CHAAPTER FORTY SIX
Alex seemed like he was replaying the scene in his mind as his jaw clenched and his body tensed.
********FLASHBACKS*******
Martin Ian and Leah Ian were tied in an arranged knot by her father, who thought it was for the best.
Her father, the commander-in-chief of the army, was a strict man with principles and ethics.
He needed things to be done his way, and that was what happened when he chose a man for his daughter.
Leah didn’t want to marry Martin, but she was afraid of her father. She didn’t oppose him and followed his instructions until she was married to the guy she knew nothing about.
Martin was a calm and cool guy, and since he trusted his senior, who was like a father to him, he agreed immediately, failing to realise that he should’ve at least talked to the person he was marrying.
Things went smoothly for a while, then Martin and Leah were happily married, or it was just how it seemed.
Five years into the marriage, now with a child, Martin felt like he had achieved everything in his life, with his position in the army being promoted as well.
Just when everything was going well, one day when Martin returned home from his duty with a smile on his face and excitement of meeting his wife and his son, he didn’t know it was going to be the worst day of his life.
When he entered their room, Leah wasn’t there, whereas Alex, their son, was in his crib playing with his toys.
“Aww, champ, why are you alone here? Where is your mom?” He picked Alex up in his arms, who seemed excited to see his father, squealing with joy.
“Did you miss your papa? Did you?” Martin kissed his son’s head before he headed inside to search for his wife.
He reached the living room, and just then Leah stepped in the living room as well, adjusting her rough dress.
Martin froze in his place, as he saw his wife’s dishevelled state and the man behind her setting his hair.
Leah, who was totally unaware of his presence, turned towards the unknown man and smiled.
“You should leave now, I’ll go and check on Alex.” She was going to leave, but the man held her waist and pulled her close.
“Why do you want me to leave? Your husband is anyway not here. I can hang around for a while, you know.” He smirked, and she giggled as he nuzzled her neck.
Martin felt his rage building as he watched the scene before him. He stepped ahead while Alex continued to play with his father’s collar, babbling quietly.
“Well, what a surprise, Mrs. Ian.” Leah and the man froze in fear upon hearing the voice.
She turned around slowly and stared at him as if he were a ghost.
“I must say you are surprised to have see me here? I can’t bet on that.” The icy, cold tone sent chills down her spine because, in their five years of marriage, she had only heard him talk sweetly and politely.
“Martin”
“Not a word.” He roared as he clenched his teeth, and she took a step back, seeing his rage filled eyes.
He set Alex free on the floor before he advanced towards her and held her by her arms in a tight grip. Leah hissed in pain and tried to remove his grip, but all her attempts were futile.
“Why? Why the fuck did you do this? What did I ever do to you? Did I force you into this marriage? Did I force you to sleep with me? Did I?” Martin gulped harshly as he watched her squirm in pain, but it was nothing compared to what he was going through.
“Martin, you’re hurting me.” She whimpered, and he chuckled dryly.
“Do you even know what pain is? You are sleeping with your lover behind my back, and you have the audacity to look this innocent.” He scoffed as he pushed her, and she staggered back, almost falling down.
Suddenly, his eyes fell on Alex, who was watching them with his big, innocent eyes. His throat felt clogged, and he found it difficult to breathe.
“Is he mine?” He questioned him, not once looking away from his son.NôvelDrama.Org content.
Leah followed his gaze and looked down in shame. “He is”
“Just fucking answer, dammit!” Martin yelled, which caused her to jump, and the man behind her took two steps back as well.
Alex started crying as he got scared by his father’s shout.
Martin screwed his eyes shut and clenched his fists at the sound of his cries.
Leah took a step towards her son but stopped when Martin marched towards him and picked him up.
“I don’t care whose son he is, I raised him as mine, and damn if I would allow you to touch him.” He gritted lowly as he rocked Alex back and forth to stop him from crying.
“Martin, please let me.”
“Stop right there, Leah!” She gasped as he took out his gun and aimed it at her.
The man tried to run, but before he could make it, he wailed in pain as he was shot in the back.
Martin’s eyes widened in horror as he watched him fall down with a thud. Bullets were fired, but no sound was heard, neither of the firing nor of the cries.
Everything was destroyed. Everything turned into ashes.
END OF FLASHBACKS
“I clearly remember crying beside their bodies, covered in their blood. I was just four then, but the memory of that day can never be erased.” Alex clenched his jaw and shut his eyes as he took deep breaths to calm himself.
