The Original Son-in-law

Chapter 8: Dorcas Refuses

Chapter 8

Dorcas blurted out. “I don't give my car to anyone."

Margaret was taken aback by Dorcas's remark. How could she be this inconsiderate? It was their family's company work she was trying to attend to, and yet Dorcas had refused to lend her car to her.

Margaret bit her lips.

Dorcas continued, the subject changing. "This is more reason you should divorce that son of a nobody! If you had gotten married to David Brown, getting a new car for yourself wouldn't have been a problem!”

At this moment, Henry stepped into the room, and from Margaret's expression, he could tell something was wrong. Therefore, he approached her.

“You're still here," Henry asked. “What's the matter?"

“Her car got damaged, and she needs a new car!" Dorcas hurriedly replied. “Can you give it to her?" She said sarcastically.

Henry blinked. "Then lend her yours. Besides, you've three cars, and it's the company she's going to.”

“And I say, no! No one is permitted to share any of my cars with me!” Disdainfully, Dorcas looked at Henry. "You are her husband, aren't you? Why don't you get her a car then?”

No answer.

Following Henry's silence, Dorcas continued. “You can't, right? This is why you'll always remain useless, a bastard, an asshole to this family! Don't know why Margaret is still keeping a piece of trash like you in this house!”

"Grandma, that's enough, please." Margaret interrupted when she could no longer endure how Dorcas was taunting Henry.

“You don't want to lend me your car, that's fine, but please, don't insult Henry; he's my husband."

“Husband, my foot!” Dorcas spat to the ground. “A good-for-nothing nobody!"

Not wanting to press further in this conversation, Margaret simply sighed and turned to face Henry. “Don’t worry, I'll take a cab.”

Without waiting for a response, Margaret turned and left the room.

Henry stood there, watching as she exited, and he suddenly felt a pang of sharp displeasure at how Margaret was just treated.

Biting his lips, he quickly thought of something. He was going to surprise Margaret.

“Why are you still standing there, you lazy asshole!” Dorcas roared at Henry and instantly hurled an object at him, but it didn't hit him.

"Go, get yourself useful for today!” She added with a thunderous voice.

Henry shifted to the side, glared at her for a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh. This old witch is just so selfish and cruel. Always thinking about herself and no other person else.

Letting out another sigh, Henry walked out of her sight to a corner where he couldn't be seen and couldn't be heard by anyone.

He looked to his left, then right, before bringing out his phone and dialing Dorothy's number.

The call connected just at his first attempt.

"Good morning, young master,” Dorothy greeted and then asked. "What can I help you with today?”

Henry straightened, his voice low, careful not to get heard by anyone. “My wife's car suddenly stopped working this morning, and I want to get her a new one. How can I do that without making it too suspicious?"

"Hmm….”

Dorothy was obviously pondering.

Finally, "I don't think there's any way that would happen, young master. Unless you tell her you miraculously saw money in your bank account and decided to give her a car."

Henry narrowed his eyes as if trying to buy the idea, but he suddenly shook his head even though Dorothy couldn't see him.

“I don't think that would work," Henry answered.

“So, what do you think?"

Henry hesitated. “What if," he started after a short moment of pondering, “someone randomly enters our compound, pretends to buy jewelry, and suddenly takes interest in her car? You get where I'm going?"

“Then the person will demand a swap despite the car not functioning, right? Oh, yes, yes, I get it now!" Dorothy answered swiftly.

Henry smiled, convinced that Dorothy got his message. “So, can you make an arrangement for that for me, please?"

“Yeah, sure. Please, just tell me when you need this to be carried out."

“Today, but that should be when my wife is back from work. Around 4pm."

“Alright, young master. Consider it done!”

With that, the call ended, and with a satisfied smile parting his lips, Henry hesitated before going back inside the house.

***

Sitting idle in his room, Henry decided to call Margaret to know whether she had arrived safely at the office. Thus, he brought out his phone from his pocket, opened it, and located Margaret's number before dialing it.

He brought it to his ear as it started to ring.

It rang and ended without an answer.

Henry tried the second time.

Just then, it connected.

Shifting on his seat, Henry cleared his throat and said, “I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you. I was only calling to know if you have arrived at the company safely.”

“Yeah," Margaret said, “managed to get a cab, but couldn't catch up with the client. Lost him."

From Margaret's tone, Henry felt how she was feeling. As a result, he said, “You don't have to blame yourself. If only Grandma had given you one of her cars, it wouldn't have been so.”

“It's her car, and she can't be entitled to it. Besides, the company is for the betterment of everyone in the family.”

Frankly speaking, Margaret had been the only person saddled with the responsibility of looking after the company's welfare. If it did well, Dorcas would only praise her and take all the income to herself; however, when it was the other way around, Dorcas would shout at her.

Henry hated it to the core, but there was nothing he could do. It was a family business, anyway, so he didn't have to get involved in it.

Henry sighed. "So, how's your day going already?”

"Haven’t been myself after losing a contract worth half a million dollars. Will be back home once it's 1pm.”

"That's huge!" He exclaimed. “Take it easy on yourself, okay?”

Margaret abruptly ended the call from her end without responding to Henry's last concern or worry.

Henry stared at the phone, and his grip on it tightened. "She's just pressed with all the company's burdens, but when it's harvest time, they won't let her reap what she has sown!"

His chest tightened.

Then he recalled something, and his annoyance slowly suppressed as he retrieved his phone again.

He put a call across to Dorothy again.

When the call connected, he said, “Calling to inform you that it's no longer 4pm, it's now 1pm."

"Alright. And sorry, I forgot to ask, which of the cars do you have in mind?”

Henry had been raised from nothing, so he wasn't familiar with the name of any car. For that reason, he said, “Any one. Just make sure it's something sleek."

“Alright, no problem. We'll get something sleek and solid for her."

As the call ended, Henry exhaled then leaned back on the bed. He glanced up, staring at the ceiling.

Suddenly, something clicked in his head.

His mother is at the hospital.

After that incident that night at the hospital, he hardly had the chance to visit his mother again. He was either occupied with family chores or personal issues. Maybe the reason why he had forgotten or hadn't visited his mother again was that her treatment had been covered, and she was receiving her treatment. That's why he hadn't been bothered again.

However, now that he's less busy and with family members in sight to disturb him, he decided he was going to see his mother.

"I need to see her," Henry whispered to himself. With that, he jumped out of bed, located the bed, and slipped into a new outfit before dashing out of the house.