Divorcing The Wrong Man: Her Regret

Chapter 7: The Price Of Pride

The E Hotel lobby was a circus.

Bobby and Vanessa, who’d been twitchy, busted out laughing at Vivian’s order. Bobby’s chubby face lit up, his tie half-undone. “See, V? Told you he’s a liar,” he said, his loud enough for the whole lobby to hear. Vanessa’s lips twisted, her black dress rumpled from all her stomping. 

“God, Adrian, you’re such a joke,” she spat, her eyes glinting with smug satisfaction.

Suddenly, four security guards stomped over, their boots smacking the floor. The lead one, a beefy dude with a shaved head, jabbed a finger at Adrian and Helen. “You heard her. Move it, or we make you.” The crowd chitchatted, some whispering “loser,” others snapping pics, ready to post this mess online.

Helen’s sneer was cold. She had been shipped off to expensive schools abroad as a kid to study, so Vivian not knowing her face wasn’t a shock. But the manager’s attitude? That pissed her off really bad. It greately displeased her.

Vivian stepped up, her blazer stiff, her smile mean. “You two, you dare impersonate members of the Cross family?” she said, her words dripping with venom. “You’ll regret that. Both of you.” She waved at the guards, who cracked their knuckles, closing in.

Vanessa’s face was a mix of pity and glee, like she’d just won the lottery. Divorcing Adrian was the smartest thing she’d ever done. He was a nobody, always would be, and now he was making a fool of himself in public. She turned to Bobby, her voice smug. “Can you believe I put up with him for years?”

Bobby grabbed her hand, his palm sweaty, his watch flashing like it was screaming for attention. “Jesus, V, I’m embarrassed just standing near him,” he said, loud enough for the crowd to chuckle. “Keep it quiet that this clown was your ex, alright? Too godamn humiliating.” He scrunched his face, like he’d smelled something bad. “You know what? Let’s get outta here. This space is tainted by these lowlives. Let’s not get infected. We should go back into the Banquet hall to wait for the real Cross family.”

Vanessa nodded, her heels clicking as she turned. “Yeah, Bobby, I need a drink after this nonsense.” They strutted off, the crowd parting like they were royalty, some muttering “queen shit” under their breath. Vanessa didn’t look back, already dreaming of her Cross family deal, her company’s name in lights.

Adrian and Helen didn’t move an inch. Adrian’s hands stayed in his pockets, his face calm, like the guards were just annoying flies. Helen stood tall, angry but calm.  And Vivian’s face went red, her patience shot. She snapped. “Guards, teach these two a lesson they’ll never forget!”

Helen quickly whipped out her phone, her fingers steady, and dialed John Cross. Enough of this!

“Grandfather,” she said, voice cool but with a bite, “they’re trying to kick me and Adrian outta the E Hotel. Yeah, right now.”

John Cross’s voice roared through the line, loud enough that even Vivian flinched, wondering if that was really John Cross. 

“What?!! I’m coming in, NOW! I’m just a minute away.” John roared and ended the call. 

Vivian smirked, crossing her arms. “Aww… nice try,” she said, her voice thick with sarcasm. Where’s your grandaddy now?.” Facing the guards, “What are you waiting for?”

Just then, tires squealed outside, the Cross family convoy rolling up like a storm. The lobby doors burst open, and John Cross stormed in, his cane thumping. His face was twisted with fury. Behind him were Marcus, the butler, his suit crisp, and a pack of Cross family members — cousins, advisors, all dressed like they owned the city. 

The crowd went quiet, phones still up, but now filming something bigger. The stars were here. The entire Cross family.

“Stop!” a voice shouted. It was Mr. John, his voice rattling the fancy light fixtures. 

Vivian spun around, her smirk suddenly dissapeared, now pale like she had seen a ghost. Was this really John Cross? Of course it was. She immedieately dropped into a bow, her voice shaking. “Mr. Cross, I’m so sorry for this comotion! These two..” she pointed at Adrian and Helen “...they were impersonating your family, sir. I was just getting rid of them, sir!”

At this moment, Helen stepped up, her smile sweet but sharp as a switchblade. “Grandpa,” she began, loud enough for the whole lobby to hear, “so I’m not Cross family after all? That’s news to me. I thought you raised me since I was in diapers.”

Vivian’s jaw dropped, sweat dripping down her face like she’d been caught stealing. No, worse, caught in a murder act. Her knees hit the floor with a dull thud, her blazer wrinkling as she collapsed. “M.. Miss Helen?” she stammered, her voice barely there. “I… I had no clue…”

She was finished!!