SYNOPSIS After facing unemployment and losing his house, Ace moves to his wife's family home as a live-in son-in-law where he faces hell. Unknown to Ace, he is the heir of the largest business empire in the world and his life is about to turn around. What would happen to those who treated him like trash and his wife who never stood up for him?
Chapter 1 The leave-in son-inlaw
"Well, look who finally crawled back," Gina's eyes cut into him, her mouth twisting into a smirk.
The sneer on her face told him how unwelcome he was in her home. Swallowing, his grip on his luggage tightened and he forced a smile on his face for his mother-in-law, but inside, he felt the familiar pinch of disdain.
She had always looked at him like he was beneath her, but today, the weight of her scorn was almost unbearable. He reminded himself why he was doing this
"Mother. How nice to see you are well –"
"She cut him off before he could say more with a stern glare. "Save your pleasantries for paupers like yourself." Her unforgiving eyes swept over him and the luggage he was battling before settling on her daughter's form. Ace did not believe her glare could become any harsher, but it did.
"Now, you see, Linda... I told you not to marry this good-for-nothing, backward piece of trash but you said you loved him. If you'd married a man with half a backbone, you wouldn't be dragging yourself into my house, pleading for a roof, Linda. Look at you – reduced to this, all because he can't provide."
Linda's voice was soft when she spoke. "Mother, please. We are tired. The journey here was long because we had to use a bus since we could not afford the flight tickets for the two of us. I want to rest."
"Do I look like I care? If you had married a competent man, you wouldn't have to worry about something as small as plane tickets! This is my home, Linda and if you are going to stay in it, then you will live by my rules," she turned and eyed Ace." You and this incompetent fool together."
Linda was about to complain – Ace knew his wife's temper – she could be worse than her mother when she flared up and he did not want that. for peace to reign, he stepped up. "No, it's fine mother. Whatever you say. I have to thank you for taking care of us like this. I don't know where we will be without your –"
"I don't run a charity organization, Ace!" she cut him off yet again. "So, I have no idea what you are going on about. I'm not doing this as a favor to you or my daughter. You lost your job and as if that was not enough, you had to lose your house too." She turned her back to the couple, keeping her spine straight and rigid as she marched away. "I have sent all the maids away, from now on, your job is to cook, clean, garden, and take care of the needs of every single person in this house. Dinner is in an hour."
With that, she huffed and marched away, a triumphant smile on her face.
Linda shot a glare at her husband. "What? What does she mean by – Are you an errand boy now? She can't just order you around!"
Ace sighed. "That was what we agreed on, Linda. How do you think I got her to let us stay here while we found our footing?"
Linda's glare faltered. "But –"
"No buts. I already agreed to her terms. Now we just have to live with it till I can get a job and a home for us. Please. If we can't stay here, our other option is living on the streets and –"
Linda huffed. "Living on the street is better than being humiliated like this. Why do you always let her walk over you? I am trying to support you, Ace but how long do we have to keep -finding our footing'? maybe my mother is right – maybe you are too... patient" Still complaining, Linda marched off, leaving Ace with all the luggage.
Ace sighed and picked up their bag, following after his wife. It was only for a short time, he told himself. He will find a good job soon and provide for his wife as he ought to. Soon. This was just a phase he had to pass to get there.
The room she gave them was good enough. But Ace and Linda knew it wasn't even up to the standard of guestrooms in the mansion and it was in the maid quarters. Before Linda would start complaining about the setting of their room, Ace changed cloths into something simple and disappeared into the kitchen.
His job as live-in son-in-law began at that moment and he wanted to do his best.
The kitchen was tidy and neatly arranged when he entered. Thankfully, the maids had done a good job of arranging everything in places that they could easily be found. He knew they did not do it for him but he sent them quiet note of thanks before diving into work.
Although no one had come out to welcome him and his wife besides Linda's mother, he knew they were five other people in the house excluding him and his wife, which meant he was preparing dinner for eight people.
It would be a lot of work but he would live through it.
He was just beginning to work when Linda entered the kitchen looking tired as hell. She glared at the pristine kitchen before turning to her husband. Her eyes softened. "You sure you're okay?" she asked, moving forward to place a warm hand on his arm. "Mother won't make this easy for you."
Ace gave her a forced smile. "She already made that clear." He squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, I've got this."
Linda gave him a doubtful look but stepped back and glanced around the kitchen for what she could help him with. She stared to move to the fridge when Ace stopped her. "I told you I've got this, right? Just let me do my thing before your mother comes back here and raises hell."
Linda winced but nodded. "All right then. I'll see you in an hour."
Ace smiled and tapped on his watch. "Make that forty minutes."
As soon as Linda left, Ace released a long breath and turned his attention to the ingredients already laid out for him. Next time, he knew he'd have to prepare his own ingredients but for today, someone made his work easier for him and he was thankful for it.
With practiced focus, he began preparing the meal, making sure to take utmost care to make the meal perfect while still being conscious of the time.
He was just about done with the final preparations when Gina waltzed into the kitchen, her lips curling up in a sneer.
"Hmm." She hummed, folding her arms across her chest. "I suppose I should not be surprised you know your way around a knife. It's a job that servants are specifically good at." She glared at the oven. "Don't burn the roast and don't keep people with jobs waiting. It's almost time."
She swept away as quickly as she entered. She was not gone two minutes before Linda reappeared. She leaned on the door, brows furrowed as she took in her husband. "I can help with some of those. Mother said she'd let me help."
Ace glanced over his shoulders. "Don't worry, I'm already done."
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