When Alisha and James got back home, Alisha's mother, Kate, and her brother, Henry, were still in the house. They didn't waste any time and directly inquired about the Divorce Agreement Paper.
"Has he finally signed those papers?"
Alisha ignored them.
They didn't hold back their disapproval, even going so far as to insult James, despite him being right there with them.
"This useless loser doesn't realize how serious this is."
"He's treating our family like a joke."
"I can't believe we ever allowed him into our lives."
"He's nothing but a burden, and he's taking advantage of our kindness."
"We should have never trusted him with Alisha."
The hurtful and boastful way her family spoke about James made Alisha feel uneasy.
James didn't pay much attention to their behavior. Instead, he went to the room to start packing his things to leave.
He was still packing when Alisha entered the room.
"James you gotta understand…"
"Understand what??? After all, I've done for you, Alisha, this is how you chose to repay me."
"Come on now you and I know you didn't do anything for me."
"Is that so?" He asked her, looking straight into her eyes.
"Yes!" she shot back at him.
"I know your family is making you do this but I know you still have a good in you somewhere."
"Nobody is making me do anything. Shut the f*** up."
James was surprised she never shouted at him before not to talk of using the 'f' word on him, but she's now.
"Don't listen to them, Alisha," James replied. "Don't do something you will regret tomorrow."
"Things have changed, James. I have moved on and I want you to move on too." Alisha said meanly.
She even went ahead to tell him that she would leave all their property for him including the house that they live in.
"I'll be leaving our properties, and everything for you. Take everything, so you don't die of hunger."
However, his in-laws rushed into the room as they heard her say that. They didn’t agree with her decision.
"He's not taking anything because he did not buy any of the property." Kate slammed.
"I don't need any of those," James replied to her.
Kate suspected that he might have stolen something valuable in the house.
"I don't trust him," Kate remarked. "You better find what he's stolen from us, or you'll be in trouble too!"
"Mom, please stop this nonsense."
"If he's stolen something, you'll be just as guilty for not stopping him!"
"James is innocent, he doesn't steal. I've lived with him for three years now and I can give him that credit." Alisha cleared them.
"Don't think you can protect him. We won't spare either of you."
"You should have never let that loser into our family in the first place, Sister."
"Shut up! Henry."
"You're as useless as he is if you can't handle this."
"We will search his bag," Henry exclaimed.
"Henry, my boy, go ahead and search his bag," Kate ordered.
Henry arrogantly and forcefully dragged the bag from James and began searching it as though he was a thief who was caught stealing something in the market.
James felt embarrassed but he kept mute. After all, it was his sister's house and he has the right to do whatever he likes.
He watched as Henry ferociously dropped his neatly arranged clothes on the floor and stepped on them.
"Mom! Henry! Stop this!" Alisha was fed up with her family's disturbance.
Henry didn't find anything belonging to the family in James' bag, however, he found a photo in an expensive frame and brought it out from the bag.
"What is that and who are these people in this photo?" Henry asked James.
"Give it back."
"And what if I don't a*shole?"
"I'm telling you for the last time to give it back."
"Give it back to him Henry. I don't want any more problems." Alisha warned Henry.
After witnessing how James beat Jaxon to a pup, she started to fear him.
In the process, Henry accidentally broke the picture which was the only picture James had of his parents. The picture was very special to him because it held cherished memories of his parents who had died when he was a kid.
James could not endure anymore. He has tolerated the Carls for a long time now and now he has had enough.
He rushed Henry, punched him on the stomach and he fell to the ground groaning, James started kicking him fiercely and violently.
"Ouch! Ouch!" Henry cried out in pain.
Kate started wailing as well. "Call the cops, this monster has killed my son."
"Mom stop this, We all know Henry was at fault here."
"Oh, now you are supporting this idiot against your own brother."
Kate attempted to beat James, but he gave her a big slap on her face, which stunned all three of them.
At this point, he didn't care anymore.
Alisha wanted to attack him for slapping her mom, but his cold gaze made her feel scared. She has never seen him this angry before and this strong. 'Who exactly was he?'
