CHAPTER 4

Nathan's POV

That question shook me. It broke me right to the ground and swept me off my feet. I had no answer. I didn't know where my daughter was.

"Answer the goddamn question, you moron. Where is our girl?" James fired ruthlessly. He was the one monster that hated me so much. He hated me to the point that he was willing to kill me so he could breathe well. I was like a stench from a gutter in his presence.

I knew this because he never attended my wedding. None of them did anyways. He even cut me with a knife when I played with his kids three Christmases ago when we still lived here.

I called Emma to myself and gave her a present, along with the other kids.

They liked it. They were still kids and they were just so adorable. As adorable as my baby girl, Clara.

James got into the room and opened fire at me, asking me if I planned on stealing his child.

Before I could give a reply, he grabbed a butter kinfe and charged towards me, telling me to stay away from his kids and never talk to them ever again!

That night was the last day I spent here. I took my family and sneaked out.

"I… I.. I don't know!" I stammered, still trying to maintain my stoicism as the Alpha male I was.

"Some bullshit alpha male." My brain rang. I was just a pullet. A puppy in the midst of wolves.

"Ffuucckk youuu! Nathan. Fuck you! You're a mistake in this family." Derek called out.

I tried not to lower my head. It was a sign that I was weak. I was not… I was not … weak?

Fuck! I was.

Tears began to flow. I didn't even notice at first. I wasn't crying because of the ill treatment. I was crying because of my daughter!

"I warned you, Nathan. I warned you that nothing should happen to my granddaughter. I told you to bring my family to my house and under my protection. But you disregard my orders. Now, look at what you've done! Are you satisfied?!" Screamed Laura.

She began coughing severely but was quickly surrounded by her family who offered her water and her medicine.

Seated on the corner of the room, extremely opposite my direction was Amanda. My wife.

My wife!

She couldn't bear the weight of seeing me verbally abused, so she threw her face away and wept. But if she was truly sorry and if she really cared about me, she would have defended me, or at least said something.

"Look what you're doing? You want to kill my mother as well?" Emerald roared.

James walked up to me and… he gave me a resounding slap right in front of everyone. I stood up and looked him dead in the eye, but in no time, I was surrounded by Emerald, James and Derek!

"You're an officer, but we would make you lose your job and we would even buy your position! So, sit down, you looser!" Derek explained.

They were right. I gently sat down, feeling embarrassed to the core. I've had enough! As I sat, I saw Emma, James' son from a distance through the glass wall. He was looking on as I got bullied. He seemed to enjoy it because he was… laughing!

I read about these things in stories when I was a teen. How a man would be physically and verbally abused by his in laws and treated like trash. I thought they were mere fantasies. I sometimes even wondered if these three men had any conscience!

"Enough! Sit down!" Laura commanded the three hefty men and they all sat down. Obeying like dogs. How powerful power was.

"You won't send me to an early grave, Nathan. So I would rather speak calmly." Laura cleared her throat and began.

"Listen very carefully to me, officer. We have business to attend to, but we gave time to your family's issues because it involves our daughter and granddaughter." Laura pointed to Amanda like a flea.

"So, listen. I'm going to give you a simple assignment!"

"You loser, you've got 10 days to find Clara. 10 fucking days. And if you don't, you will rot in jail and I will make sure my daughter gets you divorced! Am I clear enough?" Laura asked amicably.

In utter shame, I nodded my head. But inside me, I gritted my teeth hard, trying to shkw no fear.

"Good. Now, back to business!" Laura opened the file seated in front of her.

"And oh, your wife stays here with the rest of us. You're on this alone. You caused it yourself, you'll fix this yourself!" She added.

Amanda was feeling like a little worm. I knew it! I felt betrayed by her. She watched her family do this to me and she said nothing?

"Now, we must strike this deal with the Clifford's no matter what it takes!"

What?! Clifford's family? I immediately got interested in the conversation.

"I am willing to supply $200,000 to whomever is willing to move ahead with the plan, head to the company and strike the deal. If you are successful, you will be given 10% shares from the profit asides your regular profit as a worker!" Laura proposed.

"But if it fails, you must pay a return with 2% interest and apologize to the whole family for your failure. Who's in?" She added.

No one dared to attempt to try. Even the strong men who attempted to bully and fight me just sat there like incompetent dogs.

But I had other things to do. I needed to begin my search, looking for Clara. At whatever cost. I had just $200 in my account and a $100 bill in my wallet. Everything I earned, I spent on my family, specifically, my wife. She always had needs and never worked.

"Alright. I'll make it 15% profit share along with a blueprint on how to execute the goal. That is huge. Remember it's not all about me. It's about you too. Your reputation. Your family's name. I could attempt it, but you know, who wants an old woman in a billion dollar project?"

Still, no one attempted.

For the first time in my life as an inlaw to the Kensington family, I saw how weak each and every one of those peeps are. They were just scared pussys who were afraid of taking risks. Good thing I was an officer. Trained to be fearless!

"I thought you were a fearless warrior, James. Turns out you're just a scared little pussy afraid to take on challenges! Such a shame!" A confident voice spoke up suddenly. Even I was shocked at who could speak to James like that.

Everyone looked at me like I was the one who said it. Wait, was I?

James was boiling. I could literally see smoke coming off his head. He got up from his seat and charged towards me, his whole being ready to devour me to pieces.

"You're a dead meat, motherfucker!" He roared as he raised his fist to hit me….

"Hold it, James. Hold it! Laura called out sternly.