Chapter Three

Authurs bravado nearly drove Amanda and her parents round the bend.

"Having you caged up for years must have done something to your brain..." Amanda squinted at him. "Fine, If you say so then prove it!" She shoved her mobile phone into Authurs hands directly. "I'd  like to see how you make Armstrong family now their heads with just one word!".

"I..."

Authur was stunned.

Naturally, he was very capable of exterminating the Armstrong family with his words, but he had given them one month, it would be uneventful to go back on his word. 

"Just as I thought... You can't do shit, can you?" Amanda snatched the phone back from his grasp and smashed it to the ground marking her wrath.

"Take your leave now, you're not welcome here" Amanda's father chimed in.

"No. Dad let him in!" Amanda protested.

"What... What do you mean Amanda?".

"I won't remarry. My husband is back." 

***

A few minutes had passed after Amanda took Authur to her bedroom while her parents waited in the living confused with their daughter's decision to let him in.

"Since you're back, you're still my husband. I don't care what other people say. Besides, I believe you're innocent, and anyone with discerning eyes can see that it was the Armstrong family who framed you!" Amanda explained her actions to him. 

Authur could feel a sudden warmth envelop his heart, she trusted him, and that was more than enough for him. 

" But you must promise me to start from zero and be down to earth. I believe you will achieve something great with your ability! I'll give you five years!". 

"That would be unnecessary my love" Authur said with a smirk. "Just give me a month. In a months time, I'll de..." 

"Shut up! I don't want to listen to your unrealistic talks! This not a movie." Amanda scolded him. "Even if you have nothing now, as long as you take one step at a time, you can, I believe you'll get back on your feet!". 

Authur remained silent as he watched her strode to the wardrobe where her clothes hung. 

"I bought you this before our wedding day... It was supposed to be a gift" Amanda took out a black suit from the wardrobe. "Change into it at once and follow me to the family banquet!". 

***

Seeing Authur all dressed put Amanda's parents in natural dissatisfaction. 

"Mother, father, this is Authur... My husband! I will make it clear to grandpa tonight". Amanda spoke up with conviction. 

"For heavens sake Amanda, don't do this to yourself!" Amanda's father ranted while her mother sighed uncontrollably as the couple made their way to the door and exited the building. 

***

Naturally, the Cortez family was not as powerful as the Armstrong family, but they were considered above average in Eldrida and Amanda's previous wedding with the then Arthur King had a lot to do with their current status in society. But after Authur's downfall, the Cortez family experienced a turbulent shift in their life and their status took a brief nose dive as they became the subject of ridicule. Ironic how Authur was the maker and destroyer of their family's nane.

As Amanda and Authur made their way into the hall, their faces were instantly recognized and as such, they drew alot of attention to themselves.

"Look, isn't that Authur King beside her?".

"Yeah it's really him. He's released from prison already?".

All eyes were on them. Especially Authur king.

Jonas Cortez the unopposed patriarch of the Cortez Clan and Amanda's grandfather snorted and turned a blind eye to the couple. The old mans pick for his granddaughter was Andrew Robertson because he was of mixed blood and was born rich and lived overseas.

Jonas wanted to set up Amanda for Andrew because he has made it clear he was looking for a beautiful bride and he had been casting covetous eyes on Amanda for a while.

As they were about to take thier seats, Amanda's parents came in and hurriedly joined them to seat down.

"No!..." a voice called from a distance away. Amanda looked up to see who it was, her uncle Henry, her father's elder brother came rushing to them.

"What?" Amanda's father asked.

"There are sitting arrangements to the family banquet this time." he blurted out.

Amanda's parents looked puzzled. "How so?"

"There are four tables for the family banquet. And it's decided according to the family contribution!" Henry began. "For example, the first table is given to the family who contributed over five million to the family this year, a million for the second table, five hundred thousand fir the third table and less than a hundred thousand for the last table, or should I say no contribution at all! " he finished with a smirk.

Amanda's father smiled with a smug "Well, my family has made good profit this year, and we've contributed just about five million to the family. So excuse me but this table here is ours."

"Well, off course you're right. But a few other families made way more than you did, so you don't get to use this table". Uncle Henry explained.

"So where are we allowed to seat now?".

"Well, considering the number of families that made more money than you and especially considering the fact that there's an ex-convict in your families company, I would say your place is at the sixth table". Henry replied as he gave Authur a deadly sneer.

"The sixth table?... What insolence!"

"I suggest you do as I say as a certain someone wouldn't want you ruining this very special event..." Henry interrupted referring to the Cortez Clan patriarch. "So, I suggest you hurry up and sit down. Don't just stand there and make a fool out of yourselves". Henry finished.

***

"What table should a ten billion contributor sit at?" Authur asked suddenly, stopping Henry dead in his tracks.

Authur was the only Five star general and war lord, wealth to him was just a number. As a matter of fact, he didn't know exactly how much he had, but he could still fork out ten billion without breaking a sweat for the family contribution on behalf of Amanda's family.

Immediately Authur statement left his lips, everyone was stunned. Everyone in the hall became silent for a few minutes, then the crowd blossomed into an enormous belly laughter.

"Ten billion? Are you kidding me? Even the families of this clan don't have that money combined!"

"This kid must have a loose screw in his head or something!"

"Hey, Amanda's dad. Did you know you have a son in law worth ten billion?"

Seeing and hearing the mockery from the people around Amanda wished the ground could swallow her whole. Her temper sparked, and her eyes blazed with rage.

"Authur King, it is okay for you to talk big at home but don't come here and embarrass me? You have done enough of that already " she lashed out and took on a deep breath, her tears trembled silently down her cheeks.

Authur smiled cunningly,"But I do have ten billion... " he said dryly.

At this time, no one bothered to listen to Authur's claims because the honored guest of the day Andrew Robertson, the rich and handsome son in law had arrived. Everyone including Henry who was assigned the chief organizer of the event went out to the entrance to greet him.

"I'm so sorry for keeping everyone waiting" Andrew apologized as soon as he made contact with Henry Cortez. 

"Your flight took such a long time to get here. What's up with that?" Henry asked with concern. 

"You don't know, a big shot arrived in Eldrida and the airport was sealed off for ten hours!" Andrew explained. 

"Who the hell is this big shot to have an international airport sealed off for that amount of time?" Henry asked. 

"It's not just that. It's said that a hundred planes escorted the private jet of the big shot, and there were a hundred thousand people at the airport waiting for his arrival". 

"Damn!" Henry gasped in shock. 

"Your reaction is valid. He's the General Commander in chief of the nine war zones, the unbeatable of Eldrida. Yeah, you may not believe it if I tell you, but I once met this great man. A few months ago in Afghan, and we even exchanged numbers. I didn't expect him to take up a post in his home town! " Andrew said enthusiastically. 

" God! So you've seen his face, you know what he looks like? ". Henry asked trembling with excitement excitement. 

"You said you know the Unbeatable one... "Authur cut in from the side just as Andrew and Henry were making their way past the Cortez family. 

Andrew turned his head."Yeah, we had a drink together, back in Afghan. Is there a problem? ". 

Authur laughed inwardly."Then why the hell don't I recognize you?"