Kate was shocked, her face turned red and she involuntarily placed a hand on her cheek to cover the place James slapped.
Henry couldn't do anything as he was still writhing in pain down on the floor.
James picked up the broken piece of the photo and his bag and left the house without saying anything to Alisha. He didn’t and wouldn’t take anything of hers.
After he left, the two started to curse and asked Alisha to take revenge on James.
"He's made a mockery of our family. I want you to make him pay for what he did to Mom." Henry cried.
"You can't let him get away with this. I deserve justice, your brother deserves justice. Use your connection in the company to haunt him down and make sure you eliminate him."
Alisha became terribly upset with them. She then asked them to leave.
"I want you two to leave my house now." She said pointing at the exit.
"You can't do this to your own family."
"I don't care. Now get out." She shouted at her mom.
Her heart was empty because James was no longer her husband. She was a little regretful and she worried about him and his well-being on such a cold winter night.
She sat on the sofa and started weeping.
'Oh God, I shouldn't have listened to my family in the first place.' But it was too late now.
Even though things basically went as she thought, they had divorced, she didn’t feel happy, she only felt guilty.
At that time, James was riding his bicycle to the small grocery store where he worked to spend the night on the veranda.
Even though he had the keys to the main store, he wasn't going to enter inside. It was cold outside, but he had nowhere else to go.
He was really hurt and confused about what had just happened and he couldn't understand how things had gone so wrong.
'I shouldn't have slapped my mother-in-law.'
He had calmed down even if he would have intended to kill Alisha and Jaxon. But it’s not worth it.
'What's the need anyway?'
When he got to the store, he settled down on the veranda. It was going to be his temporary refuge for the night, a place where he could gather his thoughts and figure out how to move forward. He knew he had to make some important decisions about his life and future.
Tomorrow they will be going to court to get officially divorced.
He didn’t intend to get back to his family like a loser and face his Grandpa's wrath.
Since he would get a big company here, he decided to remain and build his own business empire here.
Thinking of this, he fell asleep on the veranda.
The next morning, inside the court, James and his wife, Alisha were about to get divorced officially.Kate was at the court, too. In fact, she was the first person to come to the court that morning. She wanted to make sure that Alisha divorced James once and for all and for good.She had invited her friends and all the people in the family who despised James so much. Alisha wasn't in support of it."Is this your disgusting son-in-law?" Her friends asked her. "Oh, point of correction, he's not my son-in-law anymore." Kate snapped. "HAHAHAHA!" They all laughed maliciously. "I can't believe you put up with him for so long.""He's nothing but filthy." "Filthy? That's an understatement. He's a disgrace."James overheard their insult, but he kept a straight face which pissed them off the more. When the judge finally arrived, they all kept mute and waited for the proceedings. The judge was a quiet woman who did the proceedings without delay. She asked them. "Why do you two beautiful c
After the divorce, James decided that he would finally quit his cleaning job at the local grocery store to concentrate more on expanding his business empire.Hence, he will go ahead to deal with the Carl family and the Sterling Dynasty and show them that he is the one in charge now.He wanted to prove that he was the new boss and make them regret their actions. Alisha and her family would soon realize their mistake and come back begging. When he arrived at his workplace to let his boss know that he was quitting his job, there was a surprising turn of events.Two men in uniform walked up to him. These were police officers from the police department in Emerald Falls.James found himself face-to-face with the two stern police officers who wasted no time in apprehending him."You're under arrest!" The first officer declared."Yeah, we've got reports on you for stealing," added the second officer, whose tone was accusatory.Despite the shock of the situation, James remained remarkably cal
