Chapter 5

Chapter 5

 

It was very early in the morning when Alex returned to his home in Gold and Ravish. He could hear the loud voices in the house. He rushed into the house to find his In-laws scolding Maya.

“Get rid of that good-for-nothing boy, or you'll sit and watch your brother take after the Blackwoods art high school!” Mr. Blackwood yelled.

He sounded so much like he had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. They noticed him walk in but didn't bat an eye at him. Maya stood at her spot ice cold. She was almost in tears.

“Maya, as much as I would love to take over the school and sad company, I hate seeing that you have to suffer all because you made a terrible mistake of getting married to this thing,” Elias chirped in. He stole a glance at Alex and then continued.

“It's not that difficult. Get him to sign the divorce papers. Send him off quickly. He's brought enough shame to us already,” he added.

Alex couldn't help but interfere. It was him they were talking about. They wanted to see him hurt so badly, but in the end, Maya was the one receiving the blows. “Please, father, this is enough. Maya is hurt already. Can't you all see?” he said.

His words threw everyone aback. They watched as he walked over to Maya and pulled her into his arms. The tears welling up in Maya's eyes were already streaming down her cheeks. She reluctantly let herself into his arms.

“Just walk away Alex,” she whispered.

Mr. Blackwood advanced towards them. His eyes burned in rage as he witnessed their affection. He couldn't have his daughter lost to this man with nothing. He raised his hand to slap Alex but Maya stepped in the way.

“He's my husband, father. I married him because I love him. I would very much like it if you all respected my decision,” Maya lashed out, standing in anticipation of her father's next action.

His hands were still hanging in the air as he watched his daughter defend the nobody. It came down hard, landing on her cheek. He left a print on her face, then pointed his index at her.

“You dare not speak to me in such a manner in defense of your husband,” he warned. The room was silent for another second then he continued.

“I will give you until evening Maya Blackwood. Once I successfully renew my partnership with the Thompsons, you'll have only twenty-four hours to send this husband of yours packing, or you quit being a Blackwood,”

After his statement, he stormed out of the room. Elias smirked as he inched closer to the couple. “If I were you I would take Father's advice. What does he have on you that you have refused to let him go by the way?”

Alex glared at Elias. At that point, he felt like driving his fist hard into his guts. But he knew what the consequences would be. Also, this wasn't the time to attract unnecessary attention to himself.

Elias followed his father behind, leaving the two alone. Maya broke off Alex's hold angrily and stared at him. “Why would you challenge my father?” she barked.

“I was only trying to have your back. That's what you do for me,” Alex expressed. Maya's jaw was shaking. Like she had a pack of ice in her mouth.

She began pacing about, holding her hair like she was trying to pull it off. He wasn't making things easy for her. All she needed was to take over the Blackwoods Art High School.

“Maya, you have to calm down,” Alex said.

“No! No Alex. I can't stay calm. Ever since I married you, it's been from one problem to the other. I lost ownership of several companies all because of you!”

“My name was taken off the list of the Blackwoods richest all because of my marriage to you. And here you are, telling me to calm down!”

“I have lost everything I had. Everything! And now, I'm about to lose my family!”

Maya's words pierced his heart like a glass straw. He felt his heart shatter in pieces. It was normal or almost normal to receive insults or be humiliated by his in-laws. A part of him had gotten used to it.

But this was his wife. A woman he loved. He was sure she did love him too. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt that it was the pressure from her parents that was making her sound this way.

On the other hand, he knew his wife so much. In as much as she didn't say it to him or make it visible to him, she was materialistic. Too materialistic. 

He saw it through her constant endeavors to always be at the top, always have the best game, the game she enjoyed. The ecstasy of being called a Blackwood. Every bit of it. He knew she was driven by these things.

Alex hurried to where the divorce papers lay comfortably on the table. He snatched them and walked back to her.

“Here! Sign in! Go on! Sign it Maya! If it's what you wish for. Here it is!” he tossed the papers at her. Maya broke down immediately, letting the papers fall. She fell on her knees, letting her tears stream down freely.

Alex knew the pressure was a lot on her. Of course, no prominent man would want a poor and useless son-in-law like himself. If only they knew who he was. He walked up to Maya and pulled her into his arms.

“I'm sorry Maya,” he apologized, stroking her hair as she cried in his arms. This was his father-in-law's second strike. He wasn't giving him an opportunity for a third strike without getting one on his side.

He pulled out his phone and texted his secretary while still holding Maya.

 “Set up the meeting with the Blackwoods immediately,” read the text. This was going to be his first strike.

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