Chapter one
James Bennett stood at the threshold of the grand ballroom, his heart pounding against his chest feeling nervous. Tonight marked a significant milestone in his life—a charity gala hosted by his in-laws, the illustrious Smith family. As he adjusted his tie nervously, he glanced at Emma, his wife, who stood beside him radiating confidence and grace in her designer gown. The Smith mansion gleamed with opulence, a stark contrast to the humble apartment James shared with Emma before their marriage. For James, stepping into this world felt like entering a dream, one where he hoped to prove himself worthy not just to Emma but to her entire family. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the evening ahead. He was about to walk in when he heard a voice behind him. James stood still and timidy looked back to where the voice came from. " And where the hell did you think you are going?" A woman in her mid forties shouted at James. " I..I...thought." James stammered and was cut short before he could finish. "Oh, you thought the gala event was for you also since you bare the last name, Smith." Margaret stand with her hand akimbo, looking at James. " I think I need to make myself clear, you are nothing to this family but a lowly servant. I don't know why Emma married a man like you but you need to know your place. Miss Harris is inside the kitchen and the rest of the servants. You are going to make sure my guests are served and are well attended to. so you had better take off that suit and change into something maid like. " Margaret yelled at James who had his head bent down. The gaze of the people shifted from the music being played and all focus was on James. Some laughed while some pret ended like they didn't see him James looked trying to catch a glimpse of his wife but he noticed she could not be found. Emma was either drinking away her time or was frolicking with any rich man sh e sees at the party. The gala was mostly for the biggest fish in the city of New York. James took off his suit and simply rolled up his sleeve. He stroll to the kitchen and was met with Mrs Harris friendly gaze. " I can't believe you are sent here on a day like this." She said trying to keep her voice down. " You should keep your voice low,Mrs Harris. I don't want to get you into trouble." James said gently arranging the wine cups on the glassy tray in his front. The Smith's were just hosting Thier first gala event since the wedding of Emma and James. Which was if course the talk of the town. Many wondered why Emma would marry a nobody. James had been a clerk in one of the most biggest library. He and Emma had met by chance and they fell inlove. At least that was what James thought until he married her and the Smith showed Thier claws. " Do you need help with that?" Mrs Harris looked at James. She was the only one who loved and liked James. She sees him like her son although she had sons of her own. As James went about serving the drinks at the gala eve nt, he kept rolling his eyes all over the places trying to capture a glimpse of Emma. " Where the hell is she?" James said under his breath as her mistakenly crashed into one of the guest. "Oh my god! He ruined it." The lady shouted looking at her velvet gown. Margaret who wasn't far from the scence gasped rushing towards them. In a twink of an eye, she landed a heavy slap at James throwing the people off their feet. Many people were surprised at how harsh Margaret was while some said James had deserved it. " That gown cost alot. I heard it is one of a kind." One of the ladies said whispering into the ears of her partner. James clenched to his cheek as he stared at all the faces staring at him. " I am so sorry, Jenna. I will have the cloth ordered right away." Margaret pleased looking at her. " This was the last edition, Mrs Smith. I wasn't a refund." She looked at her face " What is going on here?" Emma shouted walking through the crowd with a man by her side. She looked at Jenna and back at James. " Where the hell have you been?" James said gently removing his hands from his cheek. " How dare you ask me that? Mother, why have him come here and ruin the day for us?" Emma shouted at Margaret who looked apologetic. " I am sorry baby. I don't mean too." Many people were now gathering to see what was going on. " You don't need to sweat it baby. Who is this man by the way?" Mark Nelson asked looking at James who was in his white shirt and black pants. " You mean him?" Emma said in a sharp tone. " This is one of our families servants. Can you greetbmy guest and stop staring at him?" Emma shouted at James even making him look like a fool James was short of words. It almost look like the earth should open and swallow him up. He had lowered himself to serving the Smith's guest but now Emma was even making a mockery of him by calling him a servant. " Did you just call me a servant?" James sighed and looked at Emma who didn't say a word but simply liplocked with Mark. Furiously, James dropped the glassy tray as it dashed into a million pieces. He rushed towards Mark and draw his face away from Emma but he was met by a strong punch to his faces sending him to the ground. Many laughed seeing the ugly scandal of the Smith family once again but suddenly, a man ran out of the crowd and shouted. " James Bennett! Are you alright?" Everyone froze at the name James was called. " It can't be, Bennett?" Emma looked at the man who shouted and back at James.Many of them looked at the man on the floor and back at the man standing in front of James. " I think you have the wrong person." James stammered and walked away from the scene. For a second, the atmosphere was tensed. Everyone know the Bennett family were the richest family in the city of New York. They were not only rich but they were having a vast lands with wealth and influence, they had carved out a storied legacy in New York City. Known for their vast real estate holdings spanning from Manhattan's skyscrapers to expansive estates in the Hamptons, the Bennetts were a name whispered with awe and envy in high society circles. Founded by Richard Bennett, a shrewd entrepreneur who had amassed a fortune through strategic investments in the early 20th century, the family's wealth had grown exponentially through successive generations. Richard Bennett Jr., the current patriarch, was renowned not only for his business acumen but also for his philanthropic endeavors, funding numero
