Alexander Kane Is Not a Poor Bastard!

Chapter One The Ridicule of The Wife’s Family

A sharp slap stung Alexander’s cheek, but he didn’t flinch. He had learned not to.

“Don’t look me in the eyes when I’m talking to you,” Jeruel spat, her voice like ice. Her glare pinned him in place, daring him to defy her.

Alexander dropped his gaze, his jaw tightening. His mind screamed to fight back, to say something, but he swallowed it down like he always did. Words only made things worse. He bent to gather the pile of laundry she’d thrown at his feet, moving slowly as though careful not to provoke her further.

“You’re pathetic,” Jeruel added, her tone low but cutting. She stood there for a moment, her arms crossed, watching him with a sneer that made his skin crawl. Then, as if the sight of him bored her, she turned and walked away, her heels tapping against the floor.

Alexander exhaled softly, his hands trembling as he clutched the clothes. He didn’t dare look up until he heard the slam of the bedroom door. Even then, he hesitated, waiting for the echo to fade before moving.

The door opened again, and Jeruel reappeared, this time fully dressed. She wore a sleek black dress that clung to her figure, accentuating every curve. Her makeup was flawless, her lips painted a bold red that matched the soles of her stilettos. She adjusted her earrings in the hallway mirror, her expression one of complete indifference to the man standing behind her.

“You’re going out again?” Alexander asked, his voice barely audible. He already knew the answer but couldn’t stop himself from asking.

Jeruel’s eyes met his in the reflection of the mirror. “Don’t start with your whining,” she said, her tone sharp. “You think I owe you an explanation?”

“No,” he said quickly, lowering his gaze again. “I just—”

“You just what?” She spun around, hands on her hips. “You just want to remind me how pathetic you are? How you can’t even keep your own wife happy?”

Alexander said nothing. There was nothing to say.

Jeruel smirked, shaking her head. “That’s what I thought.” She grabbed her purse and brushed past him without another word. The sound of the front door closing echoed through the house, leaving behind a heavy silence.

Alexander stood in the hallway, clutching the laundry, his heart pounding. He wanted to scream, to punch something, to feel anything other than this crushing weight of defeat. But instead, he turned and walked to the laundry room.

The tap squeaked as he turned it on, cold water splashing into the basin. He scrubbed the clothes with mechanical precision, his hands working through the motions as his mind wandered. He thought of the man he used to be—the man Jeruel once admired. That version of him felt like a distant memory, a ghost haunting the edges of his mind.

The sound of footsteps behind him pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see Diana standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.

“You really think my daughter will stay with a man like you forever?” She asked, her voice dripping with mockery.

Alexander didn’t respond. He turned back to the laundry, the sound of the water drowning out her words.

Diana took a step closer, her heels clicking on the tile floor. “You should be grateful she hasn’t thrown you out yet. If it were up to me, you’d be on the street where you belong.”

Still, Alexander said nothing. He scrubbed harder, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the fabric.

Diana’s laughter rang out behind him. “Pathetic,” she muttered before walking away.

Alexander waited until he was sure she was gone before he let out a shaky breath. He leaned against the edge of the sink, his head bowed. The silence of the house was suffocating, pressing down on him like a weight he couldn’t escape.

***

Meanwhile, outside a high-end restaurant, Jeruel adjusted her sleek black dress in the glass doors. She tilted her chin, inspecting her reflection. Every strand of hair was perfectly in place, and her makeup was flawless. Tonight wasn’t about love. It wasn’t even about pleasure. It was about power.

Inside, Jack rose from his seat as she walked in. His tailored suit fit him like a second skin, and his smile was as sharp as the glint in his eyes.

“Jeruel,” he said smoothly, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

“Jack,” she replied, her lips curling into a smile.

“Looking stunning as always,” he said, his gaze lingering on her figure.

Jeruel smirked, brushing past him to sit at the table. “I hope you don’t think this was hard for me,” she said, her voice laced with amusement.

Jack chuckled, pouring her a glass of wine. “Hard for you? I imagine your husband didn’t put up much of a fight.”

She raised her glass, the wine catching the light. “Alexander doesn’t fight for anything anymore,” she said, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.

Their conversation flowed easily, the air between them charged with tension. Jack leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “Shall we?”

Jeruel didn’t hesitate. She stood, her confidence radiating with every step she took. By the time they reached the hotel room, the air was thick with anticipation.

Jack’s hands slid over her skin, his touch igniting a fire within her. But just as she began to lose herself in the moment, her phone buzzed on the bedside table.

Jeruel groaned, glancing at the screen. “Mother?” she muttered.

She picked up the phone, ready to silence the call, but her mother’s voice came through, frantic and urgent. “It’s Zoe. She’s been rushed to the hospital!”

Jeruel froze, her breath catching. “What happened to my daughter?” she demanded, sitting up abruptly.

Her mother’s reply was garbled through the static of panic. “She collapsed... I don’t know... You need to come now!”

Jeruel’s mind raced. The thrill of the night drained away, replaced by a knot of dread in her chest.

“I’m coming,” she said, her voice sharp as she grabbed her clothes, her movements hurried and clumsy.

Jack leaned against the wall, watching her with a raised brow. “Trouble at home?”

Jeruel shot him a glare, her heart pounding. “This isn’t a game,” she snapped, slipping on her heels. “Stay out of it.”

Her heels clattered against the floor as she rushed out the door, her breath coming in shallow bursts. The cool night air hit her like a slap, but she didn’t slow down. She needed answers—now.