The Useless Son In-law Is A Legend

Chapter 23

The morning began strangely calm. The Wilson house, always filled with small quarrels, clattering dishes, and Clara’s sharp voice, suddenly felt too quiet. Even Ava noticed it as she walked out of the room, rubbing her tired eyes.

Ryan sat alone in the living room. The light from the window fell across his face, showing the deep thoughts hiding behind his calm expression. He wasn’t angry, but he wasn’t relaxed either. It was a heavy silence—one that made Ava hesitate before walking closer.

“Ryan?” she whispered.

He lifted his eyes slowly. “You’re up.”

Ava nodded. She sat down gently beside him, watching his expression. “Did something happen?”

Ryan didn’t answer immediately. He was still trying to understand it himself—the strange phone call he received the night before. A man’s voice. No name. No introduction. Just one sentence:

“It has begun.”

Ryan didn’t know what to make of it. The tone was not threatening, but it carried weight—like someone was reminding him of something he should know.

Before he could explain anything to Ava, Clara walked in, her steps loud and irritated. She eyed the two of them sitting together and frowned.

“So, this is how the morning will be?” Clara snapped. “Ava, you’re just sitting there? Aren’t there dishes in the sink?”

Ava stood up quietly. “I’ll do them.”

Ryan looked at Clara. She avoided his eyes instantly. Her shoulders were stiff, and she was clearly avoiding any direct conversation with him today. Even Clara’s mother noticed when she joined them.

“Clara, why are you acting that way? At least greet Ryan,” her mother said.

Clara forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. “Good morning.”

Ryan didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. Her shaky tone said more than enough—Clara was hiding something. She wasn’t as bold as usual. She kept touching her fingers, glancing at the door, and avoiding Ryan like he was dangerous.

Her cousin Eric walked in later, trying to act confident. But he too froze the second he saw Ryan. His smile disappeared slowly, and he swallowed hard.

“Morning… brother-in-law,” Eric said carefully.

Ryan looked at him once. Just once. Eric’s entire posture changed—his shoulders dropped, and he tried to laugh nervously.

“What’s wrong with everyone today?” Clara’s mother asked.

No one answered.

Ava finished the dishes and joined Ryan again. She whispered, “Why is Clara behaving so quietly? Even Eric looks scared.”

Ryan didn’t reply at first. Then he said quietly, “Because the truth has a way of making guilty people uncomfortable.”

Ava’s heart tightened. “What truth?”

Ryan looked at her gently. “Not yet. You don’t need to worry about anything now.”

But Ava still felt a strange chill. She could sense something was changing around Ryan. Something was rising—slowly, quietly. Like a tide that could not be stopped.

Later that afternoon, Ava found Clara standing alone in the backyard, staring at the ground. She looked troubled—very troubled.

“You seem stressed,” Ava said softly.

Clara flinched. “Mind your business.”

Ava didn’t argue. She turned to walk away, but Clara called her back.

“Has… Ryan said anything?” Clara asked quickly, eyes darting around.

Ava frowned. “About what?”

Clara’s face paled. She suddenly looked like someone holding a secret that was too heavy.

“N-Nothing,” Clara said, rushing past her into the house.

Ava stood there, confused.

Inside, Ryan sat quietly at the dining table. He wasn’t eating. He wasn’t reading. He was waiting—listening—for whatever would happen next. The strange phone call still echoed in his mind:

“It has begun.”

Whatever that meant… today felt like the first sign of it.

And everyone in the Wilson house could feel it too.

The silence was no longer peaceful.

It was the beginning of something big.