A Slumdog Heir

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 

Colin was left speechless, if anyone had told him Marissa would betray him like this, he wouldn't have believed it. 

For three years, she had stuck with her, come rain or sunshine. 

Despite his love not being reciprocated, he never looked at another woman. 

Yet, this is what he got in return. 

She said she wasn't ready to have or be intimate with him, so he waited. 

Patiently, he waited for when she would be ready and come to him. 

Today, he sees her in the arms of another man, a stranger. 

He fights the thought in his head. 

The one of her being in bed with another but him.

The thought of her moaning to someone else's touch but not him. 

How could he live like this? Like a fool, one with no direction or purpose. 

For three years, he was their puppet and did all the dirty work they dared not do. 

He did every last thing they had asked him to do yet, it wasn't enough. 

They wouldn't even let him go find a job and work like everyone else. 

They had insisted he stayed home and do the chores to prove my love. 

I had graduated from one of the best colleges in the country but it meant nothing to them. 

His love meant nothing to her for, in the end, she left. 

And to think she did it in the worse way possible, to humiliate him in front of everyone. 

"Marissa, how could you do this to me?" Colin asked, embarrassed and downcast at the same time. 

"Do what to you? I didn't do nothing, you did this to yourself" Marissa corrected 

"What does that mean?" Colin asks, confused 

"It means exactly what it is. I won't let you a guilt trip me into this like I am the only one being the bad person here. You aren’t a Saint either" Marissa answered  

"Better let him know, girl" Catherine cheered on 

"After everything we have done for you, you still want to rape my sister?" Marissa asked, wide-eyed, feigning surprise 

"You don't believe that, do you?" Colin had asked, needing some sort of assurance that she didn’t think so low of him 

"Of course, I don't, but outside these walls, no one will believe you" Marissa warned smiling 

"You have no one, you better think about this carefully, think about what you stand to lose if you decide to go down this path" Mrs. Williams had chipped in, giving me a death stare 

I knew the Williams hated me and would do everything in their power to get me out of their daughter's life. 

But, I underestimated them, I didn't think they would go this far to want to bring me down. 

"No need for all the words, I am sure he knows what he wants" one of the cousins had chipped in 

"We don't have all day, time is not convenient" Marissa had said, making the sound of the ticking clock with her mouth 

"I am not doing it" Colin blurted out, standing up straight despite the sharp pain he felt on his leg that had been hit continuously 

"You are not doing what?" Marissa asked, to confirm she had heard him right 

"Be more specific with your words" Mrs. Williams had said

"I am not divorcing you, Marissa" Colin repeated, only this time clearer with his words 

"You have 30 minutes to change your mind" Marissa had noted 

"Or else?" Colin inquired  

"The top five most influential families in the city would be here to decide your fate" Marissa calmly explained 

"Why would they be involved in this?" Colin questioned, dumbfounded 

This was so not serious to involve the top families, was it? 

"A hurt to one of us is hurt to all. Amongst those coming would be a judge to give judgment" Mrs. Williams added

"Of what use would they be if I know what my fate already is?" Colin asked, scoffing 

"To ensure a fair judgment" Catherine answered and Colin scoffed 

"Fair? You call it fair?" Colin laughed, coughing in the process  

"You have a better word?" One of the cousins had asked, standing up and trying to hit him  

"Why are you trying to make me famous for the wrong reason?" Colin queried 

"You're a loser and no one cares about you. And fame, forget about it, you don't need the fame" Marissa had replied smiling 

"Now, as I said, you have 30 minutes. You can admit to committing the crime and we would forget that may of this ever happened or you can decide to continue to play innocent" Marissa added 

"You know, pleading guilty would only help grant you a lenient sentence. However, trying to not pleas guilty with all this evidence will only just make it more difficult" Marissa assured 

"All she is trying to say is that you beg for forgiveness, our forgiveness so that we can all get past this" Mrs. Williams further urged 

"I would do no such thing, I would rather I died" Colin yelled spitting to the floor 

"Good heavens, you are a hard nut to crack" Mrs. Williams noted 

"Be it as you want it then" Marissa had said 

"They are here" Catherine announced happily 

"Oh, welcome" Marissa and Mrs. Williams had greeted 

"Let's get straight to it then" one of the guests had said. 

Colin watched closely as they spoke in whispers and threw a glance or two at him. 

Perhaps, they were measuring his size and comparing it to the punishment? 

"What is his offense?" One of them finally spoke up. 

Mrs. Williams then offered to let them on about the numerous crimes that Colin had committed. 

She started by telling them how she had for the last three years fed and housed Colin, referring to him as an ingrate and selfish person, who only wanted only things for his gain. 

"Colin has not worked for all the three years he has spent at my house. He is synonymous to the biological parasite, with no benefit" Mrs. Williams had started

The guests turned to look at Colin with astonishment, how could one man be so lazy? He hadn’t worked for three years? 

They whispered amongst themselves, saying Mrs. Williams had done more than enough.  

"He has been eating my food for three years and is being accommodated in our home" Mrs. Williams continued 

The guests shook their head in disapproval. 

Mrs. Williams had gotten just the reaction that she had expected.

"Colin has no creative ability, skill, or knowledge and as you would all agree, he certainly doesn't deserve a daughter like my Marissa" Mrs. Williams added 

"I doubt that he has anything but love for her and is only after the family's resources" 

"Worse of it all, he was not satisfied with all of that, and just yesterday, he had tried to force his way with his wife's sister, Catherine" Mrs. Williams blurted out and there was a mixed reaction from the persons in the room. 

She went silent for a bit to allow them to process what she had just said, satisfied with the shocking expressions on their face, just what she had expected and wanted. 

She was satisfied with the effects her words had on them, she knew she had convinced them already and nothing more needed to be said. 

Colin could only listen silently, knowing well that interrupting Mrs. Williams would only aggravate the thoughts they already had of him, would it make any difference though? Colin wonders what to do. 

"Are you trying to say he tried to rape his wife's sister, the hostess of the house?" One of the members of the families gathered had asked 

"I believe that is what I said" Mrs. William's replied calmly 

"This is unbelievable" another had agreed 

"Young man, have you anything to say about the allegations raised against you" the one they had made the judge asked Colin 

"Everything is a lie" Colin answered him calmly 

"Do you have proof?" The judge had asked

"He doesn't. All he has are words" Catherine had chipped in 

"Shush. Forgive my daughter, she has been traumatized since the incident" Mrs. Williams had explained provoking pitiful looks from the family. 

"Are you denying these allegations?" The judge had asked 

"Yes, I am" Colin answered, almost in a whisper 

"Then we have no option than giving you a weightier punishment" the judge had declared.