2024-12-01 23:11:17A young man arrived at a restaurant with so much excitement, pushing through the double doors that led into the restaurant as he looked forward to an evening of pure bliss, a reminder of a journey that started on that same day two years ago with his beloved wife.
It was the evening of his second wedding anniversary with Elina, and despite his humble means, Jonathan had made an attempt to make the evening memorable, reminding Elina that he valued her as his wife and was ready to do anything to make sure that the marriage stayed the way it was no matter the opposition that were thrown at him from Elina’s parents who never supported the marriage from the very beginning.
But as he stepped through the door, his breath caught up in his throat, the bouquet of flowers he was holding, dropping from his hands at the sight before him.
This was supposed to be a special evening for him and Elina, but to his surprise, every member of the Jackson’s family was present, a crowd he had never expected to meet at the restaurant.
His eyes fell upon a table which was adorned with candles and flowers, a perfect setting for a romantic evening, but it was obvious it had nothing to do with the evening he and Elina had planned to have together. From where he stood watching in surprise, still trying to understand what exactly was going on, he saw Nicholas Ray, the son of billionaire Ray, and one of the most eligible bachelors in Venice City get down on one knee, a dazzling diamond ring in his hand, a heart-warming smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Will you marry me?" He heard Nicholas say, the crowd around them cheering and Elina's eyes sparkling with excitement, looking ready to say yes.Jonathan blinked, rubbing his hands over his eyes just to be sure he wasn’t imagining things. This was supposed to be the evening when he and Elina would reaffirm their love for each other, reflecting on their shared struggles, their little wins and promising each other never to give up on what they already have.
“Say yes,” he could hear from the crowd as they continued to clap, waiting for Elina to give her reply.
At that point, all Jonathan could feel was the pain of being betrayed as he watched Elina smiling like there was no marriage anniversary to celebrate with him that evening.
Unable to stand the sight any longer, just before Elina could accept Nicholas's proposal, Jonathan burst in, his voice cutting through the cheers. "What do you think you're doing?" Jonathan shouted, his anger palpable. The room fell silent, all eyes turning towards him. Elina looked up at him, her expression shifting from surprise to disdain. "What does it look like I'm doing?" She sneered. "Of course, I'm moving on from you. I'm tired of your endless poverty.Nicholas, still on one knee stood up slowly, his own irritation evident in his facial expression. "The nerve of you to interrupt such an important gathering." He snarled.
"You'd better stay out of this," Jonathan warned. “What are you doing here?” Jacob Jackson, Elina’s father asked, irritated by Jonathan’s presence whom he believed had come to ruin a perfect evening.If there was one thing he didn’t want to happen, it was for Jonathan to ruin his chance of being a beneficiary of the Hazel Forbes Initiative.
The Hazels were the most powerful family in the whole of Venice City, and to mark the death and burial of the grand patriarch of the Hazel Empire, some of the members of the Hazel family had decided to throw open an initiative that could afford few families within Venice City to become beneficiaries of the initiative, and since Nicholas was also from the top families in Venice City, he had promised to have the Jacksons family included in the list of the beneficiaries on the condition that Elina would become his wife.
And since Jonathan wasn’t meeting up as the son in-law which they wanted him to be, they had given their approval to Nichols’ proposal, and since Elina was also tired of the difficult life that being married to Jonathan had plunged her into, she too, had agreed to the proposal, and hence, the meeting that evening where Nicholas would propose to her in the presence of friends and families.
“E…Elina, please don’t do this?” Jonathan’s voice crackled with emotions. “Remember everything we’ve been through,”
“Oh shut up!” Elina snapped, “Will you fucking shut up!” She screamed, irritated by Jonathan’s presence. “What have you been to me since we got married? Every day wherever I go I'm taunted and sneered at because I have a delivery boy for a husband! You unashamedly parade yourself around, living off my family like a leech! I can never present anything worthwhile to my friends and say my husband got me this! I can't proudly introduce you to anyone as my husband and you're so comfortable in your situation, it makes my skin crawl!”
Jonathan blinked, moisture filling up his eyes.
This is what Elina thought of him?
“I've… I've been trying Elina. You don't know how hard… I've really tried.
