"Sir Archibald-" Bruce's voice trailed off. He was short of words."What is it now? Don't tell me you're not happy to see me."Bruce looked at Jade and then at Mr. Archibald and smiled. "Of course not. I'm very happy to see you."Bruce got out of the chair, rushed to Mr. Archibald, and gave him a hug. "I was scared that I would never get to see you again.""You were scared and you did not bother to call me.""You told me not to. That you wouldn't answer even if I did. I'm sorry."Mr. Archibald smiled. "You're like a son to me. I will always answer whenever you call."Bruce pulled away from the hug and smiled. "I was so dumb not to have realized that much earlier.""And I should not have tried to force you to marry Tricia." He turned to Jade and smiled. "I should have forced you to find Have instead."Jade smiled nervously. "We don't intend to get back together. I'm leaving immediately my work here is done and that is to make sure Bruce gets his properties from Claire.""And, how does
"She'll be there all her life?" Jade's mouth hung open as Bruce and Archibald broke the news to her. She was packing to leave for Beijing and hence had little time to be at Claire's trial.It's been weeks since Claire got arrested. She was sentenced to stay imprisoned for life."I think she deserves it," Jade added and Bruce nodded in agreement."She threatened to throw her child off a tall building. Of course, she deserves something worse than a life imprisonment," Bruce said."And her mom?""She's going back to her hometown. I gave her some money to take good care of herself. She has her flaws but Claire's mother does not deserve the pain her daughter caused her.""Jade, tell me you're not still thinking of going back to Beijing," Mr. Archibald chipped in. "I thought both of you got married."Jade and Bruce exchanged looks. Mr. Archibald was right. They were once married and have never had a divorce."You can go back first. I'd prepare the divorce papers," Bruce said and Jade nodded
"My Dad? How is that possible? How did he know that I was here?" Jade looked at Bruce, wondering if he had a hand in what was going on. "Did you know he was coming?" She asked Bruce and he shook his head. "Bring him in," Bruce ordered. "Yes, sir." The butler left and he had no time, she returned with J. J. Fulton. Jade gasped when she saw her father. His clothes were faded. His hair and beard were unkempt. He had lost a great deal of weight too. She wondered what was wrong. He had enough money to take care of himself even without working. He could only lack money if he lost everything in a gamble and she knew that her father would never do such. Jade actually expected more from her father. Sure expected him to multiply the money he had. Or, was he this way because he missed her? Jade wondered. "I'm sorry for how I treated you, Jade." He turned to Bruce and placed his palms together. "Please forgive me for having a hand in your parents' death. I don't deserve your forgiveness, bu
"Here comes the bride. Here comes the bride." Bruce beamed as soon as he heard the song. He looked down the aisle, expecting to see Claire, his bride walk down to him only to find out it was empty. Bruce frowned. It was just in his head. Creases formed on Bruce's forehead. Claire should have arrived a few hours ago. The guests present were beginning to murmur amongst themselves. "Bruce, it seems like my prediction was right. She really ditched you," Martins, Bruce's best man whispered into his ear and he glared at him. "I've warned you severally, haven't I? Spending your hard-earned money on a girl's education when you aren't educated yourself is a foolish thing to do," Martins continued. "Claire can't dump me. Something is definitely wrong somewhere. What if she's in trouble?" Martins shook his head in disapproval of Bruce. A few minutes later, a lad walked into the hall and snuck up to Bruce. "Mr. Bruce, I have something to tell you," the man whispered into Bruce's ear. Bru
Bruce saw the brunette— Cole's sister. She stood opposite him and was leaning on a Ferrari 488 pista. He was drunk, so his brain was probably playing tricks on him. He drew closer to her to have a good look at her. It was truly Cole's sister."You're Cole's sister, aren't you?" Bruce asked. He wanted to be sure that his eyes weren't deceiving him. "The name's Jade, not Cole's sister, and why on Earth would you try to jump off a bridge?" She looked annoyed. "I'd ddddddie die anyways. Why nnnnnnn not get this over with and have peace of mind?" Bruce said with a slurred speech. He laughed afterwards.Jade leaned over to him. She sniffed the air around him and wrinkled her nose. "You reek of alcohol and you're stuttering. Are you drunk?""I'm not drunk," Bruce answered, raising his voice. He laughed. "I'm just far away. Far from my troubles."Jade watched him for a while. She was thinking the whole time."Then let's get married. If you aren't drunk, marry me," Jade said with a straight
"I'm not seeing your parents," Bruce said bluntly and Jade scowled at him. "Don't stare at me like that. Your billionaire family won't be happy to see me." "Where would we sleep?" "You can go back home. I'm not coming with you." "I'm not going without you either." Jade was stubborn and it made Bruce wonder how he would live with a stubborn wife. Well, a stubborn wife was better than a cheat. Jade entered her car, the Ferrari 488 pista. The door was wide open. "I'm waiting." Bruce heaved a sigh and got into the car. Jade drove them to her father's mansion which was situated uptown, where most of the billionaires of the city lived. Bruce got star-struck as Jade drove into her compound. J. J. Fulton's mansion screamed money. They got out of the car and walked into the house. A party was ongoing. "What's happening?" Bruce asked. "What do you think is happening other than a small party?" "Small party?" The wine available was surplus and none of the bottles of wine seemed to be l
"I accept your conditions. In three days, I'd get a job that pays $850,000 every month and I'd remain married to Bruce," Jade said confidently and her father smirked.He turned to Bruce and frowned at him. "You both are married, right? Then, you should share a room.""Never!" Lucia yelled. "My daughter would not be sharing a room with this street boy."J. J. Fulton turned away, ignoring his wife, and walked away."C—come with me," Jade said, beckoning Bruce.Jade's room was gigantic. Where he usually stayed had a small kitchen and toilet, but Jade's room alone was five times bigger than his house.He was totally out of Jade's league. He wondered what she was thinking when she married him. He was confused about how he should feel. He wondered if he should be angry at her for taking advantage of his drunken state or pity her for the problem and insults their marriage would put her through."S—since we are married now. Should we share a bed?" Jade was uneasy."Married couples usually sha
"Mr. Carter," Mr. Griffin called out with a big smile to the man that had stopped the men from beating Bruce.He rushed to get a chair for the man to sit on. "Mr. Carter, please have a seat.""Mr. Griffin, why aren't you beating him up? He almost killed me," Cole whined."Shut that arsehole you call a mouth," Mr. Griffin said to Cole, frowning. He turned to Mr. Carter and smiled. "What do you want to have?""I want those tiny men you ordered to beat him up, out of here," Mr. Carter said with a frown.Mr. Griffin turned to them. "You heard him. You all should get out."One by one, the men began to leave and Bruce watched in awe. He had always heard about Mr. Carter, but it was the first time he'd met him in person. Mr. Archibald Carter was the Chief Operating Officer of AAB groups, the biggest company in town. He had both money and power and Bruce wondered what made the man help him."What else do you want?" Mr. Griffin asked, still smiling."I want you to leave too.""Me?" Mr. Griffin