The Indestructible Alexander

Chapter 2

Merly stood at the door, rigid like a lioness, faced the gathered crowd fiercely.

"Everyone, look at this useless man," she shouted with contempt, "He can't bring me any happiness in my life. He gave me ugly, cheap things, and all bitter food to eat!"

“Before marriage, I didn’t even need to work. Rich men were lining up to provide everything I needed!”

"Since I married, I’ve known nothing but pain and poverty." She scanned the crowd arrogantly. "I ask you, do I have the right to divorce this worthless man?"

An unmarried, 70-year-old grandmother retorted, "Merly, you are beautiful, and you are already too kind to your trash husband. If it were me, I would have long ago divorced him! Even if you gave him to me for free, I wouldn’t take him."

"Agree," chimed in another ugly man. "Merly, you're too pretty for him. Even I am much better than him. Your husband is totally trash."

"Sister," a man shouldered his way through the crowd in hurry. "Sorry I'm late. Where's that bastard?"

Merly pointed disdainfully to Alex, who was standing with the gift on his hand.

Jason, Merly's brother, walked over to Alex, his friend in tow.

 "Alex, I didn’t know you were so lowly as to reject the divorce. My sister had to call me to force you to the government agency. Don’t you have even a shred of pride, man?"

"I still love her," Alex whispered.

"Blueeghh... Take him away!" Merly commanded disgustingly. “There is no love from poor people!”

Jason and his friend grabbed Alex by each arm, locking him, and began to push through the sneering crowd.

“You don't deserve her, poor man,” added the old grandma.

“Worthless man cannot satisfy her wife,” insulted the crowd.

“Is your dick so small?” Giggled some women.

The trio approached an old box truck, its dirty and still smelling of some organic substance. Jason swung open the rear door roughly and shoved Alex inside.

“Don’t do this to me Jason,” Alex said. “You still owed me $5.000.”

Hason laughed. "I don’t remember I owe you any money. If you dare to run away, I will break both of your legs."

He slammed the door shut, leaving Alex in near darkness, with only thin beams of light piercing through the box’s holes.

The truck's engine rumbled to life and began to move.

Inside, Alex, overwhelmed by sadness, clutched the gift for his wife.

With a heavy sigh, he unwrapped it, revealing a gold bank card and a high-tech smartphone that could be used as a wristband.

The bank card, issued by the Royal Bank, was a key to his vast wealth, enough to purchase a grand castle without a dent in his finances.

Alex had grown weary of the rich, pretentious women in the empire who sought only his fortune and power; their kindness was as fake as their selves.

Merly, once a kind, simple, and frugal girl, radiated love, loyalty, and passion. Her genuine simplicity had once touched his heart, igniting a desire to give her everything.

Once, they were really living happily together, but now, she has changed into someone unrecognizable.

He slid the smart wristband onto his right hand, and the screen flickered to life.

"Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary, Merly," it automatically announced.

"Thank you for remaining loyal to your husband for an entire year. Now, for the moment of truth: your husband is the Supreme Leader of the Empire's military. Don't believe it? Here is the proof."

The wristband was dialling the pre-programmed number automatically.

Alex sighed.

Throughout the year, he had envisioned countless times Merly's joyful and tearful surprise reaction upon discovering that her husband was the Empire's Supreme Commander.

His real identity would cause billions to be jealous and envious of her as his wife.

Divorce was something he clearly didn’t see coming.

Finally, video call connected to a beautiful woman.

"Miss Merly, congratulations..." she began, but stopped abruptly, her eyes widening in shock. "Sir Alex? Shouldn't this call be at midnight, when I offer congratulations to your wife and give her proof of your identity?"

“…”

"I'm already on the way, with many gifts for your wedding anniversary; you won't believe what they've given you," Lavinia, Alex's personal assistant continued excitedly.

“The royal members have bestowed upon you a castle, an aircraft, and a grand mansion in the capital. Our generals have gifted your wife rare jewellery, five-hundred-years-old ginseng and many other precious items."

"Your wife will surely be thrilled," Lavinia joyfully said.

"Are you sure?"

"1000% sure. What woman wouldn't love to be your wife and receive all these lavish presents? I and millions of girls would die happily if we were her," Lavinia exclaimed cheerfully.

"She just divorced me." Alex dropped a bombshell.

Lavinia's face froze for a few shocking seconds. "She divorced you? The first in line to the throne?"

"Yes, because I am poor.”

Lavinia was flabbergasted. "Are you joking, sir?  She could try to spend your wealth and would die before seeing the end of it."

"Where are you?"

"Our aircraft is 30 minutes from Blackwood City."

"Alright, pick me up at the divorce’s government agency. I'm done here."

"Sir, what about the gifts and the surprise celebration planned for tonight?"

"Cancel it, return the gifts and tell them I'm divorced!"

"No one will EVER believe it, Sir!" exclaimed Lavinia. "Please stop joking. No one in this world will ever, ever divorce you."

Alex ended it.

The truck jerked to a sudden stop.

The double doors of the truck's box swung open, revealing Jason and his friend.

"Crawl out, sign the papers, and get out of her life forever. You, fucking trash."

“Jason,” Alex walked out from the truck. “You will regret this in your life.”

Jason made a slight move with his head, and his friend grabbed Alex from behind so he could hit Alex’s stomach.

"I tell you, Alex, this is the best thing I've done in my life. I don’t need to pay my debt to you, and my sister even gave me money to do this."

He hit Alex's face and let him fall to the ground. "Come to me anytime you want, but next time, I don’t promise I won't kill you."