The Return of The Forsaken Son-in law

Chapter 7

As the Bentley pulled up to their rundown apartment building, Marco could hear Margaret's urgent whispers from the passenger seat. She was leaning toward Elena, her voice filled with scheming excitement.

"Elena, darling, you must understand what an incredible opportunity Frankie represents," Margaret said, her eyes gleaming with greed. "He's young, handsome, wealthy beyond measure—everything a woman could want in a husband!"

Elena remained silent, staring out the window as Marco parked the car.

"Think about it," Margaret continued. "His family owns half the city's real estate! His connections could restore our family's status overnight!"

"Mother, please," Elena said wearily. "I'm exhausted."

"Exhausted from what? From pretending to be married to that worthless cockroach?" Margaret gestured dismissively toward Marco. "You could have everything, Elena! Wealth, status, respect—all the things that pathetic maggot has stolen from you!"

Marco pretended to focus on turning off the engine, but every word cut deeper than the last.

Margaret's voice grew more urgent. "Elena, listen to me carefully. You and Marco have never... you know... been intimate, right? Your reputation is still intact. A divorce would be simple, and you could marry Frankie within months!"

Marco's hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

"Mother, this isn't the time—" Elena started.

"It's exactly the time! Every day you waste with that parasitic worm is another day Frankie might lose interest!" Margaret's voice turned vicious. "Look what that disgusting insect has done to our family! We went from respected members of society to living in this rat-infested slum!"

"The apartment isn't that bad," Elena said defensively.

"It's a garbage dump! And it's all because of him!" Margaret pointed at Marco with pure hatred. "That cockroach crawled into our lives and brought nothing but misery and poverty!"

Marco opened his door and stepped out, pretending he hadn't heard the conversation. He moved to the trunk to retrieve Elena's luggage, his movements mechanical and controlled.

As they entered the cramped apartment, Margaret immediately launched into another tirade. "Marco, you absolute disaster! Do you realize what you've done?"

Marco set down the luggage carefully. "What do you mean, Mrs. Morrison?"

"What do I mean?" Margaret's voice rose to a shriek. "You completely ruined Elena's chance with Frankie! That man is worth hundreds of millions, and you stood there like a pathetic guard dog, scaring him away!"

"I didn't scare anyone away," Marco replied calmly. "I was just—"

"You were just being your usual worthless self!" Margaret interrupted. "A real man would have stepped aside and let Frankie pursue Elena properly!"

Elena collapsed onto the worn sofa, rubbing her temples. "Mother, please stop shouting."

"I'll stop shouting when this parasitic worm understands what he's cost us!" Margaret turned back to Marco with fury. "Frankie was obviously interested in Elena, and you had to go and ruin everything with your disgusting presence!"

Marco's jaw tightened. "Frankie had obvious bad intentions toward my wife. I wasn't going to stand by and—"

"Bad intentions?" Margaret laughed harshly. "He's a wealthy, successful man! His intentions are worth more than your entire pathetic existence!"

"He wanted to take Elena to dinner alone, in his car, talking about 'stimulating conversation'—"

"So what if he did?" Margaret's response shocked even Marco. "Elena is a grown woman! If Frankie wanted to sweep her off her feet, that would be the best thing that ever happened to this family!"

Marco stared at her in disbelief. "You don't care about Elena's safety? About what might happen to her?"

"What I care about is getting this family out of poverty!" Margaret spat. "And if that means Elena spends an evening with a handsome billionaire, then so be it!"

"Mom, you can't be serious—" Marco started.

"Don't you dare call me Mom!" Margaret's voice turned ice-cold. "I am not your mother, and I never will be! You're nothing but a disease that infected this family!"

Marco felt the words hit him like physical blows. "I've been part of this family for three years—"

"You've been a burden for three years!" Margaret corrected viciously. "A worthless cockroach that we couldn't get rid of! Elena married you out of pity, and look where it's gotten us!"

Patrick emerged from the kitchen, nodding in agreement. "Margaret's right, Marco. You've brought nothing but bad luck to this house."

"I work every day to support this family," Marco said quietly.

"Work?" Patrick laughed bitterly. "You call whatever pathetic job you do 'work'? You make less in a month than Tony spends on lunch!"

"At least Tony has dignity," Margaret added. "He doesn't crawl around like a beaten dog, begging for scraps and sympathy!"

Marco looked at Elena, hoping for some support, but she remained silent on the sofa, her face expressionless.

"You know what you should do?" Margaret continued. "You should pack your worthless belongings and disappear. Let Elena find a real man—someone who can actually provide for her!"

"Like Frankie," Patrick added helpfully.

"Exactly like Frankie!" Margaret's eyes lit up. "Rich, powerful, respected—everything you'll never be, you miserable maggot!"

Marco absorbed their verbal assault in silence, then quietly moved to the kitchen to begin cleaning. As he washed dishes and wiped counters, he reflected on his situation. He possessed incredible power now—the Divine Skill, ancient medical knowledge, and connections to wealth beyond imagination. He could leave this family and build an empire if he wanted.

But was Elena worth staying for? Did she even value him at all?

Later that evening, Marco approached their bedroom and heard soft crying from within. Through the crack in the door, he saw Elena sitting on the bed, tears streaming down her face. It was the first time he'd seen her truly vulnerable in years.

Marco knocked gently and entered. "Elena? What's wrong?"

Elena quickly wiped her eyes, her expression hardening. "Nothing's wrong. Why would you care anyway?"

"You're my wife. Of course I care." Marco sat on the edge of the bed, maintaining distance. "Did something happen on your business trip?"

"Something happen?" Elena's voice turned mocking. "What could possibly happen that you'd be able to help with? You're completely useless, Marco!"

"I just want to understand—"

"Understand what? That I'm trapped in a marriage with a pathetic loser who can't even pay his own mother's medical bills?" Elena's tears turned to anger. "You want to understand why I'm crying? Because I'm stuck with you!"

Marco felt his own anger rising. "I've been trying to reach you for days. Why didn't you answer my calls?"

"My calls?" Elena stood up, her voice getting louder. "Who are you to monitor my phone calls? You don't own me, Marco!"

"I'm your husband! I was worried when you didn't answer—"

"Worried about what? That I might actually have a good time without you dragging me down?" Elena's eyes blazed with fury. "You have no right to control me or question what I do!"

"I wasn't trying to control you! I just wanted to know you were safe!"

"Safe from what? From finally meeting successful people who treat me with respect instead of like the wife of a worthless cockroach?"

Marco stood up, his voice rising to match hers. "Is that what this is about? You're ashamed of me?"

"Ashamed?" Elena laughed bitterly. "I'm humiliated! Do you know what it's like to introduce myself as Marco Romano's wife? To see the pity in people's eyes?"

"I've worked hard for this family—"

"You've worked hard at being mediocre! At being forgettable! At being exactly the kind of pathetic man my mother warned me never to marry!"

"Then why did you marry me?" Marco shouted, his composure finally cracking.

"Because I thought you'd stay in your place!" Elena screamed back. "I thought you'd be grateful and quiet and never cause problems! Instead, you've ruined everything!"

They stood facing each other, both breathing heavily, three years of suppressed resentment finally exploding into the open.

"Fine," Elena said, her voice turning dangerously quiet. "Get out of this room. Get out of my sight. And don't you dare show your pathetic face to me again until you figure out how to become the man I deserve!"