The Return Of Zade Delamonte: The Humiliated Son-in-law

His identity

Silence.

"Teddy?" A brief pause followed, "There's only one Teddy I know."

"It's me, Uncle Gray" Zade responded.

"Oh my goodness, Zade!" The once sleepy voice was replaced with an excited shriek.  A small smile danced on Zade's lips.

"Where have you been, son? It's been three years!" Gray exclaimed.

A tinge of guilt hit him.

"The last time I saw you, you were fawning over a girl you met in college," his uncle continued, in a light tone that held no malice.

"We are divorced now," Zade sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with slight irritation.

He didn't want to transfer his aggression to his innocent uncle. Especially since the man was nice enough to forgive him for ghosting everyone.

"You got married?" 

"It's a long story, uncle. We will discuss that when I come home. For now, I need a favor," Zade answered.

"What could that be?" Gray asked, curiously.

"I need you to buy a company. Pixton Corp. It'll roughly cost you a couple of millions," Zade told him. 

"Is that all?"

"Yes, uncle. I'll pay you back in no time," Zade added.

"You don't need to repay me, son. You're family. Consider it done," Gray chuckled.

Gray Carter was the CFO of P-TEX, one of the richest technology consortia in the country. A local company like Pixton Corp was a piece of cake to him. 

He was more concerned about his nephew's return.

Since Zade eloped three years ago, abandoning his duties as heir to the Delamonte empire, he couldn't stop worrying.

Zade was the only son of his only sister and the heir to the Delamonte empire.

He was supposed to get married to the daughter of an Army General but he claimed his college girlfriend was a better option.

When his grandfather, Zachary Delamonte, refused, he eloped with the girl after his graduation. 

Zachary had been furious and ordered everyone to stand down and let him go.

Since then, no one heard anything from him and his grandfather wouldn't budge. 

It was relieving to know that Zade was hale and hearty. His parents and everyone else had been worried sick. 

"When will you come home, son? Everyone is waiting…" Gray asked again and Zade sighed. 

It hurt him to think that he gave up everything, the luxurious life, the power, the wealth, and everything else that came with being a Delamonte, and in the end, Roselia betrayed him because of a mere managerial position.

"...well everyone except Sarah. The engagement was canceled and as you can already guess, they loathe you very much for disappointing their daughter," Gray continued lightly with no malice in his voice. 

Zade felt sorry for her. Even if he didn't meet Roselia, their union would never happen.

He wasn't a fan of arranged marriages.

He could only hope they would move on and let their daughter marry a man who would love her back. 

"Soon, Uncle. I have to go now."

Just as he hung up, Roselia walked out of the building, hand-in-hand with Ryan. 

Zade scoffed on sighting them, tucking his phone in his pocket.

Ryan's broken nose and busted lips didn't give him as much satisfaction as he hoped.

When they stopped in front of him, he noticed the bleeding by the side of Ryan's face. It was probably from the vase he used earlier. 

"You will pay for this, I promise. Just wait and see… I won't let this slide!" Ryan threatened in a seething growl.

Roselia shot Zade a pleading glance but he ignored her.

He had no intention of exchanging words with Ryan. The fight should never have happened. Roselia wasn't worth it.

At least, not any more.

Zade remained expressionless as the man cursed and threatened him.

Ryan's threats meant nothing to him. They were just as empty as Ryan would be the minute he bought the company.

"Please, Ryan, let it go," Roselia pleaded and Ryan cast Zade one last look before walking away in anger.

She turned timidly to Zade, unsure of how to begin the conversation.

The man didn't bother to spare her a glance as he got on his bicycle and rode off.

Roselia dragged her feet to her car, clutching tightly to the divorce papers.

As she drove behind him, she couldn't help but think about how far they'd come together.

She stared at his back, a long sigh escaping her lips. Zade had been the best thing that happened to her in college.

He showered her with gifts, took her on dates, and made her feel like a queen.

At that time, Roselia had assumed he was rich because their college was the best in the country.

While she had gotten there through a scholarship, it didn't occur to her that Zade might have been a scholarship student as well.

When he proposed to her, she was over the moon and accepted to marry him.

Her family insisted on sponsoring their wedding and she'd been too in love to question why he accepted it so easily.

By the time they got married, everything became clear.

He still treated her like a queen, but his choice of gifts became cheaper and cheaper until he could afford nothing except a bouquet of flowers. 

When he got a job as a dispatch rider for a small company, her family realized he had nothing to offer.

She tried to understand him until she got a job in Pixton after serving as an intern.

In a space of one year, she climbed to an enviable height while he remained a miserable delivery boy. 

Gradually, she became ashamed to have him by her side as her husband no matter how much she loved him.

Another sigh escaped Roselia's lips. Perhaps it was wrong to get cozy with another man while still married to him, but she was fed up with living with a pauper.

When Ryan came up with his proposal, her family was more than happy even though she was a bit skeptical at first.

But the closer she got to Ryan, the more depressing her situation with Zade felt.

When her mother and brother opened her eyes to see how worthless Zade was, she had no choice but to accept Ryan.

Zade was, in no way, her class.

She needed a man whom she could brag about. A man who could get her anything she wanted without breaking a sweat. A man who could gift her pearls and diamonds and take her to expensive restaurants.

Not just homemade meals because he couldn't afford a fancy place.

It was as obvious as day that Ryan could give her everything Zade couldn't.

So she made the smart choice. Anyone in her shoes would do same.