When the Truth Was Born

I looked up, relief flooding through me as I saw my in-laws, Patrick Harris and Nancy Cobb, striding toward us.

I was about to speak when Marvin beat me to it, his voice soaked in tears.

"Mom, Dad, thank goodness you're here. If you'd been any later, your grandson might have been killed."

Patrick and Nancy hurried over to Marvin, checking on the wailing baby in his arms. Nancy, frantic with worry, rounded on me, her words sharp as knives.

"Daniel, how could you be so cruel? To drop Marvin's child? Don't you realize he's our family's only heir? Are you heartless?

"If you don't apologize to Marvin and your nephew today, I'm going to make sure Rebecca leaves you!"

Their words sent a chill through my heart.

"You know about Rebecca having a child with him, don't you?"

Nancy looked away, a flicker of guilt in her eyes, before she boldly continued, saying, "For years, Marvin's been the picture of loyalty for our late daughter, and he's been nothing but devoted to us, his elders. He's got more sense in his little finger than you do in your whole body.

"And now, he's getting on in years without a child of his own. What's so wrong with asking Rebecca to give him a legacy? Can't you see past your own nose?"

'Wasn't I just as devoted?' I wondered.

After marrying Rebecca, I spared no expense to ensure her parents were comfortable, buying them a spacious apartment and hiring a full-time caretaker.

Marvin? He had been all talk, showing up empty-handed every time he visited.

They thought he was the more devoted one?

That was a joke. I seethed inwardly.

My fists balled up as I spat out my words.

"So, he's the devoted one, and I'm not? What's it to me if he's childless? Why should my wife have to bear his child?"

Before I could take another breath, Patrick was on me, his slap knocking me to the floor.

"Daniel, you dare to sass me? You've got no class. I'm going to teach you a lesson for your folks today!"

He barked an order, and a security guard joined in, their blows raining down on me.

I could not hold back my cries of pain.

Nancy watched, arms crossed, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Daniel, you insolent fool! Not only did you sass us, but you also had the nerve to get physical with Marvin and your own nephew. You'd better apologize to Marvin, or brace yourself for a beating!"

Marvin, who had been taunting me with such smugness, then put on a show of concern. "Daniel, I get that you're hurting, but Rebecca's sister died young, and I can't forget her. I don't want to marry anyone else, so I had to ask her sister to give me a child... Just swallow your pride and apologize, man! If this fight keeps up, you're not going to last."

I glared at him, biting back the pain that threatened to overwhelm me, and kept my mouth shut.

It was not until someone cracked me over the head with an iron rod, sending my world spinning and blood trickling down my face, that I wobbled and collapsed.

Marvin's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Then, he feigned worry once more. "Daniel, stop being so stubborn. You nearly killed my son today, but if you just say you're sorry, I'll let it slide."

I was shaking with rage, but I spat back at him, saying, "You know damn well whether I pushed you or not. Why keep up this charade? And you think I'd apologize to you, the one who tore apart a family? In your dreams!"

He had done the unthinkable, breaking up a home, and yet they bristled at my accusation.

Nancy grabbed a flowerpot from the windowsill and hurled it at my head, cursing me out. "You're a complete failure! Can't even get my daughter pregnant, just mooching off her all day, and you have the gall to call Marvin a homewrecker? If it weren't for Marvin, we wouldn't even have a grandchild to hold."

The impact sent me sprawling to the ground, my head wound gushing more blood than before.

Just then, Rebecca's silhouette burst into my blurry vision.

"Dad! Mom! How could you do this to my husband? This is way out of line."