Chapter 1
“You stupid fool, you had just one job. One freaking job. But you couldn't get it done. You just had to mess up. You want nothing but to disgrace this household in front of the entire family.”. Mrs Nancy Dalton, who couldn't control her anger yelled,walking fast in her stiletto heel as she entered the house.In an attempt to soothe her mother's nerves, Rosa Dalton hurried to her side, gently taking her mother's hand and speaking to her in a soft, reassuring voice. “ Mom, don't walk too fast, you're going to hurt yourself”.But Nancy wasn't taking any of it. She jerked her arm out of her daughter's grip.“Hurt myself?!. No, I'm going to hurt that bastard instead. Just imagine the embarrassment he caused us today”.“Mom, calm down. I'm sure there's was a misunderstanding somewhere”.“Misunderstanding?!”. Nancy flared up again. “Why do you always give excuses for his incompetence? Huh?”. She threw her heels at the young man in question, targeting his head, but luckily for him, he was fast enough to dodge it.“Mom!!!” Rosa’s eyes widened at her mother's action.“You know what?. I blame your dad. I blame him for all of this!. If he stopped you from seeing this fool while you were in school just like I advised, then I wouldn't have to deal with this. But your father was so stubborn and strong headed. He approved your marriage to this fool. He even went ahead to give him a job at the company. Now look, he isn't even alive to witness the embarrassment this bastard is causing this household”.The young man who just stood and received all these insults was Adrian Grey. Adrian is an orphan who was lucky enough to have charmed Rosa Dalton, the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the country during their University days. The whole Dalton family was against them seeing each other, but strangely, Rosa's father, Late Mr Walter Dalton approved of their relationship and even got him a job at the company after their wedding.Rosa and Adrian have been married for five years and Adrian's love for his beautiful wife has never reduced, instead, it grew everyday. But after Mr Walter’s death one year ago, Rosa suddenly grew cold towards Adrian.Adrian's gaze drifted from his ranting mother-in-law to his wife's face, which held a dark expression he could not read. She was definitely getting fed up of the continuous embarrassment.Adrian felt his hand closing up in a fist. He needed to defend himself. He didn't do anything wrong at the office today. Someone definitely misplaced those files and is trying to pin the blame on him.“Mother, what happened today at the office wasn't me. I haven't even laid eyes on the files they said I misplaced before. Someone definitely misplaced those files and is trying to shift the blame on me…”SMACK!!!Before Adrian could finish what he was saying, Nancy sent a stinging slap across his face. The slap reverberated across the room. The silence that followed was deafening, as Rosa's eyes widened in horror. Nancy's face was flushed with anger, her eyes blazing with fury.“Who asked you to speak?!”. She hissed, her voice sharp and menacing. “And how many times have I told you not to call me your mother?!. I am not your mother!. You are nothing but a fool and you will never be good enough for my daughter”.With that, she stormed upstairs. Adrian stood there, stunned, his cheek burning from the slap. Rosa stood there for a minute, taking in the scene before her. Her mother's words and action had left her feeling numb, her emotions shut down in self defence. She couldn't bring herself to feel sorry for her husband, couldn't bring herself to care about how he must be feeling. She walked up to him, her eyes cold,“Listen”. Her tone showed a glint of annoyance. “We have to get ready for the party. When we get there, please behave and don't embarrass me further”. She paused, as if letting her words sink in. Then, without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out of the room, her heels clicking against the marbled floor.*********Adrian, Rosa and Nancy arrived at the venue where the party was being held. It was the Dalton's annual party hosted by Dalton Industries Inc which belonged to the Dalton family. Although the Dalton's were rich, they weren't considered the top families in NewYork. They were a third rate Family and also Rosa's family.Nancy strutted into the hall, all adorned in a glittering dress and shiny jewellery, wearing a kind smile on her face and greeting anyone that passed her. Rosa wore a simple long white dress that hugged her body, bringing out her curves, with a split that reached her tanned smooth thigh. She let her hair fall graciously down her exposed back.Although she was dressed in a simple attire, Rosa was incredibly beautiful. She was considered the top beauty of the Dalton's family because she attracted men wherever she went.“I told you not to bring this fool here. He is killing the vibe in this room”. Nancy whispered to Rosa as they walked down the room.