The Revenge of The Worthless son in law

18. Family Meeting: A Baby.

"He got what?!" Mabel couldn't believe her ears as her daughter relayed the events of the ceremony to her. She could have easily watched it live on TV but she hated seeing other people do what she couldn't.

"Twenty million dollars mother. It was given to him…personally!."

"That's just impossible. Why would an imbecile like that get such an amount?"

"Mother I told you, I said divorcing him was a bad idea but you kept insisting. Now he's basically rich and there's nothing I can do about it."

"Says who?"

"What do you mean? He has already moved on."

"I'm not buying it. He's your husband so you should know how to get him to come back to you."

"Mother, I–"

"Stop acting like this Lauren. It annoys me to see that my only daughter's not sharp. You lived with a man for over two years, and you want me to believe that you don't know the things he likes? How to seduce him?"

"It's not that. It's just…I don't know if it'll work."

"At least give it a try, then if it doesn't work out, we'll think of something else."

"But mother," Marcus intervened. "what about the settlement? You know we asked him to pay two and a half million, he has twenty now, it's going to be way too easy for him to pay. Don't you think?"

"That's true. That amount is way too small now. Well, I guess I'll just have to do something about that."

~•~><~•~

"I know this doesn't make us a couple or anything but, can we do this more often?" Erika asked, tracing her finger around Jason's bare chest.

"You got it babe." He hugged her and rested his chin on her head. "I guess being your boyfriend wouldn't be all that bad."

Enjoying each other's warmth in the cold night was nice. Jason missed feeling that way. He kissed her head and closed his eyes, waiting to be drifted away by sleep.

"Jason?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you promise me that no matter what happens, either we end up dating or not, we're always going to be there for each other. Can you do that for me?"

"Erika Anderson, I hereby promise you that I will always be here for you. Come rain, some sun. I'll never leave your side. Either we end up together, or we just stay good friends…you'll always be my number one."

"And I promise to always be there for you Jason Paul Decker, through thick and thin. I'll always be there, if you need someone to talk to, or if you just need someone to share a peaceful silence with…I'll never leave your side."

"Kinda sounds like marriage vow, don't you think?" They both laughed at his comparison but didn't say anything else.

A marriage vow, with Erika. What would that feel like? Seeing her in a wedding dress, promising to spend the rest of her life with him…like Lauren had promised to. To think that their marriage only lasted two years after dating for over a year.

"Are you thinking about her again?"

He looked down and found Erika staring at him. "No…well yes. We were so in love back then. There was nothing I couldn't do for her, I always went out of my way to make her smile. I didn't have money but I tried…I really tried my best.

Erika, I wanted to have a baby with this woman, to start a family with her…and she left me. Just like that, she left me without a second thought."

"I know darling, it's painful. Getting hurt by someone you love is always painful, but honey you gotta let it go. You're here beating yourself up about it and the lady's god knows where frolicking with some other dude.

You gotta stop thinking about your past and embrace your future JP, remember what I told you, turn your pain into motivation."

"Erika, I want revenge."

"Go for it, I'll be here to support you every step of the way."

"Thanks, you really are a good friend." She smiled at his compliment but it didn't last long. She was probably upset that he called her a friend. She removed herself from his embrace and turned her back against him.

Erika was a good woman, he just didn't want to hurt her. He was trying to get close to David Sandler, and that meant seeing his daughter quite often.

Then he was still trying to find out Jordan's relationship with Phil and understand how it could aid his revenge, but for that he would also have get closer to Jordan.

If he was constantly hanging out with other women, it would make her jealous, and he couldn't stand seeing her hurt ... .much less be the

cause of it.

He moved closer to her and hugged her from behind. "Thank you, for coming into my life." She didn't reply to him but she held his hands and leaned closer to him.

He shut his eyes and breathed in her scent, loving the feel of her bare body so close to his.

~•~><~•~

Jason slowly opened his eyes as he stretched from a good night's sleep. Thankfully he hadn't taken any alcohol the night before so he was doing fine. He smiled at the little woman that was curled up next to him, still deep in her slumber.

He really enjoyed his time with her, there was no doubt about that. But was it right?

At the moment, their relationship wasn't official so they would be considered as friends with benefits. He wanted his relationship with her to be more than that. Then what about Lauren?

Lauren, the only woman he thought he would ever love. The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. There was no denying that he still felt something for her, but the pain in his broken heart was more.

All he wanted was for her to apologize, to come up with an excuse or come clean about her reason for cheating, and tell him she wasn't going to do it again. Then their marriage would've been saved.

If Erika was his wife, things might have been different. Her parents knew him and they liked him even though he was broke, and she accepted him as well, maybe he would give their love story a chance.

