The Astonishing Rise Of Hector Henderson

CHAPTER 13

Hector had just walked into the party, his eyes scanning the place for Madison. He needed to find her so he could check up on her. He had heard from Sheila that they would be guests at the party.

Since they had no invitation, it was crystal clear who they had come with: none other than Jack Jayden. Hector’s eyes fell on Jack, who both Julia and Fiona surrounded.

They were in a discussion, and his gaze darted to Madison. She had a frown on her face, her fist clenching tightly around the glass in her hand.

Were they talking about her? he wondered.

Just then, their eyes met. Her eyes rounded in surprise, and she flashed him a bright smile, startling him; then the frown appeared on her face again as she dropped the glass on the table nearest to her and hurried over to him.

“What was going on?”

Hector had no idea why she was sprinting toward him with such incredible speed. Her long red hair flew in the air, and her green eyes held an aura of anticipation and determination. It was then he recognized that look.

His eyes widened as he backed away. Was she hurrying over to scold me?

“What are you doing here?” she seethed, folding her arms. “You disappeared all day and decided to show up here. I’m sure you didn’t bother to head home. How do you know we are here?”

“I…” Hector tried to say.

“No need,” she said, cutting him off with a sigh. “There’s no time for you to be here. You should leave.” She gestured for the door. “You are not properly dressed to be here. If the others see you, they will make fun of you.”

Is she worried about me? he asked himself.

“It would be bad if you embarrassed the Edmund family and yourself by dressing like that at a high-end event,” she stated, making his thoughts disappear.

When he said nothing but stared at her blankly, she knew she had to get him out of there before Jack saw him. “Jack might look for me any moment,” she told him. “You should leave instead of causing trouble.”

Hector's brows furrowed. “I am not ready to leave my wife in the hands of another man,” he muttered. “I told you I was going to help save the company’s crisis. That was why I wasn’t home…”

“Oh, if it isn't the poor son-in-law!” Julia drawled, appearing behind Madison, her hand over her lips as if she had come across them by chance.

Madison spun around to look at Julia, forcing herself not to glare at her. After saying all those things to Jack, she had come to her like a goody two shoes.

“Madison, you didn’t tell me Hector was coming. I don’t know if he had an invitation.” Julia continued, eyeing Hector. “Did you ask him to dress that way for a great function like this one?”

Julia intentionally made her voice loud enough to grab the attention of the Edmund family and a few guests nearby. She had heard Madison asking Hector to leave, but there was no way she was going to throw away her source of entertainment now that he presented himself.

“He came to the party without an invitation?” one of the guests asked. “My son wasn’t able to work since he didn’t have an invitation.”

“Did he sneak in here?” another one questioned. “Or did his wife get him the invitation?”

“Why don’t we go to the rest of the family?” Julia suggested when none of them responded to her. “You can’t leave once you have entered.”

“Julia!” Madison yelled, clearly aware of what Julia was scheming.

Noticing the tension, Hector didn’t want Madison to be the topic of discussion if their argument escalated. “Alright. Let’s go to the rest of the family,” he replied.

Madison turned around to look at him. “I asked you to leave.”

“But I can’t anymore,” he said. “Let’s meet the rest.”

Taking the moment, Julia leaned in closer to Madison, her grin even more malicious. “He listened to me, rather than you. Just focus on getting married to Jack, and I will take care of Hector.”

Teeth gritting, Madison brushed past Julia, her expression dark. “Do whatever you want. He is an idiot.”

Hector sighed. Is she mad at me?

Following Julia, Hector walked toward the Edmund family. Mere looking at them from afar, he could see the disdain on their faces. He could tell that he wasn’t welcome there.

Even Madison was glaring at him, the look on her face from earlier gone.

“This is Madison’s soon-to-be ex-husband,” Julia introduced Hector to Jack.

Jack eyed Hector, and a grin spread across his face. He knew Madison’s husband was poor, but he didn’t expect it to be this bad.

“What are you doing here?” Fiona demanded, glaring at Hector, afraid he might ruin the plans for the marriage. “After disappearing for half a day, you have the guts to come back here! Madison already found a husband; you stand no chance!”

Hector frowned at her, and a smirk curled up her lips.

“That’s right!” Jack agreed. “Madison has found a man like me to marry, and you are less relevant! You are just a piece of shit that has to be discarded. Everyone in the Edmund family has given up on you, and your wife will be mine soon.”

Hector took in the sight of the man his wife was meant to marry. Dressed in a luxurious tailored black suit and pants, he wore a white shirt that clung to his large belly, the buttons barely holding on, as if they were fighting for their lives.

Holding a cup of red wine in his hand, a mocking smile spread across Jack's face, making him look like a pig in expensive clothing.

“Look around you,” Jack began. “Can’t you read the room and see that you are not welcome here in such a shabby outfit? You are just a useless son-in-law who is unable to help the family through the company crisis. Unlike you, I have the money and connections to help them, and I will be helping them tonight.”

Staring directly at Jack, Hector said with a cold smile. 

"Do not overestimate your own importance. From today onwards, the Edmund family no longer needs your help."