Meanwhile, in the police station, James was kept in a private torture room.The room was completely dark with no windows in it.Ten minutes later, two policemen came into the room to question him about the crime he didn't commit."Hey Listen up, Mr." One of the policemen, the one who appeared to be their leader, said to him. "I know you know why you have been arrested. Yes?""But I didn't steal anything," James replied calmly.The other policeman said, "Well, the evidence says otherwise. We have you on camera, and your key can open that strongbox.""That's a lie! Tell you what, here's what happened ok…""Better don't start cooking up stories.""I had no place to sleep that night, and the only place I could think of was my workplace. I only slept on the veranda and I did not break into the building.""But you were the only one the CCTV camera captured last.""Did the CCTV capture me breaking into the building or exiting with the safe?"The policemen were at a loss but they knew they ha
Inside the torture room, James trembled, yet he refused to yield.He held onto the hope that his uncle had indeed answered that call from the officer.His nose was broken and blood was gushing out from his mouth and ear.With blood still in his mouth, he spat at Henry."How dare you, loser."Henry was furious. He grabbed the knife from Jaxon and stabbed James in the arm."Now I'll kill you.""Instead of this jerk to start apologizing and beg for forgiveness he is still asking for more trouble." One of the policemen said."Surely he has given up on life already.""What do you expect from a nobody?"Despite the brutal beating from Jaxon, Henry, and the two officers, James remained unafraid. Instead, he started smiling."What's wrong with him?""He's demented, Can't you see?"He scanned their faces one more time. He needed to make sure he remembered it."You won't get away with this. Once I'm out of here, all four of you, Jaxon, Henry, and you two officers, will face the consequences for
When James lifted his head, everyone present was taken aback by the sight of him. His whole body was bearing the physical marks of his recent torture. His face was bruised and battered.What was even more shocking was the revelation that he was now the new owner of Emerald Multisource Cooperation. He was now the person in charge of the company.This news hit them like a thunderbolt. Even Alisha, his ex-wife, couldn't hide her surprise. She had no idea that the man she had once been married to, the man her family treated like a piece of shit was now the new owner of the very company where she worked."This can't be real!" Mr Thomas Sterling was shocked to his bones. "You're telling me he's the big boss now?""No way! I thought he was just a regular loser.""And I was even thinking the boss was going to be someone else entirely.""Well, I guess we've all underestimated this guy for a long time."On the other hand, Jaxon, Henry, and the other policemen who tortured James mercilessly fi
James was quickly rushed to Skycare, one of the finest hospitals owned by the Wane's family in Emerald Falls. This hospital is known far and wide for its top-notch care. It's a place where doctors are experts at their job. Immediately, James was offered into a very special ward meant only for the rich, the doctors began working really hard to treat James' injuries and revive him. Lana remains by his bedside the whole time and day as the doctors do their thing. She sits next to his hospital bed even when the doctors asked her to leave. Her heart was fuming with both anger and fear as James remained unconscious. She would not understand why people could be so wicked and heartless. Her mind drifted off to what she would possibly do to the people responsible for this. She must make sure they face the wrath of the law for doing these horrible things to her little cousin, she thought. She could not quite understand why James pretended not to know her at the station. But since he ga
Eric walked into James' hospital room, he wore a puzzled expression. He wasn't quite sure why he was here or what to say to James, but he was here anyway.Running a company was something he had never done before, and he felt a bit out of place.His life had been tough. Unlike James, who came from a wealthy family. Eric came from a lower class family and not much is known about them. But the chance James gave him was like a lifetime opportunity. It was a way to make his family's life better no matter how little the opportunity would be, he will forever be grateful to James.He used to live in a tiny apartment with his wife, Mary, and their only daughter, Claire. They didn't have much money. They struggled to pay bills, especially because Claire was sick with cancer and she spent most of her life in local hospitals. Unlike his colleagues, Eric was a good police officer. Even when others tried to make him do bad things for money or give him bribes, he always said no. That's why James t