"Jason, I think there's someone at the door." Erika mumbled in her sleep, pulling Jason out of his chain of thoughts. He hadn't heard the knock before. "Hmm, what time is it? She asked, still half asleep.

Jason sat up and checked the time. It was only eight AM, who would visit him so early? And on a weekend also. He went over to his wardrobe and got himself a short to conceal his nakedness.

He lazily strolled to the door where his uninvited guest was still knocking loudly. "Who is it?" He inquired as he got to the door.

"Open up you loser!" A feminine voice bellowed from the other side of the door.

Mabel?

There was no mistaking that voice, he was a hundred percent certain it was his mother in law. But what the hell was she doing at his place so early in the morning? And how did the witch even know where he lived?

He opened the door and found the entire Kings family standing outside. "what the..?"

James stared at him with a blank look on his face, Mabel and her bodyguard son had their usual frown on, while Lauren wasn't even staring at him at all.

Her demeanor was similar to the time when she came over with her mother to ask him for settlement money. Meaning something was up again.

"I'm pregnant." She said in a low voice.

"What?" Erika was the one who answered. Jason had not even heard her walk up to him.

"Erika, um good morning." He didn't know what to do so he just pulled her in for a hug. She didn't resist but her touch didn't hold any emotion either.

"For the love of heaven, are we supposed to stand here and watch you cuddle some other woman?" Mabel barked as she pushed past them, barging uninvited into his living room.

"Hey, I never asked you to come in!"

The living room was a mess and it was thanks to the steamy night he and Erika had. Their clothes and shoes were scattered all across the place and the throw pillows were on the floor. He remembered doing that when he wanted to make room for both of them on the couch.

"Um, maybe now isn't a good time mother, we can come back later."

"What did you say?" Jason asked, his gaze directed at Lauren.

"What?"

"You're pregnant?"

"Yes, I found out–"

"And how is that supposed to concern me?"

"What?" She finally managed to look up at his face.

"Why should I care if you're pregnant? Am I your husband? Or your boyfriend?

Is that the reason you came uninvited to my home so early in the morning? And what are they for?" He pointed at his former in-laws. "Back up? To help you say the things you can't say yourself?"

"Mother, can you hear the way he's speaking to my sister? Listen here you insolent–"

"I won't have that from you anymore, Marcus. In case you forgot, I'm older than you, I only remained quiet back then because I was married to your sister. I have no relations with your family whatsoever, so you have no right to speak to me like that."

"Jason–"

"Really James, you have something to say?" It was obvious that Lauren's father was holding back because of the secret that Jason had found out.

Lauren's father froze up for a second before going back to his impassive demeanor. "I am only here to support my daughter."

"If you say so, but this is what I have to say. I don't have a child anywhere, and if I am doing so, it's probably going to be with Erika here. So, I'm sorry you all came all this way for nothing. I don't have any snacks to offer you so I'm going to have to ask you to leave now.

Thanks for stopping by. But please call next time."

"Jason, are you…walking me out of your house?"

"No, I'm walking you and your family out of my house. Take that baby of yours-that is, if you really are pregnant- and go find your little rich husband because I want nothing to do with either of you."

"See, what did I tell you? Would a good person do this? He didn't even consider the times you two spent together–"

"Oh you mean like your daughter considered when she shattered his heart to a million pieces? Like you considered when you connived with your daughter to break his heart and leave him with nothing?" Erika got in front of him in a defensive mode.

"That wasn't my intention." Lauren protested.

"Then what was?! Huh? You wanted to eat your cake and still have it?"

"I-I don't…I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"The first day you met that dummy you now go around with, what was your first thought about JP? I'm sure everything you loved about him and your marriage started feeling like a nuisance to you. Am I wrong?"

She wasn't. The first day Lauren met Phil was the day she realized that most of what Jason had given her had no monetary value, including their wedding ring. There was no denying it, the moment she took off her wedding ring, she knew something like this would happen.

Erika was right, she wanted to eat her cake and have it. She wanted the luxury of being with Phil but also didn't want to lose the simple and affectionate love Jason gave her.

She was selfish, and after everything, she ended up hurting herself and the man that loved her dearly.

She ran out of the apartment, feeling heartbroken all over again.

A part of Jason wanted to go after her, but another part was holding him back. 'It was a lie' the voice in his head said. It was all a lie.

There was no way Lauren was carrying his baby, if she was, she would have said so sooner. "Well, he turned to face his in-laws. " Shouldn't you go after her or something?"

"Don't think you've seen the last of me boy. I am going to make sure you pay for the way you treated my daughter." Mabel threatened.

"Jason Paul Decker, just know that you've made yourself a mortal enemy, and you're going to regret it." James added to his wife's threat before they walked out.