James sat at the dining table, stunned into silence by Emma's announcement. His mind raced as he tried to process the implications of her words. "Let's break up." The phrase echoed in his mind, tinged with a mix of disbelief and resignation. He glanced around the table, meeting the eyes of each member of the Smith family—Margaret, Robert, and Emma herself, who now seemed strangely composed after her abrupt declaration. Robert Smith, the patriarch of the Smith family, cleared his throat, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled over the room. His voice, though measured, carried an underlying tone of authority that James had always found intimidating."Emma, my dear," Robert began, his gaze unwavering as he addressed his daughter, "this is a serious matter. Are you sure about this decision?"Emma hesitated for a moment, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of her napkin. When she finally spoke, her voice was surprisingly steady. "Yes, father. I've thought long and hard about
James slumped into the passenger seat of Victor's car, the weight of the day's events pressing heavily on his shoulders. The sleek interior of the car felt like a stark contrast to the chaotic emotions swirling within him. "Are you seriously going to let them treat you like this, James?" Victor asked, his voice a mix of concern and frustration. "You've been through hell for years, and now this?" James stared out the window, the passing scenery blurring into a haze. "I don't know what to do, Vic. I love Emma, but it's clear she doesn't feel the same way anymore. And her family... they've always seen me as beneath them." Victor tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "You deserve better than this, James. You always have." James remained silent, the words sticking in his throat. He knew Victor was right. To think he had scarified his lfe of luxury to be with Emma began to look all stupid to him. ------------------------------------------------------- The door to the dining
James looked around and could see the cold gaze on each faces. He simply picked up the pen and said nothing. James sighed the divorce papers and went into his room to grab his things. At first he wanted to call Victor to come and get him but he knew he would be attracting more attention to himself. He dragged his breifacse as Magarate hissed. " Bye bye to good ridances." She said with a smirk and looked at Emma. " It is a good thing we have James out of your life. Now you can focus more on yourself and Mark. Has he called you today?" She asked playing with Emma's hair " No, he hasn't." Emma looked at her phone and Mark's call came in. " Speaking of the devil." She showed her phone to her mother. Emma had the phone out on speaker and laughed as she and Mark talked at length. " Can I talk to your father?" Mark said finally about to end the call " Hello sir." He said with a broad smile. Mark was visible seen seated in a grand office with a transparent glass to view the opulent s
" Hello son," Richard said with an husk voice. " How are father?." James replied with his heart beating fast against his chest. He hope his mother had not said anything to his father. " How is your wife doing?" Richard asked James knew he couldn't tell his father he had been kicked out of the house. " She is fine." He replied with a sweaty palms. He knew his father had a knack for knowing when things was wrong. " Can I talk to her?" Richard asked, he could always sense when James was telling a lie. Richard and James had been best friends. The relationship between the father and son was more like a friend rather than parent and child. Things started to change when James started growing up. " I am sorry,Dad. I know you are right and I am wrong. The Smith had me thrown out of the house." He said with his head bowed gently. " They did what!" Richard shouted getting up to his feet. " I want to see you at home the following day." He commaded and hung up the call. James sigh, He
The Nelson's family and the Smith family sat down round a very big table. The servants were seen serving both families. Thomas Nelson was also a popular man in the city of New York. He had many business in the city and out of the city. " It is a pleasure to be in your humble abode." Robert said with a smile looking around the house. " The pleasure is mine and besides, I heard Mark here is in love with your daughter " Thomas replied looking at Emma. " I have also been hearing some strange rumours about her marriage to some pauper. Is that true?" Magaret coughed alittle and quickly interfere. " That was no marriage, we simply helped the boy but he mistook it because we were being generous to him. He is thrown out of the house and he is not living with us anymore." She ended her speech "Uhmm....that was not what I have been hearing though but if yiu are telling me now that your daughter is not seeing anymore then I don't see any reason why we need to delay any longer. Please, enj
Jenna draw Emma into the room and locked the door. " Don't tell me you left James Bennett for Mark Nelson. Are you nut!" Jenna shouted at Emma who was still not getting what was going on. " I knew something was different about him. I told you I saw how I met a man bowing to him just outside your home." She said again trying to remember what she had seen. " It can't be? Did James play a trick on me?" Emma looked at Jenna " Played a trick on you? You are kidding right? You had the Bennet inside your home all this while and you don't know who he is? I have always thought you were smart but this.." Jenna shook her head. " Don't disrespect me because it was obvious you don't like James too. I saw the way you treated him at the party the last time." Emma shot Jenna a hot look " Well, I a not the one getting married to the second richest man in the country. But come to think of it, you would have become the most prominent woman in the city. No one would ever dare cross path with you"