The Underestimated Son-in-Law

Flashback Story

"Daniel, maybe your mom didn't tell you much about me because there wasn't much between me and your mom."

"What do you mean?" Daniel's brow furrowed. The more Mr Robert explained, the less Daniel understood.

"Daniel, maybe this is the right time for me to tell you everything. So, your mum and I accidentally met in a bar that happened to be very crowded at the time. At that time, your mom was working as a waitress there. I drank so much alcohol that I lost consciousness. I don't know what I did to your mum so when I woke up, I was in a room by myself with... yeah, I wasn't wearing any clothes at all. Your mum just left me. I'm ashamed to tell you this but I have to."

"How can you be sure that you did that to my mother? Weren't you unconscious?" Daniel argued as if he didn't believe the story that came out of Mr Robert's mouth.

Mr Robert then took something out of his desk drawer.

"This is one of the things your mum left behind." Robert handed over a black box. "Open it!"

Daniel accepted the box and opened it. "An earring? These are the same earrings that mum kept in her drawer. No!" Daniel then remembered about Jack rummaging through his house. "Did Jack find Mum's earrings? Did he take them away?"

"Why, what are you thinking?"

"No, I wasn't. I just..." Daniel couldn't possibly tell Robert what was going on in his life.

"So, do you now believe that I am your father?"

Daniel fell silent again. His thoughts returned to his mum's enormous surgery costs. "If I accept the position, can I ask for my salary first?"

"Of course. I'll even pay you whatever you ask," Robert replied as he leaned his back on the swivel chair. A feeling of relief appeared on the face of the man, who was a director and also doubled as the owner of the company, seeing Daniel's response, who was slowly able to accept it. "So, how much do you need?"

"$3000."

"Okay." Robert then took out a check containing the amount Daniel had asked for.

Daniel accepted the check with mixed feelings. There were so many things he couldn't believe, and so many things he got all at once.

"Tomorrow you can start working, Daniel. Don't forget to call me if you need anything," Robert said while inviting Daniel to shake hands.

Daniel accepted the handshake and then moved to say goodbye to Robert.

"Daniel, wait! Tell Lina when you're ready to meet me. I trust you can tell her properly without blaming me," Robert said with a hopeful look.

Daniel just shut up and nodded. He continued to walk towards the company's main door. As long as he walked, almost all eyes were on him. Aware of being the center of attention, Daniel turned towards the toilet to avoid the very strange stares of the people.

As soon as he entered the toilet, Daniel accidentally overheard the conversation of several people, who again tickled his heart.

"So, the position of personnel director will be filled by Mr. Robert's own son?"

"Shh! Don't say it out loud! Ms. Cerein doesn't know about Mr. Robert's son."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you know that Mr. Robert's marriage to Ms. Cerein was not blessed with children? So Mr. Robert secretly told Mr. Jheo to look for his son's whereabouts."

"How did you know?"

"Mr. Jheo told me everything. But, oops! I promised Mr. Jheo not to say this to anyone. Gosh, why is my mouth so easily betrayed?"

"What a big mouth!"

That was the conversation between two employees that Daniel overheard.

When the two people left, Daniel opened the door and stood silently in front of the glass. Daniel sighed. "Why me? Why do I find it hard to believe in some of the evidence that I've obviously seen and heard with my own eyes and head? Why does my heart still find it hard to believe that I really am Mr. Robert's son? And how would I tell Mom later? I can't even predict how Mum will react."

***

"Thank you, Mr. Daniel; here's your receipt," said the cashier as he handed over a piece of paper as proof of payment.

Daniel accepted the receipt with relief.

"Mr. Daniel, Doctor Ervan is calling for you," said one of the nurses.

Daniel then walked to see Doctor Ervan in his room. "How is it, doctor?"

"Mr. Daniel, please have a seat!" said Doctor Ervan while busy with some documents in front of him. "Mr. Daniel, there are a few things I'd like to tell you before the operation begins."

"What, doc?"

"We are all astonished by Ms. Lina's condition. Her condition is showing a change for the better. But for that, we will still perform the surgery as it is to speed up the healing afterwards."

"Really? Okay, Doc. Please do the best for my mom."

"We will try our best."

The surgery began. Daniel sat in the waiting room with high hopes for his mom's recovery.

"Mr. Daniel, we found this accidentally falling out of Ms. Lina's shirt pocket while we were changing the operating gown." One of the nurses approached Daniel and handed him the earring.

"This earring, so you didn't keep it at home?" Daniel accepted the earring. "Thank you, nurse."

Daniel looked at the earring. "These earrings are exactly the same as the ones Mr. Robert brought."

The operation was over. Some nurses took Ms. Lina to the observation room.

***

"Good morning, Mr. Daniel. I hope you enjoy working here," Mr. Robert said with a smile as he saw Daniel looking handsome and well-groomed. "You are indeed handsome, just like me when I was young."

"Thank you, Mr. Robert," Daniel replied, smiling at Mr. Robert, who looked very happy.

"Mr Robert? It's bad!" shouted Mr. Jheo as he ran towards Mr. Robert.

"Why are you running around so early?"

"Mr. Robert, Ms. Cerein..."

"What's wrong with her?"

"Ms. Cerein is coming to your room right now," Mr. Jheo replied nervously.

"What?" Mr. Robert hurried away, leaving Daniel behind.

Daniel saw his father running nervously, like a frightened man.

"I seem to be familiar with the name, Ms. Cerein. Oh, I remember. She's Mr. Robert's wife. Why would Mr. Robert fear the arrival of his own wife? What is Mr. Robert hiding from her?"