2023-09-07 17:39:32Chapter 4
By the time they got home, the Harpers were already waiting in the living room. Mrs Harper quickly got on her feet the minute they stepped in.
"Roselia? What happened, dear? Why are you back so early? I thought you were working overnight to catch up?" Mrs Harper asked, even though she clearly knew what Roselia had been doing at the office.
"Uhm… I… we…" Roselia stuttered, unable to confess that Zade caught her in a compromising position with her boss.
Although she suspected her mother must have gotten a hint, she choose not play into her trap. Zade had endured enough for the day. Her mother would only make things worse.
"Why are you stuttering? Tell me what I need to hear," Mrs Harper questioned impatiently. "Did he do something?"
Roselia stole a glance at Zade, who remained silent like he wasn't in the room.
"He signed the papers," she quickly outed, hoping to evade her mother's prying questions.
"He did? This is wonderful news! We should celebrate this, don't you think, William?" Mrs Harper's voice went chirpy with excitement, like divorce was something worth celebrating.
"It is worth celebrating, mother. Finally, my sister has been freed from the shackles of poverty. I will get our finest wine so we can toast to the prospect of a good life and better son-in-law," William gibed.
"Perhaps Zade can join in the celebration, what do you think?"
Roselia couldn't help but feel embarrassed on Zade's behalf at their unnecessary merriment.
Her family would never pass any opportunity to taunt and humiliate him.
It bothered her that despite all this, Zade remained silent and expressionless.
He didn't even spare any of them a glance as he walked away, ascending the stairs swiftly.
"Tch! Suck a jerk! He must be really pained about losing you. But don't worry, you don't need a worthless man like him when a man like Ryan is waiting in line," William told her.
Roselia resisted the urge to glare at him. Just because they were getting divorced didn't give him the right to speak of Zade in such a demeaning manner.
"That's enough, William. He already signed the papers and he might be leaving tonight. Give it a rest, will you?" she sighed.
"Leaving? Already? That seems rather sudden and suspicious. Goodness, we need to hurry! I don't want him stealing any of our valuables," Mrs Harper gasped, running after Zade.
Roselia's mouth went agape, and then anger ensued.
Zade might be poor but he wasn't a thief! Before she could defend him, they were already running up the stairs.
She trailed behind them, taking deep breaths to suppress her anger. She couldn't afford to get into a fight with her family.
At least not before Zade. She needed them now, more than ever.
Zade was packing his belongings neatly into his bag when the Harpers burst into the room.
He arched a brow when William snatched his bag from him. He couldn't help but wonder what new drama they brought this time.
He signed the papers, like they wanted and now, they wouldn't even let him leave in peace.
However, he said nothing in protest.They could do whatever they wanted as long as they let him go.
"Search it thoroughly, William! We never know what valuables he must have stolen to sell for money! We can't let him leave with any of our properties!" Mrs Harper stated and Roselia groaned inwardly.
William rummaged through his bag, tossing the clothes he folded out of the bag carelessly.
Zade's patience began to wear thin as his clothes hit the ground one after the other.
By the time he grabbed a photo frame, Zade's eyes widened with panic.
Before he could stop him, William tossed it backward and it hit the floor with a loud thud.
Everyone froze at the loud shattering of glass.
Zade hurried over and picked the frame only for the remaining glasses to crash to the floor, shattering like the rest.
His grip on the frame tightened as he stared at the only picture he had of his lovely parents.
They had been the only ones to support his decision to marry for love.
Blinded by rage, he got off the floor and shoved William off his bag.
The latter hit the floor but before he could recover, Zade delivered strong violent kicks to his ribcage, angrily.
Mrs Harper grabbed him suddenly, trying to prevent him from inflicting more pain on her son.
Zade's sudden aggressiveness was completely out of character.
"That's enough, you rascal! Are you trying to kill my son because of a worthless photograph?" She yelled and Zade took a wild spin and slapped her across the face.
Mrs Harper staggered back in shock, clutching to her cheek as she hissed in pain.
The useless man her daughter picked up from the streets hit her!
"Zade!" Roselia yelled but he shot her a cold glare that sent chills down her spine.
In all three years of marriage, she'd never seen him like this.
He was usually calm and collected no matter what happened but this man before her had the murderous look of a monster.
Like he would tear her apart if she dared speak.
He stormed out of the house, leaving them stunned and confused.
"You see the animal you got married to? He attacked your brother and slapped your poor mother. You must not let him get away with this, Rose. He has to pay for this…"
"Enough!" Roselia snapped, all the anger she suppressed earlier resurfacing.
"Get out of my room!" She ordered.
"Rose…"
"Out this minute!" She interrupted and Mrs Harper helped William up.
Roselia locked the door as soon as they left the room and crumbled to the floor.
She couldn't believe that Zade was out of her life for good.
Memories flooded through her mind and her heart grew heavier with guilt.
She made the decision to divorce him, she signed the damn papers!
So what was this emptiness threatening to suffocate her?
*****
Meanwhile, Zade rode his bicycle to the company where he worked as a dispatch rider. It was nowhere near Pixton, but it was decent.
Since it was so late in the night and he had nowhere else to go, he decided to sleep in the company.
He fished for his pass inside his pocket and swiped it at the door.
He made his way to the storage room to spend the night. As he got comfortable, he began thinking of his life.
No doubt if he returned home tomorrow, there would be open arms waiting to receive him and restore everything he stripped himself of, but he couldn't bring himself to return to his family as a nobody.
Not after being away for three years.
Even though the years were wasted loving a woman who wasn't worth it in the end, he couldn't give up on everything else.
He would have to make a name for himself before returning.
Hopefully, by the time he built a presence in the business world by himself, his grandfather would be more than willing to forgive him.
With the thought lingering in his mind, he fell asleep.
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