The Divorced Son In Law.

Chp-1

His mind wandered around the company he was going to be left to handle now. He didn’t feel ready, but sometimes life hits us when we least expect it.

"Deigo" Authur snaps him out of his train of thought.

Deigo drew his attention back to his master, who lay on his deathbed. Deigo didn’t need to be told twice to know that his master was going to die.

The thought alone made his heart pang in fear.

He wasn’t ready to lose him too.

Authur extended his hands out for Deigo, which he took in a weak smile, stealing its way to his lips.

Deigo wasn’t someone to get sentimental too easily, but this time he was finding it hard to die down his emotions.

"Yes," he answered, his eyes softening from the tensed ones he had a while ago.

“You’ll be alright, kid... I've thought you well to handle yourself, and I do not doubt that you’d do great deigo.

The Authur taught him everything he needed and much more to know. Authur has made Deigo into a man even before it was time for him to grow up.

Deigo had lost his parents in an accident, as they say, but Authur made Deigo believe that it was scripted and that his parents weren’t supposed to die; someone had them.

Growing up with his master, Arthur, he has learned a lot more than he should have.

Author didn’t play it easy with Deigo while he was growing up; he wanted the kid to grow up even before he should have.

There was a lot Deigo needed to handle, and Authur believes now is the time for that.

Surviving through college, no one dared to mess with him or get into his space. He has no minion or leader, always on his own with his usual scowl.

Deigo had grown up hating Authur because of his hostility, yet he figured that he was only doing it for his good, and now that his time is near, he feels Deigo is ready.

Deigo learned martial arts and any sort of defense mechanism. They'd train day after night, but mostly at midnight.

“I don’t want you to go." Deigo’s voice came a sad and low tune.

Although his emotions were always cold, he had a soft spot for his master.

“Deigo… Your father would be so proud of the man you have become. You must carry on the legacy of your family, Deigo. Haunt down whoever was responsible for your parent's deaths for starters,” he paused, his breath low and rigid.

“Your powers, Deigo... You must never use them for the great or good.”

Deigo hasn’t used them before; he couldn’t even control or get the hang of them; they come and go once in a while.

According to his master, they’d get accustomed to his nature when he is fully ready.

“The company is willed under your name; I have only been helping you take care of it, and now that you are of age, I believe you are responsible for making such decisions for yourself.”

"Remember, you must use your abilities for a great cause. Everything comes with a price, and when it's time to pay, you must decide," he warns.

"Don’t make the mistakes your father made, Deigo. You’re a good man, Deigo, and you must not let the credulity of the world change that.” Authur advises his words calm and composed yet soaked with firmness.

Deigo nods, "I'll keep that in mind."

“There is also one thing you must do.”

Deigo’s brows furrowed in confusion at what he meant, yet he didn’t say a word, letting him continue with his words.

"Deigo, my boy," Master Arthur whispered, his voice barely audible.

Deigo’s heart was heavy with grief as he waited patiently to hear what his master had to say.

Master Arthur's gaze locked onto Deigo’s. "You must marry Sophia Richmond."

His brow furrowed. "Sophia Richmond? Why?"

Master Arthur's chest rose and fell with labored breaths. "Her family... is in danger, and their company is going through financial crises. They don’t know that you’re still alive, Deigo; they thought you died with your parents, so you must hide your true identity... You're the only one who can protect them."

Deigo’s mind reeled. "But, Master Arthur, I'm not ready for marriage."

Arthur's grip tightened. "Not about love, Deigo. About duty. You must safeguard Sophia and her family for three years."

Deigo hesitated, unsure.

Arthur's eyes pleaded. "Promise me, Deigo. Protect Sophia. Keep her family safe and make sure their family business doesn’t go down the drail."

Deigo wasn’t sure yet; he nodded, not wanting to go against his master. It would be rude of him. “You have my word; I will be sure to protect them.”

Authur nods, "Good... Trust no one... except yourself and—“

He coughed.

Deigo reached out to him, holding onto him.

“Never make the mistake of falling in love, Deigo. You are to marry Sophia only to protect her and not to fall in love with her,” he advised.

And with those final words, Arthur's hand slipped from Deigo’s, his eyes closing as his chest stopped moving.

And that was the exact mistake Deigo made over the years. Falling in love with Sophia wasn’t part of the plan, but her innocence was too good to overlook and fall for.

She made Deigo believe that life was worth living. They had plans to have a family and stay together till they breathed their last breath.

And now that he was waiting for her to get back from work, he made dinner for their third wedding anniversary.

The clock was ticking, and the food was getting cold.

Frustration is beginning to eat him up.

