The Insurmountable Rise Of Ethan Watson

CHAPTER 3

AT THE GRAHAM'S MANSION

Eric Graham watched as Ethan drove out through the gate before he reached for his safe and brought out his burner phone making an anonymous call. The only thing being said was, “Do it now” and he disconnected the call. 

Turning in his chair with a cynical smirk, he reached for the drawer where he kept the contract signed by Ethan. He dropped the contract and removed the carbon paper that covered the actual document he needed Ethan's signature for, divorce papers.

He packaged the divorce papers with Ethan's signature in a big brown envelope and used Ethan's phone to send a text message to Melissa that read, 

“Mel, I'm sorry it has to happen this way. I couldn't bear to see you crying, that's why I have to do it this way. We've been together for 5 years, married for three, and in all these years, I've always felt like I'm pulling you back and bringing shame to you. I love you too much to let it continue. You deserve more than I have to offer and it's a terrible feeling, but please try to move on without me, find love again, and live. Yours in love, Ethan. 

Eric felt disgusted as he typed it out but satisfied that he would finally put an end to the disgrace, Ethan, that has plagued and embarrassed the Graham family name.

He removed the SIM from the phone and disposed of both the SIM and the phone. 

With everything set now, he walked quietly to Melissa's room.

He opened the door and gently tiptoed to drop the envelope on the nightstand. For a brief moment, he paused to stare at his baby girl and whispered “It'll be fine baby, trust me. Daddy has taken care of everything” before walking out of the room and back into his study.

Melissa woke up about an hour after Ethan had gone out. She turned in for a cuddle with him only to meet an empty bed. 

Abit startled she opened her eyes slowly and called out, “Babe are you there?”

With no response from Ethan, she got up and checked the room while echoing his name and hoping for a response. 

As she heard none, she assumed he went down to the kitchen to get her breakfast in bed, so she walked back to the bed but as she was about to climb the bed, she sighted a brown envelope on the nightstand with her name on the envelope.

She turned over to pick it up and it showed that it was from Ethan. She stared at the envelope with a smile on her face before she opened it up only to receive news that broke her.

In the envelope was a divorce paper with Ethan's signature on it. Furious and heartbroken, she picked up her phone to call him because she couldn't believe her eyes. 

As she opened her phone, she saw a text message from him ending things with her. She stared at her wallpaper which was a picture of two of them smiling with their cheeks pressed against each other.

Her tears dropped on her phone screen as she sobbed silently while her brain processed everything. She felt pain, betrayal, insult, and embarrassment because her family members would tell her the phrase no grieving person wants to hear, “I told you so”.

Her sobs could be heard by her parents who were in the living room not far away. They knocked on the door and she screamed, “Go away!”

“Oh honey, what's wrong?” Claire asked as she pushed the door open and went over to Melissa's side, stroking her shoulder in a consoling manner.

Eric sat in front of Melissa and wiped her tears with his hands as he said calmly, “You can tell us whatever the issue is, we're here for you baby girl”.

“He left me, after all these years, he left me,” she said between sobs as she cleaned her face which became a mix of sweat, tears, and mucus.

“Who left you, honey?” Claire asked as she turned to Eric signaling that she didn't know the “he” in question.

“Is it Ethan?” She went ahead to ask but Melissa couldn't speak but only replied with a nod that meant yes.

They burst into uncontrollable laughter, “you should be rejoicing if that's the case” Eric said amidst laughter.

“Finally, we no longer have to see that pauper dragging our social class and worth as a family,” Claire chimed in.

“Baby girl, I told you he's not good for you and he just proved me right by breaking your heart and running away. He wasn't even man enough to do it in person. What a coward!” Eric pointed out. 

Drawing close to Melissa he continued, “Don't give him the satisfaction of breaking you, hold your head high and move on. Fall in love again or whatever your generation does these days. But know that he's not worth your tears, my princess”.

"How could he do this to me? After all this time?" Melissa continued crying.

"Enough of the tears, Mel. With the way you're crying, one would think someone valuable just left you. Enough. Now get yourself cleaned up and join me and your mom for breakfast. Jason would also be joining us." Eric commanded indignantly

As they leave, Melissa bangs her room door shut and stomps back to her bed sobbing. She didn't plan to join them for breakfast and she wouldn't.

Jason joins Eric and Claire for breakfast but they notice Melissa's absence and Claire declares, "I guess she won't be joining us for breakfast over that chomp that left her, how pathetic."

"Ethan left Melissa? What a miracle. I admit, he was a stubborn lot but he yielded in the end" Jason said laughing.

"Jason, you should go and console Melissa. She needs you more than ever right now as a shoulder to lean on" Eric encouraged Jason.

"You don't need to tell me twice, my soon-to-be father-in-law," Jason replied teasingly while standing from the dinner table to join Melissa in her room upstairs.

Jason didn't knock before entering Melissa's room as he saw the door slightly ajar, so he just pushed it and made his way into the room

“Hello love” Melissa heard a husky voice behind her and she turned to get a good look at who was speaking

“Jason? What are you doing here? And in my room for that matter? Who gave you the right to come in here?”

He ignored her questions and said, “Melissa Graham, in the flesh. It's been a while since we met, I heard Ethan left you and I came to make you feel better" as he waltzed towards her

He stretched his arms forward for a hug but she looked at him from head to toe and said without remorse, "Get out and close the door behind you".

Jason's countenance changed and he started moving closer to her and saying, "Who are you to talk to me like that?"

"Why do you always reject me for that pauper who can't even afford to get you nice lingerie so both of you can have fun?" He continued moving closer to her as she kept moving away from him.

"What's so special about him that you can't let him go or are you just playing hard to get with me". Her back was against the wall, so he pinned her there.

Their faces were inches apart from each other and she loved every bit of this. The show of dominance and possessiveness Jason showed over her. It had been long since she felt so alive in the arms of a man.

She smirked at Jason before crashing her lips to his, which took Jason by surprise but he was quick to reciprocate the kiss. 

Soon, they were moving in sync till they locked the door and found themselves splayed out on her once matrimonial bed, where they made passionate love.