Mia could only stare at him in shock. He didn’t deserve this; no one did. Not able to say anything, she only placed her hand above his, providing him with much-needed comfort.
Alex opened his eyes, feeling her soft touch, and as he looked into hers, he found himself calming down.
“My grandfather took me in after that. I was provided with everything, everything I needed but only materialistic things.” Alex continued
“The emotional bonding, love, warmth, I knew nothing about it. He was a cold man, and with him, I grew up to be like him. I don’t hate him for that, because at least he didn’t abandon me like my parents. In fact, I’m glad he was my grandfather, and I got to grow up with him.” Alex sighed, feeling relieved that she hadn’t taken her hand back because it felt nice.
“You’re a good man, Alex.” She whispered into the night, and he looked surprised.
“Cold, emotionless, rude, but a good man nonetheless.” She smiled, and he smirked.
“Are you comforting me right now or insulting me?” She chuckled and took her hand back as she faced to the front while Alex could only stare at his hand, which felt cold all of a sudden.
“Some people killed my parents; you don’t remember yours. Why are people selfish enough to have a baby when they’re not even ready yet?” Mia sighed, yet there was this pain etched on her face.
She felt her hand being enclosed in his big, warm ones, and they stayed there like that for some more time.
It had been days since that threatening call from her father. He made no advances, but that didn’t make Chloe any less worried.
She was still anxious about what he was going to do, and in spite of Mark’s assurance, she was still scared. Her phone buzzed, and she immediately answered the call.
“Chloe, I just called to inform you that some minutes ago, two men visited the orphanage, threatening us to vacate it by tomorrow. I don’t know what to do.” The caretaker said it in a panicked voice, and Chloe felt the dread coming.
“Juliet, don’t worry, I’ll do something about it.” She could only say so much before she hung up and went to find Mark in the office.
When she reached his cabin, she directly entered without knocking and rushed to his desk.
“Mark…..” Chloe called.
“Chloe, what’s the matter? Why do you look so scared?” Mark asked, as he got up from his seat and walked up to her before making her sit on his chair.
“Now relax and tell me what happened.” He asked softly, and she looked at him, worried.
“Father sent some goons to the orphanage, threatening to vacate it by tomorrow. He’s doing it again, Mark. I won’t be able to face Mia if something really happens this time.” She looked really worried and scared, and Mark knew how much Mia meant to her.
“Okay, first of all, you need to calm down. And we can discuss this all with Mia and Alex so that it won’t be a surprise if they know it by themselves. Alright?” Mark made her understand calmly, and she nodded, trying to calm down.
“I’ll call Alex.” Mark said that and got up, but Chloe held his hand.
“Thank you.” She said it sincerely, and he smiled, bending down to kiss her forehead, which surprisingly gave her peace.
“I’ll be right back.” Saying so, he left the cabin to have a talk with Alex.
“So what you’re saying is that her father is doing the same thing again just to prove that he’ll always win?” Alex asked, and Chloe nodded meekly.
“As if he won the first time.” He scoffed, and Mark rolled his eyes.
“The point here is that we have to think of something that will stop him from interfering in Chloe’s life.” Mark stressed, and Mia squeezed Chloe’s hand in assurance.
“And that is?” Alex trailed off, and Mark had him. We have to think about that look.
“What if we threaten him with his goons? He sent them, and we paid those guys double to threaten him back. It’s only fair.” Alex shrugged, and Mia gave him a pissed off look.
“Real mature.” Mark murmured under his breath.
“I think he’s very egoistic about his position. What if we leave him with nothing to brag about?” Mark hinted, and Chloe looked at him.
“You mean”
“I buy most of his company’s shares and have the upper hand.” Alex smirked at Mark’s idea, whereas Mia and Chloe could only stare at them.
“Will this work?” Chloe asked hesitantly, and Mark shrugged in response.
“He’s never seen me, your husband, so I can offer him a deal that he won’t be able to refuse. I’m sure he’ll fall for it.” Mark explained, and Chloe sighed.
“Just trust me.” He held her hand, and she gave him a small smile in return.
“I do.” Mia cleared her throat and gave them a teasing smile, to which Chloe rolled her eyes but blushed, whereas Mark only grinned.
Alex looked at Mia and wondered just one thing, Did she trust me?
After buying a bigger share from Chloe’s father’s company, he wasn’t unable to buy the orphanage, the orphanage was saved.