“Tried? How?” Elina barked at him.
“I had really made plans for the two of us tonight, to celebrate our marriage anniversary. I made arrangement for a cruise in a yacht. Look, here are the tickets for the two of us,” Jonathan dipped his hands into his pocket and pulled out two tickets.
Everyone present burst into laughter, especially Nicholas who found Jonathan really funny.
“What exactly is there to celebrate you fool?” Elina snatched the two tickets from him and tore them to pieces right in front of him.
“Two years of humiliation?” She spat, “And what is one measly yacht cruise going to do? Is it going to make you worthy of me overnight? So because of one stupid cruise, I should suddenly be okay with the fact that my husband is a penniless idiot?”
Jonathan blinked, dumbfounded.
“This is… what you think of me?” He felt as though he'd just been doused with a bucket of dirty water. He felt so humiliated.
Elina’s mother, Patricia snorted and snickered. The few other guests present cleared their throats subtly.
“Urgh!” Elina shot him a very angry look.
“What do you have to say for yourself now?” Patricia sneered in Jonathan’s face, her breath coming directly on his face.
Jonathan’s eyes widened and he moved back, coughing.
Patricia gasped, “Oh my God! What a petty pauper! Are you trying to insinuate that my breath stinks?”
She landed a hot slap on his face. The slap landed on Jonathan’s eye causing him to stagger and wince in pain.
Patricia gestured for the guards to beat him up and throw him out of the restaurant, and they complied, raining blows on his entire body. Jonathan groaned and grunted in agony as Nicholas barked at him angrily, kicking him brutally as the guards dragged him out of the restaurant.
All Jonathan could hear as he was being dragged out of the restaurant were the laughter of every other person. He couldn’t hold back the tears that trickled down his face as it eventually dawned on him that the two years he had been married to Elina didn’t mean anything to her.
While he was still at the mercy of the guards who were deriving pleasure in raining blows all over his body, Elina appeared and dumped a big brown envelope on his chest, and gestured angrily for him to open it.
Jonathan coughed and struggled to sit up. He opened the envelope and pulled out the contents and it was a divorce document.
“This marriage is over!”
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel CH. 2 (Knocked Out)
"Sign these papers," Elina retorted. I'm sick and tired of being tied to a failure!"Jonathan’s heart dropped to his feet,“E– Elina?” He queried, not looking further than that at the contents.“I don't want to hear anything from you. Marrying you was a mistake I intend to remedy. Now sign these papers and leave my life forever.” She spat.“E– Elina –”Jacob interrupted him with a punch, seeing that Jonathan was proving stubborn and that could affect his chance of being helped by Nicholas Ray“I don't want to hear a word from you, you bastard! You heard what she said, sign the damn papers!”“P– please – Elina please,” Jonathan begged, a tear rolling down his eye without his permission.“You're not worthy of our daughter you scrap! Heck! You're not even worthy of breathing the same air as her!” Patricia shouted into his face.Elina didn't even act like she cared, she spat at his feet and ran back to Nicholas’ side. She caressed him, as she accepted the ring from me, her smile widening.
