The doors of the Sinclair mansion burst open, revealing a distressed Diana.
"Welcome, Darling, you’re home early." Annette said it with a smile on her face.“Morher, where’s Jason?” she asked, completely disregarding her mother’s greeting.The smile completely faded from her mother's face when she heard his name: “How should I know? He’s probably off somewhere being useless.”Diana gave Annette a look that genuinely scared her. "More, I'm not joking around, and I don’t have time for your nonsense. Have you seen him?” She gritted through her teeth.“Well now that you mention it. I haven’t seen him today, but it’s not like I keep tabs on the damn boy,” her mother drew closer to her. "But I'm glad you’re here. Your brothers are coming home soon!”"Mother, I need to know where Jason is!” Diana finally lost it and screamed at her mother.“What’s going on in here?” Stephen asked as he walked into the living room.“It seems like our good-for-nothing don-in-law has gone missing,” Annette said.“What do you mean he’s gone missing?” Stephen feigned curiosity,"Well, our daughter here has basically been barking at me and asking me where he is as though I'm his keeper!”Diana rolled her eyes at her mother and looked to her father, tears welling up in her eyes. "Father, can we both discuss this in private?”“Of course we can, dear,” he said.They made their way to Stephen’s study and closed the door.“So what makes you think your husband has gone missing?”Diana shows her father the text message that was sent to her from Jason’s phone.Her father signed and put on a face of concern: "Honey, to me, it seems he doesn’t want to be found, but I promise you I will do everything in my power to find him. I’ll even put the private investigator on the case if you want me to.”“Thank you so much, father,” Diana hugged her father.She couldn’t believe that Jason would actually leave. She thought his love for her could withstand any humiliation that came from her family.There was also something off about his disappearance from her that didn’t sit right.But there was another thing Diana felt—something she didn’t even want to admit. Yes, she loved her husband, but she couldn’t help but feel slightly relieved at the idea of him being gone.It was a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand, her husband, whom she loved, had just up and left in a very suspicious way.But on the other hand, his absence would mean that for the first time in years, her family would stop with the snide remarks, and she wouldn’t have to feel so ashamed every time they went out together.She wouldn’t have to feel like a failure every time she didn’t defend her husband when her family was mocking him.She released herself from the embrace and started to make her way out of her father’s study.“Where are you going, my dear?”“I need to find out the truth about why he did this.”***“Just plead guilty, and your sentence would be reduced,” John Anderson, Jason’s state-appointed attorney, said.It was minutes before Jason’s trial. His hands were clammy, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.“But I'm telling you I didn’t do it." tears welled in Jason’s eyes, and his voice cracked, “I was framed. Set up by my father-in-law”John combed his fingers through his hair and sighed, "Listen, kid, I'm going to be Frank with you. No one is going to believe your story.John continued, “Stephen Sonclair is a very powerful man, and he basically controls this state. Plus, you confessed. Not to mention there’s actual evidence against you.”“That’s because we had a deal! He said the charges would be dropped.“I don’t know what kind of deal you had, but he obviously had other plans, and to be honest, you’re fucked. The best you can do for yourself now is to take a guilty plea for a reduced sentence.”Jason considered everything John said, but his mind was already set. He wasn’t going to go down without a fight."I'm not guilty.""Fine, it’s your funeral. Let’s go”The proceedings of the trial began, and Jason pleaded not guilty.The evidence was presented, and everything implicated him.He felt like slapping himself as it was called out. John was right. He was totally fucked.Even if Stephen didn’t have enough power to pay off the judge, the evidence implicates him, and he confessed to the crime on his own.The trial finally ended after what felt like a lifetime, and it was time for Jason to rise for his sentencing. His legs shook so much as he stood that he thought they would collapse beneath him.“Based on the evidence presented, the court finds the defendant guilty of fraud and embezzlement. The court hereby sentences the defendant to five years of imprisonment with bail set at ten million dollars.”Jason stood there, frozen in place. He opened his mouth to object, to cry, to say anything, but he couldn’t utter a word.He looked over to John, and he saw him mouth ‘sorry’' with a sombre expression on his face.“Stephen had won. He has finally gotten rid of the shameful stain on his perfect daughter,” he thought.“I’m an idiot; I’m actually a big fucking idiot,” he whispered to himself. “He’s probably already arranged for me to be killed in my damn cell.”As the officers cuffed him and led him out of court, he wanted to scream and cry, but all he could do was laugh.