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 party started, he got nothing more than a few glances and murmurs, that much he expected. But that wasn't enough humiliation for his wife's family. They wanted to see him being torn apart viscously by the words of the people at the party so they made it so. "You good for nothing fool! How dumb are you truly?" Sharon raised her voice as she questioned him, causing a lot of eyes to fall on him. "Why do you always have to cause trouble for my family? Do you have the slightest idea of what we went through after your dumb father shook the pyramid and ran off? Your mother is at the hospital, only heavens know if she is just staying there to hide from the world. "They didn't care about their son and left you with us but we took care of you! My husband and I feed you, clothe you and even hand you pocket money and instead of your jobless ass fool to be grateful, you just mess up everything for us!" Andi bit down on his lower lips as he felt the gaze of everyone strangling him. He knew something like this would happen, his gut had already told him. Murmurs filled the hall at once. There had been speculations amongst the people, wondering if it was the son of the well known Emerson family who went from riches to rags that was serving at the party but now they were sure he was the one. Sharon noticed her words and actions were yielding the result she wanted and she grinned inside herself. "Oh my poor daughter! I feel bad for her having a bad luck like you as a husband. Even though she is aware that your family's misfortune was caused by your own hands, she still stands by you. Why can't you see how much this family is trying for you?" Now the murmurs of the crowd were audible and their words made Andi want to disappear. "How can he be so ungrateful?" "He truly is bad luck, why won't he just leave the poor girl and family alone?" "I always knew the Emersons would face great misfortune, look at them now. Who would believe the people who once thought themselves gods would become nothing but trash? They deserve it." He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. How could they be so harsh with their words? They deserved it? His family never looked down on anyone before, they never for once thought themselves gods of anything or treated people according to their status. They were fair and just people. He was a fool to have hoped the people would try to help him. A big fool! What had brought about Sharon's absurd behavior? He apparently poured more wine than she could drink in her cup, therefore, he couldn't do anything right. His breath shuddered as tried to take calming breaths. His mother in law continued to rain insults on him but none of her words reached his ears anymore. The only thing he could hear were the hateful comments from the crowd and the sound of his heartbeat, racing abnormally like it would suddenly stop. The tray in his hand fell to the ground and the glasses on top of it shattered, wine spilled everywhere and screams echoed in the crowd. He dashed out of the hall with his head bowed in shame. Pushing through the crowds, feeling suffocated, he needed to be out of the place before he would collapse to the ground. "Watch it you good for nothing!" "Don't touch me with your bad luck hands!" "What a failure, you deserved it." People commented as he pushed past them. The words "you deserved it" echoed in his head as he panicked out of the hall. Before he realized it, he was in the garden but he was grateful for the fresh air that sipped through his lungs. His knees felt weak and tears poured from his eyes. He wanted to break down in tears when he heard the voice of his wife from behind a tall bush. He slowly made his way there and his eyes widened as he saw her cuddling with another man, exchanging saliva as they kissed and sucked on each other's tongues. The strange man cupped her breasts in his hands and squeezed them softly, causing her to moan into his mouth. They were so engrossed in their shameful act that they didn't even notice him standing there. Andi felt his heart sink in an instant and every other pain he was feeling suddenly flowed out of his system until he was left with the pain of seeing his wife with another man. He hoped he was dreaming even though he watched with wide eyes.["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
Lost in thoughts in his mother's hospice room, Andi felt a hand touch his and he snapped out of his thoughts. Met by his mother's weak smile, he smiled back, one only brighter than his mother's by a little. "Are you alright?" She asked him in a meek tone and Andi nodded his head. "Are you perhaps... Thinking about what your father's personal assistant told us?" He smiled and sat next to her on the bed. "I went to see her this morning and she told me some... Things. But mom, what do you think about all of this?" She squeezed his hands gently in hers. "You've been through a lot my dear Andi, you might not tell me yourself but I am more than aware of how difficult it has been to fend for your mouth alone, talk of both of us. "And I want you to be happy, I want you to take care of yourself, I don't ever want to see you suffering. And you are my son and I know that you have always been looking forward to heading the company one day." "But mom," Andi said softly. "If the world learns
The home of the Simmons was extra lively that Friday morning. They all gathered at the dining table to enjoy a nice meal with their soon to be son in law, Justin Rivera. "I hope you find the meal to your taste, my dear." Sharon Simmons asked Justin with a gentle smile on her face.Justin's lips spread into a smile. "Of course, mom. You are exceptionally a great cook." Sharon chuckled softly. "Oh you flatter me too much. You should come by more often, I'll make you more and more tasty meals." He nodded his head. "I'll do that a lot." They all shared a laugh and continued to eat in silence. Justin suddenly turned to his father in law and asked. "Right, Mr Simmons, have you heard about the new company opening up in the city? Zeus I think." "Oh of course!" The man replied. "Every business man in the city has heard about them. Apparently, they are quite known even though they are just opening." "Yes. I heard from a close friend that they used to be a paper company and they were based