Jess decided to take Major's advice and leave work early. She couldn't take the gossip around the office anymore. She needed at least a week away from it all.

She took the bus as she always does since she no longer owns a car.

As she waited at the bus stop, she reminisced.

Her car was a Tesla, sunset yellow in colour, which she got for her twenty first birthday from her friends. Her parents got her plane tickets for two weeks in Hawaii. The party was such a blast! She had so many friends back then.

Where all her friends are now?, she wondered.

They were around for a few months after her wedding, when things were still good. Reality of her over dependence on her parents money hadn't sunk in yet. Then when it did, they dropped off like flower petals. One after the other. She hasn't seen even one in person for about a year now.

At least, they answer when she calls.

Sometimes.

She wouldn't want them to see her anyway, not at this point in her life. The last thing she wants is anyone's pity.

She rubbed her stomach as she thought about what might have been.

What if...

The bus arrived then.

When she finally got to her neighborhood, she was surprised to see a couple of black R8s in front of their house from a distance.

Strange, she thought.

Perhaps George brought home visitors. Why wasn't I informed? The fridge is empty, what will they drink as refreshments!

She hurried in her steps.

When she got closer to the car, the driver got out and walked towards her.

"Hello Miss Jessica! " he greeted cheerily.

"Hey Darnell! How are you? " Jess said as she hugged him.

Darnell was her favorite driver back when she was at home. He drove her to and from school for all of eighteen years. What is he doing here now? She said as much to him.

"I came to drop off your parents. They're inside. "he replied.

Jess frowned. What do they want now? Darnell noticed the look on her face.

"Now hold on Jessie, calm down. Don't go and do something you'd regret. " he said trying to get her to relax.

"I've calmed down enough Dani, but I won't anymore. Why won't they just leave me alone! " she said as she stormed into the house.

She gasped at the scene she found in the living room.

Firstly, her parents standing around like they own the place.

Secondly, and what made her see red was George kneeling down before them and not by his own will.

Two Men in black suits stood on either side of him, holding his shoulders down. His hand was even tied behind his back.

She did the first thing any woman in her position would do. She threw her handbag at them. It hit one of the men square in the stomach. He didn't even flinch. But she got their attention now.

She removed her heels and threw those too. She was aiming low but it was way off tangent as it hit the wall above their heads instead.

She was breathing like she just ran a marathon. "Get out, all of you get out! " she said through clenched teeth.

No one made a move as they all stared at her. She pointed at the door "Out now! " she raised her voice a little.

Her mother stepped forward. "Jessie, please... " she started to say.

"Please nothing! What the hell are you doing here? I thought I made myself really clear yesterday. There is nothing to talk about! Get out of my house and take your guard dogs with you, please! " Jess cried.

Tears were already cascading down her face. George made to stand up and was immediately pushed back down.

Richard Dalex sighed audibly. "Get her. " he said softly.

"No!" George exclaimed as someone grabbed her from behind and put a handkerchief on her nose.

Jess struggled against them until she passed out almost immediately.

"What the fuck? What the fuck!..." George exclaimed as he tried to go to her.

There was a brief scuffle with the men holding him which resulted in him getting beat down.

Richard Dalex looked down at him, his face full of scorn.

"Now listen here you rat. I'm taking back my child. She's my only daughter and I will not sit by and watch her waste her life with the likes of you! You are a nuisance to her and this family and I'm glad she did not spawn your brats to taint our family name. You think you'll take her away from me? I will take back my precious from YOU! You will never touch her again, you will never even see her again. You think you have had enough? I have had enough! If you want to remain alive, you better forget she even exists!!" he said angrily.

George felt like laughing. He wondered if he was going crazy. Is this a crazy dream he would wake up from soon?, because that would be just awesome.

He looked up at the man standing before him.

How did a viper like him give birth to an angel like Jess?

He remembered the first time he saw her. She was so beautiful in that yellow sundress that showed a little bit of cleavage. But that wasn't what attracted him to her. It was her smile, her gestures she made as she talked, the sound of her voice, although he must admit he was most hypnotised by the glint of the sun on her golden blonde hair!

He was afraid to approach her at first, intimidated by her flashy car and real diamond earrings. She also seemed to be surrounded by people all the time, and he was quite shy back then.

To his surprise, she came onto him, talking about being friends or something. He agreed to it, anything to be by her side.

"Hey rat, I'm talking to you. I said forget she even exists!
If I see you near my house, you're dead.
If you try to call her or contact her at anytime, you're dead.
If you meet by coincidence, you are dead.
Do I make myself clear? "Richard Dalex said and kicked him one more time before he turned around to leave.

The guards finally left him alone as they moved to follow their boss.

Beatrice had already left with the man who drugged Jess and they were already in the car by now.

George groaned in pain as he slowly sat up. If they think they've had the last laugh, they had another thing coming.

Richard paused at the door "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Your marriage is a sham. I hired that so called priest who officiated your wedding. I picked him from the streets. Isn't it funny? Poor rats like you would do anything for few bucks. Funny isn't it!? Hehee. Anyway, I already got it annulled. I guess you know what that means. To be frank I didn't expect you two last this long together. But I guess if persuasion fails, force must be applied. Have a good life George! " he said with a smirk on his face.

George could only stare at the door.

******

Here goes another chapter. What do you think?

I need feedback, so if you like it and want more, hit that little star at the bottom. It only takes a second people!

Thank Youuuu! 😊😊