Chapter 1.

"You are worthless and wretched. A dead dog is better than you."

This sentence could not leave his head as it pierced into his heart like a sharp sword. Like a wounded lion, he moved around with a big hole in his heart.

His tattered clothes and worn out shoes made him stand out from the rest of them in the city's large market. Most people that passed him covered their nose in pretense that there was a peculiar odor emanating from him.

George Melmer dragged his feet on the floor, his eyes roaming about the market looking for some necessities to buy. Deep down, his heart was shattered as the prices of the goods there were too high.

"Damn! Why are things so expensive?" he slapped his head, dropping a tin of milk into the basket.

"How will you come into the market when you don't have enough money to pay? You must be a joke," a random stranger mocked as she brushed past him.

"I think he should be watched. People like him are broad day thieves," another concurred, sticking out her tongue.

George knew that it's high time he became used to their taunts but it was hard to not think about it. Shopping became really difficult for him. It's been exactly two hours since he got here. He has gone round the market as he was broke and could not afford new stuff for himself.

While he rested his back on the wall, thinking of the next step to take, Damian and Salmon,some minions of his original family appeared out of nowhere.

"We have been looking everywhere for you, George," Salmon chipped in. The basket dropped to the floor as George glanced in their direction. He flinched when he saw them fixing their gaze on him.

"Haven't I warned you two to stop stalking me?" He yelled and checked if anyone heard what he said.

"Look, George. This is getting out of hand. You look tattered and one may mistake you as a mad person who needs help," Salmon's voice was low and it showed a lot of concern but George was not having any of it.

He wrapped his hands around his chest and stamped his feet on the floor continuously.

"What now? What do you want from me? Did I complain to you that I'm not comfortable?" he raged and a loud laughter came out of Damian's mouth.

"You can't even afford a tin of milk and you say you are comfortable?" Damian asked. His leg swung to where the basket was and he kicked the only tin of milk sitting perfectly out of the basket.

Anger filled George and it was as if he was breathing out brimstone. He picked Damian up from the floor with his shirt and he whimpered.

"You son of a…," the words suddenly stopped and he gritted his teeth. His eyes popped out and his veins were already visible.

"Call the security!" Someone raised an alarm immediately and she spotted that a fight may break out soon between the three men gathered. When George noticed that the cops were running towards his direction, he brought Damian down and they pretended that nothing happened.

Making the security officials look like fools.

"The only reason we are here is to plead with you. Your family needs you, George. We need you to come back and take control of the family," Salmon pleaded but George waved him off.

He breathed heavily, making his broad chest move rhythmically.

"That's bullshit! I'm content with what I am now. A useless son-in-law. What more can I ask for?" he scoffed. That was plain sarcasm and they knew it.

George's beautiful wife, Anna came from a very rich family. The family of the melmers. It was obvious he was being maltreated and treated like a slave.

His ever glowing skin has turned to be rough and scaly. One will never believe that George was actually the first son of the most well known and powerful family of Andre Adams.

Seldom do people know this family has an overall first son as he was casted out long ago because of his step brother, Noah.

Growing up, George was the least favorite. Every family member, especially his grandfather, Sir James the patriarch and master of his family hated him.

They treated him like thrash and adored his step brother, Noah.

"We can't let you go back to that house," Damian finally said after regaining himself. He was referring to Anna's place and George shook his head vehemently.

"Anna is my wife!" he reminded them, running his head through him.

"Anna hates you. Isn't it clear that she does? After the arranged marriage, everything turned upside down," Salmon tried explaining to George but everything they were saying fell on deaf ears.

"It doesn't change the fact that I am married to her and I won't leave her for any reason. Can you two now disappear from my sight?" He shot his angry words at them and stormed out of the market. He forgot what he came to buy, afterall he didn't have the money to pay.

"George Melmer!"

He could hear them calling his name but he paid deaf ears.

While he was on his way home, he dipped his hand into his pocket and stared at the gift he bought from an antique shop. It may not be worth much but it came from a genuine place in his heart.

He was determined to do everything possible to make them accept him and see him as a human. Later in the day, he was to be present at Anna's grandmother's birthday.

While he was still some distance away from his house, the weather suddenly changed and the clouds rumbled. Flashes of light were seen and a mighty thunder shook the earth.

The bright sky was already turning black and George knew that the rain would start in no time. He ran as far as his might could take him but unluckily for him, rain poured down heavily and he became drenched.

***

Walking into the mansion, fear gripped him. The suit he was putting on was the most expensive thing he had but it seemed like a rag when he saw the rest of the family members' clothes.

"It seems the son of a pig is here," one of the sons pointed at George when he spotted him. Roars of laughter followed and George looked to the floor, feeling bitter.

"You can't keep time? What on earth can you do?" Austin, Anna's younger brother, taunted George.

"An unforeseen circumstance happened. It was something I could not avoid," George opened his mouth to speak and everyone placed their fingers on their nostrils.

He swallowed a lump of spit down his dry throat when he saw their reaction. His heart sank into his stomach and he looked down to his worn out shoes. The black polish which he used on it had already worn out, and the peeled part of the shoe became more visible.

"May the lord have mercy. What was that smell?" Anna spat out. She was looking radiant and beautiful with her hair perfectly styled.

"Anna. You look beautiful and…," he tried complimenting her but she raised up her hand and stopped him.

"Just stop it! Have you ever contributed to the way I look in any way? Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself or something?" She fired at him.

"Can't we celebrate in peace, Anna? Your husband has done us a great pleasure by being here," Madam Patricia, Anna's grandmother said and Anna grumbled as George took a seat beside her.

The birthday celebration was going well and George tried having some conversation with his wife, Anna. Most times, she ignored him like someone wasn't sitting there, likening him to a ghost.

"Where is the present you bought for my grandmother?" Anna threw a question at George after sipping from the sparkling wine being served. George almost choked on his food and no one offered him water. Instead, Austin taunted him.

"It's obvious you haven't eaten for days, pauper. The way you rush your food is quite alarming. At least have some dignity."

George ignored and brought out the package from his pocket. It was soaked because of the rain and it didn't look pleasant to the eyes. He handed it over to Anna who stared at it, blinking her eyes continuously. She flung it out of her sight and it landed on the floor.

"What is this, George?" she fired at him. Her anger could not be controlled and she felt embarrassed at what her so-called husband presented.

On the table lay expensive jewelry and things from overseas that cost millions of dollars. And here comes, this poverty stricken man bringing a little box soaked in water.

Austin could not contain his laughter and so with the others. He held his stomach and pointed at the little package.

"You can't just bring something you found randomly at a second hand shop, can you? What a sad little thing. That goes for both of you, I guess," he teased and handed out a bunch of keys to Anna's grandmother.

"For you, mother," he said, giving her a peck on her cheek.

George tongue was tied and he knew he was in for a long ride when Anna dragged him by shirt.

"It wasn't meant to be like this…," he tried explaining and a loud slap swept across his face, leaving him dumbfounded.