After the third day of being in hospital, James decided to leave even though he was not fully recovered. His body was still weak from the injuries, but he wanted to deal with those who neglected and harmed him.Lana advises him to take more time to recover, but James is resolute. He believes that those responsible for his condition are free, and he needs to teach them a lesson."I can't wait any longer. They're out there, free, thinking they've won. I need to get them arrested and teach them a lesson.""But you need more time to heal. Rushing back now might not be the best idea," she advised with genuine worry in her eyes.James wanted to heed her advice but at the same time, he thought it would make his whole plan not work.He needed to be there to witness the Sterling's arrest."Besides, Eric needs help. He cannot run the company alone. I need to assist him."Lana sighed, understanding the fire within James. She knew how stubborn he could be when it came to decision-making. And so
Chapter 397Morning broke with a dull glow, illuminating the quiet safe house nestled deep in the woods. Inside, tension hung thick in the air. Williams was standing near the window with a phone pressed to his ear, speaking in a calm but calculated tone.“We’ve got your son, Charles,” he said, his voice steady. “But we haven’t located Jaxon.”On the other end of the line, Mr. Sterling’s voice cracked with emotion. “Charles? Is he safe? Are you sure?” Relief flooded his tone, but it was quickly shadowed by anxiety. “What about Jaxon? Did you find him? Is there anything—anything—leading up to him?”Williams let out a quiet sigh, one that sounded more like practiced patience than genuine concern. “That’s all we could manage,” he replied. “The men who took Jaxon still have him, and from what we’ve gathered, they plan to kill him if there’s any interference.”Mr. Sterling was silent for a beat, processing the grim news. Then, his voice rose, tinged with panic. “What do I do now? How do I
Chapter 396James and Gregor stepped out of their concealed position in the underbrush as the taillights of the SUV disappeared into the darkness. The cool night air was eerily silent now, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the muffled sounds of wildlife in the distance. The ground beneath their boots crunched softly as they moved toward the aftermath of the chaos they had just witnessed.Gregor’s eyes scanned the scene, his face expressionless as he took in the lifeless bodies sprawled across the area. Three of them, including Ben they once held, lay motionless, their weapons discarded and their blood staining the dirt beneath them.Gregor crouched beside one of the bodies, briefly checking for a pulse, though he already knew there was none. Standing, he shook his head and muttered, “Well, that’s the life they’ve chosen for themselves.”James, standing a few steps behind him, remained silent for a moment, his sharp eyes darting around the scene. The faint glow of the moo
Chapter 395The shadows of the dilapidated bunker stretched long under the moonlight as Williams and his team lay in wait. They had taken up position hours earlier, tucked inside Jaxon’s sleek sports car, the dark, polished metal blending seamlessly into the night. The air inside the vehicle was stifling, thick with tension and the faint metallic tang of gun oil. Every man was armed and ready, their nerves wound tight, waiting for the right moment to strike. Williams sat in the driver’s seat, his hands resting casually on the steering wheel, though his eyes never left the rearview mirror. Beside him, Kane sat rigid, one hand gripping Jaxon’s arm firmly while the other rested on the stock of a shotgun lying across his lap. In the cramped sports car, Tom and Dorian crouched uncomfortably in the trunk, their weapons at the ready, waiting for Williams’ signal.The silence inside the car was shattered when headlights cut through the darkness. A single car approached, its rumbling engine e
Chapter 394The dense canopy of the forest loomed overhead, casting long shadows over the makeshift campsite where James and Gregor had been holed up for days. The air was damp, thick with the earthy scent of moss and pine, and the distant call of nocturnal creatures echoed through the stillness.Gregor sat cross-legged on the damp ground, his eyes glued to the small tablet in his lap. A blinking red dot pulsed steadily on the screen—the nano tracker they’d planted on Ben’s phone.For three grueling days, they’d followed that dot from one hideout to another, staying just far enough away not to be detected. They’d spent their nights in the car or in the bush, catching only brief moments of sleep between shifts of surveillance.Tonight was no different, and Gregor’s tired eyes burned as he watched the screen, hoping for any sign of movement.James lay stretched out on the ground beside him, his jacket pulled over his face to block out the faint moonlight filtering through the trees. Hi
