THE VENGEFUL SON IN-LAW

The small room echoed with Mrs. Bernard's sharp voice, cutting through the air like a knife.

"Donald! What in the world is this mess?" she bellowed, glaring at the crumpled bedspread.

Donald, on his knees, hastily tried to straighten the disheveled sheets. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Bernard. I'll fix it right away."

"You're always sorry! Can't you do anything right?" Mrs. Bernard's frustration boiled over as she continued to berate him.

"I'm doing my best," Donald mumbled, his hands working quickly to remedy the situation.

Mrs. Bernard's eyes narrowed, a storm brewing in her gaze. "Your best is never good enough. We pay you to do a simple job, and you can't even manage that. Pathetic."

Silent tension filled the room as Donald bit his lip, determined to maintain his composure. The clash of power between the wealthy employer and the humble gardener hung heavy in the air.

Just then, Clara entered the room, observing the scene with a hint of amusement. "Mother, what's going on? with anger boiling up in her, she turned to Donald." 'why are you disturbing my mum and giving her headache, and immediately lifted her hands and gave him two resounding slaps on his face.

Donald was dumbfounded and confused at the same time. 'What!?" why did you slap me, I have not even explained to you what happened and you already slapped me? Clara why......... he was still talking when Mrs. Bernard landed another heavy slap on his other cheek, this time around the slap was too painful and severe that you could see the shape of her hands on Donald's cheek. How dare raise your voice at your wife in my presence. she thundered!

Donald continued his task, his face a mask of stoicism, absorbing the verbal and physical onslaught.

Clara rolled her eyes, a dismissive smile playing on her lips. He is very useless" she chipped in as she snapped her fingers and hissed

The tension lingered, leaving an unspoken resentment in the room.

As tense air hung thick in the room as Clara beckoned her mother with a wave of her hand. "Mum, we have something important to discuss. Donald, excuse us," she said, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Donald, still on his knees, nodded quietly, his eyes averted. He continued fixing the bed, trying to shut out the conversation unfolding behind him.

As they moved away from Donald, Clara's expression hardened. "Mother, I can't believe he can't even manage a simple task. It's embarrassing."

Mrs. Bernard, her frustration apparent, nodded in agreement. "Exactly, Clara. I don't know why we bother keeping him around. We should find someone more competent."

Clara's gaze remained fixed on Donald, disdain evident in her eyes. "I've been saying this for a while, Mum. He doesn't know what he is doing. A cleaner, of all people!"

The following morning dawned with a bitter chill, matching the frosty atmosphere within the Bernard household. Donald, diligently attending to his chores, found himself at the center of yet another wave of humiliation.

As he worked in the garden, Mrs. Bernard and Clara strolled past, casting disdainful glances his way.

Mrs. Bernard scoffed, "Look at him, Clara. A grown man playing in the dirt. It's a wonder we let him handle anything in this estate."

Clara, with a derisive smile, added, "Maybe we should hire a proper gardener. Someone who knows how to maintain a garden without making it look like a child's playground."

Donald kept his head down, absorbing the insults without a word. His hands continued their work, the soil beneath his fingernails a testament to his dedication.

Later in the day, at the family dinner, the humiliation continued. The table conversation revolved around Donald's perceived inadequacies.

"Did you see how he stumbled over his words when I asked him about the bank?" Clara laughed, her tone mocking.

Mrs. Bernard chimed in, "It's clear he has no understanding of business. A gardener trying to act like he knows anything about finances. Ridiculous."

The family's laughter echoed through the dining room, leaving Donald isolated in his embarrassment. Each comment, a sharp jab, chipped away at his resilience.

Even the servants joined in the mockery, exchanging glances and stifled laughs when Donald entered a room. The once-respected gardener became the subject of gossip and ridicule, a shadow of the man he used to be.

The Bernard family's actions were deliberate, each incident carefully calculated to undermine Donald's confidence. Eldridge, a town that had witnessed his struggles, now watched as the layers of his dignity were peeled away with each passing day.

Yet, in the midst of the humiliation, Donald maintained a quiet resolve. His eyes betrayed no sign of surrender.

As the waves of humiliation continued to crash upon Donald, the rising actions within the Bernard household took a darker turn. The family's disdain for him escalated, culminating in a series of incidents designed to break his spirit.

One day, Mrs. Bernard orchestrated a gathering of the town's elite at their estate. As Donald worked tirelessly to ensure the gardens were immaculate for the occasion, he overheard snippets of the family's plan to expose him to further embarrassment.

"He's an embarrassment to this family. Let's make it known to everyone," Mrs. Bernard whispered to Clara, the malice in her voice unmistakable.

At the event, guests were subtly informed of Donald's supposed incompetence, with Mrs. Bernard and Clara casting disapproving glances his way. The whispers and judgmental stares fueled the atmosphere of degradation.

A particularly cruel incident unfolded when Clinton, Clara's aggressive brother, publicly confronted Donald in front of the guests. "What makes you think you belong here? You're just a gardener. Know your place!" he sneered, pushing Donald to the ground.

Amidst the rising turmoil, Clara's behavior took a darker turn. Fueled by resentment and the desire to distance herself from Donald, she intensified her efforts to manipulate the narrative.

She spread false rumors about Donald's character, weaving a web of lies that painted him as a deceitful schemer. The town, susceptible to gossip, began to question the once-respected gardener's integrity.

Through it all, Donald clung to his dignity, refusing to retaliate or succumb to the humiliation. His steadfast resolve drew the attention of a few sympathetic townsfolk who, in whispers and shared glances, expressed their disapproval of the Bernard family's treatment.