2

Opulent chandeliers illuminated the grand dining room of the Michaelson's mansion. The entire family sat around the large table, which stretched for miles. Silence filled the air and the only sound that could be heard was the spoons clacking against their shiny porcelain surfaces. There were palatable cuisines topped on the table with fruits and expensive French wines.

"So, Vivian, how was your stay in Australia? I heard you plan on establishing your fashion house here in the United States," my mom inquired, breaking the solitude with her gaze settling on Vivian.

Vivian beamed, feeling delightful.

With a nod, she replied, "Yes, Mrs. Judith, I did have a lot of projects back in Australia, but I left it because of Michael.."

Vivian held my hands which were on the table and I gulped down the lump in my throat. A tiny smile sprang on my face, but it vanished in an instant when my father's gaze met mine.

Seeing Vivian here didn't please him.

He believes she is a spoiled, mannerless lady who prioritizes materialistic possessions over her love for me.

I'll make him see that she genuinely loves me, despite his doubts about it being a deception. If only he knew the news I have for him. My decision to marry Vivian is final and unchangeable.

Besides, she was my ex-girlfriend. We dated for two years before she abandoned me to Australia to purchase her career as a designer.

My father remained quiet. His silence was louder than words for some reason. He chewed on his food silently, with his gaze on Vivian, who continued talking endlessly.

Mr. Gerald arranged my marriage to Vanessa since she had once saved his life. She was from a remote part of Texas. She has never talked about her family, but from what I've gathered, her parents died in an accident, leaving her as an orphan.

Basically, she has no family left.

Grandpa loved her so much that he made me marry her, but I can't keep being in a one-sided marriage. I have no interest or concern about her. She had no significance to me. She had no reputation, no status, and nothing to be proud of

"Where is Vanessa? Isn't she going to join us for dinner?!" my father inquired, his baritone voice piercing the silence.

Sighing, I rolled my eyes and dropped the fork in my hand. "We're in the Middle of processing our divorce papers, dad. We'll get our divorce certificate later on."

My father's brows shot up, his face clouded with shock and wrath as he dropped his goblet fiercely on the table..

"What do you mean, Michael?! Are you out of your mind?!" He asked, his voice demanding and commanding, resonating through the dining room.

My mother forced a smile on her face before turning to face my father. She placed her hand on his shoulder and mumbled, "Sweetheart. As I previously mentioned, Vanessa and Michael aren't a good fit, but your father had them get married. This kept Vanessa's expectations up, but Michael had to break things off because he wasn't interested in her."

====

"What good is it to keep up a loveless marriage?

Vanessa hasn't been happy because she wasn't able to get my affection and attention during our four years of marriage. We can't continue with it and I'm done. That's final!" Using my serviette to dab at my lips, I spoke with confidence.

My father placed his utensils on his plate and took a deep breath. "Vanessa is one of a kind. She's perfect and loving. Do you realize you just threw something valuable to settle for less?!!" He yelled, pointing at Vivian, whose eyes were getting teary as his words pierced her heart.

The tension hung in the air, and his words clogged in my throat. Seeing Vivian's reaction propelled me to confront my father. I can't stand to see her cry..

"There is nothing you can do regarding this issue, dad. It's my life and I f**g own it! Vivian is more than gold to me. She's everything I'll ever need and not Vanessa!! I'll be getting married to her and that's my final decision!"

"Marriage isn't a child's play, son..." my dad snapped, his voice tinted with conviction. He might be more experienced than me, but he knows nothing about love.

He can't f**g make decisions for me. I have the say to everything regarding my decisions and not him!

My elder brother was quiet the whole time. All he did was watch the drama unfolding as he chewed on his food.

"So, you're divorcing Vanessa because Vivian is back? And because Sir Gerald is dead?!"

Staring at him straight in the eye, I replied defiantly, "Not because Sir Gerald is dead. But because the love of my life is back.. I will be announcing our marriage soon and you're mostly invited, dad."

I glanced at Vivian, who was looking at me with so much happiness in her eyes. She was proud of me for standing up for our relationship and confronting my father.

The dinner ended with my father being disappointed in me. He got on his feet, not having the appetite to eat anymore, as there was still a large portion of food left on his plate. He grabbed his serviette to wipe his mouth, his gaze flicking between me and Vivian.

With a sneer, he said, "I hope you won't regret the decision you made today, son."

He left and the sounds from his shoe clacking the tiles became distinct after some minutes. His words rang in my head, hanging like a cloud above it. My heart plummeted down to my stomach and I had no clue why his last statement felt heavy and disturbing. Vivian is all I need. I can never regret making this decision.. I'm sure of it..

"Babe. Will you drop me off at home now that we're done?" Vivian asked, stroking my cheeks affectionately. I nodded, and she leaned forward to peck me.

"Babe, I want you to drop me off in your latest Rolls-Royce car. I want my friends to see how rich my fiance is,..." She looked at me with big doe eyes and beamed joyfully, her teeth displaying in her smile.

My thoughts felt disjointed for some reason, yet in an attempt to gather myself, I tried pushing them aside.

After dropping Vivian off at her apartment, I returned to the house, and those thoughts came flooding in again. Why do I feel empty after Vanessa left? Why am I feeling disturbed?

A maid scurried towards me with worry crossing her features.

"Mr Michael! Mrs Vanessa left. She was crying profusely but didn't take any of her loads with her!"

"What?!" I asked with a dropped jaw since I had inquired for the maids to help her with her belongings.

"A young man in a fancy limousine car picked her up," My eyes grew as big as saucers as her words resonated in my mind. Nobody on the planet could pick Vanessa in a pricey vehicle like a limousine.

"Did you see the plate number?!"

"Yes. Mr Michael.."

"Okay." I called my secretary right away and asked him to find the person using the plate number the maid gave me.

Out of curiosity, I ordered him to dig about Vanessa's relationship with the person who fetched her

"And this, sir. She left behind," the maid mumbled, giving me the divorce papers in her hand

When I noticed that she had signed it, my eyes widened. I was meant to feel content, but I felt inexplicably enraged and jealous.. How dare she sign it?!!

My gut told me that the owner of the vehicle was a wealthy man. Being her second choice, she must have signed it to leave me for him. Who knows if she had been dating him while pretending to make things work in our marriage? My wrath boiled at her conduct of leaping from one man to another. She is shameless! I never knew she was a gold digger! Vivian's suspicions about her were right after all

Just then, my phone chimed, interrupting my reverie as it alerted me to an incoming call.

"What is it, Mark?!" I asked my secretary hurriedly, sinking my fingers into my hair before letting out a sigh of exhaustion.

"Mr. Michael, I discovered who was the car's owner Robert Gills, the President of Imperial Holdings, was the owner. I have learned through research that he took Mrs. Vanessa to the hospital."

My brows furrowed and my hands tightened around the phone as I became enraged at the information. Vanessa is nothing more than a gold-digger and a whore.

"The hospital declined to provide the personal data of their patients. However, my reliable source claims that Mrs. Vanessa underwent a surgery. Mr. Michael, it seems to me that she is pregnant."

With that revelation dropping like a bombshell, my hands fell to my laps and my eyebrows sprang upward. His statement hit me like waves.

Realization hit me and I recalled how blood had dripped down her thighs that day. After that day, I hadn't seen her until the maid brought the news of her signed divorce papers. Sir Michael. I'll find more information regarding them..For now, this is all I can say."

Gritting my teeth, I ordered, "Find her. Do everything you can to find her. I want her back!!”