The rise of a cab driver son-in-law to a billionaire.

05

Chapter 05

As the ink on the paper detailed the dissolution of their marriage, he couldn't help but feel betrayed.

The realization that he was being cast aside with nothing but suffering left a bitter taste in his mouth.

With his father's mounting hospital bills, the need for money became more pressing.

Allowing his emotions to take over, Ethan dropped the paper on the table and stepped outside without signing the papers. He had to get paid for everything since it was their agreement; he couldn't be heartbroken and still leave without his money.

In the hallway, he overheard a conversation in the living room—

The laughter coming out was as if they had won some lotto. Maybe they had, which Ethan didn't know about.

Ethan was forced to stop and listen to all that was happening in that living room.

"You need the most beautiful wedding gown. You can't dress like you're marrying that awful man you've been with," Tiana, his wife's sister, remarked.

Ethan covered his mouth, struggling to understand the whole situation.

Does that mean whether he signs the divorce or not, nothing would be stopping Raven from dating another man?

Of course, all that was a mess, and his heart constantly beat.

"You need the best makeup artist in town. Don't worry; I've got that covered for you," Rosie, his wife's friend, chimed in.

"So sweet of you, Rosie. I wish I had a friend like you," Tiana responded, laughter filling the room.

Then came the most heart-wrenching part: "You need to tell that wretched boy to sign the divorce letter, or else I will have to involve your grandpa, Mick. You know how he'll force that scoundrel to sign the letter, with punches and guns."

That was his mother-in-law, Stella. Damn, the set was complete except for his brother-in-law, those who didn't want to see him at all.

They once told him that he was bad luck to them...

Maybe they were right, maybe he didn't deserve someone as beautiful and rich as Raven.

But fate had made them cross paths, why did fate have to separate them?

Too much for him to take in.

Laughter erupted again, leaving Ethan feeling more isolated. He walked away, their amusement echoing in the background.

"Poor boy, I wonder what life has to offer him after this marriage," Tiana said, shaking her head.

"Nothing but pain and suffering. Because I'm going to make this world a living hell for him," Elena scoffed, her gaze filled with pleasure.

The pleasure that she always deprived from the maltreatment of Ethan.

"That's my girl! Thank goodness you realized what is best for you. Thank you for realizing that stupid fool isn't the one for you," Stella added.

Ethan was so sad that he couldn't move his feet for some minutes. Life was different here, around him.

Maybe he wasn't meant to be here; that was all that came into his mind.

He turned to leave through the backdoor. He thought that was the best thing he could do right now to sustain him for the betterment.

But nothing came to his mind; his phone rang. He flipped it out of his pocket and checked the caller. It was a doctor.

He answered the call immediately.

"Doctor—"

"You brought your father here and left without any payment, Mr. Ethan. Is that how you think it works around here?" The doctor said, angrily. "We don't treat for charity. We purchase those services, and we need to get paid before rendering them out to patients."

"I'm looking for the payment, doctor," Ethan said, his voice filled with disappointment.

"I'm giving you until dark, if you don't show up, I'll pull your father out of my ward," the doctor said, viciously.

Ethan turned around; nothing was on him except for the 5 dollars he got from the shelf in his room.

He tried to be more useful to himself, but nothing seemed to be working perfectly.

"Doctor—" The call ended from the doctor's side; it was a disappointment to him.

He walked back through the backdoor, trying to trip back into his room without Ethan having finally made his decision, and went to Raven's room to tell her that he was ready to sign the divorce letter. Elena was not pleased to see him and was standing with annoyance written all over her face. She had no interest in whatever story of love Ethan might have for her at that moment. So, she stood with her hand by her waist, waiting for him to speak.

"Hey, I have thought about what you said last night," Ethan said with a nervous smile. "I'll sign the divorce letter, but you have to give me the contracted money. Not as promising because my father is in the hospital taking treatment. He would need to survive. I need him to be back alive."

Elena was taken aback by the sudden change of heart, but she smiled nonetheless and said, "Very thoughtful of you, but you've got to sign this now, and then I'll go into my room to give you the cheque for the contract wedding."

"Again, Elena..." Ethan said, staring at her with pleading eyes. He had been begging her to give him a chance for 17 months now, but she had never allowed him to get close to her.

"What is it?" Elena turned to him with a trail of eyes, eagerness around her to get out of the miserable marriage with Ethan.

"You've to pay an extra amount. You said I wouldn't stay too long. And we did. Three fucking miserable years. I think you understand." Ethan said, his voice shaking with emotion.

Elena twitched; she wanted to scream at him, but she held it within. He could see it all through, the woman he was contracted with him would have screamed at her if she hadn't made up her mind for the divorce letter. She smiled, with all her sweet looks. The looks made him think maybe she would change and love him back just like how much he had loved her.

Elena sarcastically said, "I'll give you how much you want. Just sign this, and I'll be back very soon."

Ethan was so happy. Maybe this money he would get would help heal his father. Maybe then, things would go back to normal for them. Ethan grabbed the pen and signed his own space. The ink caused a smile around Elena as she grabbed the paper from the table.

