02: Kowtow 10 times!

Miranda was almost unable to hold Isaac from staggering back on the chair. “I swear you’re going to pay for this! How dare you barge in here to interrupt us?”

“Mira..” Hot tears filled Jackson’s eyes, his heart hurting. “Why’re you doing this?”

“Come in!” Isaac spoke into the intercom. 

Immediately two burly men burst in, grabbing Jackson’s arms from behind. They started punching and hitting him, but a punch from Jackson sent them sprawling across the room.

Before Isaac could give another order, Jackson dashed out of the office. He quickly got into a taxi and hurried home. It was already late and he had nowhere to go, he had to stay the night at the Wilson’s residence.

Jackson got into the helper’s quarters and hid in a cupboard. Like he predicted, some men were sent by the matriarch to come search for him.

Miranda had arrived home and reported what happened to her grandmother. The matriarch had never really liked him from the start.

Luckily, the men didn’t look in the cupboard, so Jackson was able to spend the night there. He tossed and turned, as images of Miranda and Isaac kissing kept floating around his head.

His heart hurt like hell.

. 

The next morning, Jackson was about to sneak into Miranda’s bedroom to get his things when he bumped into Kate, the Wilson’s housekeeper.

“What is Jackson doing sneaking around the Mistress’ room?” Kate refused to call him Master like everyone else. “What’re you doing here?” She yelled again.

Jackson gritted his teeth. It was obvious she was trying to gather attention. “I need to get my things, Kate. Let go!”

“You cannot, Mistress has a visitor!”

Anger surged through Jackson’s veins.

Miranda had the audacity to bring Isaac over to their matrimonial bedroom before they even got divorced? This was cheating of the highest order!

“You cannot!” Kate tried to stop him, but a kick sent her flying off.

The sight of Miranda lying in the man’s arms sent so much rage to his head that he suddenly rushed in to grab a pillow.

“What’re you doing?” Miranda’s voice stopped his hands mid-air.

“How could you be so shameless?” Jackson sent her a murderous glare. She left no dignity for him as a man!

“You bastard? After all I’ve done for you and your wretched grandmother?” Miranda jumped off the bed. “How dare you call me shameless? Is it because I choose to no longer be a pillar of money for you? Or because you’re going to return to the slums you came from?”

“You’re so useless, Jackson Ryder! Get lost! I never want to see you again!” Miranda’s shouting was so loud that some helpers rushed in with panic.

“Take him away!”

Jackson was dragged to the sitting room where the matriarch and every member of the family was already waiting.

Kate had gone to call them but the others had been awoken by Miranda’s shrill voice.

“It is the good-for-nothing again?” The matriarch, Anna Wilson spoke, throwing a glance of disgust at him. “Why do you always cause trouble and give this old woman a headache. Pft! It would be better if you just dropped dead!”

“I wonder how sister has been able to endure such a miserable person. You’re literally just a stain on her noble reputation!” Debra sneered.

Miranda’s mother got up, coming forward to push him, hatred in her eyes. “Do you think that by refusing to sign the divorce agreement, Miranda wouldn’t be able to marry someone else? Never in this life! I will chase and haunt you until you come begging to be spared!”

“Humph. So useless!” Her cousin also scoffed. 

Jackson stared at all the members of the Wilson family. He couldn’t believe he’d endured this sort of humiliation and hatred for 5 years.

If not that he caught Miranda cheating, he would be willing to keep enduring!

“Do you think you have a chance to stand beside Isaac Moore even in your next life?” Miranda arrived right beside Isaac, throwing him a hateful glare.

"Having Mr Moore on my sister’s side is only her good fortune. Being the General Manager of Hutton Group, securing the Axel Deal for her company would be a piece of cake.” Debra added. “But what have you ever done to help her company?”

Jackson suddenly let out a low laughter. Did they really think she got to where she was on her own? If it were not for him...

"Ah, your poor face." Debra sighed and everyone turned to look at the slight bruise where Jackson had hit Isaac. 

"What're you doing still standing there?" Anna slammed her walking stick in anger. "Come and kowtow to Mr Moore, he might be benevolent enough to let you go without breaking your bones!"

"Why should I bow to him?” Jackson hissed in disdain. “Apart from the general manager of a mere subsidiary company, what else does he have?" 

"You!" Isaac hollered, his face red.

Anna was totally pissed. "You rascal! It seems I've been too lenient with you. How dare you speak to our guest like that?"

"Grandma, this idiot needs some discipline before he's thrown out." Debra rushed forward to slap him on the face.

But Jackson caught her wrist on time, twisting sharply. "How about you take that discipline and tame that wild tongue of yours?"

"Let go of her, you animal!" Janet rushed forward as her daughter shrieked in pain.

Jackson pushed her roughly, dragging Debra to the matriarch. "Before you try to discipline me, first take care of this unruly granddaughter of yours!" He pushed Debra into the woman's face and both of them crashed back into the seat almost tumbling backwards.

The murderous glare on his face sent the matriarch’s retort back up her throat. The lowly son-in-law they always bullied suddenly seemed mysteriously dangerous! 

"All of you, listen!" Jackson boomed in a loud authoritative voice. "I'm done with playing the slave and kickass! I’ve endured 5 good years with this wretched family just to be cheated on by that whore!" He glared at Miranda. 

Her face paled with anger. "Why don’t you sign the divorce agreement and get this over with?"

"Yes!" Janet was back on her feet, but she didn't dare come close to him. "Why were you hesitant to signing the papers? My daughter has always taken care of you and your wretched grandmother, now that she's asking for a divorce, you’re scared you've lost access to all the free money!"

"You wish! What money does she have?" Jackson laughed.

"What does a fool know? Ever since your useless father disappeared, have your family been able to make a come-back? Even in your next lifetime, we can buy the entire of your generations!" Anna gritted. 

A nerve ticked in Jackson's jaw, and he sent her an evil glare. "I just hope you don't come begging me in the future, then I wouldn’t spare you!"

Jackson grabbed the paper and pen, signed it and threw it at her. "I'm better off alone than with a woman like you."

"Pft!" Miranda was shocked that he suddenly agreed.

Wasn't he the one begging her last night? 

Jackson turned around to leave when a voice came up. "Who said you could leave?"

Isaac Moore walked up to face him. "You still have to kowtow to me 10 times!"

"Hurry up and do it, you piece of trash!" Janet jumped in. 

Jackson only pushed them off. At the door, ten men suddenly surrounded him and attacked. But within a minute, his powerful punches and kicks sent them flying off in separate directions. 

"Mark my words, you Wilsons. You're going to pay for every humiliation I have suffered!" Jackson hollered before leaving.

Outside the gates, he felt a pounding headache immediately he entered the sun. He had no money and nowhere to go.