The Divorced Son In Law.

Chp-3

It had been a week since Deigo was thrown into jail. Be hasn’t said a word or eaten a thing. He has only survived with water.

It’s what he only takes. Every day felt like an eternity.

Deigo's assistant, Louis, came to visit him daily.

"Sir, please let me bail you out," Louis begged. "You don't belong here."

But Deigo shook his head.

"No, Louis. I need to stay here."

Louis looked confused.

"But why, sir? You're innocent."

Deigo's eyes dropped.

"I'm not innocent, Louis. I was blind. I trusted them."

Louis frowned, looking at his master in piety.

Deigo felt this was his way of punishing himself after being blinded by his feelings and breaking the rules; he needed to beat himself up and dwell on the shame he had caused himself.

Deigo's voice was barely audible.

"Leave Louis..."

Louis's eyes widened.

"I'll get you out, sir. Please, you can make them pay for it."

Deigo's hand on Louis's shoulder stopped him.

"No, Louis. I need to face this. I need to understand why and let them enjoy the victory they’ve thought they had for a while."

Louis nodded reluctantly.

"But, sir, you're not eating. You're not sleeping."

Deigo's smile was weak.

"I'm fine, Louis. Just leave me be."

Louis left, worried, "Master, please, I can’t leave you in this condition; it’s been a whole week... Let me bail you.”

Deigo sat in darkness, his mind consumed by betrayal.

Sophia's face haunted him.

Why did she do this?

Why did she destroy him?

Deigo's anger grew.

“No-“

Louis caught him off. “With all due respect, sir, my job is to protect your well-being at all costs." I have done all that you’ve asked over the years; let me handle this for now,” he pleads.

Sophia’s betrayal made him begin to doubt if Louis was also loyal, but then again, he was his oath to be.

Deigo nods, getting up.

“Thank you,” Louis bows before reaching out to the cell.

“Arrange only a car,” he orders, to which Louis nodded before walking out.

Deigo stared at his reflection in the mirror momentarily, taking in his appearance that looked like someone that was taken out of a Walking Dead movie.

He turned away, making his way out too.

The cop who had been mocking him for days stopped him, getting in front of him.

“Finally, some freedom, huh?” He teased.

Deigo’s jawline hardened as he moved to pass by the man yet he didn’t budge.

“Step away,” Deigo warns his tune low and deadly.

“Here is some advice, big guy. Don’t bite more than you can chew; stay within your lane; don’t get into trouble with these rich people.“

Deigo knocks him down with a punch, causing the man to growl in pain.

“Fuck! Arsehole!”

Deigo let Louis handle it and walked out of the police station, a sleek black-tinted car parked ahead.

He hissed, walking to it before slipping in.

“Master” The chauffeur greets, which Deigo ignores.

Louis soon joined the car before they hit the road.

Deigo’s mind ran with different thoughts, mostly related to the Richmonds, their betrayal hitting him harder every time.

He regrets ever offering them a helping hand, even though it was requested by Authur, but they didn’t deserve it.

All this year, he has been nothing but a devoted son-in-law, trying his best to see to it that he gave them everything they ever wanted, even though it was undercover.

But they threw that all to his face.

He knew he had greedy in-laws but not a wife. His wife was different; she loved him genuinely. She taught him to be a better version of himself; she softened his hostility towards humanity and made him believe everyone deserves a chance, but in the end, she destroyed him.

The gates of Blackwood’s mansion swung open, welcoming the car.

He hadn’t stepped into the mansion for years, and when he did, he only came to visit and get some files, sort out something, or even console himself if his in-laws had oppressed him.

He came here for his training sessions too, which had thinned down due to a lack of consistency.

He did drop everything for Sophia and her family.

But you don’t always get what you deserve in return.

Deigo stepped out, his guards bowing deeply.

"Welcome home, sir," one guard said.

Deigo ignored them, walking straight into the mansion.

His anger still simmered.

The grandeur of his home offered no comfort.

He strode past the marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and lavish artwork.

His footsteps echoed through the empty halls.

Each step was draining and reminded him how much of a failure he was a disappointment. His hands balled into a fist, Sophia’s words still fresh and clean, replaying in his head like a broken record.

Deigo reached his bedroom, slamming the door shut. He didn’t want to be disturbed, and every worker had noticed that.

Normally, when he comes here, he does exchange pleasantries and isn’t as cold as he had turned now.

It’s almost like his heart has been ripe apart; one look from him would send you dwelling down in hell.

His piercing green eyes were cold and emotionless.

He stood before the mirror, eyes blazing.

How could Sophia betray him like this? How could she?

All these years, he had been determined to think he let them trespass him.

They think Benjamin has it all, right? He could save them from perishing and crawling down to him for mercy, huh? Well, they needed to think twice.

He wasn’t letting this go, not until he settled the score.

He ripped off his clothes, heading for the shower.

The hot water pounded against his skin.

Deigo's fists clenched against the wall.

He couldn't wash away the pain.

But he could plan his revenge.

The water streamed down his face.

Deigo's resolve hardened.

He would make Sophia regret ever crossing him—not only Sophia but her entire family.

