∆∆3: Caught in the act

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.