The Shadow Man

PAST LIFE: PART I

"Jacob, what are you doing? I told you to hand-wash these cloths, your father-in-law needs to wear them tonight and look. You've just ruined it!"

"Boy, what is wrong with you, can't you do anything right at all."

"Seriously, what are you guys shouting so early in the morning? Some of us need some sleep."

It's not like I'm not used to this. Since the day I married to this family, I haven't had a peaceful morning at all. I don't even know what made me decide to marry their daughter. Something, I wish I could turn back time. But, that's far from happening. This isn't some fairytale or game where you can just press the reset button and start all over again. This is life, and you either have to live with it or… In my case, just live with it.

The man only looked at each one of them and didn't bother arguing at all. He forced a smile on his face as he listened to all their screams at him.

They were disgusted by him, so what could he do about it. Not a day in their lives they wish for him to leave, but he can't. They made the choice back then and there was no turning back. It was foolish of them back then, seeing how things turned out. They really were idiots to have done something like this.

The life of Jacob Wayne hasn't been easy since childhood. Now, that he is married, his life has become a living hell. He never expected the lovely lady he married, Jessica Blake, would turn out to be a living demon. She was only sweet at first, but deep inside she was just a rotten egg. A spoiled middle-class heir with nothing to be proud of apart from her beauty. Compared to the different ladies, he had been. Jessica was far from ordinary but he chose to marry the ordinary.

As everyone in the house finally left for their day-to day life. Jacob was left behind doing the work of a servant. Despite their house having a servant to do the work, he decided to do it himself. Whilst doing the laundry, Jacob looked at the sky and reminisced about his past as to how he ended up in such a situation.

2 years ago.

"What do you marry? When did I have a fiancé?" Jacob angrily yelled at the people in front of him. He had just returned from the army and now he received such welcoming news that he was to be married off. "We aren't in the 19th century of something that you need to marry off you daughter. I am not some girl you can just marry off to, I'm your son."

"Jacob, please calm down. Let us explain." Mother Wayne pleaded as he tried to calm his son. He really adored this son of hers as she had failed him so many times. Yet to think they have come to a point in which they had to force his son to marry off to someone.

"Son, listen. How should I explain this, it's not like what you think. We aren't forcing you to marry. This is…" Father Wayne sighs in annoyance. He could feel all the pressure coming all the way to his neck as he sat down and eased himself. "It's all your stupid brother's fault."

"Brother? What did he had to do with this?" Jacob calmed down as he sat next to his mother, who continued to hold onto his arms.

"Your stupid brother dare touch the woman. A lowly woman and dare run away with another." Grandfather Wayne said whilst curing the boy as he wished he could beat the senses to the boy at this moment, but sadly they don't even know where the boy has ran away to.

"We can't do anything that woman's family is a close friend of your grandmothers. They are like family. Your grandmother's family insisted that we make your brother marry the woman." Mother Wayne explained as he felt sorry for her son as he was being forced to do something so difficult.

"Wait, so go look for brother and drag him back. Why are you even making me marry such woman? Also, do you even have proof that brother slept with that woman. I mean, brother, he…"

"We know, you don't even have to say it."

It was a taboo in their family to talk about Jacob's twin brother Jasper. It's because Jasper Wayne is not only a playboy, but also has a very unique sexual orientation which one does not want to talk about. It's like one day he is a man who enjoys the pleasure of women; then suddenly, it's like he is possessed by a woman and desires the presence of men. Sometimes they don't know what he is. They don't mind if he is either, but they wish he stopped playing around and causing problem for them. Despite the man crazy affairs and habits, he has kept everything under control and not let a single person cheat on him.

"So, you mean to say the woman has proof that brother, did it?" Jacob curiously asked, but seeing he looks on her parents and grandfather's faces, it was obvious that they do. "You mean to say, brother ran away because of this?"

"We don't even know. Your brother suddenly ran away leaving a noted saying he found the woman he wishes to marry. He doesn't want to be force to marry some malicious and cunning woman who dare climb on his bed." Mother Wayne explained, who seems to have aged as he thinks about all the ridiculous things his son had done. Frankly, she was please to know her son had found some he loved and fully understand the reason as to why he ran away. However, the fact such incident happened, they can’t just turn a blind eye and not make him responsible for what he had done.