He would reclaim the years he had lost wasting time and efforts on her.

And destroy those who wronged him, bit by bit, they all will get what is coming for them.

After taking his bath, he decided to spend his time in the gym and freshen up his head; he needed it to ease out the bad energy.

Deigo's fists pounded the punching bag with relentless force, as though he had his enemies at it.

Sweat dripped from his brow, his muscles bulging with each strike.

His anger fuelled every blow.

The gym echoed with the sound of flesh meeting leather.

Deigo's eyes blazed, his mind consumed by Sophia's betrayal.

When he shuts his eyes, she’s the only woman he sees, her smile the way she tells him how much she loves him and couldn’t imagine living a life without him.

All of that was nothing but beautiful lies that had gotten to him.

How could she do this to him?

He increased his pace, fists flying.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.

"Welcome back, Deigo."

Deigo spun around, chest heaving.

Marcus, his best friend and business partner, stood at the gym entrance. He knew he was here to mock him.

He did warn him.

Marcus has been in training with Deigo for years; he is also a Master’s student.

He and Diego got along pretty well, and he had warned him about getting himself too involved with the Richmonds, but if only he had listened, then he wouldn’t be stuck in a condition like this.

But then again, what’s done is done; there is nothing they can do about the past but not the present; the thought alone brought wicked ideas on how to torture them to Deigo’s head.

A hint of a smile played on Marcus's lips.

"It's good to have you back, man," Marcus said.

Deigo growled, sending Marcus a glare.

Marcus approached him, clapping Deigo's shoulder.

"I always knew the Richmonds weren't to be trusted; I did warn you, man,” Marcus said.

Deigo's eyes narrowed.

"You warned me, Marcus. I didn't listen. Get it. Fuck off." He scoffs.

Marcus burst into a fist of laughter. “Even though it feels good to be right, but—“

A glare Deigo sent Marcus had him shut up, raising his hands in defense.

Marcus shook his head.

"You loved Sophia, Deigo. You couldn't see past that."

Deigo's jaw clenched.

"I see now."

Marcus's expression turned serious.

"We need to talk business, Deigo. The company's been holding steady, but we need your expertise to take it to the next level. I wanted to discuss this with you a week ago, but I got cut up, and now that you are back...

Deigo nodded.

"What is it?."

Marcus handed Deigo a towel.

"First, let's get you cleaned up. Then, we'll talk business."

Deigo's eyes flashed with curiosity, liking his friend’s mindset, knowing what business he meant.

“Fucker..."

Marcus grinned.

"I've already started gathering intel."

Deigo's smile was cold.

"It's time to show Sophia and her family what it means to cross Blackwood. But before that, gather every piece of information you have on Benjamin Franklin; I need to know what the guy has up his sleeves."

Deigo wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind already shifting with thoughts on Benjamin.

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"Benjamin? What makes you suspicious? Isn’t he the guy Sophia is all over and her family too?”

Deigo's eyes narrowed, so he nodded in response.

"I don't trust him. The Franklins' sudden interest in supporting the Blackwood Corp.... it reeks of deceit."

Marcus nodded.

"I share your concerns. I've noticed some irregularities in their proposals too. They are merging business with the Richamonds’ too."

Deigo's grip on the towel tightened.

"Tell me more."

Marcus pulled out his phone, scrolling through notes.

"The Richmonds are offering an unusually large investment, with minimal strings attached. It's too good to be true; it’s almost like the Franklins are setting them up... According to last week's reports, the Franklins’ company is running bankrupt, so they decided to merge with the Richmonds, especially because they are in business with our company."

This all makes sense now. Benjamin is using Sophia and her family to get to a deal with Deigo’s company.

That must be why he has her circled into his spell; he’s using them obliviously.

Deigo's jaw clenched.

"Get to the bottom of it, Marcus. I want every detail."

Marcus nodded.

"I'll dig deeper. But what's your gut telling you?"

Deigo's expression turned cold.

"That Benjamin hiding something. He's using Sophia to get to me even though he doesn’t know I am the heir to the Blackwood corp, to our company."

Marcus's eyes widened.

"You think he's after our tech?"

Deigo's eyes locked onto Marcus's.

"I know he is he has to be. Think about it, he has only known Sophia for a few months and they met at a business gala that happened in Singapore months back”

Marcus's face set into confusion before it finally clicked on him.

“That’s right, I saw them leave together that night halfway through the event”

"So what do you want us to do with them? Do we cut down business immediately?”

Deigo stopped him, “No. let them believe they won, let’s beat them at their own game” his voice dropped to a growl.

"We'll show them what happens when you cross a blackwood."

Marcus smiled grimly.

"Time to play dirty."

Marcus had stayed for dinner before he left even though he had plans to spend the night but he couldn’t, he now was left alone with his thoughts running wild.

A call on his phone snaps him out of his train of thought.

He picked up not bothering to check the caller and to his utmost surprise it was Sophia.

“Hello! I am not calling you to check on you or beg you to come back, sorry to burst your bubble… I just fell to inform you you can come to pick up your filth properties and go with them, I give you just two days to come for it—“

He hung off the call.