Chapter 1

Today is his third anniversary, and his happiness knows no bounds as he's eager to get home and surprise his wife with the gift he got for her.

He was looked at as a wretched man but today is his anniversary, and third year at that so he wants to impress his wife.

Lucian wants to make her the happiest woman on earth, not minding her ruthless attitude towards him, he wants to celebrate their day in a very good way. 

The whole family of Ashton went out for an event leaving Lucian at home who never felt offended as it wouldn't be the first time he would ever be treated like that.

He served the dining table the last plate, and his eyes beamed in happiness when he heard the sound of the door opening.

"She's back,"

Lucian walked over to the living room to see Ella entering, staggering as redness plastered on her small oval face.

"Oh, stupid Son-in-law, you are here! Mother did not take you out. What did I expect, you are a wretched man with no recognition, no benefits, and my sister marrying you is her biggest mistake ever" She stuttered in a drunk tone.

Lucian just stared at her without saying anything.

This won't be the first time, the second time, the third time nor the fourth time Ella will speak to him in such a manner.

"You seem drunk Ella, what about you go

My upstairs and shower then come downstairs for dinner," Lucian stated.

Ella scoffed and walked towards the dining room. The cake Lucian bought for his wife, Kelsea, Ella took it and smashed it on his face.

Lucian happened to be a live-in son-in-law of the Ashton family for three years. Kelsea fell in love with him first during her last year in college, and he fell harder during his job-hunting days.

None of the Ashton family approved of their relationship but Kelsea went against her family, and a marriage kicked off.

Just after the marriage, was the beginning of Lucian's sufferings. He was treated and regarded as a low-life bastard and was often treated like a scum, an impoverished man, a slave rather than a son-in-law.

The cake Ella smashed on his face wasn't a new thing to him because since he married Kelsea, he has always received hurtful words, and disdainful stares at different times so he's used to it.

It ain't a new thing to him.

"I'm out of here" Ella stuttered drunkenly and left the dining room heading outside.

“Ella, don't leave you are drunk,” Lucian shouted but his words fell on deaf ears.

Lucian stood transfixed before leaving the dining room after ten minutes to his room, the room he shared with his wife.

A spacious room with beautiful interiors on the wall. The blue light switched on coupling with a red light giving the room a club vibe.

He went inside the washroom, and fish tiles welcomed him. Lucian walked towards the mirror in the washroom and washed his face with soap.

After doing that, he arranged the bed and designed it with red flowers forming a love shape.

Lucian spent twenty minutes in the room, and after decorating the room to his satisfaction, he left the room and met Kelsea screaming his name like someone who was stung by a bee.

"Kelsea," Lucian called, as he hurried down the stairs, and the first thing he received was a resounding slap.

"How could you!"

Lucian's face fell to the left as he slowly placed his hand on the cheek Kelsea just slapped, and it stung hard.

Kelsea's mother, Clara, and her Father, Joe came in looking at Lucian with a heinous stare.

"What did I do?? I never left the house like you instructed me to do. Today is our third anniversary and I was preparing for it" Lucian stated.

"To hell with the anniversary. Why will I celebrate a third anniversary with a worthless man when my sister is in the police station for a hit-and-run attempted murder!" 

She screamed in his face, and he was not surprised at that but instead, he tried to calm her down..

"We can settle it, let's go to the police station" Lucian suggested, and Clara scoffed loudly.

"If it's something we can settle, do you think we won't have done that with our money instead of coming to you, you this man of no value" Clara spat.

"Kelsea, what's going on?" Lucian asked as he tried to hold Kelsea's arm who pushed him off.

"Don't touch me, why will you let my sister leave the house drunk???, do you hate me??? Is this method you want to use to ruin my family huh!!! Lucian I know you are bad luck starting from the day I walked down the aisle with you and took the foolish oath" She snapped in his face.

"You are just a worthless, wretched, and poor son-in-law. You live off our wealth so it's time you pay us back for all that we did for you" Joe stated.

"Kelsea," He called 

"You committed an attempted murder, hit and run not my sister,"

"Why should I take the blame for the accident she committed? She left the house willingly on her own even when I tried to stop her but instead, she ruined our anniversary cake and now you want me to take the blame for what she did" He said.

He knew no one in the Ashton family liked him from the onset and he had loved Kelsea dearly even when she joined her family in maltreating him.

"You made her leave the house Lucian so you have to take the blame,"

"I think we need to go upstairs and talk," Lucian said, and Kelsea followed him to their bedroom.

The sight of the designs on the bed irritated her as she scattered it with her hands.

"There's nothing to celebrate on this anniversary, take the blame and later my mother will look for a way to release you and if it involves the court, don't worry I will get the best lawyer for you and make sure you don't rot in jail" 

"Kelsea, listen to me" Lucian said, and she shook her head in disagreement.

"There's nothing to listen to? Do it, take the blame. Lucian, you are now the driver of the hit-and-run case,  not Ella,”