Elvis Dagreen: From Rejection to Redemption

Chapter one.

As the taxi pulled through the busy streets of Los Angeles, heading towards the Central Hospital, Elvis Degreen couldn't contain his excitement to meet his mother-in-law, who had just survived the deadly lipolous disease, and his wife, who had been taking care of her.

The past few months had been hell for the Reyker family as they tried to raise the money for Mrs. Reyker's surgery. Fortunately, last week, Elvis was able to receive his ten-year arrears from his job and had immediately transferred the entire two million dollars to his wife Arabella's account for his mother-in-law's surgery, even though he had initially planned to use his arrears to start his dream fashion firm and his wife's cosmetic shop.

"I'm sure she's busy. Oh, poor Arabella, the past week has been tedious for her," Elvis quipped as he dialed his wife's number for the fifth time, but there was no response.

The past two years had been nothing but bliss for Elvis and Arabella. There was no doubt about how much he loved his wife and how much he valued the vows they had taken two years ago when they got married. Seeing her sad these past weeks had broken his heart, and he didn't mind sacrificing his arrears to save her mother and forfeiting his long-time dream for now.

For Elvis, the slogan was, "Anything for my Bella." As soon as the taxi pulled into the hospital parking lot, Elvis hurriedly paid the driver and headed straight to his mother-in-law's ward with the bouquet of flowers he had gotten her from a shop close to his workplace.

"Hello, Family!" he exclaimed excitedly as he pushed the ward door open. He couldn't hide the big grin on his face.

The first thing that caught Elvis's attention as he entered the room was the cologne of a man dressed in an expensive suit that screamed luxury, standing beside Mrs. Reyker's bed while Arabella was busy packing her mother's stuff. It was obvious he had arrived just in time for Mrs. Reyker's discharge.

The coldness in the room made Elvis feel uneasy as no one responded to his warm greeting.

"How are you feeling today, Mother?" Elvis questioned as he walked close to Mrs. Reyker, who was seated on the bed.

"Don't you ever call me that, you fool! You're no son of mine; you're a poverty ambassador!" Elvis was taken aback by Mrs. Reyker's harsh rebuke, but he tried not to read too much into it, perhaps it was an adverse effect from her surgery. She was already an elderly woman, and a lot comes with age.

"Mother, it's me, El..." He began, but was abruptly interrupted by the more agitated Mrs. Reyker.

"Apart from being broke, are you also stupid? I know who you are! Elvis, the nobody!" She declared and sighed.

Elvis, still thinking it was either a prank or his first thought, smiled and faced his wife, who was unnecessarily busy. It was obvious she didn't want to be part of the altercation.

"Babe, what's wrong with Mother? Is this an adverse effect or..." "Mr. Man, can you stop being stupid? Does she look sick and dying to you, that you'll conclude she's having amnesia?" The man who had caught Elvis's attention when he first arrived spoke harshly.

Elvis couldn't hide his confusion as he looked at his wife, awaiting an explanation from her. Arabella cleared her throat and was about to speak when Mrs. Reyker quickly interrupted.

"Elvis, the Nobody, stop looking like a confused moron. Isn't it obvious that you're not welcome here? What has my daughter or I benefited from you in the two years you were married? Instead, you lived under my roof and ate from my money!" She declared disgustingly.

"Men like Albert West are the real deal!" Mrs. Reyker declared with a smile as she stared at the mysterious man.

Mentioning the name Albert West made Elvis recognize the man immediately. He was the famous Albert West, a prominent businessman who had recently been announced as one of the city's most influential men.

Mrs. Reyker's aggressive clearing of her throat brought Elvis's attention back. "I needed surgery urgently, and it took you, my so-called son-in-law, over a month to raise a token of two million dollars. While Albert, who just visited today, paid all my bills, including the arrears, so I can always come back for my treatment. He paid a total of fifteen million dollars and also refunded your money. If that's what's giving you so much pride to bounce in here like you did."

At that moment, Elvis couldn't believe his ears; he still believed all this was a prank. Mrs. Reyker had always treated him like a son, and not for once given him such hostile treatment.

"Your presence here is irritating and making me sicker than the lipolysis disease did!" The old woman declared as she reached out for the paper beside her and threw it at him. "Sign that divorce paper and set my daughter free from the spell of poverty!"

Elvis, still in shock, opened the paper and saw it was truly a divorce paper. He turned to his wife, the woman he was more than certain loved him and wouldn't join in her mother's sudden madness.

"What's this about, babe?" He questioned softly, but instead of the answer he was expecting, Arabella looked at him with no emotion in her eyes and declared, "Sign the paper, Elvis Degreen!"

Her words shattered every hope Elvis had, and he needed no other confirmation that this wasn't a prank. Mrs. Reyker couldn't hide the joy on her face at her daughter's words.

"Is this what you want?" Elvis asked, and again, without an iota of remorse, Arabella's voice rang out, "YES!"

The word "Yes" landed like a blow, but Elvis kept his composure, though his hands clenched involuntarily.

"A divorce?" he repeated, his voice low and steady. "Why? What's happened?"

Before Arabella could answer, Albert stepped forward with a smirk. "I'll tell you what happened," he said, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Arabella has finally realized she doesn't need to be stuck with a loser like you. Look at her—she's beautiful, intelligent, and born to be a leader in the city's business elite, and you can't offer her that."

At that moment, he pointed at Elvis. "I heard you're working in a restaurant, serving tables and dreaming small. Honestly, it's embarrassing; someone like Arabella can't be associated with you."

Elvis's gaze shifted to Albert, his eyes narrowing. Before he could say anything, Albert raised his shoulders.

"Unlike you, I'm a man who actually understands her worth, someone who can give her the life she deserves. Unlike you."

Elvis's fists tightened, but he turned his focus back to Arabella.

"Is that how you see me now? A burden?"

At that moment, Arabella's expression didn't falter.

"Elvis, it's not about being a burden. It's about reality. You're still stuck in the same place you were ten years ago, and I need to move on. If we continue, I don't think I'll achieve my dreams. I need someone who matches my ambitions, not someone holding me back."

"Is that why he's here?" Elvis asked, his voice edged with bitterness.

"You've already replaced me."

"I didn't replace you," Arabella replied, her tone clipped and devoid of emotion.

At that moment, Albert smirked, wrapping an arm possessively around Arabella's waist. Elvis's jaw tightened, but he didn't react, knowing that would be what Albert wanted.

He ignored them, his gaze fixed on Arabella.

"You've made your decision. Let's not drag this out."

Without waiting for her response, he picked up the pen. The weight of betrayal sat heavy in his chest, but he forced his hand to remain steady as he signed the papers.

When he was done, he placed them back on the desk and looked at her one last time.

"I hope your new life is everything you want it to be," he said, his voice laced with quiet finality.

Then he turned and started walking away, leaving behind the woman who had once been his entire world.

"That's the wisest decision you've made, Elvis. Go and look for your kind!" Mrs. Reyker said with a smile.

Elvis didn't bother giving an answer, but Mrs. Reyker's voice stopped him at the door.

"For your two million dollars, consider it a bygone. I'll be subtracting it from the free meals you ate under my roof for two years, and also, do yourself the favor of going straight to my mansion to get your belongings from the gate. If you don't, I'll have them donated to charity. I've instructed my housekeeper to bring them out of my house."

Without bothering to say a word to her, Elvis walked away, leaving the door wide open.