Reign Of The Discarded Son-in-law

Rain clung to Arthur's clothes like shame as he burst into the Lin's family grand hall. His breath was heavy and his chest rose in rising urgency.

The laughter that once filled the halls froze, conversation died and the once bustling halls turned cold and hostile.

 "What is the stray doing here?" Some hits. The words stung like stab.

 The past patriarch of the family was dead and Arthur, the live-in son-in-law of the Lin family wasn't deemed worthy enough to be present at the will-reading.

Lady Lin turned at the end of the table, her Cole glare slicing through the room like a hot blade.

"Didn't I warn you to remain in the gutters where you belong and not to set foot into this place?" Her voice crackled like a whip.

Arthur's finger trembled but he forced his back straight. "I'm not here for trouble! I just..."

"You dare to speak?" Lady Lin thundered angrily. "You were tolerated because of the old man's pity. Don't think that his death gives you a place amongst us!"

A murmur rippled through the guests. 

Ever since the last Patriarch adopted Arthur off the street and showered him with so much love, everyone in the Lin family had hated him to their bones.

Not letting any opportunity pass by without reminding him of his status. And when the Patriarch announced his intentions to get him married to the gem of the city, his granddaughter Emily, their hatred for him only increased.

Everyone thought that it was all an expensive joke but it was not... The marriage was signed and a small ceremony was celebrated.

And only the presence of the patriarch stopped them from unleashing their terrific anger on Arthur.

However, with the death of the Patriarch and a new leader who hated Arthur to her core, he was treated worse than the family's dogs and servants.

Arthur's eyes scanned through the room, his wife stood behind the others, downcast, her fingers clutching to the hem of her dress. She didn't even look at him, just once. Shame of fear, he couldn't tell which one hurts the most, running a stab right through his heart.

"I think we should hear him out!" Even the air drew to listen to those words.

A broad smile cuts through Emily's cousin's face, Natalie.. That was her husband, the current CEO of Fame Foundation, one of the fastest rising companies in the city.

"Do you think we should waste our time on this silly excuse for a human being?" Someone in the crowd whispered fearfully.

"Even though he rolls with mutts and beggars. He is still a human being after all!" Lucas said gently.

The hall erupted in applause.

"You're so thoughtful Lucas!"

"Speak now... I changed my mind!" Lady Lin glared at Arthur.

Arthur leaned forward with his hands clenched tightly.

"I tried withdrawing my savings with the family... There was nothing available. My sister is sick and is in dire need of surgery.

The hospital won't raise a finger if a deposit isn't made!" Arthur said, his chest rising at the beat of the urgency in his throat.

Laughter flickered through the hall like firecrackers.

"I knew he was here to beg!" One whispered.

"I wonder why Emily is still with the piglet. She could get any man she wants in the city!" Emily's face burned and her hands dug deeper into her clothes.

"You've been leeching off the family for years... Three hundred thousand dollars is nothing compared to what you have stolen from the family...

You should forget about it;'

Arthur's blood instantly froze. Pressure boiling through his vines.

His hands clenched tightly. He had worked multiple shifts in the past for those savings and besides he had served the family and didn't owe them a dime.

"Grandma!" 

"Grandma?" Her eyes instantly narrowed.

"I don't give birth to pigs and strays... I birthed heirs, bastard!"

Arthur's blood boiled and his hands clenched tightly until they bled.

Emily could see the anger rising through his bloodshot eyes. She had never seen her husband so angry before.

Ruth was his only relative and she knew how much she meant to him.

She quickly stepped forward and kneeled before Lady Lin, her head kissing the floor and she begged.

"Please help my husband... They will just read... Patriarch Austin willed him one of his companies... We could give him a few funds from there and..."

"Enough!" Lady Lin instantly thundered.

"I would not hear another word from you!"

"My husband wasn't in the right state of mind to give the dude a dime. And it would be over my dead body that he get ragged clothes from this family!" She growled.

Arthur's teeth gritted. His face flashed with the deepest hues of rage.

The family was not just cruel... They were also heartless thieves.

"You're obligated to give me my money. That's what the law says!"

"Try affording a lawyer and taking us to court in that case!" Lady Lin ended, turning over the bouncer.

"Take this trash out of my sight right this instant!" She glared.

The bouncer came along. His hands were firm on Arthur as he dragged him out.

Far off from the hall, Lucas stopped the bouncer. "I would like a little word with a fellow in-law please!" He said.

A few people watched the discussion from afar as the bouncer nodded and moved away.

"Do you intend to mock me?" Arthur said with a cocked brow.

"Actually here to help!"

"We both know you cannot raise that sum before midnight so I have a proposal for you... Divorce Emily and I will pay your sister's fees!" He proposed, a smirk cutting across his face.

Lucas had always hated that someone was pitiful-looking as Arthur would always be in the warm embrace of Emily.

The gem of the city was supposed to be his and his only.

"Think about it... She's way above your league. You will be taking off a luggage and saving your sister with the same stone!" He tapped Arthur lightly on the shoulders.

Arthur frowned. Even if he didn't love his wife, Lucas had always been known to be dubious and only a fool would get into a deal with him.

"If you're not satisfied with your marriage, you could see a therapist... But trust me when I say I am fine!"

Arthur ended and attempted to walk away but Lucas stopped him, his face instantly contorted into a deadly frown.

"You don't get to walk away from me when I am still speaking." He thundered, attempting to strike a punch into Arthur's face but he missed.

His hands sank deep into Lady Lin's most prized Chinese vase. The sound of the glass that missed the ceramics echoed across the room sharply.

Everyone around places their hands across their mouths in utter shock. Everyone knew how Lady Lin could die for that Vase.

Soon, steps rushed into the Instantly Lady Lin's face fell on the shattered pieces, her heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach and she froze.

Her astonishment soon melted off into pure rage. "Who did this?" She thundered.

Lucas quickly stepped forward, his shoulders straightened as he spoke. "Obviously the most valued son-in-law of the Lin's house, Arthur King!"

"Arthur?" Madam Lin growled.

Arthur frowned deeply.

"You dared to break my vase. Do you realize that that is enough to purchase you and put you in my house as a pet?" She growled.

Emily stepped forward. The position showed that a left-handed person had done it and Lucas was not.

"Grandma! It could not be..." Before she could finish, Madam Lin's words instantly sliced through.

"Enough! If he had not who else would have? He was obviously drooling over it when it broke!"

Arthur's lips tugged with a frown. "I did not break it!"

"Then who did?" Madam Lin glared and Arthur pointed off to Lucas.

Lucas' face instantly squeezed with disbelief. "Are you trying to accuse me?" Inquired with a devil stare.

"Are you accusing Lucas right now?" Natalie growled.

"Emily. It seems it's time to school this adult lady of yours!"

"Such audacity to dare and lie against Lucas!" Another person contended. No one would believe Arthur at the moment but he stood his ground, firm and strong.

"Don't act innocent Lucas. Everyone saw you when you broke the vase!"

Madam Lin quickly stepped forward, turning towards the crowd of Son-in-laws.

"Is that so?" She inquired, her eyes boring deep into their chest.

She didn't believe Lucas did it but wanted to confirm Arthur's crime and have him appropriately punished.

"Yes... Arthur broke the vase. We were surprised he dared to blame it on poor Lucas!" They notioned, almost in practiced union and Arthur's jaw slacked.