The sound of a ceramic dish as it shattered against the wall echoed through the room as Sharon flung her plate out of annoyance.
Andi flinched as his ear caught the sound of the plate that only missed his face by a hair and his heart almost seized. "What in the world is wrong with this useless animal?!" Sharon hollered as she sprung to her feet. Andi fell to his knees at once. "Mother, please I--" Before he could even complete his sentence, a spoon hit his face and he groaned. He hadn't even expected it. Fresh blood seeped from his bursted lips and his eyes ached but he dared not move an inch from the spot. Sharon Simmons, the wife of a well known millionaire, their names were known in almost every part of the city as they were one of the prominent families in Los Angeles. She was also the mother in law of Andi Emerson, he was married to her first daughter, Taylor. But Andi was despised by the entire family because he was a nobody and had nothing to call his own, not even a penny. From being a well known billionaire to a poor live in son in law who brought nothing but shame and dishonor to the Simmons' name. Andi was once rich, the richest in the city. People always called his family the family at the top of the pyramid. But one faithful day, his family suddenly went bankrupt, the shock causing his mother to be bedridden at a hospital and him becoming a useless man to his wife's family that they ceaselessly mocked. Every single member of the family had sworn to torment him until his last days if he insisted on remaining with Taylor. His life was worse than hell, but what love made people do sometimes was questionable. He could just leave and try to make a name for himself, it wasn't going to be easy of course but a man who could endure all that his wife's family were putting him through was definitely strong enough to face the waves of life with his boat keeping steady no matter how hard the waters rocked it. Yet he chose to remain there as a nobody, nothing more than the shadow of the family. Their foot mat that they dusted their legs on, their trash can that they hurled all their garbage in. At first, it was only verbal abuse, but they noticed that that wasn't enough to rock his boat, so they decided to upgrade to physical. "Who is your mother? Me?" She scoffed a laugh. "You disgusting little pig! Do I look like an animal to you?" Her brow arched as she asked him. He immediately shook his head. "No ma'am, of course not." "Then why do you keep calling me your mother, huh? You're the child of an animal! You filthy rat! Oh you stink!" Andi remained there on his knees and bowed his head. "I am so sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to get you angry, I am very sorry ma'am." He apologized. As much as it hurt him to speak due to the wound on his lips, he still forced himself to apologize before another item would come flying at his face. She moved closer to him. "Do you think you have any right in this house? How dare you even try to disobey me? Didn't I ask you not to touch my things? My valuables?! That aside, you still don't know how to prepare a proper meal? After all these years of training you, you still cook this garbage for us? Are you trying to poison my children and I?" "No ma'am! I really didn't try to do anything like that! I followed the recipe accordingly so I don't know how..." His voice trailed off as he recalled the recipe he used to prepare their meal. It was just the way she had told him to prepare it so he didn't know where he went wrong. Actually he didn't go wrong, she just needed an excuse to mistreat him and she wouldn't stop until he took his own life or peacefully left her daughter. "I told you he was a failure and nothing more, mother." Mable, Sharon's second daughter spoke up as she sat crossed legged and watched her mother torture her brother in law. Andi was older than her by more than five years but she didn't respect him at all. She hurled abusive words at him as if she were trying to discipline a ten year old. "Why do you try to keep up with all of this? Just leave our family Andi! Nothing will ever change no matter how long you stick with Taylor, you will always be a failure and a disgusting trash." She said as she rose to her feet and strolled towards her mother. Andi still remained on his knees. "I am really sorry--" "Shut up!" Sharon snapped. "You are not the prominent man you used to be before, Andi, you worship my family now so you should bow down in our presence and lick our feet on our order! Next time you get on my bad side, your lips won't be the only thing bleeding." She threatened with flames burning in her deep brown eyes. The sound of heels against the stairs caught their ears and a beautiful young woman soon came into the light. Taylor was known for her flawless look and demeanor, that was what made her the perfect bride for the Emerson's. Her red lips pouted and a stern look flashed in her blue eyes. "Mother, I think he has been sanctioned enough, please?" Andi felt the heavy anchor pulling his heart down lift and his sorrows washed away in the open sea. Ever since he got married to Taylor, he felt like he had known peace. Even though it was an arranged marriage, he couldn't be any happier to have spent the last four years with a woman like her. She smiled at him, a smile as bright as the sun. Nothing could be compared to her beauty. It was surprising how she never changed to him when he lost everything and it still surprised him. He couldn't help to feel this tension that one day, she would wake up and hate him. Hopefully, it wasn't today...Sharon frowned as she crossed her arms. "Did I ask you to kneel in the first place?" She arched her brow as she asked Andi. "So you're trying to turn my daughter's back against me now?!" "No ma'am! Not at all!" Andi responded. He rose to his feet and smiled at his wife. She was always his savior in situations like that and he would forever be grateful to her. "Mom, please don't be so hard on him. Dad asked me to gather everyone because he has an announcement to make and it's important." She said as she walked towards the dining table and sat down. The others went back to their seat but Andi remained where he was. Ever since he became poor, he didn't own a seat at the dining table anymore, he was meant to eat where no one would see him. "Don't be so nice to him sister, he's not worth anything at all, not even the slightest kindness. He's worse than that arrogant pet dog of yours." Mable said as she returned to her seat. The head of the Simmons family climbed down the stairs and jo
