Chapter 1

Derrick was mopping the floor of their modest home, his wife Anna who have not been at home for the past two days video called him with news that he never expected.

"Derrick, you need to get ready for the annual family party and it's in two hours time. And make sure you look presentable, this is a very big party don't let our family down you wrenched rat" Anna yelled and rolled her eyes at him as she did not hide her disgust for him and ended the video call.

Derrick felt a sharp pang of hurt at her words, but he knew it was true. He had never been accepted by his wife's family, and he wasn't sure he ever would be.

But he had no choice but to go to the party. As Derrick was still trying to finish mopping the floor, the door suddenly swung open and his mother-in-law stormed in, an armful of clothes in her hands. Without even saying hello, she threw the clothes on the ground in front of him.

"Iron these," she demanded. "And make sure you do a good job. I want to look my best for the party."

Derrick tried not to show his frustration, but it was difficult. He had been nothing but kind to his mother-in-law, but she had always treated him like a servant.

"But I haven't even finished mopping the floor," Derrick said, trying to keep his voice even.

"That's not my problem!" his mother-in-law snapped. "Just do as you're told." She turned to leave and she mistakenly kicked the mopping bucket and the water spilled on the floor, soaking the pile of clothes that she had earlier kept.

"Ooppss.. you have to rewash those clothes and make them dry in an hour time. You useless man."

Derrick felt humiliated, they had never treated him like a human, more or less a son-in-law. As Derrick tried to move from his spot, the slippery floor made him fall to the ground and he slightly fractured his wrist.

His mother-in-law bursted into laughter, "even with that fractured wrist of yours, wash those clothes clean."

"Yes ma" Derrick replied.

Derrick had no other choice, he stood up and went ahead to wash the clothes.

Derrick wouldn't have married into this family, if he had not been adopted by Anna's grandfather who was the most powerful, influential and richest in the family. Derrick had saved the old man from a group of hoodlums, and to show gratitude, Anna's grandfather adopted the poor Derrick into his wealthy family and made him marry his only granddaughter.

Right after the marriage, Anna's grandfather died and ever since then Derrick have been treated like a maid by the rest family members because he had no power and he was the son of a poor gardener.

As Derrick thought back at how he have been humiliated by the family, he couldn't help but feel a sense of resentment.

"I feel so useless" Derrick muttered to himself.

Derrick finished with the ironing, he went over to the dining room to inform his mother in-law that he was done.

"I'm done with the ironing ma, I was invited to the party by Anna"

"Oh, so my daughter actually wants you to come to the party this time?" She asked, a smirk playing on her lips.

"I don't know, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the family." Derrick replied.

"Hmph," his mother-in-law scoffed. "You'll never be a part of this family. No matter how hard you try, you'll always be an outsider. You're not good enough for us."

His mother-in-law just glared at him, spat on his face and left the room.

****

Derrick took a deep breath as he stepped into the DEL AMAR hotel, it was the best hotel in the city. The lobby was enormous, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a grand staircase leading to the second floor. He could hear the sounds of laughter and conversation coming from the ballroom, where the party was being held. He felt a bit out of place, dressed in his simple shabby suit, surrounded by the glittering wealth and luxury of the other guests and celebrities.

Suddenly, he heard someone clear their throat behind him and the other guests began to snicker and whisper to each other, clearly amused by Derrick's presence.

"What's this beggar doing here?" one woman hissed.

"He must be here by mistake," another man snickered.

"Look how shabby his suit looks, he's not even dressed properly. I heard that his wife wouldn't even let him touch her." A woman whispered.

Derrick felt his face flush with embarrassment. The whispers grew louder and more cruel, each insult cutting deeper than the last and the crowd's words began to erode his confidence.

Suddenly, an imposing figure wearing a tailored designer suit walked up to him.

"Aren't you Derrick, the poor gardener's son?" The man asked.

"I'm a gardener's son, but I'm also Derrick the husband of Anna" Derrick boasted.

Derrick could feel the tension in the air. He waited, his heart pounding in his chest, as the man in the tailored designer suit regarded him with a calculating look.

Suddenly, the man burst into laughter, clapping a hand on Derrick's shoulder. Derrick stood there, feeling the weight of the laughter and the humiliation pressing down on him. He knew that his wife had only invited him to the party as a joke, to mock him in front of her family and friends.

But in that moment, he made a decision. He would not let her win. He would not let her humiliate him any longer. He would show her that he was not the weak and pathetic person she thought he was. Derrick searched really hard for his wife, but she was nowhere to be found. He tried to call her on his phone, although he knew that he wasn't allowed to.

In the distance, he heard the sound of music starting up again, and he saw everyone moving towards the ballroom. He hurried to follow, but as he reached the door, he was stopped by a security guard.

"Sir, you are not allowed in there," the guard warned, his voice firm.

"But I'm Anna's husband," Derrick protested.

"Where is your invitation" The guard requested.

"I don't have any" Derrick replied.

The guard shook his head. "You can only watch from here, I cannot let you in, for it is against the policy and it could cost me my job".

Derrick stood frozen, unable to move or speak as the lights gradually went off, and the stage light brightening up, he saw his father in-law walk up the stage with his wife Anna.

He listened to his father-in-law announce that he was introducing his daughter's husband. Derrick waited in anticipation for his name to be called, he concentrate and processed every word that came out of his father-in-law's mouth.

"My son-in-law would be introduced to you all today, it is an honor to have him in our midst" Anna's father bragged.

Derricks mood lightened up after hearing his father-in-law's bragging, he paced about waiting for the slightest opportunity to go in but he was surprised to hear another man's name. "Michael"