Ruthless Rejection

The Patriarch of the Valente Family sat at the head of the table, his wives and sons surrounded it. 

The emergency meeting has been about Esmeralda again. 

“Whoever that wench is, I can't believe she outsmarted you fools. Useless boys!”, he yelled. “A woman at that.”

“Dad at least we know it's Esmeralda after us not like you that couldn't figure out the identity of the phantom that hunted you in your youth.” Mateo, the eldest son shot back. Andrea, Mateo's younger sister nudged him with her elbow, he turned his stormy gaze at her. 

“What?”, he mouthed.

The old man glared at his son, he didn't reply if he did, there would only be exchange of vicious banters. Mateo would not relent and neither would he.

His gaze swept across the table and landed on Miguel. He sat proudly, his eyes looking straight, his posture rigid and powerful. 

Miguel, his pride and honour. Everyone knew of the old man's favouritism for Miguel which only made him a target. Miguel doesn't go after women or get caught in scandals, he doesn't get summoned to the court at least once a year unlike his brothers. He is a perfect epitome of discipline. 

“Miguel.” He leaned forward on the table. 

“Dad.”, He turned towards the old man. 

“Have you got any leads on Esmeralda?”,

“No Dad. I will catch her soon.” Miguel stated, voice low and condescending. 

Mateo scoffed, when he scolded them his hateful glare was on him but now he can speak to Miguel with a soft tone? 

The Patriarch's gaze landed on Mateo's younger brother, Enzo. Enzo was asleep. Again. His diamond studs gleaming. 

His posture on the table was stance, arms crossed but with his eyes closed. Anyone would think he's just closing his eyes but Enzo fell asleep a lot of times whenever they had meetings like this.

He had no care for family politics, all he cared about was art and nothing else. He is on nobody's side, only his own side. 

“Lorenzo!” The patriarch roared.

Enzo didn't flinch, he opened his eyes slowly, he turned his head lazily to his father. 

“Is there any problem Father?”, he sighed. 

The Patriarch didn't know what to berate Enzo with, no matter what anyone says, he would not act bothered. No. He's not bothered at all. 

“Have you any respect for your father?”, the old man began.

Enzo sighed, he turned his head forward, closing his eyes again. He stated. 

“I was literally kidnapped to attend this meeting father. Against my wishes, I find myself seated here. You will have to excuse any unforeseen behavior.”

“Insolent bastard.” The old man spat. Enzo smirked. 

Silence reigned the room. Just then a commotion rose outside. 

Miguel frowned, everyone turned their head towards the entrance. 

First, the security was too tight for just anyone to get in the compound. Second, who dared come to disturb the Valente Family?

The Patriarch pushed his chair backwards and got to his feet. He stood up with the support of walking stick. 

Everyone else got to their feet. 

The commotion rose higher, a woman's voice came through, yelling and pleading with the guards. 

“Miguel!”, her voice came through. “Miguel!”

Miguel? 

Why's she calling Miguel? All eyes went to Miguel. He stared back at them. 

Inés struggled with the guards in front of the house.

“Please just let me see him okay? I'm his wife. He....”, she trailed off when he came out of the house. But he wasn't the only one that came out, more people followed him. From the looks of them all, they must be his family. 

She gulped, they looked aloof and intimidating. Miguel stood few feets ahead of them. 

She pushed the guard holding her away and went up the steps. He stood a head taller than her. 

Without warning, she wrapped her hands around him, sticking her face to his chest. He pushed her away like she burned him.

“What the hell?”, he frowned. 

Inés stared at him in utter shock. 

“Miguel what's wrong?”, 

“Who are you? How dare you touch me.”

“How dare me touch you?”, she repeated. 

“What's going on Miguel. Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. Did you forget?”, 

Andrea gasped dramatically. Her hands went up her mouth. “OMG”, she squealed. 

Miguel turned to glare at her, she brought her hand down and lowered her gaze.

Mateo felt offended immediately. “What? Why can't she talk? Is this your wife? So you had a wife all this while golden boy, now that ....”

“I don't have a wife!”, he yelled. “What wife? Who the hell are you?” 

“W–What are you saying? What do you mean what wife?”

Enzo whistled, “Looks like someone had a secret wife all these while. And now she's here for? For what? Her children's right?”, he burst into laughter. 

The Patriarch cleared his throat. Enzo straightened himself, stopping his mocking cackle. 

He stepped forward. Hands clasped behind him, Inés felt the chill of his gaze, she swallowed. Is this the Valente Patriarch? She had always seen him in pictures. He looks even scarier in real life. 

“Miguel is this true?”, 

Miguel turned to his father. “You are not believing some crazy woman over me right Dad?” 

“Crazy woman?! Miguel what's wrong with you?”, she grabbed his arm, forcing him to face her. But what Miguel would do next scarred bit just her knees but her heart forever. He pushed her away, violently. She fell off the steps and rolled on the floor, she sat up, raising her shaking hand that had started bleeding. Tears blurred her vision, she turned to stare at the man that became a stranger overnight. 

Miguel turned to the woman on the ground.

“Take her away!”, he glared down at her. 

“W–What? Miguel what are you doing? I'm pregnant!”

Even the men that grabbed her stopped. Andrea let out a short, stifled scream. Now it was Enzo's turn to gasp dramatically. He held in chest in feigned concern. 

“Whaaaaaaat?”, he exaggerated. 

Miguel scoffed. “Is this your plan Mateo?! Sending some golddigger to pretend to be my wife? Isn't that pathetic?”

Mateo opened his mouth in shock. But everyone was already stealing suspicious glances at him, even Andrea nodded slightly, raising her eyebrows. 

Even if he denied it, no one would believe he didn't just try to humiliate Miguel before their father.

He shut his mouth and stormed off inside. 

“Take care of this Miguel.” 

The old man went down the steps. He stopped when he got in front of Inés, her gaze flickered towards him. For a second, she thought the old man pitied her but she was wrong. He stared at her for a few seconds before heading towards his car. As soon as the car went out of sight, Miguel took long strides down the steps, without sparing Inés a glance, he got into his car. The car took off immediately 

Inés pushed the guards away, she ran after the car. She screamed his name, while running, she tripped and fall. Her hands in the air reaching out to him. 

“Miguel!”, she screamed in agony. 

Andrea shook her head at Inés. “She's a really good actress I just must say.”

Enzo nodded in approval. “A great talent, but a disappointment.”

Inés cried out loudly, she began to hit her chest. A powerful hit at the back of her head came without warning. Darkness swallowed her vision instantly.