Chapter 3

Hearing Hector yell that he didn’t agree made everyone even more surprised than they had been. The room fell silent, as if a golden goose had just passed by, before a cackle of laughter filled the place.

In a few seconds, everyone including Abigail burst into laughter.

“You don’t agree?” they mocked.

“You don’t even have the qualification to participate in the family meeting.”

“Who the hell do you think you are, voicing your opinion like that?”

Each of them glared at him, resentment and amusement written all over their faces. They couldn’t help but question what he had actually disagreed with.

“Are you saying you refuse to collect the one million dollars that she asked for your sake, or you refuse to let her get married to someone else?” Julia questioned, grinning at Hector.

Taking a deep breath, Hector glanced at Julia. “Both,” he replied, a serious look on his face. “I am not going to let her get married to a man like Jack.”

Madison’s head snapped to Hector’s direction. Not only had he disagreed with her marrying Jack, but he had also refused the money that she was going to collect on his behalf.

She looked at him, trying to figure out what was going on in his mind, but so far, she couldn’t think of anything.

“And what difference does it make if you refuse her marriage to Jack?” Fiona demanded, her tone mocking. “Don’t tell me you’re going to marry Jack in her stead.”

Hector slightly frowned. “That is not what I intend to do. I am Madison’s husband, and she wouldn’t get married to Jack on my watch.”

They all scowled at him.

“If she doesn’t get married to Jack, what can a loser like you do to help the company?” Julia taunted. “All you know how to do is house chores, and you’re worth less than a dollar. What use do you have?”

“How could you refuse such an amount of money that was supposed to be given to you as compensation for ending the marriage with Madison? Who do you think you are?”

Hector’s fist tightened, but he was in no mood to give up. In fact, he was an heir to a big family, but he had been kicked out for a reason. That made him hide his identity to avoid causing major problems.

He knew he didn’t have the money to save his wife's family business, but he was willing to beg his family for money to save her company. Although that might put him in danger, she was his wife after all, and she was worth it.

“Hector!” Madison yelled, glaring at him. “Stop making a scene! I have already agreed to marry Jack, and your cowardly words can’t stop me. How else are we going to save the business if I don’t marry him?” she demanded.

Flinching, Hector turned his head to look at her. “But…that’s not what you actually want, is it?”

“That’s none of your concern. You should focus on the money that should be given to you. Saying you refuse the money or what I have already agreed to is useless, unless you actually have a way to save the business.”

So far, Mr. Edmund had said nothing but let the others speak first.

“Don’t tell me you believe this trash, who is your husband, can save the business?” Julia questioned, her eyes glinting with mockery. “You should be smarter than this.”

“It is quite surprising to see that you care about someone like him. Disgusting even.”

“That’s all, right?” Hector questioned, referring to Madison’s words. “I just need to save the business, and you wouldn’t marry Jack?”

Madison nodded.

“Then I will save it!” Hector announced, putting his hand on his chest with confidence.

Julia’s brows furrowed in delight; she had long waited for Hector to make a fool of himself, and it was happening now. Everyone’s lips curled into a grin, and another wave of laughter filled the room.

“You!” Fiona laughed. “Save the business?”

“I bet pigs would fly before that happens.”

“How can you save the company with no connections, reputation, or money?”

“There’s the trash trying to act like a knight in shining armor.”

“Hector!” Abigail growled. “That’s enough. Are you willing to disgrace Madison even more? Sit down and stop talking. If only Madison had married someone of importance, she wouldn’t be in this situation. My son-in-law would have actually helped.”

Hector glanced at Madison, and she looked away from him.

“Listen to mother, Hector,” Madison said. “There is nothing you can do to help.”

Those words weren’t enough to make Hector stop, so he shouted, “I will offer 20 million dollars to the company to help with the financial crisis!”

Madison's eyes widened in anger when she heard him. Of course, she didn’t believe he could actually do that.

“Is that enough for the company?” Hector questioned. “Then I will provide it!”

The family members burst into laughter immediately. They hadn’t even thanked him for offering such a large amount of money. How could a loser like him afford to give them 20 million dollars?

“That’s a funny joke you have there,” Julia said, laughing heartily. She had expected him to cause a scene, but he gave her more than she had wished for. “I’m glad I showed up at the meeting.”

“Twenty million?” one of the men asked. “If you can afford that, then I’m a billionaire.”

“How can you earn such an amount of money from your part-time job?”

“None of us could get the money, and you claim to be able to give it to us? Even if you work for the rest of your life, there’s no way you’ll be able to make such a large amount.”

“Hahaha! Have you ever seen such a large amount of money in your whole life?!”

“I never thought I’d see the day when a trash like you would claim to have 20 million dollars.”

“Keep daydreaming.”

The laughter intensified, and Madison pinched the bridge of her nose before raising her eyes to meet his. Hector’s fist tightened when he saw the disappointment flashing in her eyes.

Hector bit his lip; even his wife was disappointed in him.