"Richard! Why is the living room still so dusty? And all this clutter is not put away properly!" Sabrina's shout thundered throughout the house.

The tall, well-built man hustled out of his room. His breathing was ragged as he made his way to his mother-in-law, who was inspecting the dust on the furniture.

"I'm sorry, Ma. I had to get Velyn's things ready before heading to work," Richard said in a subdued tone.

"I don't care! I expect to relax anywhere in a clean, dust-free space!" Sabrina retorted, glaring sharply at her new son-in-law.

Richard sighed deeply, "Alright. I'll take care of it right away, Ma," he said, as he moved to get the cleaning supplies.

"What's with you, Ma! Creating such a fuss first thing in the morning. It's giving me a headache!" Velyn complained as she descended the stairs gracefully.

Adorned in a knee-length dress and a blazer that fit her tall frame perfectly, paired with high heels, it was clear she was ready for another day at the office.

"Look at your husband. What's he been doing all morning? It's this late, and the housework is still not done!" Sabrina scorned, dismissing her son-in-law.

Unfazed, Richard tirelessly wiped the dust off tables, sofas, and around the living room.

"Iron my shirt, Ma. And really, Mama, why did you fire our two maids?" Velyn moved on to the dining table to have breakfast as usual.

"What's the use of your husband, Vel? Rather than being a bartender, he might as well clean our house. It'll help cut the monthly budget!" Sabrina scoffed, rolling her eyes dismissively.

Without much concern, Velyn took her seat. She didn't particularly care for her husband's well-being. His presence had caused the collapse of her marriage to her beloved.

A short while later, everyone gathered at the breakfast table. Richard hurriedly washed his hands, then swiftly joined them, before his mother-in-law could find another reason to ignite her fury.

One by one, he served them, fetching food for his in-laws, his sister-in-law, and eventually his wife. Only then was he able to sit down at the table.

"Big sis Velyn, can I get a ride to college with you? My car's still at the mechanic’s!" Debora—Velyn's sister—asked.

"Hmm!" was all Velyn responded. She ate quickly, disgusted with having to be in the house and see her husband. Despite his handsome looks, Velyn's hatred for him ran deep.

...

Velyn and Debora left after finishing their breakfast, bidding farewell only to their parents, ignoring Richard.

The man grumbled, having been part of the Narendra family for a week but still receiving no respect from any of them, including his wife.

"Aduh! My back suddenly hurts so much, Ma!" Narendra complained, struggling to rise from his chair.

"Hey, what's wrong, Pa? Weren't you fine just now?" Sabrina inquired, furrowing her brows.

"I don't know, Ma. It hurts too much even to move!" Narendra added, grimacing and clutching his lower back.

Richard approached quickly, "Let's move you to the living room, Pa. Let me help!" he offered.

Reluctant and distrustful, Narendra reluctantly accepted the assistance from the son-in-law he regarded as worthless.

Richard gently supported Narendra's frame, helping him to sit on the long sofa.

"Where does it hurt, Pa?" Richard asked, kneeling down.

Narendra moaned and applied pressure to his lower back, reluctant to answer since he thought it pointless.

Without waiting for a reply, Richard began massaging the nerve points on Narendra's feet.

"Aaarggh! You damned son-in-law! What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me?" Narendra lashed out with a kick that sent Richard sprawling, feeling greater pain.

Momentarily silent, Richard observed his father-in-law's ashen face, noting the cold sweat on his brow. From the complaints and his knowledge of acupuncture points, Richard deduced the issue.

"I'm sorry, Pa, but for the past five years, I've practiced traditional massage. I can tell that your kidneys are troubled. Please reduce your salt intake and drink more water," Richard explained.

"Psh, what do you know about medicine?" Sabrina sneered, shoving Richard's shoulder. "Just you wait, if anything happens to my husband, I could have you jailed!" she said, glaring intensely.

"Up to you, Ma. If you don't believe it, you can go check at the hospital right now. Let me drive you," Richard shrugged, then got up and walked out to prepare the car.

