Bruce looked at the side of her face and was perplexed by who he saw."Jade?" He said in a whisper. She fled from his side and got into a car that stopped by immediately she got to the other side of the house. He stood rooted at the spot. He never expected that he would meet her again. The honk of a car shook him out of his daze and he hurried away to his car. He drove off absentmindedly and soon he was at the company. His assistant hurried to the doors as he was approaching. He bowed slightly and took his briefcase from his hand."Where is he?" Bruce asked. He took fast strides towards his office. His staff members scurried away if they were in his path. He did not even have to say a word. He got to his office and there was there client on a video call with someone who sounded like his wife. Bruce cleared his throat and the man dismissed his wife almost immediately. "I did not mean to break up that family moment. But, I am sure you did not come here to portray a living example of g
Bruce could hear noises coming from below. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and tried to sit up. He could hear voices. He wondered what might be making his house staff make so much noise. He slipped his feet into his slides and put on a robe. He walked downstairs and into the living room. There was Claire and her mother at the living room, barking orders to the maids for their luggage and lunch. "Hey, treat that bag nice. I have breakable objects in there." Claire yelled. The maids scurried around in anxiety."You really do not have to yell before you are heard." His voice boomed over the hall and they all looked at the end of the stairs. Claire plastered a false toothy smile. She rushed to his side for a hug. He did not hug her back but stood stiffly as she detached herself from his side. She stared at him confused. She had thought the vacation had sparked something between them. The lack of emotions on his face as he stared at her made her realize that whatever she had thought t
Bruce recalled how she stole and disappeared without a trace. He wondered why he was always unfortunate with the opposite sex. He couldn't differentiate who was loyal as even the ones he trusted and loved betrayed him. He kept scrolling on her page and saw an old picture of her. He had taken the shot when they were together back then. He closed his eyes to relive the moment.“Bruce dear, where are you? lunch is ready” Claire called out to him as she made her way through the stairs to the room. She found him coming out from the restroom. Bruce had heard her call out but didn't want to stay in a closed space with her. He then locked his room and hurried to the restroom to make her believe as though he was in there.Bruce looked at her, “ Any problem" he asked staring fixed at her ignorantly.“Oh, there you are. I was calling on you to come downstairs for lunch and I didn't get any reply, so I came up to check on you. I didn't know you were in the restroom, since you're here, let's go do
“Why is he acting so difficult? I don't even get to spend as much time as I did when I was working for him. How will I be able to win him or be close to him with everything going on now?” Claire cried out, feeling frustrated by Bruce's actions.“You need to be calm. You just need to play your moves better and you will see. Don't wear yourself out with his behavior. He is wounded and hurt by the betrayals and everything he has experienced. How does a lion act when wounded?” her mother said, cheering her up from the thoughts bubbling up in her.Claire looked at her mother and didn't say a word."I have told you what you need to do. Get yourself pregnant and you will see the changes in him. He will come to accept his child. After all, that's what he wants and would accept you too. This is not a time to mourn when you haven't done anything yet. Cheer up my dear. Your mother is with you in every step” she added, engulfing Claire in a warm embrace.Claire hugged back tightly, feeling relieve
Bruce drove off, humming to the song that played in the car stereo in the background.“What's going on? Why the hold up?" Bruce said with a hoarse voice, angry over the impending traffic that he was caught up in. He honked his car, drawing the attention of the passengers in front.“What's going on over there?" he asked as soon as he saw the owner of the vehicle in front of him, and stepped out of his car.“I heard a diesel truck fell in the side pit while trying to swerve at the roundabout and they are trying to get it out. Right now, they are going on a one-way track, that's why we are in this situation” the old man replied, leaning on in his car to rest up."Thank you," Bruce said to the man and proceeded to step back into his vehicle as the line started moving.Taking a quick pause, he turned to his left and saw a figure seated in a taxi.“Jade," he whispered to himself, then shook his head. "No, it can be." He took another look. "She has the same hair color as Jade and her bracele
"What are we going to do?" Claire's mother asked herself. "I need to tell Claire about this, she will know how to handle it," she said and returned to her room shocked by the scene before her.Claire finished with her call and walked into the parlor to find Bruce seated in a corner with his eyes on his iPad and glancing at the TV.“So, he watches TV," She muttered to herself. Since she knew him, it was the first time she saw him watching T. V. The fact that it was a popular romance drama baffled her the most."What was going on in his mind? This was the almighty Bruce Ace for crying out loud," she mattered, shrugged and walked up the stairs to find her daughter.She found Claire lying down peacefully on her bed, looking through some fashion magazines scattered around her.“Claire, what have you got there? You are so engrossed in those magazines. Do you want to open a fashion house?" Claire's mother asked.Chuckling at her words, “Well, as a young lady I need to keep up with my fashion
Claire had gone to bed with a heavy heart she woke up cheerful. She sat on her bed, her eyes wandering around, and she frowned on remembering that Bruce slept in the adjoining room leaving her no chance to make an advance at him.She walked into the bathroom and quickly freshened up. She thought of the previous day's activity and her plans for the days ahead. She had to do something. There was no time to wait any longer to delay her plans. She moved hastily to her mom's room, knowing fully well that Bruce must have left for work. Claire frowned. He probably did so to prove the point that he had a tight schedule ahead to avoid meeting her for the date. She knocked on her mother's door. It was the beginning of the day things would change for the better between her and her husband, Bruce. The door opened, making a small sound.“ What's wrong with you? It's unusual for you to still be in bed till now. Is everything alright?" Claire inquired, her tone bearing an affectionate tune. The moth