“Mom, he is my husband. He is supposed to be here.”Nancy rolled her eyes at her daughter's response. “ If he embarrasses me tonight, I'll literally kill him. I promise you that”.Adrian on the other hand, walked beside his wife and mother in-law, ignoring all the sneering eyes glaring at him. He was used to it already and mastered himself to ignore them.“Oh!, If it isn't our beauty goddess and her loser husband. You guys finally decided to join the party. Do you guys realise you are late?. And grandma detests people who are late” Sean Dalton, Rosa's cousin brother announced, patting Adrian on the back.Rosa scoffed and rolled her eyes at himIt was evident that Sean had a strained relationship with Rosa, which was evident from his sarcastic comment.“If I wasn't a gentleman, you'd get a punch in the face for laying your hands on me”. Adrian seethed.Everyone around gasped at Adrian's words. They had never heard him say something like that. He was quiet most of the time.Nancy approached her daughter, Rosa discreetly.“Rosa, I told you bringing this fool here was a mistake. Look, he is causing trouble now”.“Wow!!!. You really have the guts to speak, after tampling with company files?”.“You know that wasn't me. I know you did that and you're just trying to pin the blame on me.”. Adrian gritted his teeth,closing in on Sean.“Pin the blame on you?. Who the hell do you think you are ?”. Sean raised his brows, glaring at Adrian as if ready for a fight.“He doesn't know he is just this family's leftover”. Lily Dalton, Rosa's third cousin, approached the group, adding fuel to the fire. “And it seems Rosa doesn’t know she has to tame her dog”.Lily has always held a personal grudge towards Rosa. She hates the fact that Rosa is rated first in beauty. And makes sure to ridicule her whenever the chance pops up.“Well Lily, it's fine. The files don't matter anymore. Because what Adrian doesn't know is that our beauty queen here has covered up for him and is divorcing his broke ass”.Adrian’s eyes widened, “What?!”Chapter 2Adrian was sure he didn't just hear divorce.“Awwn! Surprise, surprise”, Lily said in her usual high pitched voice, giving a short scornful laugh at the end. Sean joined her too.“Oh stop Lily. The poor fool. Did you really think Rosa here was down for you? Really? Is that how you really think of yourself?”, Sean said, with a scoff.“That's enough Sean”“What? It’s not like I’m lying. I’m just stating facts”. “I said enough!!”“Rosa…”. Adrian tried drawing closer to his wife,but she stepped back, using her hand to stop him from coming any closer. “Look Adrian. I'm tired. I want a divorce”“A divorce?Are you serious right now?”“Yes Adrian. I want a divorce. Here and now”, Rosa said, her hands folded under her chest.“I… I don't understand Rosa. Wh.. wha.. what's going on? Where's all this coming from all of a sudden?”“All of sudden? This isn't all of a sudden Adrian. You've just been too blind to see it.”“What are you talking about Rosa? I don't understand”“Clearly his
Chapter 3 Adrian sat bruised and battered in his cold, dingy prison cell. He paced the small cell, a stabbed feeling in him. He had now spent three endless months locked up for a crime he didn't commit. The wounds from the daily beatings were nothing compared to the sting of betrayal he felt. He couldn't still comprehend why the woman he'd dedicated his life to loving would order for a divorce so cold-heartedly - in a way that was capable of striping him of every last form of dignity he had.“Get up you idiot. You have a visitor”Adrian stood up reluctantly, not wanting to go through another round of beating for stubbornness. He was in no mood to see anybody be they his friends. Not to even talk of any of his in- laws. Now Rosa had come once again to torment Adrian under the guise of being a concerned ex-wife. “Oh Adrian, look at you! This is what happens when you try lying and avoiding accountability for your actions. All this pain could have been avoided if you had just admitted
Chapter 4“Adrian!”“Who… who's there?”, Adrian looking around him. The thunderous sound of the voice had caused him to almost fall over as he managed to catch his step from all that stumbling. The voice seemed to walk on the ground around him, with something heavy to his feet striking on the ground, like metal hitting metal - a vibrating aura to it.Andrea rubbed his eyes, finding it hard to believe what he was seeing. The form was obviously headed in his direction and a strange feeling overwhelmed him. He could feel the strange energy in this ethereal place and it sent chills down his spines. He didn't want to be overwhelmed by fear so he asked the questions.“Who … who are you?”, Andrea said as the blinding figure came within his view. It was in the form of a man and his face was illuminating extremely, that Adrian couldn't even look at him straight.“Adrian”, the deep voice called out to him again.“What.. what do you want from me?”, Adrian said, his arm over his eyes to prevent t
