbert approached his wife in the living room. To his relief, she let him in, giving him hope that the tension had eased. As he sat beside her, his heart raced, unaware that the worst was yet to come.

Gilbert locked eyes with Vivienne as he began, almost pleading, "Babe, I need your help. My sister, Megan... had a car accident two days ago. The hospital bills are $30,000, and she doesn’t have insurance. I don’t know what else to do."

Yet Gilbert could see the irritation and surprise in his wife’s eyes before she reacted. “Did I just hear you correctly? You’re asking for $30,000?’’

She shook her head, her voice dripping with disdain. “Ugh, you’ve really got some nerve, Gilbert!”

Vivienne crossed her arms, her mind flashing back to Brandy and the $50,000 ring Ralph Foster had bought for her. She exclaimed, “Other men are out there buying their wives diamonds, and you’re begging me for money? Again?”

“I guess you don't even know what you’re saying,” she smirked.

Gilbert swallowed hard, trying to reason with her. “It’s my sister, Viv. She has no one else.”

With her anger getting the best of her, Vivienne raised her voice. “And am I supposed to fix it? Just like my family paid for your mother’s hospital bills before she died? You’re always asking for something.”

“Now, listen, I won’t be your personal bank anymore.”

Gilbert's heart sank. “Viv, please. Megan could—”

Vivienne scoffed, cutting him off again. “Pathetic. You’re begging me? Look at you! Other men provide for their wives. Ralph Foster just bought Brandy a $50,000 ring, and you can't even handle your own family’s problems. You're the one who’s supposed to provide for me—not the other way around.”

Before Gilbert could respond, Fiona and Brandy walked into the room. They didn’t say anything but stood silently behind Vivienne, their disapproval evident.

It is so unfortunate Vivienne didn’t stop there but continued embarrassing her husband in front of her sisters as she yelled, “And you think I’m going to keep bailing you out? This family has done enough for you. You are a burden, Gilbert, and you know it. A pathetic excuse for a man. You can’t even hold a proper job after getting kicked out of the Air Force. You have done nothing but cause problems, and I’m done with it.”

Her scornful voice only deepened Gilbert’s pain. "You know why you lost your pilot colleagues and crashed more than three of the world’s most advanced fighter jets in the Air Force inventory? It’s because you’re cursed and a pathetic loser."

She asserted firmly, “I’m not giving you a dime, not even my blood, even if you were dying.”

It seemed as if Gilbert's heart had stopped upon hearing this. Vivienne’s harsh words pierced him deeply, reminding him of the time he had donated a kidney to save her life from lupus. All he could cling to was regret, almost hating himself for having done it.

But then, he said to himself, "I wouldn’t have made this decision if my mother hadn’t been in a critical condition.”

Disappointed, Gilbert sensed that leaving the room was the only way to defuse the tension. Without uttering a word, he quietly stepped out, his heart sinking as he wrestled with the humiliation his wife had caused him in front of her sisters. The pressing question of how to cover his sister’s medical bills weighed heavily on his mind.

Moments later, an idea crept into his thoughts. He decided to meet with his mother-in-law, Jocelyn, hoping she might be able to help.

Gilbert hesitated for a moment but decided it was worth trying. He knew approaching Jocelyn in her room wasn’t right, so he headed toward the family living room, hoping to find her there.

As he neared, the faint sound of classical music reached his ears.

When Jocelyn heard footsteps, she quickly turned toward the entrance, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea, only to see Gilbert approaching.

She gave him a brief glance before looking away, her tone indifferent. “Gilbert, you’re back?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, his voice a little hesitant.

Gilbert, feeling slightly nervous, spoke up. “Ma’am, I’d like to discuss something with you.”

Jocelyn didn’t waste a moment, her disdain clear as she interrupted him. “Before you discuss anything, go wash the dishes in the kitchen.”

Upon hearing this, Gilbert didn’t look surprised. It wasn’t the first time she treated him this way, despite the fact that the Astor family had house help to handle the chores. Jocelyn had made it clear that she disliked him ever since he married Vivienne.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Gilbert headed to the kitchen. He worked quickly, and with the help of the dishwasher, it didn’t take him long to finish the job.

Gilbert made his way back to the living room, but as he approached, he spotted Vivienne leaving through another door, heading in the opposite direction. His heart raced with relief—at least he wouldn’t have to face her right now.

Upon his arrival, Jocelyn’s expression had shifted, and Gilbert could tell that his wife had already spoken to her.

“Ohhh, you’re back already?” Jocelyn’s voice was sharp as she glanced up. “Did you finish washing the dishes?”

Gilbert gave a firm nod. “Yes, I did.”

“Good,” she said, crossing her legs and settling back into her seat, her eyes fixed on him. “So, what was it you wanted to discuss?”

Sighing heavily, Gilbert composed himself before speaking. “It’s about my sister…”

Jocelyn glanced at him with an air of detachment. “I heard you’re asking for $30,000.” Her tone was dismissive, as if she found the request trivial and unworthy of serious consideration. “I didn’t realize you’d think we’d just hand that over.”

It was now obvious that his wife had shared everything with her, making Gilbert unable to hold back his frustration.

He pleaded, rubbing his palms together in desperation and his eyes clouded with tears. “Please, please, it’s a matter of life and death. Megan needs this money urgently.”

“Hmm, I guess you need to catch some sleep,” Jocelyn said dismissively, barely concealing her irritation. “If you weren’t so useless, you’d be able to handle your own family. Just because you married my daughter doesn’t mean you can take advantage of us.”

“Enough is enough! We both know you’re just a gold-digger,” she continued scornfully.

“No, I’m not,” Gilbert pleaded, falling to his knees. But this only seemed to fuel Jocelyn’s anger further.

She glared at him, her voice a harsh roar, “Do you want to ruin my night?”

“Leave now!” she commanded with finality.

Despite her threat, Gilbert remained, still begging, “Please?”

But Jocelyn, reaching the peak of her fury, screamed, “Get out of here, Gilbert!” Her face was flushed with rage, and Gilbert could only stare at her blazing eyes in shock.