The Divorced Son In Law.

CHP-4

Deigo and Marcus faced off in the martial arts ring.

It’s been a week since the incident and Deigo is still trying to wrap his head around the heartbreak he hasn’t done much since his return aside from trying to pick up his fighting from where he stopped.

"Let's see what you're working with," Marcus said, grinning.

Deigo charged, fists flying.

Marcus effortlessly blocked each strike.

"Too slow," Marcus said, landing a swift kick.

Deigo stumbled back, frustration growing. He has lost his cool on the thing; it’s been a while since he indulged himself in such acts; his moves are becoming foreign.

Lost in thoughts, Marcus took advantage, unleashing a flurry of punches.

Deigo struggled to defend himself.

"Lost your touch, Deigo?" Marcus teased.

Deigo's face reddened.

"I've been busy," Deigo snapped, trying to defend himself, but who was he kidding?

The only thoughts that have been on his head these days are the burning tastes of his ex-wife’s betrayal; he loved her so much that he never thought they’d end like this.

Every night he beats himself about it; there is something he could have done to avoid it, yet he chooses to trust Sophia.

Don’t trust anyone. His master’s voice rang in his head, making him growl in displeasure.

Marcus chuckled.

"Busy getting betrayed?"

Deigo's anger flared.

"Shut up, Marcus!"

Marcus landed a solid punch.

Deigo staggered.

"You've lost your edge," Marcus said. "You don't practice anymore."

Deigo's eyes blazed.

"I'll show you the edge!"

Deigo launched himself at Marcus.

But Marcus was ready.

He took Deigo down with a swift takedown.

Deigo slammed the mat.

"Damn it!"

Marcus stood over him.

"You've lost focus," Marcus said. "Get your head back in the game."

Deigo glared up.

"Easy for you to say."

Marcus offered a hand.

"Get up. Let's try again."

Deigo took it.

This time, Deigo trucked him, pulling him down, and launched at his face yet stopped midway.

Deigo paused hissing and got up, mumbling curses under his breath.

"You have become too soft and weak. This isn’t you. If it was the Deigo I knew for years, you would take that shot and punch me too hard in the face... She has made you too weak,” he says.

Deigo hissed in frustration, taking a gulp from his water and deciding to ignore Marcus. He doesn’t want to get into a fight with him, not about this issue.

He already is going through too much. The last thing he wanted was an addition.

“Look at yourself, Deigo; she has changed you completely, and not a good change. You're letting her get to you; she doesn’t deserve that much.“

Deigo cuts him off in frustration, "Please,” wanting to end the conversation, yet Marcus doesn’t want to get that.

“Come on, Deigo! Who the fuck are they to mess with a blackwood? They have nothing on you; you can ruin their lives in a snap of a finger; then what the hell are you waiting for!?” He snaps.

Deigo's eyes flashed with anger as he tried to refrain himself, trying so hard to keep his cool, but Marcus was pushing him to the wall.

"Marcus, stop..."

Marcus's grip on Deigo's shoulders tightened.

"No, Deigo, listen! You're letting Sophia and her family walk all over you. You're better than this. You're a Blackwood!"

Deigo shoved Marcus away.

"Shut the fuck up!"

But Marcus stood his ground.

"You're not thinking clearly, Deigo. You're letting emotions cloud your judgment. Remember who you are!"

Deigo's face twisted in rage.

"Get out!"

Marcus's expression softened.

"Deigo, I'm trying to help."

"Out!" Deigo roared.

Marcus hesitated before turning to leave.

But the door slid open, revealing Louis.

"Master,” he bowed.

“What is it, Louis?”

He handed Deigo a sleek, elegant credit card. His eyes traced his name engraved on it in bold, golden letters.

"This, master, is your master credit card," he announced.

Deigo had submitted all these essentials so as not to make the mistake of any of the Richamonds seeing it.

He nods, taking it in, but the upgrade seems quite impressive.

“Thank you, Louis,” he appreciates. Taking it in.

"Sir, you have a meeting with the Franklin’s in two days from now.” He announced.

Deigo shares a knowing look with Marcus that sends him a glare, to which he shrugs.

“Marcus will be attending,” Deigo blurts.

Louis nods.

“Only if you’d be my assistant for the day, or maybe for as long as you plan on lying low before revealing your identity to the Richmomds,” Marcus dares, narrowing his stare at Deigo.

Deigo snorts, knowing better than to argue with Marcus in a situation like this; it was pointless, so he let him.

“Fine, but don’t you dare try anything funny, not unless by my command, okay?” He warns, to which he nods.

"The family's fortune is at risk, and you, Deigo, will be the one to save it—not just that but our lives and our people, so the sooner you work your ass up and get your senses together, the better," Marcus states with anger lashed in his tune.

“Will that be all, sir?" Louis asks with his head hung low, not wanting to be part of the duo’s usual fights.

"Louis, I want you to gather all of our workers and warn them against exposing my identity; for as long as I decide, Marcus is still the CEO of Blackwood Corp., and I am his assistant," Deigo warns.

“But sir—“

Deigo catches him off. “That will be all; you are dismissed,” he sends him off.

Marcus watched as Louis stepped out, amazed by Deigo’s rules and thoughts that ran through his mind.

“What you are doing is—“

Deigo cuts him off, walking past him and heading out.

Deigo could feel Marcus's steps walking behind him, yet he chose to act oblivious, not ready to entertain his friend’s protest.

