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 it. James and I... we're just not meant to be together anymore." She said without any emotions. " Is this because of him?" James finally find the urge to speak. He had been trying to take everything the Smith had been throwing at him for years but it was beginning to look like he has had enough. Robert shifted his gaze from Emma back to James. " And what are Yiu talking about? You should be grateful that my daughter get married to a man like you. I had tried to make her reason and snap out of it but I don't know what you did to make her love you so much. I believe she is coming back to her right senses. What man is he talking about?" Richard looked at Emma He had always over pamper Emma and let her have things done her own way. " Mark Nelson." Emma looked at her Father and could see the happiness on his face. " Mark Nelson? The popular business tycoon?" Robert said with disbelief. " My company just submitted a contract worth millions to his father's company. You should bring him home sometimes." Richard said and stood up without saying any more words. James that expected this was going to happen but he didn't believe it was going to be soon. He carried his tea cup and was about heading to the kitchen when Margaret's voice stopped him. " Ain't you forgetting something?" She said with a disdain voice. James looked at her and went back to clear the dinning table leaving Margaret and Emma to talk to themselves. The two chatted while James walked back to the kitchen with the saucers and cups. He dropped them and for a moment he felt suffocated. James felt a hand at his back and saw Mrs Harris who smiled at him " I know you are going through alot but everything is going to be fine." She said slowly James looked at her and wanted to talk but he wasn't finding the right words. " Thank you." He managed to say and walked out of the house to go about his daily business. As James got outside the Smith mansion he looked at his front and was surprised to see Victor Thompson right in front of him. " Are you nut? What the hell are you doing here?" Jaws shouted " I am going to go into that house and tell them who the hell are you if you are not ready to do that yourself." Victor threatened He and James had been best friend and they were inseparable. Victor had warned James not to marry Emma but He had loved her the day he set his eyes on her. " Now is not the right time for that." James said hopping into Victor's car and they zoomed off. Jenna saw what happend and was surprised, she had never seen anyone paid much respect to James the way Victor did. She entered the Smith Mansion. " Did you see that?" Jenna asked Emma who was talking to her mother. " Good morning to you too." Margaret said getting to her feet. " Did you see the money I sent you?" " Yeah, but I would have like to see James groveling and begging me for what he did " Jenna said with a smirk on her face " That is my husband you are taking about. Would you show him some decency?" Emma looked at her with a furrowed eye brow " Talking about James, I saw someone bowing to him. Is he some kind of elite?" Jenna asked making Emma to laugh " Elite? I remembered the day we got married. There was no one to be called his family. We are practically his family." Emma replied " Are you sure?" Jenna sat down looking at her face Mrs Harris walked out of the kitchen and saw Jenna at the table. She walked past her and didn't greet. " Didn't you see my friend?" Emma shouted at her " Who?" Mrs Harris feign ignorance like she didn't see Jenna Jenna and Mrs Harris had hated each other. She remembered how she had always made her do twice her work and also told Mr Richard to sack her because she was incompetent. Mrs Harris greeted and walked away. " You should consider sacking her." Jenna looked at Emma " I have a Gist for you." Emma looked at Jenna. " Gist? Are you..?" Jenna closed her mouth with her hands. " Am I what?" Emma furrowed her eye brows. " Pregnant." Jenna chuckled " What? I can I be pregnant when we don't even make love." Emma said looking away and Jenna taped the table. " You mea you kept the cookies locked in the jar all this time?" Emma nodded. " That is not what I was going to tell you anyways. My net caught one of the biggest fish in New York city." Emma exclaimed with a joyful eyes Jenna knew her friend had dated so many rich men that she was wondering how she ended up with James " Who? Don't tell me you are back with that loser,Carlos soler. God I hate everything about him." Jenna said rolling her eyes " Well, he is rich and he pays the bills." Emma smiled, " But that is not who I am talking about." " Who?" Jenna asked curiously " Mark Nelson." Emma shouted covering her mouth. "I can't believe it, Emma! Mark Nelson is such a catch. How did you manage to reel him in?" Jenna asked, her eyes wide with admiration. Emma shrugged, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "It wasn't that hard, really. He's been interested in me for a while. I just had to give him the green light." Jenna leaned back in her chair, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're unbelievable. James never stood a chance." The door opened and a stunning and handsome figure walked in. Jenna looked at the door and back at Emma. "Oh my god!" She said slowly covering her mouthJames 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"
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