The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel CH. 3 (A signet of power)
“Are you ready to confess or do we still need to take this interrogation session further?” The tall man with a scar on his face who'd become Jonathan’s kinsman of pain, asked as he forced his fist onto Jonathan’s already bleeding face.Jonathan groaned and spat blood.“You – you've been asking me that –” he coughed and spat more blood as his head lolled forward. “– that question f– for the past t– two days. And j– just like before… I don’t know what you are talking about!” Jonathan yelled the last sentence with all the strength he could pull out of his already mutilated body.He felt pain and anger at the fact that he was going through so much pain for something he knew nothing of.“Fine.” The senior police officer turned around and picked up a damp towel from the table, wiping his bloody fists. “You leave me no choice.”He rushed hastily out of the room, frustration carved in the hunch of his shoulders.Immediately he left, Jonathan burst into tears. How could this be happening? How
The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel CH. 4 (The Home coming)
Jonathan couldn’t comprehend what had just happened; all he could process at that moment was the unexpected journey that he and the police chief had set on immediately after he'd been discharged from the hospital he was rushed to.His wounds had been treated and he'd eaten a decent meal for the first time in days. He was so confused he was on high alert. What could be going on? Was this going to be another form of torture? Were they fattening him up for the slaughter?“Young Master Jonathan, do you need anything, and are you in any pain?” The Chief asked, turning away from the steering wheel for a second.“There will be a doctor on ground immediately we arrive and you will be tended to more closely.” The Chief added.Jonathan was still trying to adjust to the situation before him so it wasn't out of disrespect that he turned his face away to the window.“Where are we headed, sir Chief?” He asked cautiously.“Call me Chief.” The chief replied, trying to be as cordial as possible.“We a
The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel CH. 5 (Last will and testament)
“Jonathan it's such a shame that I couldn’t be there to welcome you myself but life has always been so fair to me I don’t mind it playing a smart one on me and making me absent at this time. But enough about me. I’m sure everything still seems very confusing. Especially your identity.”The man cleared his throat.“You are Jonathan Hazel the child of my first son Robert Hazel. I’m sure you are confused as to why you never met me or knew anything of this life before. It is because your mother chose to raise you out of the family.“Your father, my late son died from a tragic plane crash a year after you were born and your mother who had never been a fan of the problems that came with being a member of such a widely known family, more or less blamed the family for his death. She decided to take you far away from us to live out there with the rest of the world where you would be safe.“I didn’t rest, I sent out a search party to find her. We then came to an agreement. I didn’t want the las
The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel CH. 6 (Final funeral rights)
Elina and Nicholas laughed with her parents as they settled into a chair together, a bowl of popcorn between them, as they sat to watch the funeral program of the late William Hazel on television. Nicholas had eventually secured a spot for the Jackson’s just as he had promised, and the initiative would kick start once the late William Hazel was laid to rest.The funeral procession was nothing like Elina had ever seen in her life before. It was like the whole world had come together to pay their last respect to William Hazel, a testament to the fact that he was indeed, a powerful and influential man who was well known all over the world.The Presidents and Prime Ministers of over 15 countries were all present. Even members of the royal family from Britain along with other royal families across the globe were also present.“Golly goodness!” Elina sat up.“Damn…” Nicholas muttered.The death and burial of William Hazel was for sure going to be the talk of the world for months if not year
The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel CH. 7 (Settling in to take charge)
Jonathan was settling into his new life quite smoothly so far as he looked forward to the ceremony of his unveiling and the public announcement of the few companies that have been shortlisted to be beneficiaries of the Hazel Forbes Initiative.He'd been very busy familiarizing himself with everything he had inherited. Which was a lot of work seeing as he'd inherited a lot.He didn't intend to be a lazy and passive leader, he was going to be actively involved in everything going on in all of his companies as much as he could.Bernard Lampley had been with him every step of the way. He'd answered all of his questions and was doing an amazing job guiding Dexter on his journey.And Grandpa William hadn't lied, he was truly still with him. The man had left several videos, recordings, and handwritten files to aid Jonathan in his journey.They basically enumerated all the secrets to keeping the businesses thriving and only Bernard knew about them.Jonathan spent all his time in a study, list
The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel CH. 8 (Humiliated in public)
