Rise of the Worthless Son in law

2

Damon carefully returned his father-in-law's necklace to his bag.

He had no idea where he was going to stay for the night, nor did he have anywhere to go.

He soon stood up with a heavy sigh and took a few steps forward. Suddenly, he caught sight of a very attractive woman walking gracefully down the street, wearing a fitted, elegant dress. She looked incredibly sophisticated.

Damon couldn't help but wonder what she was doing out in the middle of the night when she should be sound asleep.

Her poised stride and composed demeanor caught Damon’s attention instantly.

Damon watched as the elegant woman walked slowly toward him. As she approached, she looked lost, and her confidence seemed out of place. Not only her confidence, though; Damon felt she looked out of place here on the streets he was used to.

For some reason, she approached him. “Excuse me,” she began, her gaze moved from Damon to the ground, as though she was struggling to find the right words. “Could you tell me how to get to Regent’s Place?”

Damon’s eyes widened slightly; he hadn’t expected such a gorgeous woman to speak to him, much less ask for his help. Recovering from his surprise, he nodded. “Of course. Regent’s Place is a few blocks down from here.” He gestured in the direction with his hand. “Just keep going straight, and you’ll see it on your left. You can’t miss it.”

She nodded but didn’t immediately leave. Instead, her fingers fidgeted as she paused briefly and cleared her throat. “Um... I don’t mean to be a bother, but… would you happen to have some spare cash? I… I just realized I left my wallet in my car, which broke down a few miles back.”

Damon felt a small jolt of surprise. He hadn’t expected her to ask for money, not with her polished appearance and that air of sophistication. He glanced down at the crumpled bills in his pocket—the last bit he had until… well, who knew when.

This is all I’ve got left, he thought. But she was clearly lost and in need.

With a quiet sigh, he reached into his pocket and handed her the cash, his fingers moved with a bit of reluctance. “Here… it’s not much, but it should help.”

She accepted it with a soft smile. “Thank you,” she said

Damon Nodded before she she began walking away, her heels clicked on the pavement. while he glanced back at his pocket, realizing he had just given away his last bit of cash. What was he going to do now? He felt more lost than ever.

He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck as he watched her walk farther into the distance.

Just as he took a step back, lost in thought, a faint crunch of branches and leaves snapped him out-of his thoughts. The sound pulled him back to the present, and he turned sharply to his right. His eyes caught the sight of three men standing by his side. The cold, taunting smirks on their faces made their intentions clear, and it didn’t take much to recognize them as Tyler’s henchmen.

“Annoying broke bitch,” cursed a man who seemed to be the leader.

Damon used to ignore such remarks because he had nothing to gain if he reacted. However, the infidelity of his wife, her pregnancy, his expulsion from the house, and his recognition of who had sent the men made him really upset. He wanted to vent his feelings. In a hot-headed moment of impulsiveness, he bellowed,

“What do you want, assholes?” His voice came out rough.

“Assholes? You really have some nerve,” the man said, cracking his knuckles. “Mr. Tyler sent you a parting gift. Think of it as a farewell.”

Before Damon could react, the first blow landed hard against his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. He doubled over, only to be yanked back up by his collar and hit again—this time, a vicious punch across his jaw that sent him to the ground.

He felt excruciating pain in his ribs as a boot struck him again and again. Blood filled his mouth, and he spat it out, tasting the bitterness and feeling his consciousness slipping away from him with each blow. Through the haze, he could hear their laughter and mockery.

“Did you really think she’d stay with someone like you?” another man jeered as he landed a kick to Damon’s side, making him grunt in pain. “You’re nothing but a loser, just a worthless user.”

As Damon was slipping into unconsciousness, he heard an unfamiliar voice cut through. “Get away from him, or I’m calling the police!” It was sharp, firm, and laced with authority. The men froze momentarily, startled by the sudden interruption.

They hadn't expected any interruption especially at the time of the night.

In his dazed state, Damon could just make out the blurry outline of a woman standing a few feet away. It was the same woman he had helped earlier. She seemed smaller than the goons, but her presence was defiant.

With her phone in hand, she looked ready to dial the authorities, as she stared down Damon’s attackers.

The men glanced at each other, they exchanged a few hushed words and shot Damon one last scornful look.

Once they were gone, she rushed over to Damon, with concern on her face. She knelt beside him, and gently pulled him closer to her, “Are you alright?” she asked.

Damon winced, coughing as he struggled to speak with the taste of blood in his mouth. “Why… why did you come back?” he asked weakly.

She paused. “Because…” she began softly, glancing down. “My mind was uneasy. I kept thinking—that money you gave me… it might have been all you had.” She met his eyes sincerely. “I was actually on my way back to return it.”

He was about to say something when his vision blurred, and darkness began to creep in. The last thing he saw was the woman’s concerned face before he passed out.