“I’m such an idiot,” he repeated to himself over and over again, till his laughter turned into tears.***Diana was sitting next to Christopher on his couch, her phone in hand, as she showed him the text that was sent to her from Jason’s phone.Christopher did everything to stop himself from smiling when he read the text. Was his brother really out of his way for good? He thought to himselfAll these years of flirting with Diana and trying to make Jason look bad in front of her. Now he had just made things so much easier for him.Christopher put a comforting hand on Diana’s shoulder and began to speak. "Honestly, Di, to me, it seems like he’s done and he doesn’t want to come back.”“But it’s so unlike him; I know my family has put him through a lot, but he wouldn’t just leave like that." Diana pauses and fixes her gaze on Christopher. "I know you two haven’t always gotten along, but did he ever talk to you about wanting to leave or show any signs?”"Di, if I'm being honest, he’s spoken about leaving before." Christopher lied straight to her face. He took his hand from her shoulder and combed it through his fair before he continued.“He’s always felt like he didn’t belong in your family, and the mistreatment only made it worse.”"Is there another woman?" Diana questioned, and tears threatened to escape from her eyes.“There might be."Tears started to fall down her cheeks as soon as the words left Christopher’s lips.“Can I get a drink? I can’t deal with this soberness," she said in between sobs.Christopher got a bottle of wine from the fridge, and Diana took a glass. One glass turned into five, and soon Diana was drunk.“So he just wanted to fuck me one last time last night before he ran off,” she slurred, tears still welling from her eyes."Diana, look at me." Christophe cupped her face and turned her chin, making her face him. “You’re the most beautiful and outstanding woman I've ever met. If my brother was stupid enough to leave you, then that has nothing to do withChristopher was cut short by Diana’s lips crashing on his.He was shocked at first but quickly kissed her back, pushing his body against hers to deepen the kiss.“Please make me forget him,” Diana whispered against Christopher’s lips.It didn’t take long before they were both on Christopher’s bed without any clothes on, and they ended the night with a passionate encounter.One year laterIt had been a year since Jason was locked up in prison. A year without a single visit. A year of constantly watching the guy next to him in case he pulled out a kinife or any other weapon. A year without Diana.In that year, he got stronger—not by choice but by necessity. His first night there, he was beaten mercilessly by inmates. No doubt they were sent by Stephen. "Please, I didn’t do anything or cause trouble with anyone." Jason cried that night, but all the men did was laugh in his face.“My chain," the one who seemed to be the leader of the group said to his goons.They brought out a long metal chain and handed it over to the man. Two others held Jason down and poured ice-cold water on his back. Jason squirmed when the cold liquid made contact with his skin.“Please I… I'll do anything. I’ll be your slave if you want me to-“. His words were cut short by a wrenching scream when the chain made contact with the bare, wet skin of his back.By the eighth whip, he wa
Jason and the man were now seated in the black Escalade that was parked opposite the prison.“I’m sorry that I don’t remember it. Please, can you start by telling me your name?”"I'm Timothy Young Master; I was your grandfather’s right-hand man and butler”“So who is my grandfather?” Jason asked as he anxiously fiddled with the hem of his shirt.“Michael Allen Grey, the owner of Grey Enterprises, or as most people know him as...""The Captain,” Jason completed. He felt himself sink into the car seat, his breath escaping him.He had heard that name countless times. in the Sinclair mansion; particularly from Stephen and Andrew, they both admired the man and the waves he made in business.They had been trying to enter into various business deals with Him, but the captain always declined. Being very picky about who he did business with.“Precisely Young Master” Timothy continues, “He has been looking for you for years.”“My mother always said that I never had any family, that it was just
“Get in the car; we’re following them." Jason finally spoke, and Timothy and him rushed into the car and tailed behind Christopher and Diana.***Diana held her baby in her arms in the small doctor’s office. She tapped her nails on the wall repeatedly as she waited for the results.Christopher noticed her anxiousness and put a calming hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.The doctor came into the room, and Diana got up from her seated position. “Is she going to be okay?”"Yes, ma’am, your baby just has a fever. I suggest she take lots of liquids and get enough rest. It’ll go down on its own; no medication is needed.” The doctor assured Diana.She let out a breath of relief. “Thank you so much.”“Did you hear that, my love? It’s just a fever,” she said in a soft voice to her baby.The doctor gave them both a soft smile before leaving the room.“I told you, Di, there was nothing for you to be worried about," Christopher said.He focused his gaze on Diana, a stern expression e
