Rags to Stardom

Chapter 1

As Ethan walked home, so many thoughts clouded his mind. Throughout the several months he spent in jail, not once did Ariella his wife or any other member of the Gray family pay him a single visit. He knew they despised him but his present predicament showed him just how much. 

"Move loser," a driver screamed at him as he had drifted carelessly to the road while he was deep in thought. He didn't know what awaited him at home. Even though the warden had informed Ariella of his release, she never came to pick him up or even considered sending a vehicle to get him. 

Just as he passed a newspaper stand, the front page of the most popular dailies, Cedarwood times, caught his attention. It was the picture of Ariella, his wife receiving an award for being the most successful Pharmacist in Cedarwood. 

Despite the way he had been treated by her, he still felt proud of her. She had accomplished all that she had always wanted and it was mostly because of him.

Feelings of despair returned, washing over him as he approached the Gray's residence. 

Ethan could already see some of the neighbors whispering to themselves as he passed. He had become accustomed to their mockery, ever since he became a live-in-son-inlaw.

A few paces to the door, and he could hear loud laughter coming out of the house. Here he was wondering if they were alright since they never showed up to pick him up from prison, yet they were all inside having fun, probably at his expense. 

He braced himself, as he tapped the door with his fists. As soon as the door opened, Ethan was greeted by mocking look of the maid. Even though he was the husband of Ariella and the son-in-law to the Grays, he was looked down on by even the maids and other domestic staff in the house.

“You are back so soon. You know breaking out of jail is a crime.” 

“I didn't break out of jail. I got an early release.”

He responded as he walked in, not bothering to wait for a response. All of a sudden the noise he had heard while he was outside stopped as he stepped into the living room. 

He could already sense a funny demeanor from the Grays as they all turned their attention to him.

Martha, Ariella's mother was the first to speak, "If it isn't my good for nothing son-in-law. How was prison and how did you get out so soon."

Ethan wasn't too surprised at her statement as she had never hidden her dislike for him. Though before he went to jail, they had been unusually nice to him, making him so many promises. Martha had surprisingly been the nicest to him. She had even surprised him with an affectionate hug that fateful afternoon before he was whisked away to jail.

"The Mayor of Cedarwood granted me an early release. Today is his birthday." Ethan managed to reply calmly, despite how hurt he was feeling.

"Alright then, since you are out, we might as well get to it. You and Ariella are getting a divorce, those are the papers." 

Ethan was dumbfounded. He stared at the table and then at Ariella. Just then Jay, his best friend walked in.

"Baby, are you done with your call?"

Ariella asked in a very seductive tone. Ethan was shocked, as the reality of his situation had just begun to dawn on him.

"What's going on here?"

"What does it look like you good for nothing piece of trash," Ariella's mother responded coldly. "My daughter has finally seen the light. She has gotten herself a real man."

"Do your self a favor boy, sign those papers and scram." Jay added scornfully.

Young man, can't you read the hand writing on the wall? I wonder why Ariella brought herself to marry you in the first place, Ariella's father added.

Ariella, is this how you treat me? I spent months in jail, yet not once did you come to check up on me even after everything I did for you and your family!

Andrew jumped in, "What exactly did you do? You were bound to go to jail anyway, so you might as well have done it for me."

Answer me Ariella, Ethan demanded.

Ariella responded unashamedly, “You don't expect me to bring myself so low by coming to see you in jail, what do you want people to say? We are not of the same class, never have we and never will we, so please sign the papers and leave.”

"What about Jake, what do we tell him"

Ariella laughed, "I thought you were the smart one among us. Jake is not your son. His father is right here with him. Yes, that's right. Jay is his father."

Ethan could hardly believe what he was hearing.

“Since we've been married I've only touched you once because you never let me but I wasn't bothered, I felt you acted that way because of your work. How could you hurt me this way?”

Ariella never allowed Ethan touch her, not even on their wedding night. One fateful night, she made a seductive move on Ethan with both of them spending a passionate night together. It was a night Ethan never forgot, for she never allowed him touch her after that. Two weeks later she told him she was pregnant. Now it all made sense.”

“I only allowed you sleep with me that night because I found out I was pregnant for my man and I couldn't let it get out or it would have affected me negatively.”

“So what, you used me?” Ethan could hardly believe all that was unfolding before his very eyes.

He had done nothing but love Ariella and her entire family yet this was what he received in return.

"Now that you know the truth, leave." Andrew said as he attempted to grab Ethan by the collar but before he could touch him, Ethan attacked him to everyone's surprise. Andrew, furious that Ethan was bold enough to attack him, threw heavy punches at Ethan, sending him to the ground in pain.

Ethan had never raised his hands to anyone before now and Andrew had always picked on him, called him a weakling and beaten him up at the slightest opportunity. So everyone was shocked at Ethan's response.

"How dare you touch my Son. It seems you want to go back to jail. I can make that happen with just a phone call."

Ethan wasn't even moved by Mr Gray's statement, he was a man who had been betrayed by the people he had given his whole life for. 

With so much physical and emotional pain, he signed the divorce papers and slowly walked out of the Gray's residence.