The World Under His Fist

Ansel gripped onto his phone tightly, desperation filled his lungs with a deadly venom, making it hard for him to swallow.

He knew he shouldn't do such a thing but what else could he do when he had no other choice? So he took his chances and called his wife for help.

The phone rang for a while, like she had purposely delayed answering the call. Finally, he heard the call connect and he sprung to his feet. "Hello Lara Jane?"

He heard a scoff from the other side of the phone. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call my sister's name like that? You should have some regard for the name that is valued more than your entire lineage!" The man's voice was stern as he spoke, laced with so much hatred that Ansel could feel it pouring out of the phone.

He didn't need any introduction to know that it was his brother in law, Jeremiah, who had answered his wife's call.

Jeremiah was the one who tolerated him the least in the entire Cree family. He didn't even tolerate him at all and he always took every opportunity to make his hatred known.

"Where is Lara Jane?" Ansel demanded.

Jeremiah let out a soft and mocking laugh. "What makes you think you have the right to demand her like that? Is she your property?"

"I just want to talk to my wife." Ansel kept his voice firm as he spoke even though he felt like he was breaking into several pieces on the inside.

It was a matter of urgency, life and death even! And he didn't have time for Jeremiah's games.

"Lara Jane is my sister and your master!" He spat out with a hint of anger to his tone. "Your wife? Please! Tell me a better joke. If she really is your wife then why haven't you even touched her yet? Have you even seen her naked?"

"That is between my wife and I." Ansel said. "Can you please just give her the phone? This is very important and I need to speak to her urgently."

"You little piece of trash!" He barked. "Lara Jane is very busy with more important things than to spend her time talking to garbage like you. I don't even want to hear the message cause I won't pass it along. Now, don't call this number again unless you want all hell to be unleashed on you!"

"Could you!--" Ansel spoke quickly before Jeremiah would hang up the call. He paused to take a breath and calm himself before speaking again. "Could you please just give her the phone? Let me talk to her just once and I won't call again to disturb. I promise!"

That day was the celebration of the birthday of the oldest Cree member. Their grandmother, Elizabeth Cree. Everyone else was invited except Ansel. He couldn't even go there if he wanted to. He was needed urgently at the hospital.

His only true family, Albert, a man who saved a dying child, was now on his death bed. It was time for Ansel to save his life but he was too poor to carry the bills.

If only Jeremiah would just let him talk to his wife then he could borrow some funds from her.

"Lara Jane is busy with grandmother. Stop telling me what to do you useless piece of trash! I don't care." He said before finally hanging up the call.

Ansel Yorke had been married to the Cree family for over three years now. However, none of them would have ever dreamed of marrying off the most beautiful girl in their family to a useless nobody like him if it wasn't for Jackson Cree.

Jackson Cree, Elizabeth’s late husband, had returned one day with a man who looked no more than a homeless street beggar to their eyes and insisted his granddaughter, Lara Jane, get married to him.

Just a few days after his granddaughter got married to Ansel Yorke, the old man passed away so suddenly in his bed.

Ever since his death, there was no one to stand up for Ansel in the family anymore, and they all had no one to fear and openly showed their hatred towards him.

It forever remained a mystery for them as to why the old man had insisted his very own favorite grandchild get married to a nobody like Ansel Yorke who didn't have any money to his name.

But they decided to forget that and instead, focus on a way to send him out of their family. So they all agreed on treating him so badly that he wouldn't be able to endure it and would leave on his own.

But Ansel was fixed and determined on staying with his wife that he had been turning a blind eye to all the scornful acts they had been showing him.

Not only was he trying to honor his late grandfather-in-law, but he was also in love with his wife and he would never leave her no matter what they did to him.

A voice disturbed his thoughts where he was standing and he turned around. His let out a heavy sigh as he saw the doctor standing behind him. The man's words echoed loudly in his head. "Without at least half of the deposit, all treatments will be withheld and Mr Albert will be discharged."

He walked up to the doctor. Left with no other choice, he did the only thing he could. "Doctor, could you please give me some more time? I'm actually trying to gather the money, I'll make a payment soon enough. I just need some time."

The doctor sighed softly and buried his hands in his white coat pocket. "Mr Yorke, I think you are aware that Mr Albert has stage two cancer. Without treatment, he will die for sure. But I have done what I can so far and without payment, there's nothing more I can do. This hospital is not a charity organisation, pay up or pack up."

Ansel knew begging would get him no where, he needed money. So he decided to go where he wasn't invited. "I'll go and get the money right now, just save his life."

He only hoped they would let him...