THE REJECTED SON-IN-LAW (Birth of the Mafia)

The night had been quiet, I laid by the bed. A corner I created for myself away from the woman I once called my wife. I thought I was in love, but all were filters I created in my own fantasy. Since our wedding, the bond we once shared has been dissolved like ice. Before marriage, I was the best big thing, but now she refuses to count me into her life. All this started a month into our marriage two years ago when Mrs Raymond, my mother-in-law, came into our home. She was a drug dealer and had many suppliers and connections that made her untouchable. Jennifer had been walking in her footsteps. She started working for her when she was twelve. Rumors had it that Jennifer might take over from her. Miss Raymond never supported our marriage. To her, I was the worst thing that had ever happened in her daughter’s life. She ended up making decisions I was expected to make as the head. All of a sudden, my wife started confiding more in her than in me, telling her secret we were both meant to keep to ourselves. The worst part of it all was that Miss Raymond brought the love and respect of my extended family. Painted me as an irresponsible son-in-law who plays lazy and refuses to care for his family. “Why are you still up,” a familiar voice startled me. I turned to Jennifer, the woman I once recognized as my wife. “I have been thinking about us,” I said before swallowing hard. “Us? What do you mean by us,” she asked, sitting up as if my question had gotten her attention. “Jenni, look at us, both of us are drifting apart.” My voice came without taking a second breath. “We both promised to stick together, fore—" “Hold it there, please,” she interrupted, waving her hand beside her face. “Is that what you are spending your jobless time thinking about?” My head tilted to the left, seeing that my soft words never planted any seed in her heart. Just like her mother, she was ready to interrupt good moments. “I don’t like how you and your mother have been treating me in this house,” I said, letting out my feelings. “This again, my mother, all the time,” she laughed and then frowned. “You hate my mother, fine, I get it, you are ungrateful, you keep bringing her up whenever we are talking.” “Because she is the problem, Jenni,” my voice raised. Not minding if her mother overheard me in the other room. “We were both living happily until she came into our home,” my breath sounded heavy now, the thought of Miss Raymond leaving her beautiful mansion filled with servants and guards just to be here in order to destroy my marriage made my headache. She snapped, her voice raised. “She is sick, and it is my responsibility to take care of her, and you know that,” she dragged the clothing sheet she was covering closer to her chest. “If you do your part as the man, at least we would rate you.” I smiled, tears almost dropping from my eyes, but I wasn't going to let her see that weakness in me. I got married to Jennifer because I loved her. I thought she did too, but now I have seen that she never loved me, she was using me. “We, you say,” I smiled, nodding my head. My eyes were almost wet, but I was in control of my body. From her reply, I could see that she too thinks I am worthless. “I love you Jenni,” I said, looking at her with my fist folded. The word fell out of my mouth like it was my last breath. She didn't reply immediately, she looked at me as if I was just puking in her face. “Look, Sam, we shouldn't be doing this, just play your part as the obedient husband.” She ignored me. Then, the door bangs loudly and both of us turn to it. My eyes tilted downward. “Open this damn door, Sam,” an elderly voice called from behind the door. I looked at Jennifer, stepped out of bed. Before I could twist the knobs, the door was pushed open. Miss Raymond walked in. “Why are you trying to bring this house down?” I turned to Jennifer and then back to her. “Ma, I wasn't trying to—“ “Shut up young man, I wasn't asking a question.” Her voice stormed at me. Leaving me choked with my words. “I was only talking with my wife, that's all,” I said in one breath. Scared of what might follow next. She laughed, with that irritating voice I hated so much, seeing her laugh was just like seeing a monster cry. “My Darling, hope he didn’t lay those filthy hands on you,” she turned to Jennifer and asked. She shook her head in reply. “Oh God saved you tonight, boy, I will have my boys beat you up until sun rise,” she threatened, then walked towards the bed to meet her daughter. I looked away at the opposite, and felt irritated when both played mother and daughter in front of me. Jennifer smiled then frowned when she noticed I was staring at her when Miss Raymond grabbed her in her arms like a baby. “Ma’am, you just interrupted us, we were discussing before you came in,” I said boldly. My face tightened like I was going to face her if she came at me. “Look, young man, this is my daughter's house and her room. I gave birth to her,” she said. “You are just living here because my daughter refused to divorce you and I won’t blame her. Whenever she is ready, she will kick you out.” I stared at both of them, she spoke as if she meant it. I tilted my eyes to Jennifer. She was still lying in her mother’s arms, not saying a word in reply or reacting to her mother's harsh words at me. “Jenni, are you going to lay down there and watch your mother insult me in my own house?” I asked, looking offended already. Jennifer snapped. She raised her head from Miss Raymond’s arms. “Your what, Sam?” She shouted. “You lost ownership of this house when I paid off your debt.” I walked closer to her. “What are you talking about?” Curiosity covered my face. She walked past me as if she was going to walk around me. “Thanks to my mom’s idea, the document you signed wasn’t just about the money I borrowed you to clear up your debts,” she stood behind me. “But also it has some legal agreement which states that I own this house in exchange for the money.” I laughed and frowned immediately. “You won’t dare, Jennifer, this is the only property my parents left in my care. You can’t possibly take it.” “Oh, Samuel, Darling. The house is mine now, and I can't give it back unless you have thirty-five thousand dollars hidden somewhere,” she said, walking back to bed and sitting beside her mother. Both kept smiling just to see me angry. “I don’t believe you, Jennifer, you can’t do that to me. I am your husband.” “Yes you are, only play your cards right and stop waking us up in the middle of the night,” she said, walking to the wardrobe pulling out a file from a black suitcase. Slammed it at my chest. “Those are the legal documents you signed, it's your signature, not mine.” “You can’t do this, Jennifer. Look, I will try my best to raise the money, all of it. Just give me back my house.” I knelt on the floor with both knees touching the ground. “Get up Sam, don’t make me laugh.” Her hand placed on her lips, preventing the laugh from growing wide. “Where do you think you could get thirty-five thousand dollars?” “He thought it was thirty-five Cent,” Miss Raymond mocked. Jennifer also joined in her laughter. I stood up on the floor, “So what now, what am I left with?” I asked. Miss Raymond stood up from the bed. “You need to be a good boy, or we will push you in the street where you belong. Am I right, Jennifer?” She turned to her expecting her answer. Jennifer nodded, holding a smile. My arms felt heavy, Miss Raymond’s was a monster. I felt like grabbing her in the neck until no life remained in her. I smiled and nodded. “If that's what you want, I would do it.” My voice cracked. “Good, you are now becoming a good boy,” her filthy hands patted my shoulders. “Now I need you to prepare the house because my daughter is hosting an important guest tomorrow.” “A guest?” I asked, staring at both of them. I wanted to know who Jennifer was inviting to the house. And why she never told me about it. “It is not of your concern, just do your part. Make sure the wine is served with a clean cup. I don't want you to disappoint our guests.” I nodded and looked away. I assumed it might be a business client. I felt like asking a lot about this guest, who he is, why they chose the house instead of the office, and why am I the one to serve this guest. I ignored my thoughts. Nobody would care to give me an answer. I believe tomorrow will tell.