Chapter 3: Father's Funeral

"Leave grandpa to me," Jason said, and James left the hospital with their mother while Jason stayed behind and did the paperwork.

James sat behind the wheel and drove out of the hospital compound with their mother, Mrs Haward, who would not stop crying about her dead husband, sitting next to him in the co-driver's seat. James just felt she needed to cry out as she appeared inconsolable.

James remained silent with his eyes on the road as he drove back to the family condo. Jason finished the paperwork at the hospital and also headed for their family condo. Ten minutes after James arrived at the condo, Jason also drove in. Jason parked got out of the car, used the elevator, and went to the 12th floor.

It was a huge floor with six bedrooms, two living rooms, and a well-designed balcony with a pool. The interior was shades of grey and white. They had some beautiful paintings hanging on the walls. Yes, they are a super-rich family.

Jason entered the visitors' living room and was welcomed by his grandpa and they walked together to the family living room. They sat there for a while chatting.

"Hello Grandpa," said Jason as soon as they sat down. He looked around for James or their mother but they were nowhere in sight.

Jason's grandpa sat next to Jason, hugging Jason's shoulders. Jason smiled as he hugged the old man back. The old man sat down properly and Jason helped him support his back with one of the sofa pillows.

"How is work?" Grandpa enquired after sitting down comfortably.

"All good, I just have some project contracts to sign on Monday," Jason said, "Grandpa,"

"Yes" replied Grandpa.

"Something happened today," Jason began, trying to tell the old man about his father's death.

"Your father left us," Grandpa completed Jason's statement, "Yeah I know, your mother came home crying," he replied and looked up while Jason stared at his side profile.

"Your father was a good person; he was almost like a son to me. Sometimes I wish I had him as a son. He was hard-working, smart and very humble; you should pick his character," Grandpa said, turning to look at Jason, and Jason nodded with a cold expression.

Yeah, his father, Mr Haward, was humble and where did that land him? People took advantage of him all the time and tried to fool him. Jason had already carved an image for himself and he would not drop it for his father's humble character. Today, people fear him and they do not stand and speak to him without trembling. Jason's father, Mr Haward, was merciful, but Jason was ruthless. The only thing Jason picked from his father was his hard-working nature and how smart he was.

They spent some time together before Grandpa decided he was going to take his afternoon nap. Jason went upstairs after Grandpa had left for his room and found his elder brother and younger sister, both crowded around their mother who was still wiping tears from her eyes, in her room.

Jaspn's phone buzzed and he stepped out of the room to answer it. He returned to the room a few minutes later.

"Everything is ready, the burial is set for the day after tomorrow" Jason announced, and left them for his room.

He sat on the sofa resting his head on the back of the sofa, lost in deep thoughts.

"How come no one knew dad was battling colon cancer and what happened that night when he went to the music festival with his dad?"

Jason tried to remember a few events from the night before. The program went well and the performances were great. Mr Haward gave Jason a bottle of water when Jason requested one of the guards to get him water. That was it. Jason doesn't recall anything after drinking the water.

Jason searched his pocket for the wedding ring and took it out, looking at it carefully. He placed it back in his pocket. He didn't want anyone in the family to know about it until he had figured out who the lady was and how she ended up in his room. His phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He checked the caller ID and answered.

"Yes, speak," Jason commanded.

"Sir, her name is Julia Harrison. She stays with her mother at Belle Glade, in a two-bedroom house. The house is occupied by just the two of them, she and her mother. Concerning her father, she never met him. She is a school bus driver, and that is how she earns money for her daily upkeep. Her mother is a dressmaker. Despite their living conditions, Julia likes to party with her two best friends, Matilda Hayford, whom she calls Tilly and Michael Hogan, at night clubs and even though she can't handle her liquor, she likes to drink," the caller informed Jason.

"That is all I found out about her," the caller added.

"Hmm," Jason said and disconnected the call when the caller had nothing more to say.

"This girl is a nobody," Jason thought, " the only one who could probably tell him what happened is now gone and that is his father whom he was with the night."

Later, Jason had dinner together with his family and he was surprised to see their mother, Mrs Haward, had the appetite to eat so much after crying from morning almost till afternoon, but he felt it was good she didn't starve herself.

After dinner, Jason hung around for a while and returned to his apartment. Upon entering his apartment with two of his bodyguards, all the servants immediately became tense. The guards remained on the first floor as he went up to the next floor where he slept. He sat on the sofa and watched the news for a while before he decided to go to bed. In his bedroom, he opened his drawer by the bedside to pick up his phone charger but found two signed marriage certificates with his dad as the witness.