Chapter 5“Master? Good… morning Master Adrian”, Martinez greeted again, thinking Adrian hadn't heard. But Adrian just continued to stare on at him, his eyes darting quickly away to other things. Martinez watched his master act strange. He touched his body like as if he couldn't believe he was alive and looked all over the place like he had never been there. This was a first.“Master, are you okay?”, Martinez asked in concern. Adrian just looked on, his face pale with shock and confusion. “Certainly, I must get the home nurse”, he said to himself finally. On hearing that, Adrian quickly stopped him as he was already on walking his way to the door.“Hey! Hey! Stop!”, Adrian called out to Martinez. His legs were already out if the duvet ready to catch up with him.Martinez breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh master! For a minute there, I thought you had gone completely dumb, Master. You looked so lost. Is anything the matter, Master?”“No…I'm fine. I am”, Adrian replied, trying to look assu
Chapter 6Martinez was back yet again but just as alone as he had gone. This time he looked more upset than the last time. He was complaining, throwing both hands in the air.“Yet another incompetent housestaff!” Martinez shouted as he walked into Adrian's room.“Can you believe, Master? The house nurse didn't even clock in for work today! How outrageous? How can anyone decide to take a one day vacation with a crucial role like that? How can the head of staff in the house allow such negligence of duty? Isn't that madness, Master? I mean…”“Hey, hey, calm down…”, Adrian said, slowing down on his last words as he noticed the name tag on his servant. “Marti…”“Oh my name tag, Master? I forgot to even mention it to you, Master. They spelt my name wrong”“Ahhh… let me see”, Adrian demanded and Martinez dutifully took off the tag and handed it to his master “Martinoz Lucruez”“Can you believe, Master? Tell me, who can't spell Martinez right? It's the simplest Spanish name!”Adrian smiled,
Chapter 7The soft knock came on the door just as Adrian picked up the cufflinks. It was Martinez.“The car's ready, Master”“Oh, okay”. He picked his jacket up which Martinez took from him. Giving one last comb to his hair, he looked at himself in the mirror shortly in the mirror. He couldn't deny - the suit looked really good on him. He smelt nice too- the scent of deep masculine musk all over him. Adrian hesitated, wondering what new faces he'd see if he went down the stairs.“Shall we?”“After you, Master”, Martinez said, opening the door. It made a beep sound immediately Martinez closed it, indicating that it had automatically locked. Adrian went down the stairs slowly and as he did, the maids greeted him. Martinez seemed to savor such things, because he let out a deep breath of satisfaction as they stepped out into the verandah.“ At least, a few dutiful ones”, he said under his breath though it was just loud enough for Adrian to hear. As he went down the steep stairs that led u
Chapter 8 Silence fell on the rest of the board as soon as the Sales director finished his presentation.“A commendable presentation”, Leonard complimented, breaking the silence immediately. “Any Questions?”, He asked, glancing from left to right. Adrian wondered if he should speak up now. What he had to say would not only discredit the Sales director's work but would definitely get him sacked because there was no way he could say he made such a big mistake in reporting. It was obviously schemed and he probably wasn't expecting that the Shilla would do her own reporting. But if he didn't say anything, then the information provided would prevent the company from improving and he could definitely see unrecoverable loss in the future, not to mention the fact that there'll be more chances of embezzling funds from the Sales department.“Very well then… I …”Adrian raised his hand, cutting his Father off.“Yes Adrian?”“Thank… Thank you sir”, Adrian said, clearing his throat at the end o
Chapter 9“Welcome Master”, Martinez greeted with a bow as Adrian came to the room of the door. “Martinez, how are you?”“Very well, Master. Should I have them bring up your lunch”“Umm…not really, Martinez. I had lunch on my way here”The gasp that escaped from Martinez made Adrian think he'd just murdered someone. “What?”“Master, why would you choose to eat lunch at some local undeserving restaurant, amongst…. uhhh”, Martinez said dramatically, shuddering at his last words like he'd just seen something ominous and overwhelming.“What… What's wrong with that? Did I do something wrong?”“Wrong?!. It's outrageously forbidden to be caught outside as a Grayson. What if someone caught you on camera or some paparazzi videoed you, Master?”“Calm down, Martinez. I'm… pretty sure there wasn't any … paparazzi anywhere” “But you can't be too sure, Master. They are very sly people and they could get such things all over the internet in no time!”“There was no paparazzi Martinez”“But Maste