I Am Rich Again

Chapter 3

"What are you talking about? How can James not be my son?" John questioned, narrowing his eyes.

Suddenly, Stephanie smiled, but then she sighed. "You heard me correctly, John. I'm sorry to break this to you, but James is not your son," Stephanie explained.

John's face went pale instantly. How could Courtney handle this? How could he handle the fact that the child he believed to be his son was not his at all? It was as though his world was spinning, grappling with the betrayal from the woman he trusted with his life.

"You must be joking. I'm sure you're saying this just so I won't take my son. But, Stephanie, I might have taken everything from you, but there's no way you'll make me leave here without my son. That's one thing I won't allow," John thundered, pointing a finger at Stephanie.

"Give me the document, Lucy," Stephanie turned to Lucy, who quickly pulled out a paper from her briefcase. "Take a look." Stephanie handed the paper to John.

John hesitated before accepting it. "What is this?" he asked.

"You lost only your wealth; you didn't lose your sight. Read!" Stephanie snapped. The way she spoke to John made it seem as if they had been enemies for a long time, not a couple who shared the same bed.

"What the hell?" Tears welled up in John's eyes, and it felt like his world was crumbling. "How could you?" His voice trembled with raw emotion.

"I knew you would likely claim ownership of James, so I prepared beforehand in case you questioned the child's paternity," Stephanie explained.

John stood there, trembling, as he tried to comprehend the weight of the news. How would he handle such betrayal? What had he done to deserve this from the woman he loved deeply? Questions flooded John's mind, and a sharp pain gripped his chest.

"Who is the father?" John asked, his voice trembling, tightening his face in disbelief.

"Jeffery," Stephanie replied calmly.

John's eyes widened. His best friend was the one who betrayed him like this? What had he done to deserve such betrayal from the two people he trusted the most? John's legs became wobbly, and goosebumps covered his entire body.

"Why... Why did you do this, Steph? All I ever did was show you love, and nothing else. How could you treat me like this?" Bitterness enveloped John's voice as he grappled with the realization that he had been deceived for so long. He couldn't fathom how he fell for her smile and the lies she told him.

"I did it for my safety. After I discovered the slim chances of you fathering a child, after I saw your test results, I realized I needed to act quickly. I loved Jeffrey. He was the man I had always dreamed of. He was and still is my Prince Charming," Stephanie confessed.

"You knew?" John's eyes widened.

"Yes, I did, and I acted fast," Stephanie replied with a hint of bitterness.

John had undergone a test, realizing the slim chances of him fathering a child, making him grateful when Stephanie conceived. He had believed James was his child, unaware of the deception. Everything he lived with Stephanie was a lie. Nothing was real.

"Wait a minute, Steph, did you ever love me? Did I ever matter to you?" John asked, tears streaming down his face. He couldn't hold them back any longer.

A grown man wept like a child; it was too much for him to bear. Betrayal from his wife and best friend—how could he refer to her as his wife after living with her for years? The pain cut deep.

"No," Stephanie said coldly after a few seconds of hesitation, staring directly into John's eyes.

"I only married you because you were rich. You were never my type. You lacked the qualities I wanted in a man. You couldn't even satisfy me in bed, John. You were too much of a goody shoes, and I didn't want my man that way. Jeffrey was the kind of man I wanted," Stephanie said harshly.

Her words, filled with truth, struck John like a thunderbolt. He couldn't speak anymore. He heaved a sigh and walked away, unable to bear it. Even the house, once signed to his wife's name during a vulnerable moment, remained so out of trust.

His entire life was ruined, leaving the house with nothing but regret, pain, and misery. What had he done to deserve such treatment?

As John stepped out of the house, he encountered Modelisa Palmer, Stephanie's mother.

"John, what's wrong? Why are you in tears?" She rushed to him.

John couldn't find words; he just stared at her. Modelisa genuinely cared for him.

"Please talk to me," she persisted.

"Steph and I just got divorced," John managed to speak.

"Oh my Goodness," she exclaimed. "She finally did it," she added, and John's eyes widened.

"What... what are you talking about?" John asked with widened eyes.

"Stephanie took her time, but she finally divorced you. John, you're worthless to her and us now. You're broke. Admit it; Stephanie is no longer in your class. She deserves someone better," Modelisa hissed, letting go of John and arranging her hair. The concern on her face vanished instantly.