"In case you wanted your copy, you will be sent to get it at the nearest court closer to you," Elena said coldly.

Ethan didn't bother himself about the copy. Instead, he asked, "You should give me the money. The doctor might have been pushing my father out of the ward now."

"What does that mean? That I should rush to the hospital?" Elena backfired with questions.

Shit, Ethan quickly rephrased himself, "I want the money so that I can quickly go back to the hospital. I wouldn't have asked for your presence at the hospital."

"Well, I have some good news for you. I'll be getting married to the powerful Mr. Charleston." Elena scoffed. "You should also get the best gifts that wouldn't make you bother about coming to my wedding... Mr. Charleston and I's wedding."

"Guards!!" Elena yelled, as about four guards rushed inside the room. Ethan's eyes  widened, and tears started rolling down from his eyes.

"Beat and throw him out of this house!" She added without pity, and the guards did as they were instructed. Ethan was thrown out of the house, crying as the guards punched him so much that he hated himself for now.

He had nothing now. Nothing to treat his father. It seemed like he was bad luck indeed.

Ethan rushed to the hospital to see what he could do for his father's treatment. He was greeted by a stern-looking doctor who didn't seem pleased to see him.

"Mr. Ethan, you're late," the doctor said in a gruff voice. "Your father's condition has worsened, and we need to run more tests."

Ethan's heart sank. "What do you mean? What's wrong with him?"

The doctor sighed heavily. "Mr. Ethan, your father has been diagnosed with a rare and severe disease. It's called Huntington's disease, and it's genetic. It's a progressive disease that affects the brain cells and causes uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and cognitive decline. There's no cure for it, and it's fatal."

Ethan felt like he had been punched in the gut. He had never heard of this disease before, and the thought of losing his father was unbearable.

"What can we do? Is there anything we can do to treat him?" Ethan asked, desperation lacing his voice.

"We can only manage the symptoms and provide supportive care. But the disease will eventually take its toll, and your father will need constant care. It's a devastating diagnosis, Mr. Ethan, and I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you," the doctor said, his voice softening a bit.

Ethan felt tears prick his eyes. He couldn't believe this was happening to his father, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing him.

"What can I do? How much will the treatment cost?" Ethan asked, willing to do anything to save his father.

"The treatment is expensive, Mr. Ethan, and it will require long-term care. You'll need to make some tough decisions about your father's care in the coming weeks and months. I suggest you talk to a specialist and a social worker to help you navigate the complexities of this disease."

Ethan nodded, feeling overwhelmed by the information. He knew he had a lot of work to do, and he didn't know where to start.

"Thank you, doctor. I'll do whatever it takes to save my father," Ethan said, determination ringing in his voice.

The doctor nodded, looking at him with a mix of sympathy and concern. "I believe you will, Mr. Ethan. But you need to be prepared for what's to come. This disease will ruin your father completely, and it will take a toll on you as well. You'll need to be strong and resilient to face this challenge."

Ethan took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the doctor's words.

He had nothing to do, but he couldn't break it down to the doctor.

"Thank you, doctor. I'll do my best," Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't thank me yet. Go and make the payment for the test at the—" The doctor stopped halfway when he found out that the looks on Ethan's face had changed a bit.

He quickly asked, "What?"

"I don't have any money, doctor," Ethan muttered under his breath.

"Then I'm sorry, we will have to withdraw all treatment and take him out of the expensive ward. And I can't tell if something will happen or not," the doctor mumbled, with gentle touches that spoke volumes.

Muted colors surrounded them, reflecting the mood.

Ethan knew it. The doctor couldn't have done more than this at this moment, but he would love if the doctor could render more help than this.

A single tear escaped, tracing a silent path down his face.

"Please can you help me doc?" A soft whimper escaped, which hardly could be heard from the doctor.

The doctor hissed as he turned to a doctor, "Send that Mr back to ward X. You can also reduce the drug medication and attention until he brings the payment."

The nurse nodded his head as he called the fellow female nurse who assisted him in moving Ethan's father from the ward to that poor ward.

Ethan watched with sadness. He knew it was all over. A pained expression shadowed his face. A forced smile cracked under the weight of emotions as he watched the doctor leaving and his father being pulled to the lowest ward in that huge hospital. His eyes blinked rapidly, holding back tears.

He joined his father in the ward, as the man was just watching and couldn't say a word. It was so much terrible for him.

He whispered a prayer for solace, which he doubted could be awarded to him at this moment.

He held the man's hand, as he said, "I will find a way. But this time around way seems to have closed on me, and I don't even know what to do. I think I am dying slowly."

Tears rushed out, more. The world seemed to move in slow motion around Ethan as he walked out of the hospital.

But when he was trying to cross the road, a car pulled over almost knocking him to his grave.

Hesitant movement, but not with the same energy, as he slowly stared at the driver.

"I.Will.Eat. You. Alive!" Ethan threatened with the angry looks.

The driver was still about to talk harshly when the backdoor opened, and a rich man in a white suit climbed down.

The white suit man looked at Ethan and said, "I am sorry, Young master!”