The Billion-Dollar Windfall: Edwin Volvox

CHAPTER 7

Andrew Anthers threw the document to Edwin's face. "Make sure you sign it right now, so we can get the hell out of your cottage!" 

'If you cannot provide for her, I will give her the world. If you feel like she is worth nothing, then let me take care of her. And I already am, right from this moment."

Andrew threw the papers at Edwin's face which of course got him quite annoyed. He would not tolerate getting trampled upon by anybody.

Edwin balled his fist and squatted to pick up the document. "What's in the paper you threw at me?" he frowned to ask.

"If you can not denote it by reading, then I guess we would hire someone to help your dumb brain out," Andrew said with audacity.

Edwin read through it, and then he saw it. Right on top of the document was boldly written. Divorce agreement.

"Are you serious about this Ciara?" Edwin asked her with creases lined across his forehead. 

"Man, get this thing signed or I hand you over to the cops for beating up a woman." Andrew sounded quite impatient.

Edwin on the other hand wasn't moved. "I wasn't referring to you Andrew or whatever your name is.  I want Ciara to give me an honest response. So shut the fuck up!"

"For your information, you will do nothing to me. Based on the obvious fact that I did nothing to hurt Ciara. Try anything funny, and get your fingers burnt."

His lucid response shook everyone including Ciara herself. "Yes Ciara, give me a clear response. This is clearly what you want right? I want your own decision."

Ciara however responded immediately. 'And who are you to decide for me, Edwin? Do I look like a child who doesn't know his left to right? So what if I say I want a divorce, does that mean I was forced to do so? Huh!" 

"Read my lips, Edwin! I want a divorce! I don't want you again. I hate being with you, cause you reek of poverty."

She faked some tears and added. "My friends, they kicked me out of the friendship group just because I got married to you. I lost my place everywhere. Even my parents lost their place in the family all because their daughter is married to an idiotic husband." she paused, moved closer to Edwin and continued.

"You know what Edwin, ever since the time I married you, I never loved you. You made me feel useless, you were just a passage for me to buy time waiting for the real man to come along."

"If no one has ever told you, let me tell you how much of a loser you are. YOU ARE A BIG LOSER." She declared poking into his chest. "So if you want to know whether or not I love to divorce you? The big answer is Yes! YES, I DO WANT TO!" she yelled out.

Pains were all that existed in Edwin's eyes, but he already vowed that no one would see him at his lowest point. "It's good that I know where you stand now Ciara, but then Mom, Dad do you quite support her?" 

"And what kind of a dumb question is that if I may ask? Is it because I have been quiet all along, is that why you chose to keep blabbing?" Drake, Ciara's dad who had said nothing all this while finally voiced.

"If we don't want the best for our daughter, do you think we will come here? I support her with my full chest, her mom does too."

Edwin was trying his best to make sure that she got her decision before he appended his signature to any document.

He was doing this not for himself, but for her. At least from the look of things, he could tell that the Carlos bloodline is very much wealthy and he doubts if at all this so-called Andrew Anthers is as wealthy as they are.

"Dad, why not tell him what Andrew here has done for our family?" 

"Go on daughter tell him yourself." Ciara faced Edwin, and with a taunting smile, she said.

"look at you Edwin, we've been married for over a year now and what's the outcome? You could never even afford to buy a house not to talk of affording the rents…"

"But Andrew bought my parents a new house, everything that's necessary enough to make me comfortable after I get married to him is already in place. So there is a huge difference between a pauper and the rich. Sign the paper, now."

"Have you gotten enough insults or do you want more?" Andrew said.

However, Edwin was disappointed and speechless. Speaking of prioritising his mom, Edwin could remember days he had to take more than three or four jobs just to pay for Lucy's hospital bills.

Days when he had to work hard to satisfy Ciara's cravings. This was the first time since he got married that he was prioritizing his mom based on the fact that she was sick and all they had to say to him was insults and heap of insults.

None of them could remember the good he has done to them, or they even remembered and preferred not to put an eye to it.

Allowing each of them to speak just to know the position of their mind, had opened his sight to the fact that he has to back out of the marriage.

"Fine then, Ciara. I will give you what you want just as you requested for it. But then, I just hope that you don't regret it at the end of the day."

"Just fucking sign the papers. Living with you is already a regret, what more regrets can I have?" Edwin bent to scribble his pen.

"Done," he voiced. "Since we are officially divorced, I believe you all can leave my house right now."  

However, Ciara said. "Edwin, according to the divorce, I believe I'm entitled to an alimony. So can I have it? I know you don't have anything, but at least try not to embarrass yourself and put something forward, even if it's a broomstick."

Everyone laughed at that point, Edwin realised another reason he should be grateful for not having the opportunity to disclose his identity.

If perhaps she knew, she would request for half of his wealth.

"Just as you said Ciara, I have nothing at all. All my savings, you squandered on a luxurious dress. There's nothing left, both for me and my sick mother."

"Well, even though all you have is a sick mother, I could at least manage some of those things we bought during the wedding," she said with a sneer. 

Edwin responded indifferently too, it's not like he needed those things anymore. if she wants them, then he gives them out. "Fine, take anything you want. Cups, bed, whatever you feel you want, just go ahead with it."

While she went on doing that, Andrew utilised the opportunity to mock Edwin more. "You have no shame, do you?"

Edwin maintained a straight face, his eyes turned to Ciara's direction while both hands were in his pocket. "Men give their wives good things for alimony, but what are you giving her?  Cups, plates, and all what's not?"

"I don't know what she says to you right from time."

Edwin smirked and said. "Well, I believe you have more to give her since you are now the hero. From this moment, start preparing better alimony so you won't end up giving her just a pencil."

"Are you crazy?" Andrew balled his fist in intimidation, but Edwin smiled.

"It's not a joke, is it? At least by then you would be able to give her a whole estate as alimony."

"Hey!" he finally dashed towards Edwin and fisted, but Edwin caught him.

"Andrew, what happened? Just leave the poor guy alone to suffer in penury," Ciara said while she walked side by side with her parents.

"Meanwhile, Edwin, I feel you should try talking to Andrew to help you look for a lucrative job. At least if you found one in a big organisation, you would have some money to marry another wife. That's if anyone at all would marry you."

She smiled tauntingly. "Don't worry if you are so worried you can reach out to me to get a girl that deserves someone like you. But for me, I'm off."

Finally, Edwin smiled and said. "I'm okay to see you leave, so go." 

Ciara boiled in anger.