"Wait a minute, Mom, you were in on this too? You knew about Stephanie and Jeffrey and didn't stop her or tell me?" John asked with a broken voice.

"Why should I have stopped her or told you?" Modelisa laughed. "Should I have let her stay with a broke man like yourself? Never. Why should she? I remember how your parents insulted us because we were poor. I guess it's payback time, but it hurts me that they're not alive to witness this. Fools," Modelisa cussed.

"Do not insult my parents!" John thundered.

"Why are you shouting at my wife!" Palmer rushed to the scene with a frown. "How dare you stand there and shout at my wife, you poor wretched fool," he added.

John couldn't believe his eyes. Was it a coup? Everyone was in on the plan? Stephanie's entire family, even her father, was against him.

The same man he paid hospital bills for, bought a house, and provided a monthly allowance? The same people he treated as his own parents? Now, they were eager to humiliate him.

"What will you do if I do? Huh? You're just as much of a fool as they were," Modelisa spat. "In fact, why am I wasting my time talking to a worthless dog? Guards! Come and throw this fool out of my daughter's house!" Modelisa called on the guards.

"Honey, he nearly even slapped me. He's not just poor, but he still has pride," Modelisa sought comfort in her husband's arms.

"He's a fool, and he will learn a lesson," Palmer spat.

Three guards rushed to the scene.

"Throw this fool away. He should go to the street where people like him are," Palmer snarled with a reddened face.

Immediately, the guards grabbed John, dragging him out of his house—property he had bought with his hard-earned money. They threw him onto the streets where onlookers watched.

John didn’t leave that place the same person. He departed with hatred, anger, and a thirst for revenge but then what was the use for revenge when he had lost everything he ever worked for. The best thing was to end it all and that’s what he planned on doing. While John was on the street still confused of what to do with his scattered life, he caught sight of an aged woman that was on the floor and fighting for her life close to her car.

John contemplated whether to help her or not. After revering what he had passed through through the hands of women, he was hesitant but then the humanity in him took charge so he rushed to her across the road while she placed her hand on her chest struggling for her life.

“What’s going on ma’am? How can I help?”John asked with heightened senses.

“My…. My drug…” the old dying woman on the floor coughed and pointed her hand towards a side in the car.

John hastily looked towards where she pointed and checked and he saw a container of drugs.

“Here you go maam” John handed the drug to her after he pulled her upwards from the floor.

The old woman took the drug and John offered her water and after a while, she regained stability. As much as John was broken and hurt, he hasn’t lost his sense of humanity.

Even though he had great hate for the female gender, he still couldn’t help but assist who was in need of his assistance.

“Thank you so much” The gray- haired old woman said, nodding her head. “You saved my life” she smiled

“You don’t have to mention. Please just be careful”John said and walked away from her without holding further conversation with her.

John was headed for the church that was close by. It was the same church where he had first met Stephanie. There was a lot of memories there. He wanted to say his last prayers before he’d end it all. What was the purpose of living anymore? Where was he going to start from?

He entered the church and sat at the very back of it, his eyes still filled with tears, this time around, not just tears of hurt and humiliation, but teary eyes filled with the urge of wanting revenge, a new John but that would only happen if he’s reborn and he needs to die for that to happen so he thought. It was right to say that there was going to be a rebirth.

While he was still just staring my at the crucifix with unsaid words, his phone chimed. He checked his phone and realized that it was a message and it read;

“

Dear John Beckham

I hope this message finds you well. I’m excited to inform you that your investment in JEL_tech has experienced exceptional growth, leading to a substantial increase in your wealth. Please reach out at your earliest convenience to discuss this remarkable development and explore potential next steps.

Best regards,

Elizabeth Smith

John was completely astonished at the content of the message as he had never even heard of that company’s name before.

Just while he was trying to understand the content of the letter, he heard some footseo behind him, he turned and saw the cops and also the lady that he just helped before coming to the church.

“That’s him, he is the stupid thief that stole from me” the old woman pointed at John, wearing anger and fury in her countenance.

“Good day sir, I’m sergeant Jason. you are under arrest for theft. Please come with us to the station. Remain silent because whatever you say or do will be used again used in the court of law” a police officer said to John after showing him his ID card.

“What is going on here?” John asked, completely astonished.

“Shut up your mouth you thief and follow us to the station!” The old woman tried to slap John hard on the face but one of the police officers held her back.