The Escalade parked in front of a luxurious apartment complex in Soho. The building exuded opulence and was only occupied by the top one percent in the country.Timothy tapped Jason’s shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts. “We’re here, Young Master.”Jason blinked. He had been thinking of Christopher and Diana, but most of all about the baby girl. Helooked at the apartment in awe. “My grandfather owns this.""Actually,Young Master , you are the owner."Jason stared at Timothy, stunned, so he explained further. “Your grandfather bought different properties around the world as birthday gifts for you, in hopes that one day you’d come back and claim rightful ownership of them."Jason muttered an ‘Oh my God’ under his breath. This was definitely going to take some getting used to, he added internally.Timothy alighted from the car and opened the passenger door for Jason.That was also going to take some getting used to. Jason thought, stepping out of the car.“So,” he started, but was
“How so? Jason questioned Timothy and eagerly awaited his response.“I have a friend who wanted to do business with QuantumPower, but he decided against it after getting a tip that their financial directors had been concealing large debts.”Jason’s eyes had a glint in them as the words left Timothy’s mouth, and he urged him to continue.“He wanted me to help him look into it, but I was too occupied at the time with more pressing matters, so I put that on hold, but I did get a name, Christopher Mathews.”“So if we can prove that he’s been concealing debts..." Jason started"The company will lose all current and potential investors, and he’ll be fired." Timothy completed the statements with a smile.“But how the hell are we supposed to prove that?” Jason sighed.“You’re Jason Grey!” Timothy exclaimed “A member of one of the most powerful and influential families in the world. All we need to do is find someone who’s going to talk and figure out their price,” Timothy said, lifting up the
Jason’s brows furrowed, his face twisting into a mix of surprise and confusion.He looked over at Timothy, who was still praising Reuben, then tapped him to draw his attention."Yes, Young Master,” Timothy said as he turned to face Jason.“Is the SIM card in this phone new?" Jason questioned him as he held the phone up."Yes, Young Master, Why do you ask?” Timothy said, worry etched on his face.Jason shook his head. "Nothing. Never mind. Let’s get back to the apartment." Jason saidWhen they arrived back at the apartment, Jason said goodnight to Reuben and Timothy, then went into his bedroom.He replayed Christopher’s takedown in his mind with a proud smile on his face.Then his face dropped once he remembered the message he had received. He opened his phone and checked the message again.His mind was racing with different thoughts, especially wondering if it was actually Diana.He looked at the number.It wasn’t Diana’s.Could she have gotten a new number? He thought to himself.His
“You bastard!” Andrew shouted while the rest of the family stood there, stunned. He ran up to Jason and lunged at him, but Jason swiftly dodged his blow and backed away. Andrew tried to hit him again, but Diana quickly inserted herself in between the two."Andrew, please, let’s be civil," Diana pleaded.Her small gesture warmed Jason’s heart; it was practically the first time she was defending him in front of her family.“Civil? There’s no being civil to animals like him; how do you leave your wife for a year when she’s pregnant to do God-knows-what?"Andrew spat.Diana hadn’t shown anyone the message except Christopher and her father. A small part of her knew that it was strange, so she still had a little hope he would return.She knew that if she had told her entire family, they would jump at the opportunity and not only celebrate but also start looking for a new husband for her.“Jason didn’t know that I was pregnant,” Diana uttered softly.“That’s no excuse for leaving; I mean, he
Diana’s expression was sombre, and Jason looked at her with worry.“What was Andrew going on about?” Jason questioned."It's nothing, Jason." Diana dismissed him, turned off the bedroom lights, and then got into bed.“Really? So the future of your family is nothing?” Jason said, turning the light back on.“Andrew was just exaggerating. Please let me sleep. I'm very tired,” she said, then turned the light back off.Jason turned it on again, making Diana groan in frustration. "Jason, for God’s sake, stop being a child and let me..." Diana was interrupted by Lana’s cries. “Oh no!” she exclaimed, cupping her face on her palms.She turned to face Jason, her face twisted in anger. “You see what you did?" she pointed at the baby crib. “It's going to take me forever to put her back to sleep."Jason took a good look at his wife; the dark circles that sat under her eyes were a testament to all the stress she had gone through.Raising the baby all on her own these past few months couldn’t have b