"Woman, as if brother would dare stay with a woman. He is far too wild to be tamed by a woman. Which woman is it, if that woman is so capable of taming brother, I rather marry her." Jacob confidently declared, which surprised his parents. The boy was too a playboy, but does not do reckless things like Jasper. Also, he was twice as talented as Jasper, but prefers to be only his brother's shadow. He prefers Jasper to take all the lime light as he achieves everything from behind. The fact the two of them looked so identical, it was not hard for people to believe that Jasper had achieve everything.

"Please, don't say something like that." Mother Wayne was disheartened, as she too felt like fainting from all the stress that had been coming lately. She didn’t know what to do anymore. In her heart she would rather have her son marry whomever they want to marry. If it was easy to just throw money away and pay the family to leave them one would be the best solution. But, what can they do when the woman has some connections as well.

"Then, you're saying for me to marry that snake? You know once I'll marry that woman, she'll be demanding everything from our family." Jacob said as he reasoned with his parents; but seeing the expression on their faces it seems they have already expected it.

"We know, that is why, we will explain to them it was not Jasper who she slept with but you." Grandfather Wayne said as he looked sorry at his grandson. Despite the boy having done nothing wrong, they'll be putting the blame on him. He favors the boy so much who he personally raised yet here he was putting his precious grandson on the edge.

"Me? I slept with that woman? What do you mean? Are you trying to say that a nobody like me slept with her so…?" Jacob didn't have to finish everything as he realize what his grandfather's words meant. "You're planning to give me away for nothing. The fact she slept with not the future heir of the company. But she actually slept with me. A nobody that everyone knows who hides behind Jasper."

"Jacob, please. Don't say it like that. You are always a part of this family. Please, you'll always be my son." Mother Wayne cried as she wrapped the boy in her arms. Her tears fell as heavily as she felt so broken by the boy's words. "Never say you haven't done anything. I and your father have always been proud of you. We always think highly of you. It's that stupid brother of you. If he does come back, I'll kill him! I’ll rather kill your brother than hear you say such words about yourself."

Seeing how upset his mother was, Jacob heaved a sigh of annoyance as he comforted his mother. "Mother, I never said I won't be your son anymore. Stop crying already. Haven’t you check yourself in the mirror lately? Do you know you look like an old lady?"

"Who wouldn't look like an old lady after what your b*stard of a brother have done. I haven't had a proper sleep for week. Weeks you hear me." Mother Wayne cried as she showed her dark circles and pointed out the wrinkles in her forehead.

"Now, dear, that not important right now. Jacob, listen… I know, this is hard for you. But, I know, you'll be able to handle everything until we find your brother. Just, take it as a training ground once your find your future wife. Also, trust us that will find clues to what happened that night."

Whilst Father Wayne tried to make things look as if they had a solution, Jacob already knew they had no way of getting him out once they married him off. "You know, even if brother does appear, he won't marry the girl. Didn't he say, he found the love of his life?"

"Then wait for them to divorce you, once that happen come home." Grandfather Wayne said as he stood up from his seat and left the room. He didn’t want to stay any longer in the room to see his precious grandson reaction after what he just said. For him, such words were disgusting especially from someone who loves him so much.

Jacob finished reminiscing about the past as he came back to his senses. He finished hanging all the clothes as he walked back inside.

'Divorce.' Jacob had always expected that after a while into marriage the woman's family would give up and divorce him. But sadly, they have not after two years. He had not done anything stupid for them to divorce him, for he didn't want them to force his family something. It was best for them to divorce him because they were at fault and had no longer wished to be with him.

"Mr. Jacob, you shouldn't be doing those work. Why didn't you call?"

"Auntie Vic, don't worry. There weren't a lot of laundry at all." Jacob said as he went over to the elderly lady as he hugged her from behind.

Auntie Vic patted the man's hand as if he was his son, "Dear boy, why do you do the work of the servants. You are married to Miss Jessica, which mean…"

"Auntie, I'm hungry should we eat together." Jacob said as he didn't want to hear what the older woman had to say.

Auntie Vic sighs worriedly for the man. She really adored the man for being hardworking and despite all their cruel and belittling remarks she hears about the man every day, the man did not show any hostility towards the family. He continued to be kind and helpful towards them.

As the two happily cooked their lunch together, the atmosphere in the house was peaceful, which brought a smile on Jacob's face. He could only make such a smile because of the elderly woman; apart from her, he dares not smile in front of any of them.