The Despised Son-in-Law Becomes the Ruler

Episode 8

Throughout the night, Vin found no respite in sleep, his thoughts circling relentlessly around his decision to leave. If he remained in his wife's family home, he anticipated that his dignity would be trampled underfoot without end.

Despite the absence of sleep, Vin's body retained its vigor; instead, he felt an internal blaze, as if fires were consuming his organs.

Before dawn broke, Vin made his way to the rooftop to tame his powers and to enhance his abilities alongside the gemstone that was his constant companion.

After sufficient training, Vin descended, only to hear Miranda's cries of agony.

"What's wrong, Ma?" Vin asked and hurried to his mother-in-law's side, noting that Sifa and Gultom were out for a morning run, not home at the moment.

Vin rushed over to assist his mother-in-law who had slipped and fallen.

Vin aided his mother-in-law in seating herself on the stair steps. Miranda, still shouting in pain, clutched her injured leg. Examining the cause with his special sight, Vin discerned a sprain caused by her fall.

Vin pinched the sprained vein back into place, eliciting a scream from Miranda due to the excruciating pain, yet he allowed her cries to continue. Then Vin firmly pulled on Miranda's sore right arm with both hands to realign the displaced veins.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to abuse me?" Miranda accused through tears, her outcry unheeded as Vin ignored her and maintained his assistance.

Vin kneaded and tapped her right arm gently until it felt normal again. Subsequently, he straightened Miranda's right leg. Vin grasped her trousers and pulled them upwards while she yelled out in pain. Urging the magic from the gemstone, he pressed acupuncture points until suddenly, her entire body was healed.

Unbeknownst to Vin, his actions were witnessed by Sifa and her father. Miranda abruptly reverted to pretense.

"What have you done, Vin?" Gultom barked, observing his wife's painful grimace and quickly moving to her.

"Father," Vin began, rising to his feet, "I did nothing wrong. I-"

"Sifa, look what your husband has done. He wants to torment his mother-in-law. Does he harbor resentment towards your mother for driving him out?" Gultom accused, berating his daughter.

"What father says is untrue, I harbor no thoughts of tormenting Ma. On the contrary, I was aiding her to relieve the pain from her sprained ankle. Ma, you should tell the truth to father-in-law and not frame me," interjected Vin, indignant at the accusations hurled at him.

Miranda stayed silent, hesitating. She was aware that Vin hadn't meant to harm her, rather to help. However, she refused to admit it, unwilling to damage her pride by acknowledging the truth.

"You may as well leave. You no longer have a place in this family. Leave before I take severe action against you," Gultom commanded forcefully.

Vin wondered why his mother-in-law could be so cruel, allowing him to be blamed without acknowledging his deed in return. Yet, he found his unsatisfactory answer as Miranda turned away from him, a deep disappointment settling in him.

Unable to restrain her dismay, Sifa slapped Vin harshly, surprising him and triggering a fist clenched in anger, though he soon relaxed his hand upon seeing Sifa's pallid face witnessing his contained fury.

With resentment surging within him, Vin left the house without a word, never once looking back. Sifa, filled with regret yet puzzled that Vin could be so cruel to her mother, went to check their home's CCTV.

After seeing for herself that Vin had not assaulted Miranda but had saved her, Sifa was overcome with guilt for not trusting her husband and letting emotions flare without knowing the truth.

Sifa confronted her mother for the truth. "Ma, I know everything now. Vin didn't abuse you, he actually helped heal your sprained ankle. So why stay quiet and let Papa chase him away? You should be thanking him; without him, you might still be in pain or worse," Sifa said, frustrated and disappointed.

"You're right, Sifa. Vin didn't abuse me; he helped heal my leg. But I'm too ashamed to admit it. Where would that leave my face if I had to thank him?" Miranda responded, heightening Sifa's disappointment.

"You better find him and apologize. You shouldn't have treated someone who helped you that way," Sifa urged, only to be met with refusal and excuses from her mother.

Accepting her mother's obstinacy, Sifa decided to leave home to follow Vin.

Sifa searched for Vin along the roads but found no trace of him, wishing to find him quickly.

"Where else could he be? I feel so guilty for mistrusting him. Would he ever forgive me?" Sifa mused, driving slowly, scanning each side of the road in hopes of finding Vin soon.