RISE OF THE DESPISED SON IN LAW

Chapter One

The taxi rolled to a stop in front of the massive wrought iron gates, that guarded the Fernandez Estate.

Nolan quickly dug his hand into his pockets, and handed over the last of his change to the taxi driver. The taxi driver waved him off, and rolled away with a cloud of dust.

Nolan was left standing in front of the gates, and he let out a huge sigh. He most definitely did not feel like going in but that was just wishful thinking, because if he did not go in, he'd have to sleep out there all night.

He clutched his jacket tighter around him and walked through the gates, his feet getting heavier and heavier with each step. His shoulders were slumped and his head lowered. It was a cold night, and it had been a very long day.

Longer because it was unfruitful as well. His job seeking had produced nothing as usual. Just another wasted day filled with rejections.

Nolan let out another huge sigh, as he walked down the lane which led to the house. The lane was flanked by flowers on both sides, and the beautiful scents permeated the air all around him.

However, Nolan was not ready to appreciate the beauty of nature at that moment. He was burdened with the fact that his life would still remain hard tomorrow, with no hope of escape.

His steps slowed as the house came into view and Nolan stood for some minutes, willing his legs to move and go in. To face the ridicule and insults that was inevitable.

The house was a huge mansion with about three floors. It's architecture was spectacular, and was in a Victorian style. The lights from the house enveloped the area and the garden and yhe huge fountain before it, in a soft golden light.

Nolan had never thought of this place as his home. Probably because he'd never been welcomed in it. He walked past the bodyguards stationed in front of the house and around the huge garden.

"Good evening. How are you doing?" He greeted, smiling at the guards as he walked past them, but they did not even bother to reply him, instead they gave him scornful looks. Some of them looked straight ahead as if a person had not spoken.

Nolan swallowed hard but decided to shake it off, as he went straight into the house. It was not the first time the bodyguards would ignore or disrespect him.

To them, he was not worthy to be in their presence or in the house. He was even lucky he was allowed in tonight, because occasionally, some bodyguards would play a trick on him pretending not yo recognize him, and Nolan would wait and plead for hours, before the bodyguards would suddenly recollect and he'd be let in.

Nolan didn't blame them all that much. They were only mirroring the way the rest of the family were treating him. If the Fernandez family can treat him that way, why couldn't they?

After all, he was the invisible son-in-law of the Fernandez family. The loser husband of Blair Fernandez.

He stepped into the quiet house and made his way to the second floor where he had his room with his wife, Blair. The entire house was quiet, and he guessed it was because the family had retired for the night. He could hear giggling as he approached the room and quietly opened the door.

Blair was lying on the large, double bed in the centre of the spacious bedroom. She was a very beautiful woman, with long silky, blonde hair that fell to her waist in luscious curls. Her smile was beautiful and showed off her two perfect dimples. She had blue eyes which twinkled with delight as she scrolled through whatever was making her happy on her phone.

Nolan stood for a few seconds, mesmerized by the sight of his wife. He was particularly captivated by her smile, and he wished he could just continue to stare at it all night.

Because, Nolan could not remember when last his wife smiled at him that way. But he knew that was another wish that would not come true because, sure enough, she looked up as he entered and her smile immediately faded, replaced by a scowl.

"Oh, it's just you?" She asked, her lips lifted at the corners in a sneer.

"Hi, Blair," Nolan answered, giving her a tentative smile, "Sorry I am late. I was preoccupied with job seeking and did not realize it was so late."

Blair rolled her eyes, "Whatever." She snapped, "I was actually hoping you were dead, and I was never going to see your face and my mistake again!"

The words cut like a knife deep in his heart, and his breath quickened with the pain.

A Mistake?

She viewed him as a mistake.

Blair never ceased to remind him this ever since they got married, yet he wondered why the words seemed to affect him all over again whenever he heard them

He wondered why she'd chased him so much back in their university days, if she was going to be like this. He wondered why she'd made him fall in love with her, if she was going to be like this.

He took a deep breath and started walking into the room fully, intending to take his bath and go to bed.

However, Blair's horrified scream stopped him.

"Stop! Where do you think you're coming into?!" She yelled, stretching out an arm to stop him. Nolan looked around him, then at her in confusion.

"I just want to get ready for bed," he replied and Blair smirked. She glared at him with anger, and threw the covers off her body, revealing slender, long legs, which were barely covered by her skimpy night gown.

Nolan forced himself to stare at her face instead as she climbed out of bed, and stood before him with her arms crossed.

"Prepare for bed?!" She retorted in a high pitched, annoying voice, "You think you have the right to rest?! After lazying around all day?!"

Nolan closed his eyes in frustration. He was genuinely too tired to argue with his wife, but the words she'd said just now had hurt him so bad that he had to say something.

"What do you mean lazying around, Blair?" He said, in a quivering voice, "I'm doing my best to look for a job to support you and you say this?"

"Support me?" Blair laughed at the statement which she thought was ridiculous, "Wow, I bring myself low by marrying you, and you think we are in the same level now?"

Nolan ignored her words "Listen, I know you don't see it now, but I'm really trying my best." He said in a somewhat pleading voice, "One day, my skills will be recognized and I'll prove to you that..."

"Oh please, enough with the crap," Blair said, scratching her ears like he was saying nonsense. She folded her arms and sneered at him, "You are just a talentless architect with delusional ideas, and a stupid dream."

These words hit Nolan in the gut like a punch, and he sucked in a deep breath. His ears were ringing as at that moment , all he could remember was what Blair had said to him before they got married.

"Don't worry, Nolan. One day, your dream will come true. The world will know you're the best in your field, and there'll come a time that people won't be able to do without you."

But she'd just called his dream, stupid. Is this really the sane woman as back then?

Nolan inhaled deeply to put the tears at bay, as Blair, oblivious to his reminiscing, spread out her hands at the room and continued with her words that hurt like spears.

"Look around you at this luxury, " she uttered, "Do you think you deserve it? Do you think you're worthy of it?!"

She walked closer to him, even as he remained silent and jabbed a finger at his shoulder, making him step back a bit.

"We'll never be on the same level, Nolan." She said through clenched teeth. Nolan stared into her eyes, and was stunned to see the amount of hate burning in them, "I married you because I was young and stupid, and your stupid face reminds me of that mistake everyday!"