He ran back in and helped his father-in-law into the vehicle.

...====ooo====

...

At the hospital, the doctor's diagnosis confirmed Richard's suspicions. For now, Narendra could be treated as an outpatient.

Richard drove slowly as Narendra continued to groan in pain.

"The doctor's diagnosis is similar to mine, right, Pa? Apart from medical drugs, I will also assist with traditional massage therapy to help reduce the pain," Richard said, glancing at the rearview mirror.

"It's probably just a fluke!" Sabrina sneered contemptuously.

"It's up to Mama. I just want to help. It’s not in my interest to hurt my father-in-law," Richard replied calmly.

"Just get on with it! But you'll hear from me if there’s no improvement within a week!" Narendra ordered, resting his head and closing his eyes. Richard responded with a smile and a nod.

After ensuring his in-laws were comfortably settled in their room, Richard received orders to pick up Debora from college, since her car was still at the garage.

...

Wearing simple attire, a white T-shirt and jeans, Richard leaned against his car parked outside Debora's college campus.

Students began streaming out as lectures ended. Richard kept a watchful eye, not wanting his sister-in-law to wait too long.

Shortly, Debora’s eyes widened in surprise upon spotting her brother-in-law. She hurriedly bid farewell to her friends and rushed over, embarrassed that they knew Richard as a bartender from their frequent visits to the bar where he worked. She feared her friends might recognize him as her brother-in-law.

"Why are you here? Where's Papa?" Debora demanded, peering into the car.

"I came to pick you up. Papa is unwell," Richard replied casually, opening the door for her.

THUD!

Debora’s bag hit Richard squarely in the chest, which he managed to catch. "Let's go! Don't let my friends see who you are!" she moaned, slumping into the passenger seat.

Richard exhaled deeply to maintain his composure. Then, taking his place behind the wheel, he started the car and smoothly drove away.

Just fifteen minutes after leaving the college, a vehicle appeared suddenly, blocking their path.

Forced to slam on the brakes, Richard stopped the car abruptly causing Debora to lurch forward.

"Hey! Can't you drive or what?" Debora’s shout stung his ears.

Silent, Richard paid no heed to her rant, his gaze steadily focused on the sharply dressed individuals approaching them.

To be continued~

"I swear if it wasn't for my brother-in-law, I'd throw him into the street!" grumbled Debora, rubbing her forehead where it had hit the front seat's headrest.

The girl straightened up, her eyes widening in alarm when she spotted a row of burly men blocking their vehicle.

"Who are they? Could they be loan sharks? Do you have debts? What a burden it is to know you!" Debora barraged without respite.

Rihard's grip on the steering wheel tightened, and though silent, his jaw clenched with a fierce glint in his eyes.

"Don't get out! Stay here! Let me handle my business. Remember! Do not get out, or you will be their collateral!" Richard intimidated his sister-in-law with a stern warning.

"Ugh! Don't drag me or my family into your mess, damn it!" Deborah cursed with biting sarcasm.

"Hmph!" Richard responded before stepping out of the car to approach the men.

Debora chose to distract herself, fiddling with her phone to check social media, utterly indifferent to what was about to unfold with her brother-in-law. From the start, she disapproved of her sister marrying that bar waiter.

...===000===...

Richard stood firm, eyeing the burly men before him, all of them bowing respectfully.

"What more do you want?" Richard growled with forceful emphasis, recognizing the henchmen sent by his grandfather.

"Young Master, we finally found you. We've come to escort you back!" one of them politely replied.

"Pah! After tossing me aside five years ago, now you summon me back as you please? Tell your master I'll never return!" Richard declared, clenching his fists, the turmoil in his chest recalling clearly how his grandfather had thrown him out penniless.

"I apologize, Young Master. But the old man is critically ill. No one's there to manage the company, and he wants to seek your forgiveness before his time comes," the guard explained further.

THUD!