Chapter 393Jack paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, his gun laid out on the table as he meticulously assembled and armored it. Each metallic click echoed in the stale air, punctuating the tense atmosphere.They had to switch hideouts when Ben rejoined them, in case he was being tailed. Jack carefully considered the situation and concluded that bringing him back into the operation as an additional resource would be a wise decision, just in case they encountered any unexpected challenges but he made sure they switch hideout from time to time. But their main exchange point was still the old bunker because it has a lot of escape routes and underground tunnels.Ken was nearby, double-checking their supply of ammunition, while Denver and Ben lounged on an old, battered couch, their excitement barely contained.“Finally, we’re getting out of this shithole with a bundle of millions,” Denver said to Ben, leaning back with a smug grin. He flicked a discarded cigarette butt into the cor
Chapter 392The evening sky was a dusky orange, streaked with long trails of purple as the sun dipped below the horizon. Williams parked the sleek, black car that Mr. Sterling had secured for him—a high-profile Lamborghini that was both remarkable and practical for what was about to go down.The tinted windows gleamed faintly in the fading light as he stepped out, dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans. He adjusted the baseball cap on his head and pulled it lower to obscure his face further.Kane was already waiting near the edge of the gravel lot, leaning casually against a rusted lamp post that barely flickered to life. His stance was relaxed, but his eyes darted around, sharp and alert. A few paces away, Tom and Dorian lingered by the entrance to the abandoned warehouse, their conversation low but punctuated with short laughs.Williams approached Kane with purposeful strides. Without a word, he gestured for Kane to follow him a short distance away from the others.“They ready?” William
Chapter 391Andrew’s pen hovered over the page. “Eric Wood? The CEO of EMC?”“Yes,” Sterling said, his voice steady now, laced with conviction. “He’s had a vendetta against my family for months. He’s jealous of our success, our influence. And now, with everything happening at EMC, I wouldn’t put it past him to stoop this low. My two sons were kidnapped in a sparse of a few weeks. Is it not strange?”Andrew tilted his head, his expression skeptical. “That’s a serious accusation, Mr. Sterling. Do you have any evidence to support this?”Mr. Sterling sighed heavily, as though burdened by the weight of his own claim. “Not concrete evidence, no. But think about it. He has the resources, the motive. And I heard through some… private channels that he’s been meeting with unsavory characters lately. People who could easily pull off something like this.”Andrew jotted a few notes, his pen moving quickly. “I see. I’ll look into it. But you understand we can’t act on hearsay alone.”“Of course, of
Chapter 390As soon as Mr. Sterling ended the call with Williams, he hurried to his closet, throwing on a sleek navy suit and matching tie. His hands trembled slightly as he adjusted the knot, but he steeled himself, taking a deep breath.This wasn’t just a favor for Williams; it was a calculated move to get his two sons back. Grabbing his keys, he rushed out of his mansion, the elevator ride to the ground floor feeling agonizingly slow.When he finally stepped outside, the cool morning air bit at his face, but he paid it no mind. His black sedan waited at the curb, and he climbed in, starting the engine with a growl. As he sped toward Sky Suite, he rehearsed the lies he might need to tell to retrieve Jaxon’s car.The towering Sky Suite hotel loomed ahead, its modern glass facade gleaming brightly under the early morning sun. As Mr. Sterling approached the entrance, his stomach tightened. The sight of two patrol cars parked near the lobby entrance made his pulse quicken. Uniformed off
Chapter 389As soon as Kane received the message from Tom that Jaxon had finally broken under the pressure and confessed, he immediately pulled out his phone and dialed Williams. His tone was sharp, clipped, and direct as he relayed the crucial information.“He finally talked,” Kane said without any preamble. “He’s given up Jack’s location—some bunker near the old docks.”Williams, on the other end of the line, didn’t respond right away. The faint sound of tapping, likely his pen against his desk, filled the silence. “Good,” Williams finally said, his voice steady but tinged with calculation. “Did he say anything about how many men Jack has with him?”“Yeah,” Kane replied. “Three, including Jack himself. He said one of them ran away. It’s a small crew.”Williams let out a low hum of approval. “That’s manageable. We’ve got the numbers, four to three. Here’s the plan,” he said, leaning forward in his chair. “You’re going to prep Jaxon to lead you straight to the bunker. He’s our key. Ma