" 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 fell on the bed and drifted into a long sleep. ****************************************************************** The sound of the knock woke James up, he walked towards the door rubbing his face and was surprised to see his mother. " Mum, wha are you doing here?" James asked with his eyes wide open. " I just wanted to come and see you. Your father told me everything. Why didn't you say something when I called?" Alice walked into the room without being invited " Because I knew you would be trouble and you might even ran down to see me like you did right now." James said looking at Alice worried face. " You don't need to be bothered." James said walking back to the bed to dress properly His phone rang and he saw it was Victor. " What up,Vic?" James said greeting him " Have you seen the news?" Victor asked "No," James replied looking at Alice, he smiled just to make her feel more comfortable. " What about the magazine then? Have you seen that?" Victor asked again "No, Can you cut to the chase and stop with the question." James said getting worked up over Victor's continous questions. " I am going to send a video to you right now and I want you to watch it." Victor said quickly and have the file sent James went through the video and saw that Emma was getting married to Mark Nelson. " I know immediately I was kicked out of the house. I knew they were getting married and they wanted me out of the way." James said with a smirk ' What? Emma is getting married? To who?" Alice's voice sharp " You didn't tell me your mum was there with you." Victor said sharply and cut off the call. " You mean you were kicked out of the house and even your wife is marrying another man?" Alice asked "Does she know who you are!" Alice raised her voice again " I think you need to calm down mother, They are about finding out who I really am." James said with a wide grin After a few minutes, James was dressed and was now looking more like the son of a the most wealthiest man in the city. His clothes were perfectly tailored, and he carried himself with an air of confidence that matched his father's reputation. James opened the door and saw two security men stationed outside his door. " Mother, is this really necessary?" James said looking back at his mother. The two walk hand in hand as they walked out of the hotel heading back home. The drive wasn't long before the reached the Bennett's mansion. " Did father renovated the mansion?" James asked pepping out of the car. Alice smiled, " You know your father loves to live up to people's expectations." Alice replied James gazed up at the Bennett mansion, a grandiose structure that stood as a testament to his father's immense wealth and influence. The mansion was an architectural masterpiece, blending classical elegance with modern luxury. Its expansive front was adorned with tall marble columns and intricate stone carvings, and large windows offered a glimpse into the opulence inside. The driveway, lined with perfectly manicured hedges and blooming flowers, led to a grand entrance with an imposing oak door flanked by brass sconces. As James and Alice approached, the door swung open, revealing a marble-floored foyer illuminated by a massive crystal chandelier. The light from the chandelier cast a warm glow over the room, highlighting the exquisite artwork and antique furnishings that decorated the space. A sweeping staircase with a polished mahogany banister curved gracefully to the upper floors, and the air was filled with the faint scent of fresh lilies from the many vases placed strategically around the room. To the left, a spacious sitting room boasted plush, velvet-upholstered sofas, a grand piano, and a fireplace with an intricately carved mantle. To the right, the dining room awaited, its long table set with fine china and silverware, ready to host a feast at a moment’s notice. "Welcome home, James," Alice said softly, her voice tinged with both relief and concern. "Your father will be expecting you in his study." James nodded, feeling a mixture of dread and determination. He knew he had to face his father, not just as a son but as a man ready to reclaim his place and resolve the chaos that had ensued in his life. With a deep breath, he straightened his shoulders and made his way towards the study, his footsteps echoing softly in the grand hall. James looked around and saw alot had changed in the last five years. He opened the door leading to his father's study room and was welcomed by a warm embraced from his father. " It is good to have you back home son." Richard said with a smile on his face. James was surprised to see his father happy to see him. He knew not staying at home must have changed alot of things between them. Richard sat down at his study desk and looked at James, without saying a word. He threw a file at him James glanced through the documents and smirked. " This is pay back time."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"
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 c
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