C1 Outsiders and Dogs

"Looking for trouble, huh? Think you can afford to pay for scratching my car, delivery boy?"

The bald, portly man cursed and spat in Lachlan's direction before hitting the accelerator and speeding off in his blue Porsche.

Lachlan bit back his anger, silently rising to his feet and steadying his electric bike.

His clothes were now stained and reeked from the filthy water on the ground.

To make matters worse, his knee was bleeding profusely from a deep cut.

"I wonder how much they'll dock my pay for this," he mused grimly.

As he surveyed the mess of food containers strewn about, Lachlan's hands tightened into fists.

At that moment, his phone rang.

"Hey, babe! Did you need me?"

It was Lachlan's wife, Belinda, hailed as the most beautiful woman in Virenthia.

"I've told you time and again, stop calling me 'babe'!" she retorted sharply.

"If you're not at the ancestral hall in half an hour, don't bother coming back at all!"

Click!

The line went dead, and Lachlan was left in a daze.

The ancestral hall?

The ancestor worship ceremony!

Crap!

Today was the day the Murphy family paid homage to their ancestors.

As a second-tier family in Virenthia, the Murphys had taken Lachlan in as their live-in son-in-law.

His status was already precarious, and being late would only make things worse.

With a sense of urgency, Lachlan slapped the back of his head in vexation, hopped on his electric bike, and raced off.

...

February 2nd.

The day known as "Dragon Raises Head," marking the start of spring.

It was also the day the Murphy family held their annual ancestor worship ceremony.

Family members from both the main and collateral lines would converge at the ancestral hall, along with Virenthia's elite.

It was the Murphy family's most solemn and celebrated occasion.

Currently, the area around the ancestral hall was alive with chatter and swarming with luxury vehicles.

"Why isn't he here yet?"

Belinda glared at her phone, her frustration so intense she could almost crush her teeth.

"What, your no-good husband hasn't arrived yet?"

"Really, he's got some nerve, showing up late to the ancestral rites. Can't wait to hear how you'll explain this one to Grandma!"

A sharply dressed man stood before Belinda, his voice oozing sarcasm.

He was Malen, her older cousin and the eldest grandson of the Murphy family.

Malen and Belinda were the shining stars of the Murphy's third generation, both tipped as favorites to inherit the family's reins.

That's why Malen always regarded Belinda as a constant irritant.

"Shut up! My life is not your concern!" Belinda retorted, her eyes blazing.

Malen just shrugged, a sardonic grin on his face.

At that moment...

A conspicuous figure cut through the crowd, stopping before Belinda.

"Sorry, honey, got stuck in a jam," Lachlan apologized as he parked his electric bike and removed his helmet.

"Who's this guy? And why's he in a delivery outfit?"

"Has the Murphy family sunk to making ends meet with food delivery? That's just shameful!"

"You're out of the loop! He's a notable figure in Virenthia—the Murphy's live-in son-in-law, living off his wife. That toad snagged himself a swan!"

The crowd's murmurs sent Belinda's embarrassment through the roof.

Malen's grin only grew at the spectacle.

"Babe, your face is so red. Are you running a fever?" Lachlan asked, concern etched on his face, reaching out to touch her cheek but getting his hand swatted away.

"Lachlan, is this some kind of joke to you?"

Belinda's eyes were rimmed with red.

Seeing Lachlan in his dirty yellow uniform, with a torn knee, only added to her mortification.

"Why did you have to come looking like this?"

"Do you get a kick out of my discomfort, watching people laugh at me?"

Belinda fought back tears, her voice breaking.

"I...I..."

Lachlan's gaze was filled with remorse as he looked at Belinda, at a loss for words.

"Let's just get on with the ancestral ceremony," Belinda said with a deep sigh, her voice weary.

Watching her husband fumble for words, she felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.

"Stop right there! Who said you could go in?"

At that, Malen stepped in front of Lachlan, hand raised to block his path, looking down on him with disdain.

"Malen, what do you think you're doing?"

Belinda's eyes were fixed on Malen, her voice tight with anger.

"What am I doing? Your husband is dressed like that and you think he has any right to step foot in the Murphy family shrine?

"Do you want to turn the Murphy family into the joke of Virenthia?"

Malen looked Lachlan up and down with undisguised contempt.

He was clearly relishing the opportunity to shame Lachlan and strip Belinda of her dignity.

"Malen, if you've got an issue with me, we can deal with it after the ancestral ceremony.

But right now, I need you to move. If we miss the auspicious time for the rites, can you handle the blame from grandma?"

Belinda's urgency was palpable, especially with the scornful looks from those around her making her skin crawl. She was desperate to get away from there.

"Heh! Grandma did indeed say that every Murphy must be present. But let's not forget, your 'dear' husband is a Hartwell, not a Murphy.

"Keep this in mind: he's nothing more than a lowly live-in son-in-law, a complete outsider!"

Malen's tone was confrontational as he turned back to Lachlan, pointing to a sign at the entrance.

"Do you see that sign?"

'No outsiders or dogs allowed.'

"Do us all a favor and scram, just like the dog you are."