The Emerson family had been nothing but nice to each and every one of their acquaintances. Even though they were the family at the top of the pyramid of prominent people, they treated everyone with respect and care. Andi could remember how his parents always helped other people and assisted them whenever they needed aid, the Simmons included. Those who worshiped them only did it because of what it would yield for them, not because his family demanded worshiping from anyone.If truly those people were humans then they would be nice enough to be kind to him. Maybe if he went to the party, he would actually find help amongst a few of them. It was starting to sound as a not so bad idea and hopefully, it would be. Andi agreed to work the party, if not for anything but for his mother. He tried to remain positive until the day of the party, telling himself that it wouldn't be so bad. But as the day came, he wished for nothing more than the floor to open up and swallow him. When the part
["I can't believe this... How can this happen to my family?" Andi asked, tears welled up in his eyes. Taylor took his hands in hers. "I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I don't know what happened but I know you'll be able to fix it all somehow. I promise you, I'll never love another man and I'll always be by your side." She promised. Even though his world was falling apart, he was happy to have such a woman as his wife. She smiled at him weakly before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a comforting embrace.]The memory of her promise to him resurfaced in Andi's mind as tears flowed down his cheek. Of all the people that turned their backs on him, he was faced with the worst betrayal yet. "Taylor?" He called her name just to be sure. In his mind, he had imagined yelling out her name and forcefully pulling her apart from the man she was kissing but all his limbs were weak and his lungs were sore. She broke free from the kiss and turned to face hi
Tossed into the street like the dirt they called him, Andi picked himself up and dusted his waiter outfit before deciding to head to the hospital for the night.First thing the next morning, he would be the first face his wife would wake up to see and he would make sure of it. Arriving at the hospital, he tried to sneak past the doctors and nurses but even he knew that that was impossible. "Mr Emerson?" The voice of their family doctor stopped him in his steps and the man rolled his eyes. "I thought as much." "Good evening Mr Manchester." Andi said with a smile as he turned to face the man. Stan Manchester had been his family's doctor since he could remember, yet even the man had turned his back on him ever since his family lost everything they had. It was almost like they were total strangers the way Stan Manchester treated him except, he treated him worse than he would do a stranger. "Mr Emerson, I believe you know that you are way behind on your mother's bill and the hospital
Lost in thoughts, Andi wandered the streets of los Angeles with a small bag on his back and no destination ahead. His life had really gone down the drain right in front of his eyes. He hated the fact that he was coming to hate his father for disappearing amidst such tribulations. "Why didn't he just stay?" He wondered. "We could have faced this as a family!" He groaned angrily. His father's company was claimed to have been guilty of embezzlement of funds and fraud and many other unbelievable crimes that caused them to fall bankrupt in the blink of an eye. He was starting to think maybe his father was truly guilty. Hours had passed since he got kicked out from his wife's house but he had nowhere to go. He definitely couldn't go back to the hospital with his belongings especially since his wife had posted it on social media. The comments made his stomach churn and anger rise in his blood. "You must feel relieved to have such a burden off your neck, congratulations!" "I celebrate w
Andi stood there, surprised. What was she ever doing in Los Angeles? "Mrs Crest!" His jaw dropped open at the sight of her. "It's Miss Lieu, my husband and I separated." She corrected him with a pleasant smile that showed she wasn't angry but Andi thought to apologize immediately. "Oh my mistake, I am so sorry. I didn't know." Lucy Lieu, beautiful and fearless. With eyes of that of an ocean storm yet an aura like a peaceful wind. Her small yet slightly plum lips always wore a smile whenever she wasn't angry and her thin eyes were forever knowing.A black suit shirt and trouser that seemed almost not her size hung on her body with the shirt's buttons opened to reveal a white top in the inside. The woman never wore heels unless she was at an exceptionally important meeting but on other occasions, no matter what she was wearing, she always put on canvas shoes of her choice.She worked with his father when the company was still fine. She was his personal assistant and most trusted
Andi paraded about in the hall while thinking of what Lucy had told him. He was a billionaire? Paper company? Why didn't his father tell him any of this? Why did he run away?!'Did he really run away? Was he murdered? Is he even alive?' He wondered as he kept going back and forth like a guard dog in front of his owner's room.The door pulled open and he finally stopped when Lucy walked out of the room. She smiled at him, "walk with me." Andi nodded his head and followed her down the hall. They stood under the moonless sky facing each other while Lucy's driver waited for her. "Are you alright?" She asked him with a concerned look on her face. "I heard about your divorce as well and trust me, I know how it feels." Andi forced a sad smile to his face and nodded his head. "My dad... Do you..."She shook her head. "I'm sorry Andi but I don't know where he is. But I want you to know this, the name of the paper company is Zeus and everything is in your name. We can build it together, you
The air in the hall way seemed to seize as Andi tightened his fist angrily and glared at his ex wife and her new lover. What he would give for both of them to go bankrupt and know the true meaning of hell. What he had been going through. Taylor eyed him. "Look at the irritating thing glaring at us, do you think we can feel intimidated?" Her brow arched sharply. Andi still couldn't believe it. He couldn't stop himself from asking, "Justin's hatred for me, I understand but you? I just don't get it. Why do you have to treat me this way?" His voice wavered as he asked. Taylor smirked evilly, taking a confident step towards him. "Don't ask me stupid questions you already know the answer to. From today onward, don't ever try to speak to me when you see me, you're not worth my presence. Do you hate me? Want to get back at me?"Her evil laugh rang in his ears like haunting bells. "Unfortunately, you can't. No power, no money, no nothing! You're useless, a roach is more threatening than you