THE FORMIDABLE SON-IN-LAW

“Another wasted attempt,” Alex spat, pulling on his tie. Dressed in a white shirt, black trousers, and a loose tie, Alex walked toward his wife's parents' house, his shoulders slumped and his heart heavy with disappointment. After waiting for hours, the job interview had not gone well. Despite holding a master’s degree, he faced yet another rejection solely because of his lack of a wealthy background. As he reached the door, he hesitated, contemplating whether to go inside. Entering would mean facing insults about his failures and the mocking stares that followed him everywhere. With a heavy sigh, he pushed the door open. Inside, he saw his wife, Rachel, sitting on the couch, absorbed in her phone. She didn’t notice him until the door slammed shut behind him. Her eyes, once sparkling with joy, turned cold and indifferent upon seeing him enter. Sadness built up in his chest. “Well, did you get the job?” she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. Alex shook his head, unable to meet her gaze. “No, not this time,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Rachel sighed impatiently and rolled her eyes. “Of course not,” she mumbled under her breath. “You’re useless, Alex. Just like always.” Her harsh words stung, but Alex was used to her cruel criticisms. Ever since they married, he had been nothing but a disappointment to her and her family. As the son-in-law of a middle-class family, Alex constantly faced reminders of his inferior status. He relied on Rachel’s family for everything including financial support, a place to live, food, and clothing. In return, he endured their ridicule and scorn. It was a humiliating existence, one that left Alex feeling powerless and worthless. To make things worse, Rachel’s family never let him forget his shortcomings, mocking him at every chance and belittling him in front of others. Yet, Alex always managed to keep a positive outlook, believing that his luck would eventually change. He did his best to satisfy his wife, but it always seemed inadequate. His inability to contribute financially turned him into a servant. He did the dishes, ran errands, and even handled the grocery shopping, all in hopes of making up for his perceived incompetence. But no matter how hard he worked, it was never enough. In their eyes, he would always remain the worthless son-in-law and a burden on the family. As he stood in the doorway, facing Rachel's indifferent gaze, he wondered if he would ever escape the suffocating grip of his in-laws' contempt. Fortunately, they weren’t home this time. He had kept the job interview a secret, telling only Rachel. He planned to surprise them with good news, but at least this time he was spared from shame and a long lecture. Looking at his expression, Rachel felt disgusted. With a hiss, she headed to her room upstairs. “What a disgrace,” she said in an annoyed tone, words that Alex heard clearly. Once she left, Alex sank into the worn-out armchair, unable to shake the emptiness that settled over him. Their marriage had never been happy; it was instead filled with resentment and indifference. “Am I even worthy of being called a man?” he asked himself, taking a deep breath. “I’d better start cooking before they come home,” Alex thought, forcing himself to rise from the chair, despite how tired he felt. After countless practice sessions, he had become quite skilled in the kitchen. He quickly washed the ingredients he had taken out from the refrigerator and began cooking. Within an hour, dinner was ready. Looking out through the glass window, he noticed it was already dark outside. The heat of the kitchen made him sweat. As he stepped out, he ran into his mother-in-law, Danielle, who scanned him from head to toe. “Are you done making dinner?” she asked coldly. “Yes, Mother,” Alex replied politely, avoiding her sharp gaze. “Don’t call me Mother. I can’t give birth to trash like you,” Danielle snapped before heading to her room. Having just returned from a birthday party her friend's son-in-law had funded, Danielle felt uncomfortable among her friends, who flaunted their wealth. She had gritted her teeth through it all, feeling trapped. Alex walked upstairs to the room he shared with his wife. “Rachel, dinner is ready,” he called out, but received no response. The sound of running water told him she was in the bathroom. “I’ll go arrange the table,” he thought as he began to leave. But a notification on Rachel's phone caught his attention. He glanced at the bathroom door, then back at the phone, hesitating about whether to take a peek. Picking up the phone, he opened it only to see a message that read, “I can't wait to meet you at the office again for some fun.” He froze. “Is Rachel cheating on me?” Alex wondered, feeling betrayal wash over him. He tried to unlock the phone, but he couldn’t guess the password. “I’ll find out tomorrow,” he thought as he walked out of the room. Feeling betrayed despite his own financial struggles, he couldn’t understand why Rachel was behaving this way. They were married and should support one another. Rachel was the complete opposite; she prioritized material wealth and was blinded by her greed. Alex sat in silence after arranging the dishes. The message had ruined his mood and made him lose his appetite. Soon, everyone gathered around the table, Danielle, Rachel's mom; Robin, her father; Olivia, her sister; and Rachel herself. They all sat down and began eating. Alex remained lost in his thoughts, failing to notice their presence until Robin cleared his throat. In his distraction, Alex accidentally spilled food all over himself.