Chapter 3

Brooklyn's POV 

It was at once I felt regret for not agreeing to the divorce. I'd thought it was me succumbing to a cheat, proving myself as a fool but now, I'd placed myself in a big terrible mess. 

I needed to get a divorce as soon as possible. 

So I snapped my fingers, saying to Brandon. "I'll call you as soon as possible." I snapped. 

I cut the call, sitting to a wave of thoughts rushing in. 

Grandpa, sick? And a will listing a man who just betrayed me as a co-benefactor of a conglomerate worth billions of dollars. 

The world spun round. 

My hands aimlessly rolled over my laps, occasionally slapping it and throwing my gaze outside. 

"Is everything alright?" 

"What's wrong, ma'am?" The driver asked but I wasn't even paying any attention to him nor did I have in mind to answer him. 

Many minutes, close to an hour whirled away in ceaseless thoughts such that when I came back to my senses, the sun was brighter and hotter, telling it was noon and the wedding there had gone far. 

"Shittt!" I slapped my laps harder in rage, opened the car door and rushed out, straight to the beach house. 

I needed to tell him to go ahead with the divorce. I was ready for it. 

With this sudden information from Brandon, it wasn't getting any better should I play dull and remain with Cooper. 

Being in a male dominated field without a back up felt like a curse. Especially when I'd left the system too early to depend on a man I thought would be my forever.

But being with a man who was more than ready to trade me for his new savior even without telling me was more dangerous. 

He can even kick me out of the conglomerate before I know, then rule with his new wife. 

"Nah! I wouldn't watch that happen." I said, beating my chest, ignoring the few guests outside who were curiously staring. 

Then grandpa's illness came to mind. I slapped off the pessimist feeling which rolled in. 

"No! I can't lose him. I will never lose him," I said, rushing into the hall. The vows were already done. 

"You may now kiss the bride," I heard the officiating say as I entered. Cooper was already leaning fast towards Justeen. 

I clenched my jaw having to watch this but what I had in mind had to be done. 

"What are you up to, ma'am?" Mabel rushed at me but I ignored her. 

"Listen up, everyone. I want a divorce now!" 

The hall erupted into a wave of whispers, heads turning and people rising up. 

And then, Cooper turned, Justeen next, before Ayla. She was jumping up and down, giggling, happy at my words, meanwhile raising more suspicion inside of me. 

Mabel elbowed me. "Why is Ayla so jubilant that you're leaving her uncle?" 

This rumbled in my chest and just a slightest chance, I would have left what I was up to question on this, but a voice spoke to me. 

"Do what you came to do." 

I walked up to them, only to bump in with a man stepping to the walkway all of a sudden. 

I looked and stood still like a statue. 

Cameron Mercer. 

Cooper's uncle, his greatest rival. 

One man I hated most in my entire existence. 

He strained in a mocking look, a kind of 'do you remember?' 

Hating someone when normally I could barely hurt an ant said it all. 

With Cameron, it wasn't only hate, disgust and the urge to seek revenge on him for Cooper followed. 

But now, I stood here, with a slightly twisted face, looking at him with a hint of confusion ravaging my brain. Remembering how he used to pull stunts on me those moments when I stood up for Cooper. 

His lips parted. 

"You both used to join heads to hate on me, see what he has done to you." 

I remembered that clearly. Shame washed my cheeks red. My frown went deeper. 

As I stood here, watching him, I remembered how I'd involved Brandon and the cops on so many occasions over the lingering inheritance feud he had with Cooper. 

All of which always ended up in nothing being done, but I never gave up anyway. 

I secretly invested millions of dollars these past three years over his case, all so he'd go to jail but to my biggest shock, he always managed to pull his way through. 

I couldn't even tell how this bastard standing here always managed to escape scot free.

Till Cooper approached us and took my wrist, I couldn't tell. I'd been totally buried in the overwhelming, deadly presence of Cameron. 

"Leave my wife alone," Cooper barked at him. 

"Your wife? Who's your wife?" I countered right away. 

Fear flashed across his eyes, quickly replaced by a fake courage. 

"Come with me, you can't stand with a murderer. No, I wouldn't let you." 

I slapped his hand off.

"Yes, I can't stand with a murderer right, also I can't stand with...."

His hand swept over my lips, pressed tight over it so that I couldn't say the word 'cheater' which I was meant to say.

"Please don't do this here, please?" He shook his head, sounding like a warning while his face was all smiles, cozying up. 

"Let's get back home, we will settle this. No need to divorce again, I'm sorry." 

The change of mind was too sudden, making me get even more suspicious of him.

"Why?" I tilted my head. "Didn't you say that's what your wife wanted?" 

But before he could say a word, Cameron pulled a stunt, wanting to create more chaos. 

"All these while you keep tagging me as a murderer, can you prove?" 

The guests were confused. Heads shifted postures, tongues began to wag. 

We weren't done with our saga and another was pulling up. 

Cooper's mom and sister rose up, boiling up from their faces. Justeen walked up, looking at me like I was the sole cause of this. 

I swallowed a lump trying to control my aggression.

"Shut the fuck up, everyone knows how you killed my dad lying that he came to shoot you."

"Lie?" Cameron smirked. "What was your dad doing with a gun in my house?" 

Cooper shoved his hand angrily in the air, causing people to turn, murmurs to fly around.

"First, it was that clingy ex-wife who wouldn't let go, now his uncle?" They began to say. 

Almost everyone knew of the inheritance saga between Cameron and Cooper, lingering for years now. 

In fact seeing Cameron in his wedding left me stunned. 

When it seemed Cameron was going to beat Cooper with words, Justeen cut in loudly. 

"Where are the bouncers, they should come throw this drama queen out of here." 

"Sorry that you're having an eventful wedding because of me," I offered a faint smile.

"And I'll make it even more eventful," I said through my dilated pupils. 

A sudden switch rushed in. 

I was ready to play the same game of deceit and fake honesty Cooper was playing. Making sure the woman who snatched my man away returns from her wedding with even more drama. 

No anger. No frown. But a fake smile and soft tone. I guessed this was going to do more than anger could ever do. 

"All these aren't my fault. If the court had declared Cameron innocent, then he is." 

I looked at Cooper, straight in the eyes. 

"No one killed your father, he killed himself because he couldn't be honest. The same trick you're playing as his son today." 

Both men's jaws dropped. 

I nodded slowly, like I'd carefully processed these words before I said it. 

"Yes, of course." I even added. 

Justeen cleared her throat, rather violently at this point so all eyes went to her. 

"There's no need of trying to pull useless strings because Cooper no longer wants you. Or wait, perhaps he does, but as a nanny." She struggled with a cracky laughter. 

I flipped my lips in counter sarcasm. 

"Get the fuck away from here, you and your useless strings," she barked when she saw my reaction. 

The following push was unexpected. I stumbled and was about to hit my head on the nearby wall while tripping but strong arms caught my waist. 

My breath left me seeing this handsome devil grabbing me.