They had a peaceful breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, pancakes dipped in honey with platters of fruits and smoothies to go with. When the table was cleared, they didn't encounter Maria.Claire went up to her room to dress up as it was approaching mid afternoon and she needed to leave to meet up with Bruce at work. She decided to put on a red slitted dress that had silver beads on it , glittering when walking directly under light. She had her hair pack in a bun with some part left loose, creating a rough but seductive look. Her lips were deep red and she wore a black heel sandal that brought out the put together everything she was wearing.She checked herself out in the mirror and felt contended. She looked good. More than she had even imagined.“Oh my, you look so beautiful. I knew you will do the needful” her mother chorused.Claire smiled at her mother's words and muttered lightly, "Take care of yourself. I will be back soon. I hope it goes positive”.She walked out to the car whic
"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
"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
"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
Jade stopped before a hotel."This is where I stay.""Why stay in a hotel when you have a family house?""It's sold.""No, it isn't. I bought it back.""You did?" Jade's face brightened, then it became dull. "Claire now owns all your properties, so it's hers now.""I bought it in your name," Bruce said dryly and got out of the car.Jade beamed. "Thank you."She was here because she wanted to give him his money, but knowing that Bruce still cared made her happy."Then we should go there, instead of staying in the hotel. I'll quickly go to my room and get a few of my things."Bruce got back into the car and Jade got out.She walked into the hotel. After about ten minutes, she came out with a traveling bag and dropped it in her boot.Jade handed out a debit card to Bruce immediately after she got into the car. "It has your five hundred million."Bruce took it from her and mumbled a thank you."What about Mr. Archibald?" Jade asked, breaking the silence that lingered between them as she d
Bruce's eyes flung open. His breathing was back to normal and his heart stopped beating fast. He felt everywhere was brighter too. He guessed right. The door was opened and he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion immediately he saw who opened it. "Jade?" "Bruce." She ran to him to check if he was alright, but when she touched him, Bruce slapped her hands away from his body. "What are you doing here?" "If I had not reached here on time, you would have died." "That's what you want, isn't it?" Bruce scoffed. Jade shook her head. "If I wanted that, I would not have risked my life to save you." "Risk your life? I know you're on Claire's side. Stop the pretense. I know you somehow found out that I had a mp3 player that could land Claire in trouble. You told her about it and like you wanted, she was not absent. As a result, the case was dismissed. " "That's not true," Jade said, defending herself. "I was the one who took the audio recording. I asked the old man to give you
"He is your son too. Are you seriously going to kill your son?" Bruce could not believe his ears.Claire scoffed. "He is your son. Not mine. According to the contract I signed, you did not need a mother for your son. You only wanted an heir. You planned on paying me off so I could leave the child I would give birth to with you.""He is your blood. Don't tell me you're this heartless.""You know what poverty is like. You know what being powerless is like and what being powerful is like. So you should understand when I say that I want power and money. I want to teach those who have ever looked down on me a lesson. I want to be able to get what I want whenever I want. I want people to look at me with respect. I want the kind of money you have without being at your mercy.""Claire, don't I give you what you want whenever you ask?""You can wake up one day and decide you don't want our marriage again. What should I do then? I refuse to be at the mercy of a man. I want to have your money. I
It's been two months since Bruce saw Claire. She was nowhere to be found. He involved the police, and his men and searched for her himself but he still could not find her.Finding Claire was the only exciting thing that had happened in the space of two months. He worked from 7 am till 9 pm, then from work, he would go to the bar.Once in a while, his eyes scan the bar for Jade. The night before his first trial was the last night he saw Jade. He never saw Jade again after that day.Bruce looked around his office. The furniture was sleek and modern. The floor-to-ceiling windows gave the office a good view. He placed his hands on the mahogany desk, his eyes on his phone.His phone rang and he picked up the call immediately."Have you found them?""Ava still lives in this city but Naomi has relocated," the caller said and Bruce Ace nodded."Text me Ava's address."The last time he saw them was the day Claire ditched him on their wedding day. He smirked, remembering how they had looked do
Bruce Ace sat on the wooden bench. His eyes moved around searching for any trace of Claire. The courtroom was filled to its brim. The judge was visibly annoyed at everything that was happening.Murmurs filled the air.It's been an hour since the trial should begin but Claire, the plaintiff, was absent.The judge finally raised his court to talk. "The plaintiff seems to be nowhere to be found. In this light, the case is therefore dismissed."Bruce Ace frowned.He was ready for her.He has something to prove his innocence. Something to show that Claire was the guilty one here.Bruce was fixed to his seat. Refusing to get up. If this was the case, everybody would think that he had paid her off to shut her up.They will think he was the cause of her absence. Not like he cared what they thought of him but he wanted to shut her up the lawfully way.He wanted everyone to get a glimpse of what he had to go through because of women.Bruce finally left his seat and headed for the exit. His body
"Claire?"Claire raised her head from her food to see who was calling her. Her eyes flew open."Jade."She frowned."Oh my! How have you been?" Jade asked, joining her at the table. "Where have you been?"Claire raised an eyebrow, wondering if Jade had no idea of the ongoing case between her and Bruce. The news was everywhere. How would she not know?"Are you talking to me?"Jade smiled. "I know we don't have a good past. The issue with my brother and Bruce and stuff like that, but now these people are no longer in our lives, so I think we should be nicer to each other now.""Have you not seen Bruce?""I've seen him." Jade's face fell. "I saw him in a bar yesterday. He only talked to me when he did not know who I was. When he did, he yelled at me and left. He was telling me something about his wife trying to kill him to get his property and that she had sued him for beating her up which is not true. Do you know how he has been?""You don't know who I am?" Claire asked, just to confirm