A shot of applause went up as it did for each family that arrived as Elina and her parents arrived at the entrance of the Hazel’s mansion. They smiled and made their way to their seats, Nicholas in tow with them.“You know, I’m still finding it hard to believe that the heir himself, had sent his limousine over to bring us down here. It feels like a dream come true!” Patricia chipped in as they settled down.“Well, we all Nicholas all of these. It was his influence that got us a spot in the Hazel’s Forbes Initiative,” Jacob grinned and raised a glass in salute.~~~~~~A knock sounded on the door as Jonathan stood before the mirror getting ready for the grand unveiling, and the shock he was about to subject the Jacksons to.“Come in.”It was Via.“Hey. I'm ready. And I just got word that most of the guests have arrived. I believe it's time for you to make your appearance.”“And the Jac–” Jonathan began asking as he turned around to face her but his breath caught in his throat.Via was d
The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel CH. 9 (A desire to get back)
"I have never been so humiliated in my life!" Jacob Jackson thundered as he and his family barged into the house. He threw his coat onto the floor, his face red with anger and embarrassment. The fact that they had gone to the ceremony in a beast limousine, and then had to return in a cab, had added more to the humiliation they had suffered at Jonathan’s hands."This wasn’t supposed to happen this way not after all the care we gave him, talk more of the support we showed him, your mother went to all lengths to make sure he got a job in that delivery company to show she cared, but he does this instead!" He continued his eyes red with anger and pain from the embarrassment.Elina and her mother sat quietly on the couch, Patricia embittered dried up her tears whilst shaking her head in disbelief. Elina lost in thoughts, her mind occupied as to how the Hazel’s heir turned out to be Jonathan, the man whom she had just thrown out of her house not long. She had never imagined it to be him re
Latest Chapter
CH. 28 (Enemies and traitors)
Arriving at the Turkey’s mansion, Jonathan was treated to a wonderful dinner as Roseline, Via’s mother had taken her time to prepare the delicacies.“I am aware of all that is going on and the fact that you’re being accused of Jacob’s death, but don’t worry, very soon the truth will be made known to the public, and you’ll be able to clear your name,” She said as she served the dishes.“Yes, Jonathan. Everything will be fine,” Via said, as she took his hands into hers caressing them gently.“Thank you, Via. Thank you Ma’am Roseline,” Jonathan managed to smile hopeful that just like they’ve said, everything will be over soon.After dinner, Via and Jonathan decided to stroll out onto the deck, where the sound of crashing waves filled the air. The setting sun cast a warm glow over the ocean, and Via and Jonathan found themselves lost in conversation, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment, even in the midst of the never ending troubles that seemed to be coming upon Jon
CH. 27 (Not ready to back down)
Jonathan, Bernard, and his cousin brothers gathered in his office the next morning, the atmosphere was filled with a mix of tension. They knew that they had to tackle the problems and harsh words from shareholders head-on which Jonathan had related to them.“Alright, guys, we need to come up with a solid plan to address the issues raised by the shareholders. We can't afford to ignore their concerns." Jonathan said his face with signs of worry.“I agree, Jonathan. We need to show them that we're taking their word seriously. And that you wouldn't go down without fighting. Let's start by analyzing their specific grievances and finding ways to address them." Bernard said supporting Jonathan.“I think it's crucial to communicate our long-term vision and strategy to the shareholders. If they understand the bigger picture, they might be more willing to support us." Peter speaking up for the first time said as he raised his head from his hands. "But we also need to be prepared for potential b
CH. 26 (Digging to uncover)
“I'm really sorry to hear about Elina's dad. It must be a difficult and emotional time for everyone. Take heart dear, death is inevitable, I have had my own fair share.” Roseline said as she consoled Patricia Jackson. The priest started the prayers and everybody's head bowed and said their prayers with the priest.“Dear friends and family, we gather here today to pay our final respects to Jacob Jackson. Let us take a moment to offer our prayers and blessings for his soul.”As the priest begins to bless the coffin, a sudden scream interrupts the solemn atmosphere. Patricia, overwhelmed with grief, expresses her anguish.“No! Jonathan and Bernard shouldn't be allowed here! The Hazels caused my husband's death!”The priest pauses for a moment, acknowledging Patricia's outburst and the pain she is going through. “Patricia, I understand that you're hurting right now, but let us try to find solace in this moment of remembrance. We are here to honor Jacob’s memory and support one another d
CH. 25 (Police Investigation)
Jonathan sat in the stark, fluorescent-lit room, his hands trembling as he listened to the barrage of accusations hurled at him. The police officer's voice had turned sharp and accusatory, devoid of the usual politeness he was accustomed to. Reporters crowded around, their cameras flashing and microphones thrust in his face."You were seen at the scene of the crime," one officer barked, his finger pointed accusingly at Jonathan. "What were you doing there?"Jonathan's mind raced as he tried to form a coherent response. "I... I never stepped out of my house, my brothers would clear me and I have an alibi." he stammered, his voice barely audible over the clamor of voices.“You were home? Don't play dumb with us," another officer interjected. "We have evidence placing you at the scene. You can't deny it."“But that isn't me, I haven't stepped out of my house since I came back from work. I have been waiting for their arrival.”The reporters joined in, bombarding him with questions and ins