Richard felt his knees weaken, as if the bones had detached from his body. No matter how much he resented his grandfather, he didn't want to lose him—the old man who had raised him after his own parents died when Richard was two.

Richard was motionless, torn between the urgency of returning to country K to see his grandfather and the inability to leave so abruptly.

"Have Delon contact me! I'll consider it!" Richard ordered, asking to be contacted by his grandfather's right-hand man.

"Very well, Young Master. We'll convey the message," they promised.

"One more thing. Do not appear like this again, or you'll suffer the consequences!" Richard threatened sternly.

After their confirmatory response, Richard returned to his in-laws' car, slamming the door so hard that Debora jumped.

"Can you be gentle? Can you afford to pay if it breaks?" Debora yelled after him.

Richard remained silent, his mood soured by the unexpected news that disturbed his thoughts. The car resumed its journey at a moderate pace; he had no desire to endure more ear-splitting screams.

...===000===...

That evening, Richard was occupied with a pile of domestic chores: washing the car, watering plants, and tidying the bedroom he shared with his wife, Velyn. He knew exactly how she disliked a messy, dirty room.

After his work, Richard cleaned himself and then headed to his father-in-law's room. The man knocked gently, then entered when the door was opened.

"What is it?" Sabrina asked curtly, facing her son-in-law.

"I want to check on dad's condition, Ma. Excuse me," he said, entering even without being invited.

Sabrina glared, "Hey! You're rude, you know!" she shouted, turning to block Richard, who was continuing his therapeutic massage.

"Ma, if dad only relies on medical drugs and skips therapy, his recovery will take longer. Please trust me. This is for dad's healing," Richard pleaded, sitting at the foot of Rendra's bed, pressing on nerve points on the soles of his feet.

"Ouch! Careful, dummy!" Rendra winced, feeling his waist squeezed by an intense pressure.

"Sorry, Pa. But with regular therapy, within a week you should feel the difference," Richard insisted, not stopping his massaging hands.

For nearly half an hour, Richard applied his skill. Despite his father-in-law's continuous complaints, Richard was undeterred. His only goal was to help heal those around him using the abilities he'd acquired over the past five years.

After being kicked out by his grandfather, Richard chose to start anew abroad. In country A, he was immediately robbed and severely beaten.

Richard was helped by an old man and, after six months of traditional massage, he recovered without hospital treatment. Since then, Richard had mastered these traditional massage techniques taught by his savior. At night, he worked as a bar waiter.

"Richard!" Velyn's shout echoed as she returned from work.

He quickly finished up and went to greet his wife, who had just come home from her job.

"Hi, just got home?" Richard asked, carrying his wife's work bag.

"Where are your eyes? Do you think I am a ghost? Even knowing I'm standing here, you still ask!" Velyn replied snappishly, flipping her long hair.

Richard sighed deeply, "Lucky you're pretty," he muttered softly, following his wife to their room.

"Want to take a bath now?" Richard offered after setting down his wife's bag.

"Hmm... I want a soak. Prepare the hot bath with aromatherapy as usual," she said, kicking off her shoes.

Without further questions, Richard hurried to the bathroom to prepare the hot water as his wife wished in the bathtub.

"The water is ready," Richard announced as he left the bathroom and approached his wife now in her bathrobe.

"Hmm!" was all Velyn uttered in response. Since their wedding day, she's had a profound distaste for the man she married. More accurately, her substitute husband.

Richard remained patient in the face of his wife's animosity. It was not entirely his fault that they ended up married.

The night of the incident, Velyn was holding a bridal shower at a bar. She was set to marry Gerald, her fiance, in a week.

However, the next morning, she found herself in bed with Richard, naked. Due to the scandal that followed, Gerald called off the wedding. Richard stepped in as a replacement groom, taking responsibility for compromising her honor.

...===000===...

"Lay down as usual, I'll massage you to relieve the tiredness," Richard offered after his wife emerged refreshed from the bathroom. She was flexing her neck from exhaustion.