"Wait, so his dad knew about the wedding? Did he organize it," Jason thought but again kicked against it.

"According to his brother, Dad passed out upon reaching home. Something happened but it also doesn't make sense that someone attacked his father and gets him, Jason, to marry a stranger," Jason continued in his thoughts while staring at the two certificates in his hand.

He put them back and sat on the edge of the bed with his phone charger in hand.

"Why would someone get him married like that, unless, maybe, someone is going to use the girl to get to him." Jason thought, "his information and access to everything," he thought,

"Someone has planned something and it doesn't look good,"

Jason smiled; he would file for a divorce after the funeral. He concluded his thought, put his phone on charge and went to take a shower. He climbed into bed and drifted off to sleep with a decision to start divorce proceedings.

The day of the funeral came. Mr Haward was lying in the casket surrounded by lots of flowers. A lot of people attended the funeral as Mr Haward was a well-known person.

 Mr Haward's body was taken to the graveside and lowered into the grave. Jason collected some sand and threw it on the lowered casket, and so did all his siblings, including their mother, and the grave was covered. From the graveyard, they all went back to the family condo. Everyone spent the night at the condo.

Jason left for his apartment the next day as the funeral was over and he needed to get some things done and also start the divorce process before anyone in the family found out about it.

Jason went to court to initiate the process a couple of days later and was shocked by what he found out. There was a contract with a rule that the marriage could only go through a divorce after one and a half years.

"What the hell?" Jason yelled.

He enquired if something could be done and he was told nothing could be done about it. He angrily left the place for work annoyed. He entered his company and went straight to his cabin with instructions not to be disturbed.

In his cabin, Jason tried to understand how the contract, marriage certificate, wedding rings and the lady he had slept with happened and why. He decided he would confront the lady. Maybe she will know something. She was not at the music festival, so how did they meet? He picked up his phone and dialled a number.

"I want that Julia girl in my apartment at 6 pm today," Jason said and disconnected the call.

For the rest of the day, he distracted himself with lots of work, meetings etc. Soon the day was over and he left the company for his apartment.

The driver drove the car into the huge underground garage and parked. Jason stepped out of the car with four bodyguards. He was approached by another bodyguard.

"Where is she?" Jason questioned.

"Sir, she is tied up in the basement," replied the bodyguard, and Jason proceeded to the place.

Jason asked his guards to leave him alone with her once inside. Julia looked a little bruised. Her hair is dishevelled. The side of her lip was bleeding.

Despite her unkempt appearance, she was a very beautiful woman. She had gorgeous eyes and heavy and long brown hair. Aside from the bruises she had sustained because they manhandled her, you can tell she has very beautiful skin.

Jason was very angry the morning he woke up next to her and hence did not have time to look at her. Even with her frown, she looked adorable, but he kept a cold, unwelcoming face.

Julia had her hands and legs tied to the chair she was sitting on and a piece of cloth was used to tie her mouth.

Jason pulled a chair and placed it not far away from her. He removed the cloth from her mouth and Julia began to scream so loudly Jason felt like his ear drums were going to explode.

"Shut up," Jason said and a slap landed on the side of Julia's face, which turned red and swelled up immediately.

Julia's head began to spin, she thought she might pass out anytime soon. She became terrified and started trembling in the seat.

"Okay, tell me what were you doing before you woke up in my bed" Jason asked.

Tears rolled down Julia's face as she spoke, her voice trembling "Please don't harm me, I don't remember anything." she replied honestly.

"So, you don't recall anything at all?" Jason asked, "Answer me," he yelled at Julia and her body shook with fear.

"I went out with my friends, believe me, that is all that I remember," Julia replied almost in tears.

"Where did you go," Jason asked, sitting down.

"To a nightclub in my area," Julia replied, still trembling.

"Okay, that is fine, give me the names of your friends and their contact," Jason commanded, "Now" he yelled and Julia jumped in her seat.

"Matilda," Julia said.

"Matilda, what?" Jason asked.

"Matilda Hayford and Michael Hogan," Julia said and quickly called out their contacts.

Jason left Julia in the room. A few minutes later, a lady entered the room and untied Julia. She dressed Julia's wounds for her. After, the lady left Julia to walk free in the basement.

Jason went up to the floor of his room after giving the names and contacts to his bodyguards to pick them up the next day.