Rise of the Pauper Son-in-law

Chapter 5 (In-laws And Accusations)

Drake returned home, his body heavy with exhaustion. Everything that had happened during the course of his day had really taken a toll on him. 

He had not imagined that something like that would happen that day. Everything had happened so fast that he had to abandon the deliveries he had to make at work that day.

As soon as he stepped through the door, Fletcher and Rachel came on him, their faces tight with suspicion and anger.

“How's Summer? What's happening with Michelle?” Fletcher demanded, the accusation in his tone very much palpable.

Drake took a deep breath trying to remain calm. He felt there was no need telling them that his grandfather had paid the bills for both Summer and Michelle. 

“They're receiving the best care possible now. The payment has been made and the doctors are doing everything they can.” Drake replied, hoping to reassure them.

But his words only seemed to fan flames of their distrust. “How did you manage to get the money so quickly?” Rachel asked, her voice narrowing.

Drake hesitated for a moment and then decided to let on a partial truth. “A family member helped me,” he said simply.

Not once had he made it appear to his in-laws that he was the grandson of a powerful business mogul, even if his last name as a Sullivan had almost raised the suspicion but he was smart enough to debunk all of that.

All they knew him to be was the poor orphan guy who married their daughter, who has had to struggle all his life with little or no results to show for it.

Fletcher snorted, with disbelief in his eyes, “A family member? And which of your shady family members would do that? You're hiding something aren't you?”

Drake remained pitiful trying not to give rooms for doubt. “Just a distant relative whom I had to reach out to.” He replied.

Fletcher's eyes narrowed, ‘“I think you have a plan to benefit from all of these. But let me warn you,” he paused and then continued, “If anything happens to Summer or Michelle, I'll make sure you pay for it.”

Drake's patience was wearing thin from all the warnings and threats he was receiving from his in-laws but he knew he had to remain calm and discard every idea to argue with them.

“My wife and daughter will be fine,” he said softly. “All I want is for them to be safe and healthy. That's all,” he added quietly before turning and heading to their rooms upstairs.

Returning to his room, Drake felt like the whole world was on his shoulders. He had endured so much from the Willmounts that it was almost becoming unbearable.

The fact that his in-laws had refused to help out and still accusing him of having something to do with the accident was really getting him infuriated.

Changing into his uniform at work, his fingers trembled slightly as he fastened the buttons on his shirt. Fletcher's and Rachel's accusatory remarks were still playing fresh in his head, “If anything happens to Summer or Michelle, I'll make sure you pay for it.”

Looking at the mirror, all he could see was a once privileged and promising young man who could have been just like his grandfather but had decided to let go of all of that because he valued a life of peace.

But with everything that was happening to him, he didn't know how long he would be able to hold on to those values he so much believed in.

Hiis eyes darted towards the wall clock which seemed to scream the time on his face.

“It's time for work, Drake,” he sighed.