RETURN OF DON' CARA FROM USELESS TO GREATNESS

The sound of thunder rumbled through the dark sky, and the flashes of lightning gave a glimpse of the heavy rain relentlessly drumming against the rooftop of the Marshall’s Mansion.

In the east wing of the building, Joshua Idris stood by the open window of his bedroom, staring at the blurry view of the compound. He sighed, shifting his gaze to the clock, which read 7 PM.

“It’s almost time,” he muttered, catching sight of the neatly arranged bed. His body arched with exhaustion, and if anyone who ever told him doing chores could make a human bone ache, he would have doubted it until now.

The thought of lying down for a bit crossed his mind. “I can't take that risk, not tonight,” he reminded himself, shaking off the thought.

For the past year, Joshua Idris's life has been a living hell, one he never anticipated. The first few months of his marriage were promising, but everything began to change when he discovered the true reason Elizabeth Marshall married him.

The Marshall family saw him as a means to escape their family debt, and Joshua, who was once a man with assets, found himself slowly drained by the family's debts.

Now that he has zero assets to his name, his in-laws slowly displayed their true colors. They no longer see him as the man who helped their family business but as a liability to the family.

Joshua, pulling out of his thoughts, turned his attention to the standing mirror, where his pale reflection appeared in a black suit, a reminder of tonight's event.

Unlike every night when he was busy running errands or responding to requests from his in-laws. Tonight Joshua was going to change his life; he was going to change how people see him. His new family will recognize, appreciate, and respect him.

The Marshal's business, in which he invested all his assets, had crumbled after he had paid all their debt. There was a silver lining, and this event, which he had personally organized, was going to bring the investors he needed to support his wife.

“Where the fuck is that bastard!” The words slice through his thoughts.

Joshua directed his gaze to his closed door, listening to the heavy footsteps closing in through the hallway. Even when he knew who the voice was referring to, he hoped the footsteps wouldn't stop at his door.

Bang! Bang!

A loud knock echoed through the closed door, and before he could give permission to enter, the door swung open.

The slender figure standing at the threshold with a heavy frown scanned the room before resting her gaze on Joshua. Her revealing dress clung to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Joshua felt his gut twitch at Brittany's appearance. He wanted this event to be perfect, but he knew too well not to say anything about Brittany Marshall's dress. She didn't care about the prosperity of the event and would rather cause more harm to it since she had made it her life mission to make him miserable.

“You good for nothing fool!” Brittany yelled, disdain painting her tone. She swung forward with a glass of wine in her hands, which she didn't spill until she was close to him.

Joshua, filled with exhaustion from working all day, stared at her. He wasn't ready to participate in whatever tantrum she had to throw at him tonight.

“Whatever this is, can it wait until after the event,” he said, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the wine from his shoes.

Brittany scoffed, with irritation. “No, it can't!” She yelled. “I instructed you to make sure there was hot water for my friends, and yet you allow them into a cold shower?!” She yelled, painting her long nails at him.

Joshua, with a stunned expression, panned at the eighteen-year-old. Apart from the fact he was older than her, he knew Brittany Marshall, the last born of the Marshall family, was a spoiled brat who, among other members of her family, had no respect for him.

If it were any other night, Joshua would have ignored her. “Should I remind you I'm your sister's husband, not your maid?” he replied.

As if his words were absurd, she burst into laughter, her eyes blurring with disbelief. “I can't believe you're so delusional to think my sister sees you as her better half,” she scoffed, shaking her head in amusement.

Joshua's expressionless face watched her. He was used to this by now. Not a day went by without a member of the Marshal family humiliating him, and Brittany, being an eyesore, constantly did it with any slight chance.

When she finished laughing to her satisfaction, she scoffed, her facial expression growing more dramatic. “You actually referred to her as your wife, yet you've never even seen her without her clothes,” she continued, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

Joshua felt a knot tighten in his throat at the revelation that had slapped him in the face. Ever since their wedding, it had been no secret within the Marshall family that he and his wife shared a marital home but not a marital bed.

Whenever Joshua brought up the topic, Elizabeth was quick to dismiss it with the excuse of not being ready.

Even after a year, Joshua didn't know what to do but to respect her decision. He patiently waited for the day his wife would be ready to give herself to him, in both body and soul. However, with her family's constant involvement, she grew more distant from him.

“What goes on in my marriage is none of your business!” Joshua replied, swallowing the harsh tone daring to soar through his throat.

Brittany laughs hard, spilling more drinks on him. Joshua felt his body stiffen as he glanced from his clothes to her and was about to say something, but Brittany beat him to it.

“Mark must have enjoyed his time with her, considering he was the friend she went to see last night,” she smirks.

Joshua couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine at her words. He knew Elizabeth was going to see a friend who she told him was sick. Remembering his wife's urgent tone, Joshua didn't ask who it was.

“Enough with your drama, Brittany; I don't have time for this,” he replied, suppressing the disturbing thought that was creeping in.

“Can't you accept the fact that my family doesn't want you? Not even your so-called wife wants you, and now she isn't hiding the fact that she is sleeping with someone else,” Brittany chuckled, shaking her head with irritation.

Joshua, knowing how she hated him, knew it best not to believe her words. “If you have nothing else, please leave my room!” He replied.

Brittany, knowing her words had struck him hard, smirked before walking towards the exit.