CH. 24 (Strange Accident)
Elina and her mother sat in the sterile hospital waiting room, their faces etched with worry and fear. Elina fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, her eyes fixed on the swinging door that led to the emergency room.The news of Mr. Jackson’s accident had come as a shock to them as they weren’t expecting. He had left early that morning on his way to meet a couple of investors whom he hoped would help take back Skytop from Jonathan’s grip, and it was on his way that the fatal accident happened which had now landed him in the E.R.Mrs. Jackson clasped her daughter's hand tightly, her gaze distant and lost. "I can't believe this is happening," she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion. “This is all Jonathan’s fault, and I won’t forgive him if anything bad happens to your father.”Elina couldn’t help but agree with her mother, blaming Jonathan as well. She believed that if Jonathan hadn’t stepped in to take over Skytop, her father wouldn’t have needed to meet up with the investors and th
CH. 23 (It's Alright, Father)
Jonathan picked at his food during dinner with Via, and she couldn't help but notice his distracted behaviour. Concern etched across her face, she leaned in closer and asked gently, "Jonathan, what's the matter? You seem lost for words."Jonathan sighed, the weight of the recent events weighing heavily on his shoulders. "Via, it's just... things have taken a turn. The news I received earlier has left me unsettled," he confessed, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness.Even if he had asked the chief to have the young man locked up, Jonathan still felt like he was still a step behind. He knew whatever had made the young man to come out to say he was the one who had made an attempt on his life, was no ordinary matter, and that the real culprit was still out there roaming freely.“Is it about the young man at the police station?” She asked worriedly.“Yes Via. He’s not the one who tried to kill me. Something tells me it’s Nicholas,” He said tired of everything already.Via's eyes filled
CH. 22 (Play their game)
Nicholas hurriedly entered the office building of Skytop Corporations, his heart pounding with nervous anticipation. He made his way through the familiar corridors, his mind focused on the task at hand. As he reached Jonathan's office, he glanced around to ensure no one was watching. With a swift and practiced motion, he discreetly planted a recording device in a strategic spot, on the flower vase, hoping to track all his conversations so he could know exactly what he’d planning at every point in time.The fact that he was gradually losing Skytop to Jonathan was already heartbreaking, and he was determined to do anything to get back the company that his family had struggled to build over the years.Just as he turned to leave, his ears perked up at the sound of his own name being mentioned. He froze, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Jonathan standing there, a mix of surprise and suspicion etched on his face. Jonathan's voice cut through the tension, demanding an explanation for Ni
CH. 21 (Not without a fight)
Jonathan opened his eyes to discover that he was on a hospital bed, his face pale a little as he had just woken up from sleep. Via sat by her side, her brow furrowed with worry. The beeping of the monitors filled the air, a constant reminder of Jonathan's fragile state.“Jonathan, you need to rest," Via said gently, her voice tinged with concern.Jonathan turned to her, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "Jonathan, there's something I need to tell you," she blurted out, her words coming out in a rush.Jonathan's eyes widened in surprise. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Via, you can save it. We can talk later," he urged, reaching out to hold her hand."No, Jonathan, I need to say this now," Via insisted, her voice growing stronger. "I've been keeping something from you, and I can't bear the weight of it any longer."Jonathan's heart raced as he watched Via struggle to find the right words. The air in the room seemed to grow heavier, charged with
CH. 20 (An unexpected attack)
The next morning, still perturbed by last night's event. Via sat at her desk, her fingers tapping nervously on the keyboard as she tried to focus on her work. The events of the previous day weighed heavily on her mind, casting a shadow over her usual composure. She couldn’t shake the sense of unease that had settled in her chest as her thoughts went back to Koeman and the document he had brought to Jonathan in the name of his grandfather.As she stared at the computer screen, her thoughts immediately drifted to Jonathan. The memory of his warm smile and the way his eyes lit up when he spoke to her tugged at her heart. She knew she was falling for him, and the thought of betraying his trust made her stomach churn with guilt.Koeman had said that those documents contained important information about the Hazel’s empire, and whatever those information were, Via couldn’t resist the urge of wanting to find out. She knew whatever game she was playing was a dangerous one, and Jonathan might n
