CHAPTER: 2

Edward's voice broke through the pleasurable sounds that filled the room, making Sandra and Richard jolt in shock and face reality.

"Edward, what the hell are you doing here?" Reaching for her clothes on the floor, Sandra said in shock. Mr. Richard also dragged his pants up to cover himself.

"What do you mean by that question? Are you out of your mind? I should be asking what you are doing with your so-called business partner," Edward answered, his voice breaking in disappointment as he found it difficult to believe what his eyes were seeing.

"Baby, who is this guy?" Mr. Richard asked with a confused expression, his eyes still locked on Edward. But Edward was quick to reply before Sandra did.

"I'm her husband, and who the fuck are you?" Edward said angrily.

"Enough, Edward, just shut up!" Sandra yelled at him, turning to Richard. "Don't mind him, Richard. He's the peasant I told you about, the one I fell in love with while I was in college, who unfortunately turned out to be my husband," she said and cupped Richard's face with her hands.

"Oh, you mean the loser of a husband?" he asked, and she nodded. Edward couldn't believe his ears. What was he hearing?

"Sandra, I'm your husband, remember? You loved me..."

"Oh, shut up, please. I have had enough of your nonsense. You must be stupid to think I have ever loved you. How do you expect the daughter of Mr. Hudson to fall in love with a pauper like you from a poor background? I was only close to you in school because I had a terminal illness and needed someone close by who would look after me, and you were the only available option. Well, thank goodness the illness is gone, and I don't need you in my life anymore," she spat angrily, leaving his emotions shattered like old bricks smashed on the ground. Edward couldn't say a word as he stared at her, astonished by the words she had just said. Was this actually coming from Sandra, the girl who had bragged about being in love with him?

"Edward, I can understand how life is for someone as poor as yourself, but let me give you a piece of advice. I'll leave Sandra alone if I were you. I can never be you, though. Haa," Mr. Richard said and laughed in mockery. "She's not your level. Sandra had told me your mom is diagnosed with kidney cancer. I can help you with $10,000 to go help your dying mom if only you heed my advice, huh?" Richard raised a brow as he awaited a response.

"I don't need your money, you bastard! Leave my wife alone," Edward sneered angrily, and Richard flinched in shock.

"What is wrong with you, Edward? How dare you insult Mr. Richard? You should be grateful for him being a kind person," Sandra said, staring at him in disappointment.

"It obviously shows he's a dummy. I want to help his poor sick mom. I don't know where you get your dumbness from; it might be from her," Mr. Richard said and burst into laughter together with Sandra.

Annoyed by his words, Edward covered the distance between Richard and himself, fixing his eyes on him. "Don't you dare talk about my mom like that," Edward said, clenching his fingers, glaring at Richard.

"Oh yeah, and what would you do, pauper!" Mr. Richard hit him on the chest, trying to initiate a fight, but Edward shook his head and said, "I'm not interested in having this conversation. Sandra, let's leave. I forgive you." Edward grabbed Sandra's arm and turned toward the door to leave with her, but she hit his hand off hers.

"Leave me alone," she hit his hand off her immediately.

Edward, in shock, stared at her for a moment and tried to hold her arm again, but Mr. Richard quickly landed his fist on his chin, and he staggered back.

"Leave her alone," Richard said, setting his hand for another punch.

"You wanna do this, right? All right, cool," Edward said, clenching his fist while Mr. Richard did the same. Mr. Richard was obviously a fighter as he maintained a proper stance. Richard made the first move, but Edward dodged, and before he could make a second move, Edward punched him in the face and sent him crashing to the floor. Immediately, Edward got on him and began punching him incessantly while Sandra shouted, "Stop! Stop that now!" When she noticed she couldn't stop Edward, she quickly rushed out and returned with some security guards who grabbed Edward off Richard.

Before they helped Mr. Richard up, Taylor Hudson, Sandra's mom, came running through the hallway with two bouncers flanking her side. Terror was written all over her face. She came to a halt in front of Edward, and before Edward could say a word, she slapped him three times across the face before speaking.

"How dare you touch a personality like Mr. Richard? Do you know the repercussions of what you have just done?" she said, glaring into his eyes angrily.

"Ma'am, it's not what you think. He attacked me first!"

"And so what?" she said.

"He was also having sex with my wife, Mrs. Hudson."

"How dare you even call Sandra your wife? I never knew you were this stupid to think a girl like Sandra would be for you," she said, and Edward stared at her, unsurprised. He had known Taylor Hudson hadn't been in support of him marrying her daughter. She had always been against Mr. Hudson's decision to marry Sandra off to him, but she had kept her hate on a low profile when he was alive. Since he passed away, she showed him her real character.

"You are so gonna pay for this," Taylor Hudson said and signaled the two bouncers who held Edward to the ground, facing up.

"Mr. Richard, please have your own share of the fight. Do whatever you want until you are satisfied," Taylor Hudson said, and Richard smiled.

"That's so nice," he said, clenching his fist. He got over Edward and started punching him heavily in the face. He punched and punched until Edward's face became messy with blood, and his eyes were bloodshot that he couldn't see again. Still, he didn't rest. He kept switching arms until Sandra decided to intervene.

"Baby, it's okay. Leave him alone," she wrapped her hands around him, and he straightened up.

Just as he stood up from Edward, the policemen hoisted him up, flanking him by his sides. They hurled him into the elevator and down the stairs, where they put him in a police van and headed away.

When they arrived at the police station, he was placed behind bars and asked questions which were all formalities.

"Mr. Edward, you are charged with three offenses. One is battery on a high-profile individual, two is you being accused of sexual assault on Mrs. Sandra---"

"What? Sexual assault? Sandra is my wife, how can I---"

"Quiet! I'm not joking with you," the policeman said, hitting his hand on the desk before him, and Edward jolted in shock. His rude manner showed that he had already been bribed by Mr. Richard.

"Third is public disturbance in a prestigious company like Hudson Corporation.

"You have 24 hours to pay a $10,000 fine to be granted bail or serve a jail term of 20 years," the officer said, and Edward opened his mouth wide in shock.

Where was a poor boy like him supposed to get $10,000 in 24 hours from?

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