The Useless Son In-law Is A Legend

Chapter 21

     Morning came slowly, as if the sun itself was too tired to rise. Ryan stepped out of the small room where he slept and stretched his stiff muscles. He had barely slept after what happened yesterday. His mind kept replaying Ava’s worried face, Clara’s sharp words, and Eric’s sudden appearance.

He took a deep breath. Today, he told himself, would be calm.

He was wrong.

The moment Ryan stepped into the sitting room, he saw Clara standing near the center table with her arms folded. Her eyes were cold, and her expression carried the kind of trouble that came without warning.

“So,” Clara said slowly, “you’re awake.”

Ryan stopped. “Good morning.”

“Don’t greet me,” she snapped. “You should be thinking of how to explain yourself.”

Ryan frowned lightly. “Explain what?”

Ava, who had been cleaning the dining area, paused and turned. She had heard the sharp tone.

Clara walked closer to Ryan, heels clicking loudly on the tiles. “I heard you came home late last night,” she said. “Where were you?”

Ryan’s brows lifted slightly. Was this about last night? He decided to stay calm.

“I stepped out to clear my head,” he answered. “I didn’t stay out long.”

Clara scoffed. “Clear your head? With whose money? Whose time? Who gave you permission to go anywhere?”

Ava’s eyes widened. “Clara—”

“Stay out of this!” Clara yelled without looking at her.

Ryan sighed quietly. He knew Clara wasn’t angry because he stepped out. Something else was behind her words.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

Clara’s lips tightened. “Oh, so now you want to act innocent.”

She turned to the sofa and grabbed a small brown envelope. She threw it on the table in front of Ryan.

“Open it.”

Ryan slowly picked it up. He could feel Ava’s curious eyes behind him. He opened the envelope and pulled out a folded paper.

It was a bill. Hospital bill.

Ryan raised his head. “Whose is this?”

Clara crossed her arms again. “Ava’s mother.”

Ava’s eyes dropped to the floor.

Ryan’s heart tightened. “Is she sick again?”

Ava nodded softly but didn’t speak.

Clara pointed at the bill. “This is the money her treatment will cost. A very useless and lazy person like you should at least try to be useful for once. This is over a hundred thousand. Do you have it?”

Ryan paused.

Clara smirked. “Of course you don’t.”

Ava stepped forward quickly. “Clara, please don’t talk like that. Ryan didn’t cause anything—”

“And he won’t solve anything,” Clara cut in sharply. “He never does!”

Ryan stayed quiet, thinking. The amount wasn’t small, but it was not impossible… for someone else. For him, with no job and no respect, it was a mountain.

But Ava’s mother needed help.

Clara wasn’t finished. “Ava is already stressed. Her mother is already suffering. And now, the hospital is asking for money before continuing treatment. Do you know what that means?”

Ryan nodded. “They won’t treat her until payment is made.”

Clara’s voice rose. “Exactly! So tell me—how do we pay? Should we take out a loan? Should we borrow? Should we beg the neighbors? Or should we wait for your ‘strange luck’ to appear again?”

Ryan looked down.

Ava stepped closer to him. “Don’t mind her. It’s not your fault.”

“Of course it’s his fault,” Clara said immediately. “He came into this house with nothing and still remains nothing. If he can’t take responsibility in small situations like this, why is he even here?”

Ryan finally lifted his eyes. “What do you want me to do?”

Clara laughed without humor. “Good question. What can a useless husband like you do? Can you work overnight? Can you pull money from the sky?”

Ryan stayed calm even though Clara’s words cut deep.

“I will try,” he said quietly.

Clara rolled her eyes. “Try? Try what? You don’t even have transport fare to go and look for work.”

Ryan didn’t deny it. It was true.

Ava touched his arm gently. “It’s okay. We will think of something together.”

Clara hissed. “Two poor people thinking together? What will that solve?”

Ava turned sharply. “Clara, stop insulting him!”

Clara raised her chin. “If he feels insulted, let him do something useful for once.”

Ryan looked at the bill again. He could feel Ava watching him with hope but also fear.

“I’ll get the money,” Ryan said.

Clara choked on her laughter. “You? You will get one hundred thousand? By doing what?”

Ryan didn’t answer.

Ava whispered, “Are you sure?”

He nodded once. “I will find a way.”

Clara waved her hand. “Do whatever you like. But if that bill is not paid before tomorrow morning, Ava’s mother will be discharged. I’m tired of these problems.”

She turned and walked away angrily.

Silence filled the sitting room.

Ava looked at Ryan, eyes soft. “I’m sorry. Clara spoke too harshly.”

Ryan shook his head. “Don’t worry about me. Let’s focus on your mother.”

Ava swallowed. “Ryan… do you really think you can get the money?”

Ryan looked at the bill again. The number stared back at him like a challenge.

“Yes,” he said firmly. “I’ll get it before tomorrow.”

Ava nodded slowly, even though worry sat in her eyes.

She didn’t know how he would get the money.

Ryan didn’t know either.

But deep down, something in him told him he must.

Because whether the world believed it or not…

He was no ordinary useless son-in-law.

And this time, he would prove it.