CHAPTER 3

Franklin Howard=

"You're right. We would have become married, but it's not too late to divorce your sister now. She isn't up to my standard, and I do not like her," I say as the waiter brought our dinner, and Amelia smiled sweetly.

"How about me, Frank? I have always admired you then. Honestly, that night, I felt sad seeing that Natalie drugged you and used you as her pawn to escape from our parents' home. She's just wayward, and I had always admired you then, hoping we would become married," Amelia said, tears gathering in her eyes.

I sighed. "Don't worry, I will end my marriage with Natalie, okay. And she can move on with her life with whomever she pleases, I do not care," I told Amelia, and she smiled at me.

"Really? Does that mean you will consider dating me now? I really do love you, Frank?" Amelia asked me, looking at me sweetly. She was very beautiful, and with her blue eyes shining, I couldn't say no to her request.

I had always wanted to date Amelia. I used to like her then. She was taller like a formidable model with slender legs, slim waist, and ample bosom.

Those days, my father usually sent me on some errands to meet Mr. Liam Jackson, and from there, I would catch a glimpse of Amelia. Also, whenever our families had any event hosted during the end of the year, like New Year festivities, Christmas, or birthday celebrations, my dad would still invite the Jacksons' family to our home.

Presently, as I got married and moved away from my father's house where I now live alone with my wife. I hardly attended these end-of-year celebrations as I feel ashamed to be in the same location as my wife. I would travel out and give excuses to my Dad as to why I couldn't show up.

The waiter soon arrived with our meals, and I felt pressed and stood up from the table to excuse myself.

"I'm coming. I want to go and use the restroom," I told Amelia, and she smiled at me.

"Okay," Amelia said, while the waiter left and positioned our meals on the table. I knew I wasn't supposed to leave my meal, but Amelia was like family to me, and I trusted her.

I quickly waved off the negative feeling that had settled in the pit of my stomach as I left for the restroom to relieve myself. I stole a final look at Amelia as I quickly entered the restroom, while I saw her smiling at me.

I then hurried into the men's restroom to relieve myself. There were several stalls for the men to use, knowing that their Restaurant could get crowded with lots of patrons.

As I got out of the restroom, wanting to leave, not expecting that I would become pressed, simply because I didn't have the time to relieve myself at home, I bumped into Michael Austin, my best friend here in the city.

Michael wore a white shirt paired with black jeans similar to mine, as he wore black canvas shoes too.

"Frank! What brought you here, bro? Hold up, let me use the restroom quickly," Michael rushed into the restroom to relieve himself too, while I waited for him to come out.

"Frank!" Michael and I shook hands, and I asked him, "What's up with you, Mike? What brings you here too?"

Michael smiled and replied, "I was just bored at home. You know, no wife or girlfriend, so I came here to see if I can find any pretty lady to hang out with."

Michael had a darker complexion compared to me, who was fair.

"That's fine. I have to go now, as I came here with my date," I replied, wanting to leave and didn't want to mention that I came here with my wife's half-sister.

"Your date?" Michael looked taken aback as he stopped me, his eyes narrowed at me.

"Yeah, can't I go on a date again?" I asked Michael. I saw him frown, but he quickly laughed out and replied, "Of course, hahaha, you can go on a date, Frank. But with your wife, I guess. Who did you arrive here with?"

"Come, let's go out and meet with her. She'll be waiting for me," I told Michael as he doesn't seem happy to hear that I came here on a date and not with my wife actually.

Damn it, I didn't go on any date with Natalie. I haven't taken her out or for shopping. I just planned to divorce her, and while the matter is still ongoing in my mind, I haven't discussed it yet with Michael, even as he was my best friend. I know he wouldn't support me in divorcing Natalie as he kind of has a soft spot for her.

Michael and I were age-mates. He owned several hotels here, thanks to his affluent parents too, as he was a Billionaire, and his father was a senator. We exited the men's restroom and went back to the private parlor to join Amelia there.

As I approached the chair where Amelia sat, just as I saw that the waiter had already served my request, I quickly introduced Michael to Amelia.

"Hey, bro, meet my girlfriend Amelia Jackson. Amy, this is Michael Austin, my childhood best friend," I introduced Amelia to Michael just as I moved to take my seat in the room, wanting to be quick with my dinner and to return home on time to my unwanted wife.

"Hi," Amelia said to Michael as she stood up from her seat and extended her right hand to Michael for a handshake.

Michael only stared at Amelia's hand and didn't accept her hand for a handshake.

"Frank, isn't she your wife's elder sister? Are you fụcking both your wife and her sister now?" Michael asked me, his anger was evident, and that actually pissed me off. As he shouted so loudly despite the fact we were in the private hall.

Some other patrons looked at our table in shock, despite the dimly lit light in the room, while Amelia appeared tense.

"Shut up, Michael! What has gotten into you? I am not fụcking Natalie at home, and whatever relationship that I have with Natalie and her sister, it is none of your business," I barked, pissed off that my friend like supporting my wife over me.

He never finds any fault in Natalie and would often disagree with me if I tell him that Natalie is ugly and not my type.

"Really, I had thought you arrived here with your wife, and here you are, actually fooling around with your wife's sister. Don't you feel any shame, Frank? And if at all you want to cheat on Natalie, must you cheat on her with her sister?!" Michael shouted, seeming to gather more attention of the staff working in this restaurant, as we weren't the only ones using the large parlor. And with Michael raising his voice at me, he seemed to have disrupted the eerie atmosphere of this private parlor.

"Michael, you can leave and not disturb me or lecture me on how to live my life," I told him, seeing Amelia looked embarrassed. Michael looked at us, just as I told Amelia to sit back, and he turned around and left.

I treasured my relationship with Michael, but he was getting on my nerves each time he disagreed with me about divorcing Natalie. He most times tells me that I'm blind to see how beautiful Natalie is.

"I apologize to you on my friend's behalf. He's always like that, picking on Natalie's side, that I'm beginning to think if he's fụcking her behind my back as the cheap slut that she was," I told Amelia to ease her tense mood.