He wanted to walk up and get a fresh shower before calling it a day.

“Why is my home monitor not installed?” Deigo asked.

Marcus scoffs, “Did you ask for it? You know, in here we only play by Master Deigo Blackwood’s rules, and if he doesn’t give an order, it is not implemented,” sarcasm lasing in his tune.

“That’s it, fuck of Marcus... Get out of my house,” he fires, sending him a glare.

Marcus smirks, “I was leaving anyway; I hope you're not being an arsehole and face your shit.”

He saluted before walking off.

Deigo shakes his head at his childishness. The way Marcus plays around in serious and not-too-serious ways is alarming, and it's almost like he has zero worries, but he also has his family’s crap to worry about.

His fucked-up father that has drinking and gambling habits has them at the end loose till Marcus decided to top up his game and be the leader of the house.

He has a sister, Rachel.

Their mother is late.

Later that night, Deigo needed to clear his mind.

He slipped out into the night, taking a deep breath.

The cool air refreshed him.

He walked aimlessly, his thoughts unraveling. It reminded him of how Sophia loves long walks; it brings her serenity and peace.

They’d take long night walks talking about everything and nothing.

She mostly does the talking; she’s the talkative, and he has the listening ears. He loves to her rent and complains about work and any worker or business partner that plays funny games. Deigo would have him sacked the next day without Sophia even knowing.

The painful memories haunted him.

Eventually, he found himself at a local bar.

Deigo pushed open the door, stepping inside.

The dim lighting and smooth music enveloped him.

Scanning the room, Deigo spotted one of the men harassing a girl, his brows furrowing in confusion.

The figure looked oddly familiar; it was too hard to ignore, so he decided to see who was going on.

Deigo's eyes narrowed.

He strode over, his presence commanding attention.

"Leave her alone," Deigo ordered.

The burly man sneered.

"Mind your own business, asshole! Who the hell do you think you are?."

Deigo's eyes flashed.

"You wouldn’t want to," Deigo warns, rubbing as the man rubs on his knuckles.

The man's smirk vanished.

Suddenly, the girl looked up.

"Deigo!" she exclaimed.

Rachel, Marcus's sister, looked like she was caught in the act even though she was.

She looked too surprised to see him.

Deigo's surprise turned to concern.

"What are you doing here?"

Rachel's eyes sparkled.

"I am here with a friend."

Deigo's gaze returned to the man, ignoring Rschel’s answer.

"Apologize," Deigo growled.

The hesitated.

Deigo's fist clenched.

"Apologize, or face the consequences."

The man seemed mortified at the tune and appearance of Deigo, so he muttered an apology.

Deigo's anger boiled over.

"Not good enough."

With swift precision, Deigo took the man down.

Rachel watched, impressed.

"Thanks, Deigo." She states awkwardly

Deigo narrows his stare arm at her outside the bar.

He is well aware that Marcus doesn’t know about her whereabouts because if he did, he wouldn’t find it funny.

Rachel is still in college, and Marcus wants her to focus on her studies and not be involved in funny acts, which include getting caught at a bar.

“What the hell are you doing here?” He fires angrily, cutting her off guard.

She shrieks in fear, which soon changes as she feigns confidence. “I am old enough—“

He caught her off.

Deigo's expression turned stern as he cut her off.

"What were you thinking?" Deigo scolded.

Rachel rolled her eyes.

"I can handle myself, Deigo."

Deigo's voice was firm.

"You're too... to be in places like this.”

Rachel's eyes flashed.

"It's none of your concern, Deigo."

Deigo's grip on her arm tightened.

"It is my concern," he growled. "You're Marcus's sister. That makes you family."

Rachel tried to shrug him off.

"Let go, Deigo."

But Deigo pinned her to the wall.

His voice dropped to a low, husky tone.

"Listen to me, Rachel. You're playing with fire. These places aren't safe for someone like you."

Rachel's eyes blazed.

"Someone like me?" she repeated.

Deigo's face inches from hers.

"Innocent. Naive. Beautiful." He muttered, getting turned on by the way her breast clashed with his chest.

He could feel her bare.

He curses, huffing out a breath, knowing having insane thoughts like this about his best friend's baby sister is absurd and forbidden, but Rachel is a fine ass woman.

The last time he saw her was two years ago. She had changed so much and got rid of the braces that made her look nerdy.

Rachel's breath caught.

Deigo's gaze held hers.

"Stay away from places like this. For your good."

Rachel's voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Deigo."

He could feel the fear in her tune, making his heart pang in displeasure. He shouldn’t be making her feel this way, but she had left him with no other choice.

Marcus would have her head for dinner if he were to find out that she was almost molested by a man for being irresponsible.

Deigo's eyes narrowed.

"Understood!?”

Rachel nodded, and he didn’t miss the tears that had accumulated at the brim of her eyes.

"Use words." He orders.

Her lips quivered, which took every nerve in him not to have a taste of them; it would be disastrous.

Deigo released her.

The tension between them was palpable.

He could feel his bulge harden as he peeled back, his eyes shifting to her perky nipples.

He gulped down a lump, taking his stare off.

Deigo hailed a cab for her making sure she was tugged in before he let her go.

He stood, his gaze lingering on the retrieving car.

Rachel’s proximity stirred something more.

Something Deigo couldn't ignore, but he knew deep down Rachel was a no-go area. Marcus would have him buried six inches underground if he figured he was having dirty thoughts about his sister.

She is a forbidden fruit.