"Fuck!" He cursed, seeing as her phone kept slipping to voicemail.

He dialed for the tenth time before she finally picked up.

"What is it?" She spat annoyance evident in her tune.

Deigo Jawline harder, “Where are you? I have been waiting for you for hours... The food is getting cold for god sake,” he says, trying as much as possible to remain calm and keep down the irritation and annoyance he felt.

"I'm not in on this now, Rhys. I don't have time for this. I told you I had important work to do in the office, so please... I'm in a meeting now." She fires back

‘

Deigo thought this was a good time for them to celebrate since it was their anniversary, and maybe it was time he revealed his true identity to her and came clean with her.

She deserves to know who he truly is. He doesn’t like hiding things from her.

"Please, Sophia, can’t you leave some time for our important day? We deserve to celebrate on this day."

"Oh please. You won’t understand because you are a seat-at-home kind of person. I work my ass out to bring food to the table. Could you for once be grateful and not be a pain in the neck?” She fires, cutting off the call.

"Sophia!" He semi-yelled, roaming his stare around at their portraits.

Her words pierced through his heart.

Sophia has not been herself for the past few months; she has grown distant from him, and he could feel their relationship going down the drail, but he has always been the one to hold on, not ever wanting to let go.

They have been through so much; the least he could do is hold on.

He loves her too much.

He clutched his phone, heaving out a hiss in annoyance. The fucking hell did she just cut off the call on him?

He rubbed on his temple, attempting to call her again, but this time her phone was switched off.

Deigo’s anger intensified at her audacity.

To call him a seat-at-home husband. If only she knew that he was the reason behind her successful company, they wouldn’t be where they are now.

He loves Sophia, but these past few days, she's been acting all strangely and distantly, which didn’t sit well with him.

Losing Authur felt like he had lost a huge part of himself, yet he had remained strong for the past years.

He had broken the most important rule, and it scared him that he would have to live with it for the rest of his life.

Would Sophia have accepted him for who he is and not what he has if she had known? Not sure, certainly. He's lived with her for too long to know that she is under the influence of her parents.

They are pushing her into becoming the woman she is being these days.

His in-laws have never liked him and never accepted him as their own. They believed he belonged in the slumps.

They believe he is of no use, a poor man who can’t bring food to the table.

He has accepted their taunts over the years, and he was beginning to get fed up, yet his love for Sophia always prevailed.

Heaving out a sigh, he walked up into their matrimonial room. His limbs were cold and sore as he dragged his legs to the room.

He waited for Sophia all night, but there were no signs of her. Deigo eventually gave up getting up from the bed and deciding to go clean the table.

His eyes caught a piece of paper that he couldn’t ignore on the ground near the closet.

He walked to it, and picking it up; his curiosity was piqued.

A pregnancy test result.

Two pink lines stared back at him.

Deigo’s heart skipped a beat.

Sophia's name was scribbled on the corner.

He felt a rush of excitement.

Sophia was pregnant.

Their child was growing inside her.

Deigo face lit up with a wide smile. He couldn't believe it.

For the first time in months, he felt genuinely happy.

A future.

A family.

He pictured Sophia holding their baby, with him by their side.

His mind drifts to different thoughts, diaper changes, midnight feedings, teaching their child to ride a bike.

But then again, why did Sophia choose to hide something so important from him?

This baby was going to change their lives and strengthen their relationship.

Deigo folded the paper, his hand trembling.

He would cherish Sophia and their child.

Protect them.

Love them unconditionally.

That was for sure.

His phone began to ring, drawing his attention.

He reached for it; it was his assistant.

"Master,” he greets as Deigo picks up the call.

"Yes, Louis, what is it? I thought I had made it clear that you shouldn’t call unless I do." Digo states his tone stern.

"Sorry, Master, but there is something I believe you should know,” he says.

Deigo’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Yes? What is it?”

“I’ve just messaged it to you.”

Deigo nods, cutting off the call.

Deigo groaned in annoyance as the message popped on his home screen, which ushered him to take a look.

Just as he clicked on it, his sight dropped on the most heartbreaking news he had received this week yet again.

Sophia Richmond cut in the act with Benjamin James; could these two be tying the knot soon?

Attached to it is a photo of Sophia in the arms of another with their lips clasped together.

No, this couldn't be; Sophia would never do something like this to him.

She’s carrying his child for gods sake.

Deigo grip on his phone tightens his heart, burning with a mix of jealousy and betrayal.

But then he wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. He was willing to forgive her and move on with her being pregnant; he believed they both deserved to start afresh.

Where she would know him for who he truly is and not the man he appears to be.

It was time she knew who Deigo Blackwood was.