Velyn narrowed her eyes, yet she lay facedown on the bed without protest. It was undeniable that her husband had a talent for massage. She'd often drift off to sleep and her fatigue would vanish instantly.

"I need to investigate what happened that night," Richard thought to himself.

The sound of the doorbell echoed, drawing his attention. He hastily made his way downstairs and opened the front door. His eyes bulged when he saw a man of his own age standing tall, bowing briefly in respect.

Hastily, Richard glanced around to ensure no one had seen them. He then closed the door very quietly.

"Delon! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, pulling the man away from his in-laws' porch.

To be continued

Richard dragged his grandfather's confidant outside to the front gate. He flung his arm and stood with his hands on his hips. "What are you doing here, Delon?" snapped Richard, emotional.

"I'm sorry, Sir. It's an emergency. The Boss has had a heart attack. You need to come home right away," Delon explained to his superior.

Richard sighed roughly, running his hands through his sweat-soaked hair. He thought for a moment before finally speaking, "Arrange a flight for tonight. And get a return ticket, before dawn!" commanded the man.

Delon's smile blossomed, he nodded eagerly, "Ready, Sir. I'll take care of it promptly," he responded energetically. At least, Richard was willing to go home and visit his grandfather.

"Get out of here! Call if you want to meet. Don't just come unannounced like this!" Richard dismissed Delon with a flick of his leg.

"Excuse me, Sir!" Delon bowed and then quickly strode away.

Richard closed the gate and went back inside the house with turmoil in his heart. Opening the front door, he was startled to find Velyn standing with her piercing gaze.

"Where have you been?" Velyn asked curtly.

"Eee ... well, there was someone annoyingly ringing the bell. So I scolded them to not dare do it again," he said massaging his tingling neck.

Without another word, Velyn moved to the dining table. It was already dinnertime.

"Have all the dishes for Dad been prepared without salt?" Richard asked the servant responsible for cooking.

"No, Sir. As per your request," replied the middle-aged woman setting the food with his help.

"What are you going to do about Dad's meal?" Velyn probed after sipping her warm tea.

"Umm... Ma'am. The Master's food hasn't been salted. Because he's recovering," clarified the servant again.

"Dad's sick?"

Richard informed her of Rendra's current condition. Velyn just took a deep breath and immediately devoured her dinner without waiting for the other family members.

...====000====...

At precisely eight o'clock in the evening, Richard's phone shrieked. It was undoubtedly from his assistant. The plane would soon be taking off. However, Richard was still busy getting ready.

"Where are you going?" asked Velyn, her forehead wrinkled slightly, her eyes inquisitive.

"I have a quick errand to run. Don't wait up for me, go to sleep first. I'll be back before morning," Richard replied as he hurriedly put on his shoes.

"What errand? To the bar again? Haven't I warned you to stop that job. If Dad finds out what you're up to!" the woman interrogated, folding her arms across her chest.

Richard just gave a faint smile, rose to his feet and slightly bowed, "No. I'm already on my way out. It's important, and I can't explain it right now. I'm leaving," he said, taking his leave.

Without waiting for further protest, Richard moved swiftly out of the house, raising his phone to his ear. "Yes! Yes! Can't you wait?!" he snapped before hanging up the call.

Outside, Delon was waiting in a taxi. They set off for the airport. The weather that night was fairly pleasant. A two-hour flight later, they arrived in Richard's home country. A driver was waiting for their arrival. It took only 20 minutes to reach the Dirgantara residence.

Richard stepped out of the car, surveying the grandiose building before him. Everything was as it had been, unchanged since he left five years ago. Most lights were off, considering it was nearing midnight.

"Please, Sir," Delon extended his arm, gesturing for Richard to enter.

Unexpectedly, his grandfather was already waiting to greet Richard, seated in his wheelchair with a nurse beside him. The two men locked eyes.

Richard stood still, his eyes moistening at the sight of his grandfather, pale and thinner than before.

