His Muted Bride

11 The humiliation from father-in-law

Megan became even more sure that Ivan would get well soon. Now he could react to light. It was a great beginning. After 10 days or so, his eyes would definitely see again. Megan needed to change the herbal bag covering his eyes constantly. One day, she found there was one certain plant she needed for Ivan's treatment. She couldn't find it anywhere around the house. The only place that she could find it was her grandpa's clinic. Grandpa stored some of the plants. Megan knew exactly where those dried planets were.

She hadn't come to the clinic for a while. This place used to be filled with patients. Grandpa had been a great doctor. People would have lined up to let him heal them. But now, thanks to Megan's good-for-nothing father, this place was just bleak and deserted. The camphor tree in the middle of the yard had also died. Its gnarled branches stretched to the sky, crying for help.

Megan remembered this tree. When she was little, this tree was still a small tree. She and Grandpa used to water it every day. Seeing it felt like seeing Grandpa again. Megan pressed her cheek against the rough surface of the tree, wanting to cry.

"Megan? What are you doing here?" A voice broke Megan's reverie. Megan whipped around to see her father. Miller was standing behind her in astonishment. Miller seldom came here even though he was the one who ran this place. Megan didn't expect to run into this man at all. She didn't have anything to say to this man. Turning around, Megan strode toward the storage cabinet briskly and started to find the dried herbs she needed for Ivan's treatment.

Miller just stood there, watching his daughter busy herself before the cabinet and trying to start a conversation, "Are you sick? Why are you taking those herbs? By the way… How is your husband? Does he treat you well? I know he's disabled right now… But he's still a Hendrix. I am your father. You know I love you and I will never do anything to harm you…"

Megan just ignored him as she packed up all the herbs she needed. Grabbing the package, Megan wanted to leave the clinic, but Miller took her by her arm, "Megan, sweetheart… I have a thing to ask you." Megan stopped, casting her bright green eyes toward her father.

"Well… I have a business partner. His wife is suffering from a rare disease… I remember… Your grandfather has a notebook, right? It recorded diseases like that. Could you…"

Megan pulled away the minute he mentioned the notebook. Every time when Miller tried to be nice and caring, he always had a certain purpose. Miller had ruined Grandpa's clinic. Megan would never let him have the notebook.

Knowing Megan wouldn't give out the notebook for now, Miller only sighed, "Okay. But at least let me give you a ride back." Megan wanted to say no, but halting a taxi from here to the old house might be a bit costly. So she nodded a yes. Megan got in the car. Miller joined her in the backseat. He tried to approach her, but Megan squirmed to the other side of the seat.

Miller forced out a smile, "Your grandpa's clinic is falling. A couple of patients recently came, seeking help. I can't let them down…" Megan gave him a stern look before turning away to watch outside of the window. Miller wanted Grandpa's notebook for a reason. He had never wanted to be a good doctor. Miller Dunn used to be grandpa's intern. After Mom married him, Grandpa had once considered giving the clinic to him. But Miller's heart had never been in the right place. So Grandpa had finally given up the idea. A couple of years after their marriage, Megan's mom had found out that she had been cheated on all the time. Miller's lover had been with him longer than she could ever imagine. Their daughter, Stacy, was even older than Megan.

After Grandpa and Grandma had passed away, Mom had been crying every day. She had also left this world soon. Megan still remembered what her mom had said to her. Mom had said that she regretted choosing Miller Dunn. She had said it was all her fault that the clinic was taken away. She had reminded Megan not to repeat her mistake and to find a nice man.

A nice man? Ivan was a nice man.

Megan thought of Ivan. She was sure Ivan was the best decision she had ever made. She just didn't know how much time did they still have. The car arrived at the old house while Miller was still nagging at her. Megan jumped off the car right away, walking toward the garden directly. Ivan was sitting in the garden at the moment, enjoying the sun. Hearing the creaking of the iron gate, the handsome man turned in Megan's direction, "Are you back, honey?"

Megan approached him instantly and took his hand. "Your hands are freezing…" Ivan frowned, "How did you come back?"

"I gave her a lift," Miller walked into the garden uninvitedly. Miller had been curious about Ivan's current situation. He had met Miller a couple of times when he still could see. This powerful CEO son-in-law had been intimidating to him. He had thought Ivan would be miserable. But the man standing under the sun seemed as tall and intimidating as before. Ivan didn't seem defeated or even blind at all. Miller found himself too intimidated to meet Ivan's eyes, "I'm… um… Stacy's father…" Miller almost said the wrong name but he corrected himself instantly, "I'm just here to check out on my daughter. I thought she would live a happier life after marrying you… But look at this place…"

Miller ignored Megan's hot stare, "Ivan, I know you've been kicked out of your family. But there must be something you can do to give Stacy a better life. Seeing her living like this breaks my heart. She is such a sweet girl, smart and pretty. And you know, she has always been like a princess in our family. She deserves better."

Megan was glowering at Miller at this point. He had never truly cared about any of his daughters. Benefits and fame were the only things he cared about. He said this just because he wanted to pretend to be a good father and fish promises from Ivan. Megan wanted to push him out of this place, but Ivan pulled her back.

“Ivan, the Hendrix Group is now under the control of your cousin. And you are no longer the heir of the Hendrix Family. How can you give my daughter a better life? Can't you just fight back and claim your power and wealth back? If you can't, then I am really sorry. I am not sure whether I can entrust my precious daughter to such an… incompetent man. My words might be harsh, but I am so worried about my baby.”

He was really out of the line!

Megan was so pissed off. She took her hand away from Ivan's and wanted to push her father away.

But Ivan grabbed her hand tightly. The handsome man promised Miller with a solemn tone, "Mr. Dunn, don't worry. I will give Stacy a better life. Actually, I'll present all the wealth and power of the Hendrix to her before long…"