Chapter 4 - Disgrace

Still in the hospital

Soon the theatre room was opened and Mason’s father was wheeled out and transferred to the ICU—the surgery was successful.

“Can we see him? Like…I want to hold him…” Mrs. Reed inquired but was obstructed by one of the nurses standing in front of the door.

“I’m afraid you can’t ma’am. He needs to be stable and conscious. Without that I’m afraid you can’t…” the nurse answered and stared back at both Liza and Mason.

“Okay. Fine. We can—-” Mason’s words were interrupted by her mother’s tears.

“They won’t allow me to see him…they won’t…” Mason dragged her closer.

“Mom… come on. It’s okay. He’s fine. Let’s just listen to them okay?” Liza consoled alongside.

Suddenly a loud noise caused Mason, his mother as well and his sister coupled with the nurse at the door to come to a halt.

“Mason! Come out here and face me if you are a man. Pay me for wasting my time for a good five years assh*le.”

Mason rushed downstairs only to see Judith holding a banner that had the words “Compensate me for all the years I’ve spent with you, douchebag!” on it.

“You think you can just leave me after wasting my time all these years?! Come out here! Man up! Come face me!” Judith screamed into the megaphone she was holding.

The silence was eerie throughout the whole hospital as everyone got interested in what was about to transpire.

“Who is he to have offended a woman to this extent?” There were murmurings in the hospital and soon people were starting to gather behind Judith to see who the man who had put her in such distress.

“Who is this Mason by the way?” A security guard asked out of curiosity, scrutinizing the whole hospital.

“Brother,” Liza called Mason from behind as she joined him downstairs to watch the views.

“Yes,” Mason looked so stressed and tired and this was also visible to her sister.

“What exactly is the issue? Seems this offense is a great one and as a woman…I know that Judith wouldn’t have disgraced you this much if something is not…” Liza’s words were cut short when Mason explained everything out of frustration to the point of Judith sleeping with his boss, Alex.

“Oh my God! This is so crazy.” Liza covered her mouth to stop herself from creating another scene.

“I know…Judith is a psycho…I’ll fix this.” Mason added.

“You have to. This is a hospital and it’s a public place. It’s just going to take a while before things escalate.” Liza warned.

It’s time to take responsibility rather than run. Eric nodded to his sister and made his way out.

On getting outside Judith ran towards him and threw a slap across his face. “You wretched bastard! I thought you’d still hide like a coward that you are and pretend like I meant nothing to you!” Judith screamed into the megaphone she was holding.

“I stood by you for a good five years and all you could do was get married to another woman just because I asked you to pay for a necklace? Mason! A necklace? You are shameless!” Judith shouted.

“I assure you that you are an ungrateful b*stard! You think this is what I deserve huh? I demand an explanation right now!” Judith screamed.

The crowds increased and soon everywhere became rowdy and everyone started to point at Mason.

“This is inhumane! What kind of man is he?!” A young lady pointed at Mason and his heart sank almost immediately.

A middle-aged woman passed and surveyed Mason before finally talking “I can never have my daughter settle for someone like him. He looks innocent but he is too cocky for a man.”

This was too much for Mason to bear and he went short of words.

He has already been crucified by the people who barely know him nor what transpired between him and Judith. While Judith on the other hand was free of all charges and kept basking in victory.

Mason clenched his fist in anger with sweat dripping all over causing the shirt which he was in to get drenched quickly before heaving a sigh. “What is it you want from me?” Mason asked. At this point, people will never believe nor trust any of his words even if they were true.

Judith smirked, bent a bit, and whispered into his ears “Give me what I requested earlier and I’ll make all of these acquisitions go away. But if you refuse…I’m sorry I’d have to do more than ruin your reputation. I’ll make life unbearable for you. I promise!” She restricted herself and watched his expression.

Wiping off his sweats Mason responded. “You of all people know that the amount you requested is ridiculous and I don’t have it even if I worked my ass out, Judith!”

Judith smirked and shook her head. “You think that will work? Well here,” Judith dipped her hand into her bag and brought out a promissory note. “Sign it.” She commanded.

“What?” Mason exclaimed.

“You claim not to have any money on you, and I’m very sure you should have been paid, haven’t you? Give me the ones you have been paid and you can pay the rest slowly. Okay?” Judith hissed.

“I think she deserves the money honestly. How can he break up with her like that? Damn!” one of the people watching lashed at Mason.

“What a loser! You deserve more than $28,000, my dear. You wasted all your time with him…look at you…you should have been preparing yourself for your wedding. Oh no!” Another spoke and for a second Mason’s system was disorganized and instantly his sweats increased in the hot burning sun.

He was confused and his mother, Mrs. Reed broke down in tears where she was as she watched her son getting humiliated in public. Judith likewise was happy as all her plans were starting to work. To say that Mason cannot charge her because she is a woman and this would have made matters worse.

Not long after, a luxury Ferrari Purosange pulled over not too far from the hospital.

“We are here.” Charlie’s driver replied as her assistant Marve got down from the car and opened the door for her.

Immediately Charlie got out of the car, the crowd and the noises caught her attention causing her to remove the black shades off her eyes only to see Mason standing afar off with Judith harassing him as well.

She became much more interested and looked back at Marve, her assistant, to be sure she was not imagining things. “Isn’t that Mason? The guy that was at my office this morning whom I got married to…to—” Charlie couldn’t finish her statement when Marve answered “Yes.”

Charlie nodded her head and connected the dots that the emergency must have been why Mason was standing in front of the hospital right now. And also why he had begged her for $30,000 in the first place.

“Ms. Charlie, Mr. Mark is in the building and the doctor is—” Marve got interrupted by Charlie who walked out on him “I’ll be back,” she replied.

“Judith, let go of me please,” Mason begged but Judith’s hold was too tight on him.

“I won’t. It’s either you pay me half of the money I ask for with the salary you received today and sign this promissory note or none of us will leave this spot today!” Judith shrieked and held him tighter.

Despite Mason’s sober and weak look Judith’s face says otherwise—she cares less.

Before Mason could say any more words, an image walked past him and a slap landed on Judith’s cheek.

“Woah.” the crowds exclaimed.

“How shameless of you to stand here and ask Mason for money?!”