"Icad! My grandson!" Alex called out with a trembling voice, stretching out his arms.

The endearing nickname Richard had longed to hear finally filled the air. The man knelt and hugged his grandfather tightly. The only family he had left, apart from his wife's.

"How have you been, you scamp! How long have you been sulking!" continued the old man, patting Richard's broad back.

"Didn't you ask me to leave?" Richard replied.

"You rebellious grandson! So you said you didn't want to get married, and now you have a wife!" Grandpa Alex exclaimed, knowing his men had kept him informed.

Richard loosened his embrace, "Grandpa, I don't have much time. Let's go to your room. I'm going to check on you," Richard insisted, disregarding the old man's gruffness.

Alex's brow furrowed slightly, "Since when did you become a doctor? Pretending to check on Grandpa?" the old man sneered.

"Haiss! You always belittle me! Hurry to your room!" Richard took control of the wheelchair and wheeled his grandfather to his room.

With Delon's help, they transferred Alex to the bed. Richard then demonstrated his ability. Massaging his grandfather's acupressure points occasionally made the old man wince in pain.

"Your blood pressure's high, isn't it? That's why you shouldn't get angry!" Richard joked as he continued his massage.

"It's your fault, you rotten grandchild!" Grandpa threw a pillow at his beloved grandson.

"I was just proving to you, Grandpa, that I could stand on my own two feet. Without Dirgantara's name and fortune," Richard said arrogantly.

"Ah, my chest feels lighter. Where did you learn this from? Five years have indeed changed you, Icad! Forgive me. Now come back, the company needs you. See for yourself, I'm not capable anymore," the old man looked hopefully at his sole heir in the Dirgantara family.

"Umm... for the time being, I'll monitor things from there, Grandpa. Let Delon help. There's still a lot I need to take care of in Country A," Richard said, turning to Delon, who had only observed till then. "What time is the flight?"

"One in the morning, Sir!" Delon replied.

Richard checked his watch. There was still an hour left before he had to return to his wife.

"You want to leave Grandpa again?" Alex remarked sharply.

"As I've said, there are things I need to take care of, Grandpa. Be patient, I'll bring your granddaughter-in-law here! She's very beautiful!" the man praised with a wide smile.

"Alright. Bring her, and your grandchild too. Just make sure you're not lying!"

"Deal, Grandpa. Now get some rest! I need to review the company reports before heading back. Don't eat recklessly. Follow the doctor's advice if you want to see your great-grandchild later." Richard stood up, tucking the blanket around his grandfather.

He could see a spark of joy in his grandfather's eyes. It would be a spirit boost, even though he still had a hard time winning over his wife. 'A grandchild! Doing it just once, it couldn't possibly take seed,' he mused with a chuckle.

After saying goodbye, Richard went to his office with Delon. The very limited time required him to bring his laptop and essential documents that needed to be reviewed. With Delon's help, Richard managed to return home on time.

...====000====...

"Why didn't you just come back in the morning?" Velyn, still up at her desk, asked. Though the day was dawning.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Richard asked, concealing his briefcase and setting it down gently.

Velyn was silent. Spectacles perched on her sharp nose, her fingers busily tapping on the keyboard. Her long hair carelessly coiled, she radiated a different aura in the dim light of her laptop.

Taking the initiative, Richard approached her. He massaged the tense shoulders of his wife, weary from the toll of exhaustion.

Gradually, Velyn felt more relaxed. "There's been some trouble at the company," she said wearily. The burden she bore alone was massive. Velyn needed someone to confide in, even if they couldn't offer a solution.

"Let me have a look, maybe I can help," Richard offered as he leaned over to peer at the laptop screen, close enough to Velyn that his breath of cool air after the trip caressed her slender neck.

Velyn responded to Richard's offer with an annoyed click of her tongue, pushing his head away, "What could you do?!" she scoffed. "What would a bar waiter know about a corporate crisis!" she added, sneering.

To be continued~