The Slumdog Billionaire

2. Mysterious Limousine

Chapter Two

On his way out, Stefan poured wine on the floor and it stained Henry’s only khaki trouser.

“Oh , that was totally a mistake. I will check and see if I have any old boxers of mine to dash your poor ass” He said, smirking wickedly.

Without waiting for a response Henry turned and walked out of the lavish party which cost about 9 million dollars to decorate.

Jasmine’s tears were streaming down her face as she watched Henry leave the ballroom.

She felt helpless, torn between the love of her life and the overbearing control of her family.

Her grandmother, Grandmother Woods, turned to her sharply, her eyes filled with disdain.

"Stop crying, Jasmine. Close your mouth," Grandmother Woods ordered, her voice cold and unforgiving.

“You’ll divorce him if he refuses to do it himself. That boy is a stain on this family, and I won’t allow him to drag us down any longer.”

Jasmine wiped her eyes, shaking her head. “Why would I do that? Henry has been nothing but a good and respectful husband to me.

He’s always helped around the house, fixing things, doing the manual work no one else would touch. And when he first joined this family, he even helped with the business before the company he works for went bankrupt. Just because he’s poor now doesn’t mean he’s worthless.”

*slap slap *

Before she could finish speaking, a sharp crack echoed through the room.

Grandmother Woods had slapped her across the face with such force that Jasmine nearly stumbled backward.

She held her cheek, her eyes wide in shock, while her grandmother leaned in close, her voice a venomous whisper.

“You ungrateful brat,” she hissed. “I will teach you and your useless husband a lesson until I have my way. You will divorce that worthless man and marry Damon James, the rich heir whose family owns one of the biggest investment banks in the country.

The James family could bring us untold power and profit. The wedding would guarantee a business partnership that would expand our empire beyond imagination. Your foolishness won’t stand in my way.”

Jasmine’s eyes filled with defiance despite the pain radiating from her cheek.

“Over my dead body,” she said, her voice trembling.

“I will not marry Damon James, and I will definitely not divorce Henry! He may not have money, but he’s never treated me like dirt. He’s been there for us, helping with whatever he could. He doesn’t deserve this, just because he’s not as rich as Damon.”

Grandmother Woods’ face twisted in anger, her lips curling into a sneer.

“You think I care about your feelings? You will do as I say, or I will make sure that you and that pathetic excuse of a husband suffer more than you can imagine.”

With a snap of her fingers, she called for one of the servants.

“Make sure Henry doesn’t get a single drop of food or water and no allowance for you until I decide how to deal with you both” she commanded.

“He needs to learn his place. If he won’t do as I say, then I’ll starve him until he begs.”

Jasmine’s heart sank. She wanted to fight back, but she felt trapped. She couldn’t abandon Henry, but she also knew the power her grandmother held over their lives.

She turned away, her hands trembling as she cleaned her tears.

***********

Meanwhile, outside the grand estate, Henry wandered aimlessly through the streets, completely lost. He had left the party with a heavy heart, not knowing what to do or where to go.

His mind kept replaying Grandmother Woods’ harsh words, the insults that cut deep into his soul. But even more painful was the look in Jasmine’s eyes—the sadness, the helplessness, the love. He couldn’t give up on her, not now.

He found himself standing outside the hospital where the reverend sister who had raised him was lying in a critical condition.

He walked up and down in front of the hospital, his mind racing with worry.

"Where on earth am I going to find one million dollars in two days?" he muttered, looking up at the sky as if it held the answer.

He sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on him like never before.

He rushed into the hospital, begging the doctors to help, to do something. The head doctor, a stern-looking man with greying hair, looked at him with sympathy but shook his head.

“I understand your situation, Mr. Henry, but we can’t begin the surgery without payment. At least half of the money must be paid upfront,” the doctor explained.

Henry felt like his world was crashing down around him. He nodded weakly and stepped outside, his hands clenched into fists, trying to hold back tears of frustration.

He didn’t have that kind of money, he only had 5$ and some cents with him.

Desperation gnawed at his insides, and he decided to search for loan sharks. He knew it was a dangerous idea, but he had no other choice. He needed that money, no matter what it cost him.

As he walked out of the hospital, lost in thought, a loud sound snapped him back to reality.

A sleek, black limousine swerved around the corner, its tires screeching as it came to an abrupt stop right in front of him.

The sudden movement startled Henry, and he jumped back, thinking he was about to be hit.

His heart pounded in his chest, his legs frozen as he stared at the imposing vehicle.

The limousine’s tinted windows glistened under the streetlights, giving it an almost ominous presence. For a moment, Henry thought this might be the end—crushed beneath the wheels of some wealthy stranger’s car.

The door of the limousine slowly opened, revealing a man dressed in an immaculate black suit.