Rise Of The Invincible Son-in-law

"Look at that. The Kilsons’ greatest disgrace. Come to scrub our dishes again?"

The words struck Ethan like a whip.

The laughter and chatters that once filled the halls died down almost instantly. Everyone's eyes narrowed at Ethan with scorn as if he was dirt dragged into their celebration.

Ethan stood rigid. He had come to pay Madam Theresa a visit at the family villa and never expected that they would be having a family gathering.

Their contempt poured over him like a cold shower, brutish and cold. He dared not speak. After all, he was nothing but the family’s live-in son-in-law. A servant in their mansion. 

He was supposed to bow to their every demand. Wash their feet. And even though he did everything to please them, yet he was belittled at the slightest opportunity. Even Penni, the house dog, commanded more affection than he did.

"Probably here to leech off us again," one sneered.

"Pathetic," spat another.

Natasha curled her lip, venom in her voice. "It still beats me why Emma has decided to cling to the bag of dirt. With her face, she can get any man that she wants."

 "Emma dear." Natasha added slyly turning over to her cousin with a false sense of emotions.

"You should divorce him already and get married to Harry. Look, he just supported our Verge Project Dream with a hundred million dollars adding him to the two hundred million dollars we already have!"

The Verge Project was a dream for every upcoming company in the city. Ran by the Tenent Business Group, any company that would be able to get their hands on it would in the near future become one of the top-ranking companies in the city.

"But what does that silly excuse for a husband of yours do? Lay around idly all day!" Natasha sneered.

"You will have a brighter future married to Harry than this little leech." 

Harry, Emma's admirer, sat with a smug face. He wasn't even married into the Kilson family, yet he was treated as blood.

"I'm not going to divorce my husband," Emma said firmly.

"Let's not all pretend that it's only due to his help that we are all here today!" She could no longer stand the hypocrisy of the people she called family.

Before they got married, Ethan was a promising young man with a booming tech company, while her family remained at the low end of the food chain.

He had helped them secure the loan they used to start the family business, using his company as collateral.

And when his company fell due to the trade wars, the Kilsons didn't bat an eye before turning their backs on him. The loan sharks came, taking the rest that belonged to him, save alone his life. And he wasn't even yet to clear his loan.

Each day was another day to hide from loan sharks, each morning was another dawn to be ridiculed by the Kilsons.

 He was once treated with respect, but now, he was nothing but a flea that they could not wait to do away with.

"You.." Natasha snapped.

"What do you see in this lowlife of a thing? Compared to Harry, he is far below worthless."

Ethan could take an insult directed at himself but not to his wife. His hands clenched tightly as he stepped forward.

"Just a moment," Ethan said quietly. "I’ll be gone." He inhaled silent prayers on his lips.

The words only fueled their anger."

"The stray actually dares to talk back?"

"One moment, he says! Who does this beggar think he is?"

The mockery struck like stones. Faces twisted with disgust, ready to hurl him out bodily—until Madam Kilson raised a hand. Silence fell instantly.

"Let him speak," she said, her tone ice. "Humour us with your barks!" Madam Theresa frowns deeply.

"I need money for my sister's surgery. A million dollars. The doctor refuses to begin without a deposit. Please… help me, mother.

The table erupted.

"The nerve!" Jude snapped. "We clothe him, feed him, and now he begs for money?"

"Does he think cash sprouts on trees?" another scoffed.

Madam Theresa leaned back, eyes narrowing, and her brows heavy with so much scorn.

"Help you? Do you think we have money to waste on a worthless thing like you?" She mused, ignited with disdain.

"I promise to pay back as soon as I can!" Ethan begged but no one would listen to his appeals.

Madam Theresa scoffed.

"Same way you promised to pay the loan apps that loaned you a few months ago? How far have you gone in paying that off?

The last time I checked, you could barely move in the street without that rag of a disguise with your cup on your head!" She sneered.

"I might be old but that doesn't translate to I'm stupid!"

"Grandma. Pls help Ethan. I will pay back from my company's share of profit he isn't able to!" 

Ethan's hands clenched at Emma's word, a whirlwind of emotions clogging in his chest.

"Madam Theresa frowned.

"Defending the street dog again? Or maybe I can help. Divorce him and get married to Harry today and I will give him ten times the amount he asked for!"

Emma snapped back in her steps. It was impossible to believe that her grandmother would make such a request.

"But..."

"No buts... You want the money? That's my condition!"

Ethan could no longer stand their insolence. Staying amongst such a person tightened a painful knot in his stomach.

"There's no need to put Emma in such a position because of me. Don't worry Emma, I will get the fees some other way. Let me see how my sister is faring!"

Emma's eyes arched. But there was nothing he could do. Madam Theresa's eyes narrowed, and her hands clawed with disdain as she watched Ethan grow smaller walking away from the room.

***

The hot rays of the sun hammered down on Ethan's head. His very last option was to beg the doctors to carry out the operation on his sister.

She was the only relative he had left, and one of the few people on the planet who still gave a damn about him.

"Hey! That's him!" While he walked, the ground shook under his feet. Hefty men ran after him, encircling him at the break of seconds.

Ethan's heart shifted. These dark-suited men, they were all armed, they looked deadly and struck fear into the heart, pressing down against Ethan's breath, he pants.

He recognized the men almost instantly. They were the underdogs of Liege, the man that he had collected a loan from to help the Kilson family, and was yet to fully pay back. Even though it wasn't the due date yet, the dubious nature of the loan underdogs won't let him be.

Not only did they want the loan paid before the due date, they wanted the money with interest higher than what had been bargained.

Ethan clenched his fist tightly while biting against his tongue as he stared at the loan sharks with contempt deep in his throat.

"Guess Madam Theresa's info was perfect after all.

Is this the point of saying hello? Long time no see!" The grim look on the face of the leader of the gang struck fear into the heart of Ethan.